The Rake's Wicked Proposal

Admittedly, the latter could not be called an accident, but Arabella had been right when she’d pointed out to Lucian that the gossips would only see the larger picture rather than the minutiae. Another ‘accident’ in the Wynter family would be certain to create yet more gossip, if not an actual scandal.

Lucian didn’t know whether to be relieved or otherwise when the first person he saw as he and Grace entered Winton Hall a few minutes later was Darius Wynter. The new Duke was standing to one side of the entrance hall, conversing quietly with a man whose mode of dress indicated he might be one of the gardeners.

Darius dismissed the man, before striding over to greet them, his expression unsmiling as he took Grace’s hand in his. ‘There is no need to look so alarmed, Grace,’ he soothed. ‘The physician has been sent for.’

‘Aunt Margaret?’ Instead of calming her, Darius’s clipped manner only seemed to have alarmed Grace more and she snatched her hand from his. ‘What have you done to Aunt Margaret?’

Darius’s face tightened. ‘There is no need for hysteria, Grace.’

‘Grace is not a lady given to hysteria.’ Lucian thought it best to steer Darius away from making the same mistake he once had, his cheek twitching in memory of Grace’s reins striking against it.

Darius shot Lucian a frowning glance. ‘All evidence to the contrary,’ he drawled. ‘I suppose that silly maid made a drama out of the incident?’

Lucian reached out to take a firm hold of Grace’s arm as he sensed her growing temper with Darius’s lack of explanation. ‘We will have more of an idea of that when we know what comprises the accident.’

‘Is it Aunt Margaret?’ Grace could contain her emotions no longer and she glared up at Darius. ‘Tell me what has happened to her!’

‘Nothing has happened to her.’

‘Rose said there had been an accident—’

‘Rose, I presume, is the maid?’ Darius dismissed hardly. ‘This morning’s accident did not involve Margaret, Grace.’

She frowned her consternation. ‘Then who—?’

‘Francis.’ Darius’s expression was bleak. ‘Francis is the one who has met with an accident. Margaret is up in his room with him now, waiting for the physician to arrive— Where are you going, Grace?’ he demanded, as Grace turned and bolted for the stairs.

Grace didn’t even bother to answer him as she raised the skirt of her gown in order to run up the stairs to Francis’s room, obviously not trusting herself to say anything further until she had learnt more of Francis’s condition.

‘Darius…?’ Lucian’s gaze was narrowed on the other man.

Darius seemed to gather his thoughts together with an effort as he turned back to Lucian, his expression grimmer than ever. ‘Will you come to the library with me? There is something I need to discuss with you.’

Lucian arched dark brows. ‘I trust you are going to be more confiding than you were yesterday evening?’

The other man drew in a sharp breath. ‘I believe I will have to be,’ he finally admitted with a sigh.

Lucian gave one last glance up the wide staircase as he turned to follow Darius to the library, hoping that Grace would have her emotions back under control by the time she returned from Francis’s room; she really was not a woman given to hysteria, but temper was another matter entirely…

‘Francis was attacked as he walked through the same woods where we met up with him yesterday.’ Grace looked across the dinner table at Lucian as they dined alone together. The Duchess had remained in her room, and Darius had sent his apologies also.

Grace had dismissed the servants once tea and brandy had been served, seeing no reason why she need retire to the drawing room with only the two of them present. Besides, there had been no opportunity for the two of them to talk alone together since their return from the Dower House, and Grace very badly needed to discuss this attack on Francis.

‘So I believe.’ Lucian’s tone was non-committal. He looked very fine in his evening clothes as he relaxed back in his chair.

Too relaxed, in Grace’s opinion. ‘Hardly an accident—would you not agree?’