The Portrait of a Scarred Duke by Patricia Haverton

Chapter 27

“His Grace requires your presence in his study,” Letty said, leaning against the doorframe as she entered Elinor’s room.

Elinor rose from where she’d been seated, sketching the gardens outside her window. At least, that had been her intention. Halfway through sketching the barren tree branches and the few winter flowers, she’d begun instead sketching the familiar lines of Seth’s face, detailing his intense eyes in charcoal.

“Did he say why?” Elinor asked.

“I’m sorry, Elinor. He didn’t. Only that he wishes to speak to you very urgently.”

A delighted shiver traced the path of her spine. It was reckless of them to be alone together, she knew that. She was ridiculous to even assume that Seth wanted her alone without there being a chaperone present between them. But Elinor still hoped that this might be a private meeting between the two of them. Since she admitted her love for Seth, it was difficult for her not to imagine secret meetings between them behind closed doors and in moonlit gardens.

“I suppose it’s best not to keep His Grace waiting, then,” Elinor said.

She’d never keep Seth waiting anyway, much less over an urgent matter. Elinor followed Letty through the familiar corridors of Seth’s home. Of course, Elinor knew where Seth’s study was, but she’d never had a reason to visit him there. That was his space, where he managed the affairs of the dukedom.

It seemed like so much responsibility for one man to hold upon his shoulders, and when Elinor thought about possibly being there to help him with it all, a smile came to her face. Her breath was a little quicker. She wondered if the ladies of the ton helped manage those things Seth did. Elinor knew some of the things that proper ladies did. She knew they managed the house and planned balls. And Elinor knew that they sketched and spoke French and traveled with their female companions.

There was so much she didn’t know, though. Of course, for Seth, she was willing to try. She’d learn anything she needed to for him, if it meant that they might have a future together.

And it’s very strange that I’ve begun to think of it in those terms. As a future together, as if my heart has already made its decision, despite everything my mind is warning me of.

She fidgeted with her skirt, as Letty opened the door to Seth’s study. Elinor bit her lip. She wished that she’d had more time before Seth sent for her. Elinor would’ve made herself more presentable. She’d have wiped the charcoal smudges from her hands and straightened her hair, which was a little disheveled from where she’d run her hand through it.

“Elinor Thorebourne, Your Grace,” Letty said.

Elinor entered. As expected, there was Seth. He was seated behind his large desk, the top of it covered in papers. Beside him sat another man, whom Elinor recalled seeing around the estate. He was dressed like a wealthy man, and Elinor assumed he was Seth’s friend, the Earl of Wilton. Stranger still, both her uncle and father sat across from Seth and the Earl.

What is the meaning of this?

Seth gestured to the empty seat beside Elinor’s father. He wasn’t smiling. A shiver rushed over Elinor’s shoulders, and she carefully lowered herself into the chair. Seth watched her intently, but his eyes didn’t hold their usual warmth. He looked cold and hard, defeated even.

“Thank you all for coming so quickly,” Seth said.

“Of course, Your Grace,” Henry said.

Elinor glanced at her uncle, trying to discern any reason for why Seth might need all of them present for this meeting.

“It was urgent, you said,” Elinor’s father added. “Of course we’d come without delay.”

Elinor glanced at Seth, whose eyes seemed fixed on her face. He seemed to be searching for something, but it was impossible to say if he found it or not.

“The matter which I’ve brought you all here to discuss is very serious,” Seth said, “and it involves a great sum of stolen money.”

Elinor’s jaw dropped. She stared at Seth, uncomprehendingly. “Stolen money?”

Seth nodded curtly. “And I’d like to learn where it has gone. I have my suspicions, of course, but because the matter is so serious, I’d prefer that we…speak of it now. I will, of course, be sending the matter to the courts, however.”

Elinor frowned and leaned back in her chair, trying to figure out why stolen money would concern her family and herself. None of them would’ve ever stolen from Seth, but he’d brought them all there. Even her. He must suspect that something was amiss with them.

Elinor glanced at her father. Was she imagining that he looked a little paler than usual in the face of Seth’s accusations?

“You may recall our having a discussion about this some time ago,” Seth said. “I had asked you about several thousand pounds, which your records indicated had gone to maintain bridges in the northernmost part of the dukedom, which—as I’m sure you recall—borders the Earldom of Wilton.”

Henry’s jaw tightened. “I do remember that discussion, Your Grace, and I thought I’d made it clear that the money for those bridges was needed. They’d been left in disrepair for many years.”

“So you said,” Seth replied, “but I’m wondering if that’s really the case.”

Seth glanced at the Earl of Wilton, who seemed to understand that he was to speak next. “I’ve often traveled across those same bridges,” the Earl said. “All my life. I would remember surely if there were any circumstances which would lead to them requiring such extensive repairs.”

“Perhaps you merely didn’t notice,” Henry offered. “I’m sure, My Lord, that you’ve many other matters to attend to yourself.”

The Lord of Wilton smiled thinly. “I think I’d remember if my travel was ever impeded. I’m not known for my patience, Mr. Thorebourne.”

Elinor glanced between her uncle and Seth. She could understand what was being implied. It seemed that Seth thought her uncle might’ve lied about a significant sum of money. Elinor’s first, instinctive thought was to defend her uncle.

But she didn’t really know her uncle, did she? Not as well as she knew Seth, and Elinor was sure that Seth wouldn’t have made such a serious accusation if he didn’t believe it was true.

But why would he need my father and me here? We’ve nothing to do with the money spent in the dukedom.

“I’m sure the receipts will verify what I’ve said is true,” Henry replied.

“I’m sure they would,” Seth agreed, “but there don’t seem to be any receipts from that time period.”

“I’m sure they exist. I must’ve forgotten to give them to you, or else I’ve merely misplaced them.”

Seth smiled thinly, his expression settling into one which was sharp and unfamiliar. “Misplaced them. I find that difficult to believe, considering how long the dukedom has been under your stewardship. I would believe you too competent to make such an error.”

“Mistakes happen to everyone, regardless of experience, Your Grace.”

“But everything else from both before and after that period of time appears to be in impeccable order,” the Earl said. “Moreover, I’ve looked through other years and found similar unusual expenses. I’ve no doubt that if we investigate those, we’ll also discover that they do not have accompanying receipts.”

“And you did—if you recall—try rather hard to persuade me not to look at these same documents,” Seth said.

Elinor barely managed to withhold a gasp. Her body felt frozen in place. Had her uncle really stolen from Seth? From the Dukedom of Worthwood? It sounded so impossible, but there were the papers—just at Seth’s elbow, as if waiting to be presented.

“What do you have to say about all this?” Seth asked.

Elinor looked at her uncle. His expression was stiff, and his hands were curled over the arms of the chair. “I appreciate your being so meticulous, Your Grace. That—”

“You don’t need to try and flatter me now,” Seth said. “Simply answer the question—what do you say to this?”

“I say that I’ve done nothing wrong,” Elinor’s uncle replied, color rising to his face. “These accusations are—are entirely unfounded. If you’ve found mistakes, I do apologize for them. However, I can assure you that I’ve never stolen from the dukedom, and I’m saddened to think that you distrust me so much after years of faithful service to your father and now you.”

Seth smiled thinly. “You’ve no intention of letting me resolve this easily, do you?”

“There’s nothing to resolve, Your Grace,” Henry insisted. “With all due respect.”

Elinor noticed that Seth’s gaze flitted to her, searching again. He didn’t seem to find whatever it was that he was looking for, and Seth turned his attention once again to her uncle. “We shall let the courts decide, then. In the meantime, you’re all to leave this estate.”

“What?” Elinor asked.

It took her mind a few moments to catch her voice. She felt as though all of the air had been pushed from her lungs, as if she’d forgotten how to breathe.

“Of course,” Seth replied. “I’d be a fool to think that neither you nor your father had anything to do with this. It seems too convenient that once your uncle Henry realized I doubted his competence that you came to his defense and resolved to make me trust him.”

Elinor could barely speak past the lump in her throat. She could understand the implications of what he was saying all too well, but she didn’t believe them. How could Seth even consider that she would be involved in something like this?

“That isn’t true,” Elinor said. “I would never do anything to betray your trust in me! You should know that better than anyone!”

Seth’s brow furrowed, and he averted his gaze, as if he couldn’t bring himself to look at her.

“We’ve really no evidence either way, Miss Thorebourne,” the Earl said kindly. “But we must be cautious. His Grace cannot risk being wrong about something this serious.”

“Yes,” Seth said. “We know that Henry has stolen from the dukedom—even if he wants to pretend otherwise at the moment—but we’ve no way of knowing that you were not likewise involved, Elinor.”

“She isn’t,” Elinor’s father interrupted suddenly. “Elinor had nothing to do with this. I swear that she’s entirely innocent, Your Grace.”

Elinor frowned. Her father’s eyes were on her. He looked…

Guilty.

Elinor breathed in sharply. “Tell me…”

She didn’t want to believe it. But she didn’t know what she could believe at the moment. Her entire world seemed to have been upended right before her very eyes.

“Tell me you didn’t do it. Tell me you didn’t have anything to do with stealing from Seth—from His Grace. Or his father,” Elinor said.

“I didn’t steal from him,” her father said hesitantly.

“But?” Seth asked.

“Of course you didn’t steal from him!” Henry exclaimed. “No one did! This is ridiculous! A few lost records, that’s all! It happens.”

“I will not lie to His Grace,” Elinor’s father said. “I knew about the stealing. I overheard my brother discussing it with one of his associates, but I haven’t known that for very long. I only learned of his crimes after I was assigned to be the artist for His Grace’s portrait.”

“Then you agree with my accusation?” Seth asked, sounding surprised.

“I do,” Elinor’s father said.

“But I…but why didn’t you tell anyone?” Elinor asked. “You could’ve told Seth, and he would’ve acted. Was it—”

Obviously, he hadn’t told because, no matter how much he and Henry might dislike one another, they were brothers.

“I’ve the same question,” Seth said, after Elinor had broken off her words. “By not saying anything, you inadvertently aided your brother’s misdoings.”

“It’s not true!” Henry snapped. “None of it! He’s just—he’s just saying that because he’s trying to curry favor with you and use Elinor!”

“What?” Elinor asked.

She nearly leaped from her chair in her surprise.

Seth’s green eyes darted to her. For an instant, she saw sorrow in his expression. She saw his willingness to believe her and his sympathy at her confusion. But that tender expression was gone as quickly as it came.

“What do you mean by use Elinor?” Seth asked.

“I don’t know,” Elinor whispered, feeling faint. “I had nothing to do with any of this.”

“She didn’t,” her father agreed. “Elinor is innocent of any wrongdoing.”

“But why should I believe you?” Seth asked. “You’ve still not explained why you didn’t simply tell me what you knew.”

Elinor’s father swallowed hard. His grip on the arms of his chair tightened.

“Because I have a secret, and I wanted to keep it hidden. If I revealed him—”

“Don’t,” Henry interrupted, his face twisting into a cruel smirk. “Don’t you dare.”

The Earl crossed his arms. “You know this secret, don’t you?” he asked. “I can guess well enough what has happened. You kept your silence, so your brother wouldn’t reveal your secret.”

“But my father has never done anything—anything bad!” Elinor exclaimed. “Surely, no secret could be worth committing such a heinous crime!”

“It would be,” her father said softly. “I should’ve told you years ago, Elinor, but I just couldn’t.”

Elinor’s breath came in short, awkward stutters of air. Was this going to be the moment where her father revealed the source of the conflict between Henry and himself? That was the only secret he had, as far as Elinor knew.

“You can tell her now,” Seth said. “If it’s a secret involving Elinor, she deserves to know what it is.”

Henry stood abruptly, nearly shaking with rage. “You should’ve kept quiet, Richard,” he said. “I could’ve found some way out of this if you’d just not—not said anything at all!”

“But for Elinor—” her father protested.

“Oh, Elinor!” Henry snapped. “How ridiculous!”

“He wanted to use Elinor,” her father said quickly. “We’d noticed—he’d heard from the maid, Letty, that you and Elinor were close to one another.”

Elinor winced. She’d thought wrong about Letty.

“Henry noticed that His Grace didn’t trust him,” her father continued, “and since he’d noticed that you were close to the Duke, Elinor, he thought that you might be able to persuade His Grace to regain that lost trust.”

“Which she did,” Henry said, his expression cruel. “Very efficiently, too.”

“That’s not…” Elinor trailed off.

She had, but she never would have if she’d known that her uncle was stealing from Seth! She’d have never done anything to hurt him.

But I helped my uncle, whether I meant to or not. I helped him deceive Seth, even if the truth is coming out now.

Tears pricked at her eyes. She opened her mouth to finish her sentence, to assure Seth of her innocence, but no words emerged.

“And as you grew closer, we began to wonder if you and Elinor might be…courting one another or thinking of it,” Elinor’s father continued.

Elinor stared at her father, her eyes fixed on his face. He’d known. For how long?

“I couldn’t chance risking that,” her father continued. “No—no father could! I mean, Your Grace, you must realize that you are an unfathomably fortunate match for my daughter. If she married you, I would know that she’d be secure for the rest of her life. She wouldn’t have to struggle ever again. Not now or in the future.”

“I didn’t care about that,” Elinor whispered.

“Oh, don’t think he’s so noble,” Henry said. “He isn’t even your father!”