His Unexpected Bride (25 page)

She thought she saw his lips twitch, but she must have been wrong because he said, “I have learned you cannot keep your emotions in check.”

“You have no idea how many I do!”

“Mayhap, but that could mean you are hiding your true feelings for Eustace.”

“You think I have a
tendre
for Eustace Knox?” she gasped. “Are you mad?”

“It might be the most brilliant solution I can imagine, save that there must be no question the heir to my father's title is my son, not someone else's.”

“You
are
mad!” She stared at him. “Or is this your attempt to drive me into another man's arms so you can return to the arms of your mistress?”

“Both Pamela and I have told you that our
affaire
is over.”

“She is not the only woman in London. If you have found another—”

“Tess, you know I am searching only for the answers to Russell's death.”

“Then why are you pelting me with questions about your friend and me?”

“Because I want you to know what you will be facing tonight.”

Tess's shoulders eased from their angry tension. Knowing she might be risking seeing his face lose all emotion as he shut her out again, she stepped closer to him and put her hand on his shoulder. He placed his own hand on hers.

“I will be able to handle any comments fired at me tonight,” she said softly, “if I know you do not believe any of them.”

“Are you asking if I trust you?”

She wanted to argue that she was asking if he loved her, but she said, “Yes.”

“My answer is the same as yours, Tess. Yes, I do trust you.” He lifted her hand from his shoulder and pressed his mouth to it. When her breath sifted past her parted lips, he smiled. “You need never ask that again, for I would not reveal to you all I have learned today if I did not trust you completely.”

As he shared what he had found out in the tavern, Pamela Livingstone's comments echoed in Tess's head. Should Tess believe what her husband's former mistress had told her? Was it possible Cameron was more intrigued with Tess than he had been with any woman? His trust in her seemed to confirm that, but she must not allow her eager heart to betwattle her. He was speaking of camaraderie while she longed to hear him speak of love. As well, he was speaking of a duplicity she had not suspected could exist.

“If you ask questions,” she said, giving voice to her fears, “you could be refocusing upon you the fury of whoever had your brother murdered.”

“I cannot let the mastermind behind this evil plot go unpunished. I must know the truth, and for that I need your help.” He folded her hands between his. “You have been more than patient with me, Tess.”

“Patient?”

“With my ignoring how I would find a way to end our marriage as I had promised you.”

She could not answer. She had not guessed that he would speak of this
now
. Despite his words to Eustace, she had hoped Cameron would have changed his mind about their marriage. She recalled again, as she had not in days, the slip of Mr. Paige's letterhead that Cameron had had in his account book. Had he been figuring how to pay for a divorce? The cost would be high, even for a duke.

“First I must discover what really happened when Russell died,” Cameron continued, and she guessed he had not taken note of her despair. “Once I have done that, then we shall take a look at the future. Is that agreeable?”

“Yes,” she said, although she wanted to shout
no!
“You need not worry about me tonight, Cam.”

“What did you call me?” he asked, astonishment filling his voice.

“Cam. It is what the boys call you, and I fear I have let their habit become mine.” Again she did not add the whole truth. It was simple to think of him as Cameron when he kept that wall between them. When he lowered it, even a single brick, this name had seemed so natural on her lips. “I apologize if you find it distasteful.”

“Quite to the contrary, for it is the way my father always addressed me. I had forgotten that until just now.” He squeezed her hands gently. “Thank you for reminding me of that, Tess.”

She smiled for only a moment, then said, “You can trust me tonight, Cam. I will not heed any insinuations about me and Eustace,” she said as she watched his finger glide along hers.

“Made by others?”

“Will
you
be making insinuations?”

“Not about you.”

“Only in search of the truth about Russell?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Cam, tell me if there is any way I can help.”

“There is.” He tugged her against him, his lips on hers. Sweeping her fingers up through his hair, she savored the firm lines of his body … for as long as she could. The questions he would ask tonight might be as dangerous as anything he had faced at Waterloo, because he had no idea who his enemy was.

Seventeen

Cameron pulled his gaze away from his wife, who was listening to the music with an enrapt expression. He had planned to look around the room while he considered which one of the guests might be an appropriate one to speak to. The man who had arranged for his brother's death could be among the guests, but Cameron must not tip his hand before he had some information to point him toward his prey.

Tonight could be the night that would bring him the answers he sought, but he was unable to concentrate on his hunt for the truth. Instead he kept watching Tess. He had not guessed she had such an appreciation for music.

When she glanced at him and smiled, his lips rose to return her warm expression. He had been congratulated again and again tonight on his good fortune in marrying such a pretty woman, even though he had seen some brittle smiles when he mentioned her maiden name.

“Isn't that lovely?” she whispered as the orchestra paused before the next part of the selection.

“Very.”

“Whom do you plan to speak to first?”

“Our host.” He could not add more as the conductor raised his baton and set the percussionist to a flurry of drumming.

When her fingers brushed his arm, he put his hand over them, holding them to his sleeve. He wished this program could last for the rest of the evening so he could sit here with Tess close as the music enveloped them.

Cameron silenced his sigh as he applauded when the conductor lowered his baton for the last time. He came to his feet. Tess looked up at him and smiled before turning back to listen to Lady Peake, who was expounding on each piece of music they had heard. From experience, he knew the white-haired lady would keep Tess busy long enough for him to ask Sir Walter Long the questions that might get him the information he needed.

Tess wanted to wish Cameron good luck in his search for answers, but she listened to Lady Peake, who was disappointed that her favorite music from Mozart had not been played. The performance tonight had been more wonderful than Tess had imagined. The melodies had been sweet and Cameron's touch even more so.

“You two ladies seem to have enjoyed this evening's entertainment.” Eustace bowed over Lady Peake's hand. “You are looking quite enthralled, my lady.” His smile broadened as he took Tess's hand and raised it to his lips. “And you look absolutely luminous, my dear Tess.”

“Thank you.” She pulled her hand away. Surely Cameron had spoken to him about the perils of flirting like this. If not, she must set him straight with all speed.

“Can I hope it is because you soon will have excellent news to share with all of us?”

“That, sir, is none of your bread-and-butter.”

“Listen to the Town cant,” he said with a broad smile. “Yet you are being a country bumpkin, Tess. Such matters of heirs are spoken of candidly among the
ton.
”

“Mayhap, but not by me. It is no one's business but Cam's and mine what takes place within the private regions of our house.”

She heard Lady Peake's sharp intake of breath. Curse Eustace!

Standing, she said, “I think you—” A motion beyond him caught her eye. “Papa!” Tess hated how her voice came out in a squeak. “What are you doing here? You should have let us know you were coming to Town.”

He gave her a kiss on the cheek. He was dressed in perfect style, looking as if he often called upon friends among the Polite World. “My dear daughter, it would appear marriage is a happy state for you. Knox is correct. You are positively glowing.”

“Thank you.” She smiled. “Do you know Lady Peake, Papa?”

“Papa?” Lady Peake extended only the tips of her fingers, surprising Tess, because the lady had been more than welcoming to her. “I did not realize the duchess is
your
daughter, Mr. Masterson.”

“Yes,” he said, “my daughter is now a duchess. It is amazing how the fates unfold, is it not?” He clapped Eustace on the shoulder. “Knox, you are just the man I had hoped to see here tonight. If the duchess and Lady Peake will kindly excuse us …”

Tess nodded, fighting the uneasiness in her center at how her father grinned with triumph each time he spoke of the title she had gained when Cameron's brother died. “Papa, how long will you be in Town?”

“Don't worry, Tess,” he said, giving her another kiss on the cheek. “We will have plenty of time to enjoy my visit, but for now, I have some business with Mr. Knox.”

She clamped her lips closed. Of course Papa had business with Eustace. How could she have forgotten how Cameron's friend was blackmailing her father? She wanted to grasp her father's arms and cry out that he must let her help him. Cameron had such a strong sense of duty to what was right that surely he would help. As a duke, Cameron would have allies to assist Papa in resolving quietly whatever matter Eustace Knox was using to extort money.

Pardoning herself as well, Tess sought Cameron through the crowd discussing the evening's music and the day's gossip. She saw him at the far side of the room. Rushing up to his side, she said, “Cam, I must speak with you at once.”

He looked from her to the man he was conversing with. The man was tall and frightfully thin, and she could not recall being introduced to him. With a bow of his head, he said, “I will leave you to your wife, Hawksmoor.”

“What is it, Tess?” Cameron asked, tight-lipped. “I thought you understood nothing must get in the way of my conversations this evening.”

“My father is here.”

“Is that so?” He frowned. “Then why are you not chatting with him while I seek the information I need?”

“Something is not right.” The words sounded silly when she could not explain the truth of how Mr. Knox—she could not think of him by his given name, which implied some sort of friendship—was blackmailing Papa.

“You are quite correct about that. Now I see someone I must speak with, so I beg your indulgence to be patient a while longer.”

She did not move aside. “Cam, please, there is something you must know.”

“What is it? Does it have some impact on the search for answers on my brother's death?”

“No.”

“Then it must wait.” He added in a gentler voice, “I know it is difficult for you to be patient, Tess, but I promise you it shall not be much longer.”

“Promises! I am sick to death of promises!”

“What?” Puzzlement widened his eyes even as his brows lowered.

“You should be, too! How many more promises are you going to make to me that you cannot keep?”

“I have never—”

“To love, honor, and cherish is what you must have promised.”

He glanced past her. “Tess, I must speak to Williams before he leaves for the club. I have told you we will resolve this after I have uncovered the truth about Russell.” He walked away, catching up with a man who was standing by the door.

She sighed. Why was she trying to rush them into having this discussion? Cameron might be able to learn what had happened with his brother, but she doubted he would come to discover the truth about how much she wished they had met under other circumstances and could have had a chance at a true marriage.

Tess saw her father's eyebrows rise nearly to his hair when she was announced by the butler who had opened the door. She wanted to ask when Papa had hired a butler for a house in Town. She was curious when he had purchased this house on Soho Square, for they had always stayed at her grandmother's house when they came to London. Even more, she longed to know how he could afford the luxury of obviously new furniture and rugs and even artwork when they had been watching every farthing in the country.

Now was not the time for those questions when she had another, far more important one to ask him.

Her father rose from a chair by a white marble hearth and smiled. Taking his pipe from his mouth, he said, “Now it is my turn to be surprised at your call.”

Tess ran to his side. “Papa, I am coming to seek your advice. Please help me.”

“Help you?” He laughed. “My dear daughter, I cannot imagine what more you could want. You have a wealthy husband, a lovely home here in London, a fine estate at Peregrine Hall, and you are a duchess.”

“Mayhap.”

“Mayhap?” He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I may or may not be a duchess, because the title might not be rightfully Cameron's.”

He seized her arm and sat her, rather roughly, on the closest chair. “Are you mad, Tess? Of course the title is his. Once Russell Hawksmoor was dead, your husband assumed the title. There is no one else.”

“But there may be.”

“Will you explain instead of hinting at the source of this trouble? You have always been so uncommonly concerned with not hurting someone's feelings that you avoid speaking directly.”

Tess winced as her father's voice rose to a shout. In the months since she had left his house, she had forgotten how volatile he was. She had not realized it, but she had become accustomed to Cameron's reserve, and she had come to appreciate it.