Page 78 of My Cruel Duke

“For whatever it is worth, I hope Wilson is lying like he always does. Harold does not seem like the kind of man to do such a thing.” Aunt Augusta passed him a sad smile, but he could not do the same.

She had meant her words to be calming, but it only made Rhysand even more nervous and angry. What happens when he finds evidence like Wilson said he would, and it turns out that his uncle had truly done it?

It would break him more, and that scared him.

Penelope had come up with the plan, and it was simple; Aunt Augusta would take Uncle Harold out of the house, giving them enough time to search his room for the letters Wilson Hislop swore they would find.

“I am a businessman. I had to find something to hold onto. I could not let Harold have a hand over me, and blackmail me into doing despicable things. I always told him I had evidence, that is why he never did anything to me for years, but I have always known he wanted to kill me.”Rhysand recalled Wilson’s words.

“Tell me then, what is this evidence?” Rhysand asked him. Wilson cleared his throat. “I shall tell you if you agree to get me out of here.”

“You are in no position to ask for release. You killed a person, and you attempted to kill another. Lord only knows how many people you have killed in all your life. Now tell me, what and where is this evidence?” Rhysand smacked his hand on the table.

“Your uncle was a romantic. He loved your mother dearly, and one of his favorite ways of showing her his love was writing her letters. They exchanged a few letters…”

“How do you know that?”

“It is very easy to plant spies, Your Grace. One has to keep an eye on his rivals…” Wilson bowed his head as if to apologize for planting a spy in Thornbury Hall.

Wilson claimed those letters were in Uncle Harold’s possession, and now he was going to check. Rhysand could not tell if he wanted to find the letters or not. He did not believe his uncle could do such a thing, but a tiny part of his brain was curious.

He did find it weird that Uncle Harold blew up harshly when he brought up Wilson’s release. He was against the release and seemed to be the happiest man on the face of the earth when Wilson was locked up.

Rhysand released a frustrated breath.

“Come now, we must make do of every second that he is away.” Penny pulled Rhysand up from the chair, and up to his uncle’s room.

The place looked like it always did; clean and neatly arranged. Uncle Harold had always been keen on arranging things in a particular order. He always arranged his room himself, because according to him, none of the maids could arrange it to his satisfaction. Now Rhysand wondered if he always arranged it himself because he had something to hide.

Penelope started from his closet, searching his coats, while Rhysand went for his briefcases arranged in a stack against the closet wall. The briefcases were void of any evidence that strengthened Wilson’s claim, and it seemed Penelope did not find any evidence.

“Go and rest on his bed, I shall search the entire room myself.”

“I do not want to rest.”

“Penelope you are with child.”

“I am pregnant, not sick. Quit treating me like I am a child,” Penelope pouted. When she pushed her lips like that, she resembled a child, but she had a point, she was not sick.

“I believe I have found something,” Penny announced, staring into the open box in her hands. Inside the brown box sat multiple missives and letters, and what seemed to be dried flower petals.

Rhysand’s huge body appeared behind her, pressed against the closet door in her kneeling position.

“Let me see that,” Rhysand whispered and she sucked in a breath. It had been too long since she was in his embrace like this. Rhysand’s long fingers came down over hers and took the box from her hands. He took out the first letter, inspecting it with clear blue eyes. Then his eyes hardened as he read some words off the envelope, and opened it swiftly, nearly ripping the old paper.

I promise to give you everything and more if you come to me. I am not lost on your concerns, I shall take care of them. Say you will come to me.

H.

The letter read.

It did not hold his mother’s name, but Penny suspected it was written to Rhysand’s mother.

You are all I ever want. All I have ever wanted, my Rose. If I cannot have you, I fear no man can. I will not let you go.

H.

Penny gasped at the second letter.