Page 49 of My Beastly Duke
Looking at Aaron, Adam nodded with a look of understanding. “Well, we can’t leave those matters as they are. We will need to act at once, especially if Her Grace is in love with you.” He forced asmile and winked at Prudence who seemed to have lost all of her previous gumption.
Love can make fools of us all.
Aaron took pity on the young girl and decided to put her out of her misery before she melted onto his carpet. “Prudence, would you mind finding the housekeeper, and asking her to bring us some tea? I think there is a lot for the three of us to discuss.”
Nodding eagerly, with obvious pleasure at being included, Prudence skipped from the room in search of tea, pausing for a second in the doorway. “I will hold the fish eggs this time.” She met Aaron’s gaze with a pleasant smile for the very time and then proceeded to skip down the hall.
“Fish eggs?” Adam asked while keeping his gaze on her.
“It is better not to ask,” Aaron grumbled.
Adam watched her leave with a smirk before turning back to his brother.
“The girl seems to think that she is in love with you.” Aaron watched his brother closely, wondering how it had all come about.
“She will soon learn that seeing me as a hero is far from the truth. She is still young; she will soon grow out of her infatuation. They all do,” Adam grumbled and shook his head.
“Is that why you jilted Marina? Was there another woman who outgrew her infatuation?” Aaron asked the question before he could stop himself. The new-found relationship between him and Adam was still new and he was not quite sure what that entailed.
Adam’s face darkened slightly as he licked over his lips. “That is beside the point. What we need to focus on now is the Baron of Wallace. We need to confront him and put an end to all of his shenanigans.”
“You are right. I did not peg the man as someone who would resort to violence with women, but if Miss Prudence is to be believed we, must act quickly. Apparently, he showed up at their house with a gun this morning.” Aaron pushed his questions aside, thinking of how they would go about confronting the man without making life more difficult for Marina and her family.
Adam raised his eyebrows at the new information but did not venture an opinion. “I think I may have the perfect opportunity for us to confront the old boy.”
“Go on,” Aaron glanced at the open door, ensuring their privacy before continuing.
“It just so happens that there is a hunt to be held in two days. I declined the offer, but I think it would be a good opportunity. Among the names mentioned to me, was that of the Baron of Wallace. If he wants to play with guns, then perhaps we can show him his folly.” He held Aaron’s gaze with a knowing look.
Nodding his understanding, Aaron sat back in his chair. “Is there enough time to accept the invitation? Will they not have finalized their numbers for the party by now?” He went over all the possible hurdles that could face them. Joining a hunting party at the last moment after declining the invitation would certainly seem suspicious unless they knew the right people.
“The lord hosting the little trip is a good friend of mine from our days in the Navy. He owes me a few favors and will not mind me asking.” Adam seemed confident.
“It is settled then. We will join the hunt and confront Baron Wallace. How he will react I cannot say, but something needs to be done.”
Chapter 20
“Ithink the Baron of Wallace has just arrived.” Aaron fixed the saddle on his horse, tightening the straps.
Aaron was still amazed at how Adam had managed to secure a spot on the hunt, even if it had been at the last minute. His social charms seemed to be something that came with a lot of perks, something that Aaron lacked because of his years of isolation.
A loud commotion made them turn their heads as the baron raged and shouted at one of his men, aiming at kick at the poor man when his gun was not handed to him quickly enough.
“I see him now. I have already asked to be paired up with him.” Adam nodded his acknowledgment while keeping a close eye on the baron who came striding toward them in his tweed hunting suit with a matching hat and brown leather boots.
Reaching the two men, the baron held his head high and looked down his nose at them. “Your Grace, Mr. Marner.” He greeted them both with an heir of disdain and superiority as he held his rifle close to his side.
It was Adam who stepped forward quickly and extended his hand before Aaron could say anything at all. “My Lord, I am so glad that you could join us today.” He shook the baron’s hand with a charming smile that never faltered for a moment.
Baron Wallace seemed uncertain at first but quickly returned the gesture, switching his gun from one hand to the next.
“I know that things have not gone down smoothly between us all in the past, but I was hoping that this little trip could serve as an offering of peace between us.” Adam offered an explanation before letting go of his hand.
Peering over Adam’s shoulder, the baron glared at Aaron. “I can assure you that I was not at fault for any ‘rifts’ that may have occurred in our ‘family’, as you so eloquently put it, Mr. Marner.” He emphasized the words to make his point while lifting his upper lip in a half kind of snarl.
The way that the baron kept clutching at his gun made Aaron uneasy. Was this how he had shown up at Marina’s mother’s house? It was no wonder that Prudence had been so visibly shaken.
Aaron noticed the look his brother shot at him and held back, resisting the urge to swing at the arrogant coward. Letting goof the saddle, he walked around the horse and offered his hand to the baron. “I think it is time that we all bury the hatchet, no matter who was at fault.”