Page 47 of The Duchess Debt

“I’m assuming you’ll leave England via Bristol,” Gabe said in a casual voice that was all the more threatening for its control. “There are banks there that will exchange this for—”

“Three times the amount, or I’ll tell everyone your secret.”

He didn’t look up at Adam as his reached for the silver writing set on the corner of the desk. “You misunderstand.” Gabe calmly dipped the quill into the ink well and filled out the blanks on the rectangular piece of paper. “I couldn’t care less if you attempt to blackmail me. And it would be nothing more than that—anattempt.”

Adam said nothing.

He scrawled out his signature, continuing, “You see, in order to blackmail someone, the person being blackmailed has to actually care whether the information against him is spread, and I don’t give a damn.” He coolly reached for the brass blotter. “Clarissa and I were legally married long before Alice was born, which makes her my daughter under the law—the daughter of a very influential duke whom no smart man wants to cross.” He punctuated those words by forcefully pressing the blotter over the ink. “No one would believe you anyway. You and I look alike, and Alice looks very much like a Cavanaugh. Her paternity will never be doubted.” He set down the brass blotter before he decided to heave it at Adam’s head. “Your threat is empty.”

He put his finger on the cheque and slid it across the black granite desktop toward Adam, then sat back in his chair with the confidence of a man who had the world at his feet. Or at least a goodly chunk of the wealth and power in England. He wanted nothing more at that moment than to use all that wealth and power to toss Adam out on his trouble-ridden arse and forbid him to ever return.

The only thing stopping him was Helena. She was dedicated to family and would want the two brothers to reconcile. Gabe was willing to give her whatever she wanted. Even that.

He nodded at the cheque, the amount equal to Adam’s allowance for the past five years since he left England. “Take your allowance and go.” He reached for his glass of cognac andslowly swirled it as if the two men were discussing nothing more contentious than a new horse. “Or take it, withdraw your empty threat, and decide to become a real member of this family again. The original allowance—and the choice—is yours.” He dismissingly raised the glass to his lips and muttered against the rim, “Personally, I don’t give a damn what you do.”

Gabe wasn’t lying. He didn’t want Alice or Helena to be hurt by rumors and more scandal involving him, but he would also never let Adam blackmail him. He would never again letanyonelevel threats against him the way Clarissa had. Not even his own brother.

Adam glared murderously at him, his jaw visibly working as he clenched it so hard that Gabe wondered if he might just break a tooth.

“You’ve been away in India for five years,” Gabe acknowledged, throwing his brother a bone. “It’s a different world there, much harder and harsher. Perhaps you had to do whatever it took to survive. Perhaps I should give you a while to remember who you are and how to behave here in England.”

Adam let that attempt at a peace offer hang unacknowledged in the air between them. Then his eyes flicked down to the cheque, and Gabe could practically see the wheels turning inside his brother’s head as he quickly weighed his options.

Slowly, Adam pushed himself out of the chair and stalked forward to the desk. “Since I’ve come all the way here, I might as well stay a while so I can get to know myniece.”

Gabe said nothing, keeping his expression inscrutable. Adam was the worst kind of scapegrace, always had been. But even he was smart enough to know when he was beaten.

“I’ll stay until your wedding then.” He gave Gabe his most charming—and most fake—smile. “You might need a best man.”

“I already have one.” Caleb Parker would stand up at the wedding, the man who was more of a true brother to him than Adam had ever been.

Adam didn’t let that cut register on his face and casually crossed his arms. “It’s a damn shame your marriage to Clarissa didn’t work. I would have thought she’d have made the perfect duchess—the daughter of an earl, beautiful, fashionable…certainly passionate, in my experience.”

Gabe refused to rise to that bait. “Your room is most likely ready. No need to come down for dinner tonight. I’m certain Larkin would be happy to carry up a tray.”

Adam chuckled knowingly beneath his breath and reached for the cheque. “No need.” He folded the piece of paper and tucked it into his jacket’s inside breast pocket. “I’ll take supper at the village tavern. After all, wouldn’t want to put anyone out with my stay.”

He rapped his knuckles on the desktop as a goodbye, then turned and sauntered away. He stopped just as he reached for the door to open it.

“You know,” he said over his shoulder as if struck by an afterthought, “I’m surprised you’re marrying Helena. I mean, it’s jolly good of her to take you back after the way you jilted her. But you need to be careful, brother. In many ways, she’s exactly like Clarissa.”

Adam left and closed the door after himself.

“She’snothinglike Clarissa,” Gabe muttered.

Blowing out a harsh curse, he slumped down in the leather chair. His hand shook as he raised the glass of cognac to his mouth, the roiling anger inside him finally making its way to the surface. He tossed back the last swallow and welcomed the burn down his throat.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

11 Days Until the Wedding

Helena hurried through the house toward the breakfast room. The sun flooded the manor with its bright morning light, but the day was still new, the household barely awake, including her maid, whom she left sleeping while she dressed herself as best she could. She didn’t want to waste time. She needed to find Gabe.

She pulled open the breakfast room doors and stopped.Empty.Gabe’s place setting at the head of the small table sat untouched. Her shoulders deflated.

Larkin approached her in the hall. “May I help you, miss? Breakfast isn’t quite—”

“Is Thurston still in his room?”