Page 42 of The Not So Perfect Duke

“And once they left Chellenhome, who knows where they went from there? It may be impossible to trace, especially the earlier ones.” Althea took Damon’s hand and squeezed it gently. “It is heartbreaking. What your father did was monstrous.”

“You have no idea. Among the duke’s papers, I found a book published in 1883 by Francis Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin. Concerning eugenics.”

Althea cocked her head in question. “What is that?”

Damon curled his lip in disgust. “Galton coined the name. I was horrified to read part of it. ‘The practice or advocacy of improving the human species by selectively mating people with specific desirable hereditary traits.’ Galton approached many in the British elite to ‘better mankind through proper propagation.’ My father and a few others embraced this, but most dismissed the man and his ideas. I hear it is taking root in parts of America, however.”

“Oh, that is horrific,” Althea gasped.

“The late duke was obsessed with eugenics. My father underlined certain passages and made notes in the margins. He wasn’t concerned with intellect as such. He just wanted attractive offspring. Apparently, this practice has been around since ancient times. ‘Natural selection and selective breeding’ are enough to turn one’s bile.”

“So, your father followed this line of thinking even before the book was published. Good God.” Althea thought she couldn’t be more shocked by the late duke’s immoral behavior, but this? Beyond the pale. The level of arrogance.

“Have you noticed that some of the rakes and those associated with us have father or stepfather difficulties? Asher’s wife, Chastity, her evil stepfather. Gideon’s stepfather, Whinstone. Olivia’s adoptive vicar father, and the one who supplied the seed, my loathsome father,” Damon stated.

“But there were just as many good men in that group,” Althea replied gently. “Christian has glowing words for his late father, as does Asher. Brandon Knight also loved and respected his father and sought revenge on his behalf. Then my—and Eleanora’s—father, who was the best of men,” she concluded.

“All in the past tense. All those good men died far too young,” Damon interjected, squeezing her hand in return.

“There is my Uncle Reece, my father’s younger brother. I do not remember my mother, who died eighteen months after I was born. Uncle Reece moved in with us and helped his brother to raise his girls. My uncle is also the best of men, but thankfully, he is still here.”

“I am glad you have your uncle. Not having a mother in one’s formative years is not easy.”

“No. It isn’t. And you know that. I am sorry your mother was unavailable to you when you needed her. But she can be part of your life now.”

Damon nodded but did not reply.

“So, what will you do next?” Best to change the subject for now.

“I will meet with Evercreech since we have already spoken. I cannot go through the rest of my life pretending he doesn’t exist. And the footman, Donaldson, at Chellenham Park? Do I reside there at some point, knowing my half-brother is pouring my tea? If I were a heartless cad—and for years, I was—I could do it. Other men through the centuries no doubt acted the same.”

Althea nuzzled Damon’s hand against her cheek. “But you are not heartless, are you?”

“No, not entirely. I will speak with Evercreech and Donaldson soon and see what transpires. If nothing, so be it. I will offer to find other employment for Donaldson. He cannot stay at Chellenham Park. But all the ones who came after? Close to three decades worth?” He shook his head sadly.

“It is not your guilt to bear. Assist the few you can. It’s more than most would do. I think you have found your cause when Parliament convenes in October. There is no adoption law, and homeless children still roam these streets and have done so for centuries. There is a need for more orphanages and better education on controlling birth rates. There is much to be done,” Althea urged. “And you are up to the task. I know you are.”

“Thank you for that. Well, I will have some help. MacClery wants to assess Chellenhome to see if the building is viable. He is quite smitten with Mrs. Seddon and wants to be nearby.”

Althea smiled. “Oh, I think that is brilliant. Yes, put Mr. MacClery in charge. Why not sponsor a home for foundlings? He could also find a tenant for the farm and mill, maybe one of your tenants at Chellenham Park!” She clapped her hands together enthusiastically. “Think of the good you can do now in the present.”

“I know what I would like to do. Right now, in the present,” Damon said in a low, husky voice.

“And you are still a bit disreputable. I like that, as long as it is only for me. For now.”

Did she want to be involved with him beyond the case? Realistically, that is as long as it could possibly last. It had been a relief to discover there was more to Damon than the handsome surface.

But for them to mesh their lives together?

At some point, Eleanora and Christian would have children if they were able. They could keep their investigative partnership for a couple more years, but Christian needed an heir. So does Damon. Althea had no desire to have children. Or at least, she never really gave it much thought.

Althea had assumed she would be alone on this investigative agency venture because Eleanora was already married. And Sybil may soon be if her courtship with Corbett came to its obvious conclusion. Althea was good with that and wished her sister and cousin all the happiness in the world.

All she wanted was to run this investigative agency until she was too old. Althea had plans. Further expansion, hiring more investigators—preferably women. Opening a large office somewhere in the West End. It consumed her waking thoughts.

Well, not all her waking thoughts.

Exhaling, she met Damon’s gaze. He was crawling far too close to her heart. Perhaps suggesting physical intimacy was a grave mistake on her part. Althea had the feeling if and when they shared a bed, it would merely deepen what was already occurring between them, and it would upend all her plans for the future.