Page 19 of The Duchess He Couldn’t Resist

“Covington?” Owen frowned.

Brandon could practically see the man sorting through the endless information he possessed on every member of the gentry. He patiently waited for Owen to make the connection between the name and the status.

“The daughter of the late Earl,” Owen said, not remotely impressed with his own remarkable memory. “Terrible rumors and gossip circulate about her although I have never personally met her. It is said that she is a miser who makes her mother’s life miserable by withholding funds.”

Brandon scoffed into his whiskey and tightened his grip around the glass. The same fury that had overtaken him in the Covington drawing room surged through him once more.

At first, Brandon had assumed Lady Covington had merely been there to chaperone and ensure her daughter remained unharmed. But it had not taken long for him to realize the Dowager Countess had far more nefarious intentions than concern for her daughter’s well-being. It had been almost appalling to witness the shameless way she had openly flirted with the man courting her daughter.

“I assure you, Ring,” Brandon nearly growled, “those rumors are entirely false. Lady Marigold is in dire financial straits, and she owes money to Johnny and his goons. It appears she was put up as collateral.”

The room fell silent.

Everyone present knew exactly what that meant. It was precisely for that reason that the Dark Hand longed to see Johnny’s operation dismantled.

“It is perhaps because of that,” Brandon continued, trying to sound more professional than he felt, “that Lady Marigold has unique access to the gang and its operations. She even cooks for them.”

Brandon gave a short chuckle.

“They are threatening to collect her and her dignity,” Owen demanded clarification, “and she cooks for them? She is either the most brilliant strategist in this room or the most naive person I have ever heard of.”

“Or,” Brandon glared at Owen, “a compassionate human being.”

“Compassionate and naive could very well be synonymous,” Owen replied with a provoking smile.

But they had known each other since Eton, and Brandon was not so easily baited.

“The bottom line is that Lady Marigold possesses a great deal of information. She has even heard Johnny’s voice.”

“That is indeed a very useful informant,” Thumb said pragmatically. “Did Lady Marigold agree to provide information? People around Johnny tend to remain tight-lipped, lest they find themselves floating in the river.”

“She will disclose all information regarding Johnny and his gang,” Brandon said confidently.

“That is only logical,” Little remarked. “After all, if Johnny is removed, he can no longer collect her debt.”

“Spare no expense in securing that information,” Thumb instructed.

“I am taking the necessary steps to ensure that this information reaches only my ears.”

Everyone relaxed at that statement because they knew Brandon never made promises he did not intend to keep. Owen raised his glass toward him, likely assuming Brandon had somehow seduced the poor lady into revealing secrets about the ruling gang of the London docks.

“Though you can certainly afford it,” Thumb commented, “I hope the endeavor will not cost you too dearly.”

Brandon chuckled as he swirled the whiskey in his glass.

“That depends entirely on one’s perspective,” he said with a sly smile. “I think I negotiated rather effectively.”

“How so?”

“In exchange for this vital information, all I have to do is marry her.”

CHAPTER 6

CLOUDING SUN

If she had any friends, Marigold was sure they would have shared how they dreamed their wedding would come to be. The courtship, the proposal, their families happy, and that sweet, sweet anticipation of taking the next step toward the rest of your life.

But she did not have any friends. Just her mother in the sad drawing room, reading the paper again and again. Somehow, the Duke had managed to acquire a marriage certificate, and he thought it prudent to announce such an achievement in the papers. There, within the bold black frame and elegant printed letters, her name stood beside his for the whole world to see.