Page 87 of It's All About the Duke
Rath had remained quiet and let her talk, not wanting to believe her, but he did. Marlena had been taught not to be afraid of anything by her cousins. “Damnation,” he whispered aloud. Miss Truth wasn’t the timid Miss Everard or her sister. She was Marlena. The strong, beautiful lady standing before him. The one who had captured his heart with her wit, loyalty, and kindness toward her friends. The one he loved and wanted to marry had set out to punish him and his friends.
Maybe she wasn’t through with him.
A burning heat started in Rath’s chest. He stepped closer to Marlena. “Did you want me to take your innocence today to punish me yet again?”
“What? No.”
Rath threw his shirt to the bed. “Damnation, Marlena, this is too important for us. Don’t lie to me about it. You knew I had vowed never to touch an innocent, yet you knew how desperately I wanted you. I kept saying no, but you held out your hand to me.”
“I did that because I wanted to be with you, too.”
“Did you? I’m wishing I could believe that right now, instead of thinking this was a part of your revenge, too.Were you thinking it would be a good way to force me to marry you, not knowing that I loved you and already wanted to marry you?”
“I don’t know how you could even think that,” she said, her voice rising.
“I have good reason to. Perhaps you even suggested to Mr. Olingworth that he contact me to be your guardian. Is that how far back your deceit goes?”
“How could it?” she asked. “I didn’t even know who you were then.”
“It sounds reasonable to me, Marlena,” he said angrily. “You just admitted you started the scandal sheet as soon as you arrived in London. Why am I not to believe this day was planned, too?”
“Because my feelings for you are pure,” she insisted. “I have not betrayed you concerning my feelings. I would have never written about you if I’d known I’d meet you one day and fall in love with you.”
“It’s not just about me, Marlena. You wrote about my friends. About Lady Sara and Lady Vera, who has been so kind to you.”
“I had no idea what lovely people Lady Vera and the Duchess of Griffin were when I started the column. Just as you had no idea young ladies would be harmed when you wrote your letters.”
Rath’s anger and frustration continued to build, not just toward Marlena but for all that had happened since he’d met her. “But I didn’t do it intentionally. You did. You admitted that when you wrote about the rumor that started at White’s, your sales soared. Didn’t you know that would put Griffin’s sisters in danger from mischief-makers? Lady Vera might still be at risk from someone wanting to in some way harm her to get back at us.”
“No. No,” she answered just as passionately as he’d spoken. “I mean yes, it crossed my mind, but I didn’tthink anyone would harm a duke’s sister. Who would be so bold as to try?”
“You, Marlena.”
She flinched as if he’d struck her. He saw that his words wounded her deeply. They were harsh but he was powerless to take them back.
“I never wanted them in danger,” she argued. “I didn’t think they would be. I was seventeen. I didn’t think a gentleman would ever set mischief upon a lady. That’s what rakes do.”
Even though he was angry with her, she could still amaze him with her boldness. In a softer voice he answered, “Yes, I guess we do it, too.”
“I can’t put my bad behavior off to having had too much brandy to drink or wagering with my friends.”
“I have never tried to excuse what I did, Marlena. Lady Vera and Lady Sara were as innocent as the ladies we sent letters to.”
“I understand that now and I am deeply sorry. Lady Vera told me she was actually accosted by Lord Henry.”
“And you were going to dance with him,” Rath ground out. “I probably should have let you.”
“Justine arranged that dance. And whether or not you believe me I’ve felt remorse since first meeting Lady Vera. No, since first meeting you.” She took in a deep breath that seemed to swallow down a sob. “I had hoped to end the scandal sheet after the first Season, but I kept doing it. For that, I’m sorry.”
Rath sensed she wasn’t telling him everything. What else could she know? What had she left unsaid?
Rath tensed again. “Marlena. You know who started the rumor at White’s, don’t you?”
She swallowed hard.
“Someone at the publishing company. Who? Tell me who they are.”
“So you can throttle them?”
