Free Deadly Engagement: A Georgian Historical Mystery (Alec Halsey Crimance) by Lucinda Brant

in the kingdom,” the Duchess said defensively. “You may think this the whim of an old lady, but I was determined not to repeat the mistake I made with her mother. I forced Madeleine into a loveless marriage when the last thing she wanted to be was Duchess of Beauly.” She came away from the window and stood opposite Alec, fluttering her fan. “Delvin is Emily’s choice. So be it. But if I’d had my way… What I wanted for her… I wanted you,” she confessed in a small voice, looking down at the ivory sticks of her fan.
    Alec kissed her forehead. “Thank you, Olivia. You have helped my self-esteem inch itself out of the slime, where it was firmly thrown this morning by Mrs. Jamison-Lewis.” He gave a huff of embarrassed laughter. “My pride took a great hammering but I shall live. Bruised and battered I may be but as much as I hate to admit it, hers is the voice of reason: I must accept the fact Emily chose someone other than my esteemed self!”
    The Duchess was not convinced. “You accept the engagement?”
    “I must accept it but I don’t approve of it. And I take exception to the fact her betrothed is my brother. Delvin doesn’t deserve her.”
    “Yes. Of course you must,” she muttered, not wanting to be drawn into the conflict between the brothers. She would always prefer her godson to his elder brother but Delvin was engaged to be married to her granddaughter and so she must be loyal, and secretly thankful that by making Emily his Countess the Earl was helping wipe away the stain of her illegitimacy. “I suppose you now know all about this shocking business between Jack and Delvin?” she asked.
    “Yes. Uncle Plant told me. I still find it hard to imagine Jack forcing a fight on anyone, least of all one of his best friends.”
    The Duchess sighed. “It is truly remarkable. Yet, Delvin is adamant Jack forced the fight on him all because Jack was in love with Emily. I was never more surprised of anything in my life. Jack was fond of Emily, but jealous of Delvin?”
    “What does Emily say?”
    “She won’t talk about Jack. She can’t speak his name without bursting into tears.” The Duchess glanced at her godson. “Of course your little visit hasn’t helped her state of mind. Despite what you might think, she sets great store in your opinion.”
    Alec tugged the bell pull. “My dear Olivia, you’re headed for disappointment if you came here in the hopes of persuading me to offer Emily my congratulations on her engagement.” He ordered an ale from the footman who came in answer to his summons and tea for the Duchess and while they waited for the footman’s return he told her about Lady Margaret Belsay’s visit with her niece in tow, adding, “The poor woman is naturally so grief stricken her reasoning is highly emotive. It is one thing to accuse Delvin of lying about why he and Jack fought a duel, but to suggest Delvin murdered Jack…”
    “Poor Meg. Her mind is quite deranged with grief,” said the Duchess, thinking over all her godson had told her. “But what of Selina? Surely she does not see the matter in the same light as her aunt?”
    Alec smiled to himself. Thief, liar and a cheat, so why not a murderer? Those were Selina’s words. Yet, Alec could not bring himself to repeat them to the Duchess. Lady Margaret’s damning indictment was sufficient for now. He was saved by the entrance of a footman with the tea tray.
    “What did Selina say about Jack?” persisted the Duchess, taking the dish of tea Alec offered her. “She and Jack were very close. His death has been a great blow to her.”
    “Under the circumstances, given she is newly widowed, I’m surprised to see her holding up so well. The death of Jamison-Lewis is more than enough grief for—”
    The Duchess gave a snort of disbelief. “ Grief ? Selina grieve for J-L? Good Gracious, no! No one would’ve blamed Selina had she dispensed with mourning altogether, such was the abuse she suffered at the hands of that