Free The Duke's Divorce (The Reluctant Grooms Series Volume IV) by Anne Gallagher Page A

Grace,” the maitre d’hotel intoned.
    “Good morning, Jacobs. Tell me, are any of my
friends about this morning?”
    “The Duke of Caymore is in the breakfast
room,” Jacobs said.
    “Thank you.” Robert took the stairs two at a
time.
    He found his cousin seated by himself at a
small table by the window, reading the newspaper.
    “Have you seen it?” Robert asked without
preamble.
    William looked up, a smile playing at the
corners of his mouth. “Yes, I have seen it. I’m sure all of Society
has seen it, Robby. I still cannot believe it is true.”
    Robert sat down and ordered coffee from a
passing waiter. “Yes, it is all too true.”
    “It is so unlike you to do something so
spontaneous, especially where marriage is concerned. Now we are
alone, you must tell me the real story. What happened? Did her
father catch you in the act?”
    Robert placed his fingers to his temples and
rubbed. He gazed at his cousin. “Unfortunately, yes. But it is not
what you are thinking.”
    William sat back, folded the newspaper and
placed it on the table.
    “I trust you will not relay the story,”
Robert pleaded. “The gossipmongers have already started and I do
not wish for any more fuel to be added to the fire.”
    William feigned a hurt look. “Cousin, blood
is thicker than water.”
    The waiter brought his coffee, and while he
sipped, Robert related the truth of how he managed to get married
in Scotland.
    “We are telling people our love grew over my
time there, and once you see her, it will be no hardship to
believe,” Robert said as he finished his tale.
    “I would expect nothing less from you,”
William said.
    Robert nodded. His exploits with stunningly
beautiful women were well renowned. How he had escaped the nuptial
noose had added to his legendary status.
    “Thankfully, I do not have long in the
parson’s trap,” Robert said. “I plan to annul the marriage within
six months. However, that is strictly privileged information.”
    “May I ask why?”
    “I do not love her. She does not love me, and
I will not be stuck in a loveless marriage like so many of our
contemporaries. I have always wanted what my parents had. I do not
need money, or a title.”
    “Yes, that is what you have always
maintained,” William said. “Why did you not just make a settlement
on the chit?”
    Robert had the grace to look shamefaced. “I
did offer, however, I….” Robert remembered the sting of Fiona’s
slap across his face. And the look of desolation in her eyes. “I
decided I would marry her and settle on her after our annulment,
thus killing enough birds with one stone to keep all parties happy.
Well, except myself, of course.”
    “Does your mother know?” William asked.
    “About the annulment?”
    William nodded.
    “Yes, both she and Lady Olivia know the truth
of our marriage and subsequent annulment.”
    “You’ve told Lady O the truth?” William
almost shouted.
    At William’s raised eyebrow, Robert
explained. “I thought it was in my best interest to let the Dowager
in on my scheme. She is such a meddlesome creature, I’m sure she
could help Fiona to find a suitable swain to marry once our
marriage becomes void.”
    William looked at his cousin for a long
moment. “It seems you have thought this out very carefully. What
grounds will you use to annul?”
    “Fraud and then non-consummation as a
secondary complaint.”
    William laughed. “You plan on not sleeping
with your beautiful wife for six months?”
    “It seems to be the wisest course. It will
not damage either of our reputations overmuch, the gossip will die
down as soon as Fiona marries again, and I may continue to search
for my perfect bride.”
    “I believe your reasoning may fail you,
Robby. One cannot help what one may do when he is in close
proximity to a beautiful woman.”
    “That is the beauty of this, Cousin. Although
she is exquisite, emotions are not involved.”
    *****
    There was a light tap at her door. Fiona,
having cried herself