A Virgin for the Rakish Marquess (In War and Love #3)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

Bizarre Inquiries

D iana was going through her morning mail. Invitations to balls, musicales, and charity functions. She almost missed it. The envelope was different—heavier, thicker, and more luxurious than generic printed invitations. Then, she caught it. The Pemberton crest.

She hesitated. Her heart fluttered, and she bit her lip. Could that be a letter from James?

Had he decided to find another way to torture her other than his voice, his words, his laughter, his body, his touch, his mouth?

No. Of course not. He would never do something this formal. That meant that…

Impatiently, she broke the seal and scanned the elegant handwriting before concentrating on the words.

Lady Diana,

I trust this letter finds you well.

I would be honored to extend an invitation for tea at Pemberton House.

I have been informed that you are acquainted with my son. I find myself rather curious about your person, and I would like for us to meet.

If you would do me the kindness of accepting, my carriage will collect you at three o’clock.

I trust you will find our conversation enlightening.

Solomon Bolton, Duke of Pemberton.

Diana read the letter. Again. And one more time. She wasn’t sure how many times it was appropriate to read a letter from the father of the man who knew intimately how she tasted.

Surely once was enough. Twice, for good measure. Three times? Indulgent. But five times? That bordered on madness. And yet there she was, reading it again as if the words might change. As if they might offer her an answer she did not have.

I have been informed that you are acquainted with my son.

Diana nearly snorted. Acquainted? She was acquainted with his mouth on her neck, with his hands on her body, with the wicked sound of his voice when he whispered things no gentleman should say to a lady.

Oh, acquainted alright.

Panic then entered the scene.

Did he know?

Did James’s father know about their… agreement?

I trust you will find our conversation enlightening.

Diana struggled to read between the lines. Was he going to expose her? Accuse her of trying to ruin his son’s reputation to perhaps force him into marriage?

“Alright, I need to ask.” Elizabeth’s voice brought her back to the sunny drawing room. “What is that letter you keep reading?”

“Nothing.” Diana hastened to fold the letter and place it by her teacup.

“Interesting how many times can one read nothing .” Her sister-in-law was too observant for her own good.

“It’s an invitation that I am debating whether I should accept.”

“Suitor?” Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled.

“Nothing like that. Just some social event.”

“I am teasing you. I knew from the way you read it that it was not a love letter.”

“Love letter? Elizabeth!”

Diana was still furious, while Elizabeth was shaking with laughter. She wished she shared the sentiment. But by three o’clock, she had to make a decision.

The carriage rolled up the drive at three o’clock sharp, and Diana climbed in. Not too long after, it rolled to a stop in front of the grand, imposing entrance of Pemberton House.

Diana couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the place was. She had expected something more intimidating like James. But it had a beauty about it, a delicate splendor that made her smile. Somehow, this huge, magnificent place reminded her of the little house James took her to that night.

She was greeted by a butler who led her down a marble hallway to a large, well-lit study.

The Duke was waiting. Even if she didn’t remember seeing him by James’s side, she would still recognize him as his father. He stood up as she entered the room—a polite but distant gesture.

“Lady Diana,” Solomon said in a measured tone, bowing slightly. “I trust your journey was pleasant?”

“It was, thank you,” Diana replied, her voice tight as she curtsied.

She looked around nervously but discreetly, and quickly realized that whatever this was, James was not here. She started to panic, all sorts of scenarios going through her mind.

“Please, make yourself comfortable.” Solomon guided her to the small sofa in his study, leaving the door open and the butler standing outside.

Comfortable?

Diana smiled and took a seat. A fresh teapot was served already, and Solomon hastened to pour and offer her a cup. For a few moments, they just drank their tea in silence.

“Lady Diana,” Solomon began, eventually. “I knew of your father, but I never had the pleasure of meeting you or your siblings. You are the youngest, am I correct?”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Diana smiled.

“I have heard that your brother is bearing your father’s title with honor and dignity.”

“Stephen is doing an admirable job of taking care of the family. I am grateful for that. He had to take on so much after our parents died.”

She noticed that Solomon tensed up at the last comment. He clenched his jaw, and his grip on his cup tightened. For a moment, he looked away, almost wincing in pain.

“I hear that he is happily married.”

“Very much so. I am lucky to have Elizabeth as my sister-in-law. I know there are some terrifying stories about sisters living with their brothers’ spouses. I can assure you, I couldn’t be happier to have her as a sister and a friend.”

“The Duchess of Seymour is also your sister. Richard is one of my son’s closest friends.”

Diana swallowed her tea at the mention of James. She watched Solomon, who was also studying her. It was obvious that he didn’t invite her to talk about her family. It was bound that James would be mentioned. The real question was what the endgame was.

“Yes, Selina got married to Richard four years ago.”

“A good match as well. Richard is a person of rare integrity. I am sure, judging by yourself, that the boy I’ve known for many years is happy with your sister.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Your Grace,” Diana said gracefully, but then she decided to try a little offense. “I also have one brother—Herbert. Still unmarried. I believe he is involved in a business venture with Lord Crawford.”

“I imagine it could be so. My son is not one to sit idly and just enjoy the income the estate generates.”

It was the Duke’s turn to study her.

Diana was smiling, but inside, she was wary. She had heard the rumor that the Duke of Pemberton was… well, mad. It was not an easy feeling to sit across from someone with such a reputation. She had been expecting a reaction when she brought up James.

Instead, she saw a look that she could only describe as pride. And then it withered, and the Duke’s shoulders sagged.

It seemed that James was right, after all. Gossip was never the whole truth.

Solomon Bolton was neither crazy nor mad. He was severe, yes, but not unkind or unstable. There was something measured in the way he spoke, something controlled in his every movement. For the first time since arriving at Pemberton House, Diana realized just how much the rumors had misled her.

“What are you reading at the moment, Lady Diana?”

The question threw her off. She knew that the Duke would be more interested in her than her family, but for him to assume that she enjoyed reading…

He didn’t ask if she was reading. He asked what she was reading.

“How did you know I enjoy reading, Your Grace?”

“You observe before you speak,” he said. “You weigh your words. People who do that are either liars or scholars.”

And the ton called this man a madman.

Diana smiled, truly smiled this time. “I have decided to try my hand at Thucydides, Your Grace.”

“I will not even pretend to know anything about that. I am not a scholar, you see. It is James who is the reader in the family.”

Diana’s breath caught. Even hearing his name flustered her, and remembering their philosophical banter made her even more bothered. It was a part of James that she liked a lot. The other, she’d rather not bring up in front of his father.

“I understand that James has won five promenades with you,” Solomon said flatly.

“Yes.” Diana mustered her acting skills. “A little ruse from Selina to raise more money for the hospital. Lord Crawford graciously donated a generous amount to the cause.”

“I am sure he found that auction quite amusing. So, I gather you are spending some time together.”

Diana felt a shiver run down her spine. Surely, the Duke couldn’t have known about the agreement she and James had?

“Lord Crawford has honored his commitment,” Diana answered diplomatically.

Solomon set his cup down carefully, his fingers lingering on the delicate porcelain as if he were gathering his thoughts. His gaze remained steady on her. Not unkind, but assessing.

“What do you think of my son, Lady Diana?”

Oh.

Diana panicked. This felt like an ambush. Either a father who wanted to warn a woman away from his son or a father who was just interviewing a potential daughter-in-law. She would have thought all about that if she didn’t catch his body stiffen.

No, this was something different. She had the feeling that his question was not a trap. It was genuine.

Diana decided to trust her instincts.

“Well…” She smiled softly. “I can tell you this. Lord Crawford is not boring.”

Solomon relaxed and smiled back. “That is for sure. Never a dull moment with James. But don’t you find his… intensity overwhelming?”

Diana had to try really hard not to frown. She started having the suspicion that the Duke had invited her with one clear purpose. And that was to talk about his son.

She took a sip of her tea, trying to gather her thoughts. Because right now, she was having a hard time focusing. Between trying to assess the situation and hearing his father speak of intensity…

Sure, James was intense, relentless, dominating, powerful. She had a front-row seat to all of it, his hands commanding, his breath on her skin making her lose all thought.

Yes, overwhelming might be an understatement. But that was information she wouldn’t divulge to his father even on her deathbed.

“I agree that some would call it overwhelming. But others might call it conviction.” She tilted her head.

Solomon’s face lit up. Perhaps he was expecting some long list of complaints about the time she had spent with James. But she was a very satisfied participant.

“And how would you call it, Lady Diana?”

“I find it refreshing that Lord Crawford is unapologetically himself. If he is angry, he displays his distaste. If he is entertained, he laughs with his whole body. He doesn’t really care what others think of him simply because he knows very well who he is.”

Diana realized that she got carried away and talked too much about James—longer than a lady who was supposedly just promenading with him. But Solomon looked out the window in a thoughtful way.

“Yes. He was always like that.”

Diana glanced at him, sensing the weight of his words. He was not speaking about the James the world knew. The same man she thought she met at her sister’s auction. The rake, the charmer, the man who played games with his reputation and everyone else’s expectations.

No, this was something deeper.

“And yet,” Solomon continued, his tone thoughtful, “it is a difficult thing to sustain, always being at war with the world.”

Diana’s breath hitched. Solomon studied her face, and an understanding passed between them.

There was more to James’s unforgiving persona. Diana had started to notice that beneath the charm and the wicked smiles and the shameless flirtation, James never let his guard down.

Except perhaps…

“I was surprised to find out that he was captain of Pop.” Diana dispelled the heavy atmosphere.

Solomon smiled and was ready to say something when an elderly woman entered the room.

“Solomon!”

She had an air of practiced grace about her. Her back was straight, and her stride was steady. Diana recognized immediately that clever glint that James had.

So, this is the woman who created that perfect gorgeous, insufferable monster?

Diana rose instinctively and bobbed a curtsy. Solomon rose, too, with a warm smile on his lips. There was love in this vast house. It was sad that an unfortunate death kept it from blooming. She, too, had experienced loss. She knew how crippling it could be.

“Lady Diana, may I present my mother, the Dowager Duchess of Pemberton,” Solomon said.

“Nonsense.” The elderly lady waved a dismissive hand. “I insist that you call me Euphemia, please. I am way too old, and I’d rather finish a conversation without all these formalities that make it last twice as long.”

“A pleasure, Your?—”

A raised eyebrow from Euphemia made Diana chuckle.

“A pleasure, Euphemia.”

“Perfect.” Euphemia sat down beside her, and Solomon handed her a cup of tea. “You must be none other than Lady Diana. You are much more pretty than the rumors say.”

“Most kind of you.”

“So, you are the one my grandson trapped into five promenades with his insufferable self.”

Ooh, she is good .

Diana was amused. She either insulted James before his father and grandmother or defended him.

“You seem too sure that he is the one who set the trap, Euphemia.”

The old lady bowed at Diana’s wit with a knowing smile. But as she sipped her tea, Diana did not miss the look Euphemia gave Solomon. It was brief, fleeting, but sharp. A scolding, without a word spoken.

And thus Diana understood. Solomon had called her here in secret. James would not have known. If Diana knew him a little, she was sure that this would make him livid.

With her mind clouded by everything that had just transpired, she barely noticed the carriage ride home. A thousand thoughts warred in her mind, but one rose above the rest. If she could help this family heal, she would do it.