Duchess by Chance by Wendy Vella Page B

out his chest. “Our father is in business with him.”
          “I’d hardly call cheating men out of their money ‘business’, Winchcomb,” Daniel said.   What had Eva’s life been like at the hands of these idiots?
          “It’s business is what it is, Duke! And about now Huxley will be seeing to unfinished business with your duchess, too!”
                Montgomery Winchcomb was not as slow as his older brother and had picked up on the change in the large duke’s demeanor. Eyes as cold as sleet were at present fastened on Bartholomew. “Uh, Barty,” Montgomery said desperately, trying to get his brother’s attention. Bartholomew, however, was not listening.
                “Really?” Daniel raised a brow.
                Happy for once to be the centre of attention, and most especially in front of his very powerful brother-in-law, Barty was not about to relinquish the reins to his younger brother.
                “Indeed. Father, you know, let Huxley play with Eva a little, but said he wasn’t to touch her - ”
               “Barty!” Montgomery said with more urgency.
                Two very large hands were now clenched at the duke’s sides.
                “At least until she had wed you, then after the wedding night you would dump her somewhere. Well who wouldn’t want to, ugly little thing like that? It makes one shudder thinking of her amongst us.”
                “Are you saying Huxley will make inappropriate advances to the Duchess of Stratton?”
                Bartholomew Winchcomb stilled. Suddenly, all the air squeezed from his lungs as he looked up at the Duke. His brother-in-law’s eyes were like looking into the pits of hell. “Uh, well, um…as to that, I’m just, uh…”
                “Of course Lord Huxley was just rambling. Harmless fellow, loves Eva like a sister,” Montgomery added with a high-pitched laugh. “He wouldn’t dream of touching our sweet Eva, would he, Barty?”
                “Nooo,” Bartholomew shook his head. He then allowed Montgomery to grab him and together, the brothers made a hasty retreat.
                Daniel watched the Winchcomb brothers flee, their coattails flicking as they ran through the quiet, exclusive club.
            “Do you know if Huxley is in town?” Daniel asked Simon as they both headed for the door through which the Winchcomb brothers had recently fled. The Duke had a very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach all of a sudden. Was his duchess in danger?
                “I returned this morning, Daniel, and have not had a chance to catch up on the gossip.” Simon fell in beside him as they collected their horses and started through the busy streets of London. “Do you think there was some truth to their claims, then?”      
                “I cannot afford to discount it. I have only elderly retainers at Stratton Lodge except for Tibbs, my stable master, and he goes to the village most nights. There would not be a lot of protection, should she require it.”
                Simon digested this for several seconds.  
                “They are fools, both of them, Daniel. I find it hard to believe that Huxley would pursue your wife, a duchess, to Stratton Lodge and attempt to take her against her will.”
                “I may not have wanted a wife, Simon, but I have one and can not discount any possible threat to her. She is under my protection now and I have left her vulnerable in my haste to leave Stratton.”
               “We need to find someone who knows about both the Winchcombs and the threat from Huxley,” Simon added, looking around him as if that someone was milling on the streets before them.
               Several curses filled the air as Daniel’s shoulders slumped. “Grandmother will know.”
               “Well this, my friend, is where