Read Online Only Scandal Will Do by Jenna Jaxon - Free Book Online

people should know. Perhaps he could ask Pritchett in the morning. Normal thing to do. Should raise no suspicions at all.
    Duncan drained the remaining spirits in his glass. He would get to the bottom of this; he only hoped the bottom would not be covered in scandal.
    * * * *
    Next morning as he sat to a breakfast of soft eggs and toast, Duncan pored over last evening’s London Chronicle , putting it down when Grayson informed him that Dr. Pritchett had arrived. Duncan had the man shown into his office and presented himself for treatment. The cheek had gotten worse since he’d bathed it.
    “Pritchett.” He greeted the little man with a nod as he entered the room. “Good of you to come so early.”
    “Anytime, my lord. Lord!” Pritchett caught sight of the gashes and sucked breath in between his teeth. “What on earth happened, Lord Dalbury? Were you attacked?”
    “Not exactly.” Duncan eased into his leather chair. “A slight run-in with a light-skirt last evening. She proved less enamored of my charms than I expected. Perhaps I should make her actions known to Harris for inclusion in the next edition of his list.”
    As the doctor examined the wounds, Grayson returned with hot water. Pritchett gently bathed the scratches and applied a noisome ointment. “I won’t stitch it, my lord. Such things heal better if left thus. You need to bathe the area and apply this ointment morning and night. The cheek should heal cleanly, but I fear there will be some scarring.”
    Duncan scowled, then winced as the movement pulled at the tender flesh. “Thank you, Pritchett.”
    The doctor bent to gather his bag and belongings.
    Duncan forced himself to remark casually, “I heard last night that the Earl of Manning died.”
    Pritchett’s head shot up, his brows lowered in a fierce scowl. “I would not believe every rumor I heard, my lord. And that one is certainly far from true.”
    Duncan sat up abruptly in his chair. “He’s not dead then?” Relief flooded him, the specter of scandal vanishing like scattered fog. An odd sense of loss rose as well; the captivating girl was merely a whore. So much for the prospective bride. Nevertheless, he was relieved.
    “The earl got a nasty bump on the head, but he was conscious when I left last night and I don’t foresee any lingering effects if he keeps to his bed for a week.” Pritchett shook his head and smiled. “Especially since his sister is bound and determined to nurse him back to health.”
    “Sister?” He swallowed with difficulty, his head pounding as dread returned full force. “I thought Manning only had a younger brother.”
    The doctor looked at him oddly, then his eyes widened. “You were speaking about the old earl? Lord William? I beg your pardon, Lord Dalbury, I had forgotten you were out of the country last year. Yes, William, the fifth Earl of Manning died in August of last year. At his club. Heart, I believe it was. The current earl is his nephew, John Fitzwilliam. Had a bit of a run-in with highwaymen last evening. My lord, has your cheek become worse?”
    A hiss, like the life being sucked from him, escaped Duncan’s mouth. Oh, God. Her story was all true. He fought to remain calm until Pritchett left, then sank down into his leather chair as though all the bones in his body had come unhinged. The facts fit together perfectly–the rope burns, the kidnapping. So perfectly, that Duncan could hear the gossip in the London streets: Did you hear the Marquess of Dalbury compromised the Earl of Manning’s sister? Have you heard the earl has challenged him? Do you think the marquess will kill him too?
    One fact surfaced: he must find Lady Katarina and convince her to marry him. There was no other course open to him if he was to retain his reputation as a gentleman. For if she refused, the one thing he sought most to avoid would ride him again this year: scandal.
     
     
     

 
    Chapter 6
     
    Anson, the valet, had finished making minute adjustments to the