DisobediencebyDesign by Regina Kammer Page B

of
their first child.
    Except he would eventually join Joseph across the Atlantic. But
he would bring Henny and their child to counter whatever hold Joseph had over
him.
    He chuckled. Joseph would probably insist Henny join them.
    The click of the library door startled him to the present.
Joseph entered, greeted him distractedly then sat in an easy chair to the side
of the fire with a sullen sigh.
    Joseph hated small talk and they could simply exist in the
same room without conversing but his sigh was laden with something akin to
anguish.
    “What’s wrong? You left earlier today in quite a funk.”
    Joseph lifted his head to look at Arthur. “If it hadn’t been
for a brief, somewhat cheering visit by your sister this afternoon, I think I
would be worse.”
    Arthur leaned back in his chair. “What happened?”
    “Last night while I was taking a walk in the garden, I saw
something I simply cannot get out of my head.”
    He stopped as if to collect his thoughts. Arthur knew better
than to disturb him.
    “I got lost in the garden and ended up by the service
entrance on the ground floor. I heard a noise. The light from the upper floors
was just enough to see what was going on. Against the side of the house a man,
a party guest, a peer, was abusing one of the housemaids. Her cries were
pathetic—pleading and resigned all at once. He hit her then left her crumpled
on the ground.”
    Arthur had heard of such things but had never himself been a
witness or known of someone personally who had bragged of such a conquest.
    “I helped the girl as much as I could and left her in the
care of the head housekeeper. I received a note today from the housekeeper, which
raised my spirits some. The girl was seen by a doctor. She is still marred by
cuts and bruises but will recover.”
    “It is unfortunate some men of the aristocracy feel they can
do whatever they wish with servants.”
    Joseph glared at him. “She was sixteen years old, Arthur, a complete
innocent. There is absolutely no reasoning behind such a heinous act.”
    Arthur’s gut twisted. They shared the room in silence,
Joseph trembling and boiling about something still left unsaid.
    “You know who the man was, don’t you?”
    “I do.”
    “I fear there is nothing we can do. Such acts are often not
considered crimes.”
    “And if I told you the man was Royston?”
    Arthur’s gut twisted further and he stared at his friend in
momentary disbelief, realizing in a flash that Joseph was telling him what he
had always suspected about the duke. “I can’t say that I am surprised.”
    Joseph stood and leaned against the hearth, staring into the
fire. “And your sister? You would allow her to marry such a villain?”
    “I have no say in the matter.”
    “Of course you do,” Joseph growled.
    “The marquess pays me no mind.”
    “‘The marquess’?” he cried. “You mean your father?”
    “Yes.” He had never called the man Papa .
    “Then why don’t you refer to him as such?”
    Arthur joined him at the fire. “We’re not close. We’ve never
been close. He listens to his friends and considers me a foolish boy.”
    Joseph placed his hand on Arthur’s shoulder. A strong, warm,
comforting hand.
    “Arthur,” he said softly, “Sophie is a beautiful innocent
who does not deserve such a horrible fate. If she is married to him, she will
be abused and you can do nothing. He will own her, body and soul. She is still
her father’s daughter while she remains unmarried. You must stop this marriage.”
    “What can I possibly do?”
    “You can talk to your father. Tell him my story.”
    “I’ll try.”
    Joseph exhaled long and hard. “Look, even Henny is against
this marriage and she was once considered a possible wife for the man. Surely
she knows something. Allow her opinions on this matter to guide your own.”
    Joseph was absolutely right.
    “Very well, I’ll tell my father what you told me,” Arthur
said, certain his opinion would have no merit.

Chapter