The Duke I’m Going to Marry (Farthingale Series Book 2) by Meara Platt Page B

their gossip. In truth, her actions were unpardonable.
    “Well,” the dowager began, her voice lowering. Dillie tipped her head forward and perked her ears. Ian would be livid if he knew what she was doing. She wouldn’t blame him if he never spoke to her again.
    On the other hand, if there was a scandal attached to Ian, she needed to know about it. How else could she help him? Lady Withnall would surely spread the shocking details across London before the night was out and someone had to stem the damage. She was that someone, for Ian wouldn’t do anything to help himself.
    The orchestra opened the dancing with a lively waltz, and the chatter in the ballroom grew louder as more guests arrived. Dillie moved a step closer to the two matrons, eager not to miss a word, though she knew Ian’s mother couldn’t be trusted to tell the truth. After all, she detested her son.
    “Well, it’s no longer a secret, so I may as well speak of it.” The dowager’s eyes took on a keen brilliance, as cold and bright as the diamonds she wore. She cleared her throat, as though hesitant to reveal the latest scandal attributed to her own son, but her eyes gave away her delight. “He’s fathered a child and taken that child from its mother.”
    Dillie and her sisters exchanged startled looks. In truth, she had expected to hear some nonsense about his dallying with a married woman. Or a complaint about his being tightfisted with her allowance. But this—this surprised her.
    “The mother’s a nobody, but that doesn’t excuse my son’s actions. He simply wrenched the child from the poor woman’s arms, turning a deaf ear to her pleas.” She paused to heighten the effect, and appeared a little disappointed when no one uttered a disparaging comment. In truth, Dillie was in shock. Her sisters were as well. Not even Laurel could fashion a response. “Can one blame the poor young woman for what she did next?” she continued.
    Rose was the first to find her voice. “What did she do?”
    Ian’s mother shook her head and sighed. “It is never easy for a woman to lose her child, but my son showed no mercy. That is so like him. Cold, cruel. He abandoned her to fend for herself. She had nowhere to go, no funds or family to take her in. She’s dead now—”
    Dillie gasped.
    Daisy grasped her hand and gave it a little squeeze. She supposed the gesture was meant to calm her. Perhaps it was meant to convey doubt about the dowager’s tale, for what sort of mother spilled gossip to strangers about her own son? Dillie wasn’t certain about the reason, but she was glad for her sister’s touch. That was Daisy in a nutshell. The thoughtful middle child, the conciliator. Daisy also knew how hurtful lies about one’s honor could be, for she’d endured a tarnish to her own good reputation. Fortunately, Gabriel had seen beyond the lies and fallen in love with her. They’d had their happy ending.
    She knew Ian would never have his happy ending, not if he continued on his current path. But how could she get him off that path? He didn’t trust women. She glanced at the dowager. Her eyes were avidly gleaming, as though preparing for another attack.
    She sighed inwardly. This woman had shaped Ian, doomed him to loneliness.
    “My son will deny responsibility for her sad fate, just as he’s denied responsibility for the other deaths he’s caused.”
    “Other deaths?” Dillie repeated, her entire body now numb.
    “Celestia, enough,” someone angrily spoke from behind Dillie. She didn’t need to turn around to recognize Eloise’s gentle but commanding voice. That she’d referred to the dowager by her given name, and not Your Grace or other courtesy title, meant she was beyond angry. She was livid.
    “Lady Dayne, so nice to see you.” Rose leaned forward to buss her cheek.
    Dillie did the same, adding a quick hug, for she was glad to have her join them and take Ian’s mother to task. Eloise was the voice of reason. Eloise was all things kind