“They are when they want to keep their duchesses.” Matt saluted their family duke with the wine, then took a drink. “This had better work.”

“What do we do if it doesn’t?” Rothwell asked.

Matt had no idea. “One problem at a time.”

Merton tossed off his glass and stood. “There is no time like the present. He should be in his remorseful stage about now.”

* * *

John was in his study, staring at the decanter of brandy he’d had his butler bring him. The wedding was only a few days away and he was going to lose Eleanor. She was not the type of lady who would wed him if she thought he’d make her miserable. Worst of all, he didn’t know what to do to make things better. After his initial rage had subsided, he realized he had acted out of fear. What he’d said was bound to drive her away, and it had been inexcusable. If only he’d stopped to think before he’d spoken.

Lumner opened the door. “The Marquis of Merton to see you, my lord. I shall bring a tea tray.”

This was it. His lordship had most likely come to tell John his betrothal was over. “Merton, what brings you here?”

The man strolled into the room and fixed a stern look on John. “I am here to help. It was decided that I was the one with an experience closest to your own.”

What the hell did that mean? “Please have a seat. Brandy?”

“No, thank you. And I suggest you would be much better drinking tea.”

They waited in uncomfortable silence until the tray arrived. Once the door closed, Merton began, “I am going to assume that Eleanor was threatened and you panicked and said things you should not have said. Am I correct?”

“I saw the blood on her parasol and on the man lying on the ground.” John raked his fingers through his hair. “All I could think of was that she could have died.”

“Let me tell you a story. Thea—Dotty, as you have no doubt heard her called—and I were betrothed when I discovered she was involved in trying to rescue a young boy from a very, shall we say, unsavory group of criminals. I was firmly against her involvement. She made clear to me that she was going to do what she thought right no matter what I said. I might have responded with something like she was my wife and would do what I said. She took the opportunity to remind me we were not yet wed.” He took a sip of tea John had poured. “Needless to say, it caused a rather serious rift.”

That sounded exactly like what had happened between Eleanor and him. “What was the resolution?”