“You there! Lord Taylor!”

Sebastian turned around to see a footman hailing him from a carriage standing on the side of the road.

“Yes?” he asked, frowning as he drew nearer. “What is the meaning of this, shouting at me from across the street?”

The footman did not look in the least bit apologetic. “The Duke requires you to attend him at once.”

Sebastian frowned. “The Duke?”

“Yes, the Duke of Ware,” the footman replied, holding open the door. “At once, my lord.”

Sebastian’s frown remained, but he did as he was asked, a gnawing anxiety beginning to course through him. The Duke of Ware, Polly’s father, was not a man who could be easily refused. Sebastian had a feeling he knew why the Duke wanted to see him, and he certainly couldn’t turn down the request. He sighed as he sat in the carriage and it moved off at once, leaving him alone inside, his thoughts whirling as to what to say to the man.

He had been intending to return to Greville’s estate that very afternoon, having made some excellent progress in his investigation of sorts. There had been some willing gentlemen ready to meet with him and he had used his contacts to find out all he could about Lord Yardley. There were still a few more details to sort out but soon, Sebastian was convinced that Yardley would get his comeuppance.

However, what the Duke wanted with him, Sebastian was not sure. His hands curled in his lap as the carriage continued to roll across the cobbled streets of London, his worry growing with every minute. Had the man heard any fabricated rumor about him and his daughter? Did he wish to warn him away from her?

Swallowing hard, he got out of the carriage and made his way up the stone steps. The door was already open for him and he was immediately directed up the wide staircase to the Duke’s study. He saw no sign of Polly’s mother.

The Duke of Ware was a tall man, with broad shoulders. He did not stoop but stood at his full height, towering over Sebastian. Sebastian cleared his throat and tried to smile, bowing deeply.

“Your Grace,” he began, hoping that he sounded confident. “Thank you for the invitation to call upon you.”

The Duke snorted. “Hardly an invitation, Lord Taylor. Please, sit down. I have some questions I need to ask you.”

Sebastian sat at once, aware that the Duke, who, from what he knew was typically a pleasant though absent-minded man, had not so much as smiled since he had arrived.

“The matter is about my daughter, Polly,” the Duke began, the moment Sebastian had sat down. “She has written to us on a few occasions, but the manner of her quitting the town has brought me and my wife some concern.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” Sebastian replied, folding his hands in his lap.

“On top of which, we have heard a couple of vague whispers of late,” the Duke continued, his gaze narrowing. “Apparently someone has noticed that her absence coincided with your own.”

Sebastian frowned, worry racing through him. “I have not hurt your daughter, Your Grace.”

“Are you quite sure about that?” The angry gleam in the Duke’s eye made Sebastian aware that he was being scrutinized.

“I assure you that nothing has passed between myself and your daughter,” he said, firmly. “She asked me to accompany her to Colemore, and I was willing to do so because I have not seen Lord Greville for some time and, in truth, I was thinking of quitting London myself.”

“Why is that?”

Sebastian shrugged. “I am not one for all the nonsense that goes on here,” he said, truthfully. “I find that there is a lot that leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth, although I would not count Lady Polly in that.”

The Duke frowned, his forehead furrowing. “My wife has spoken highly of you, Taylor, I will not discount that. She said you have been somewhat of a protector of sorts to my daughter and apparently tried to encourage her away from a certain young man, though my wife questions the entire situation.”

“As I said, there is a lot that leaves a bad taste, and that particular … gentleman … is included in that,” Sebastian replied, quietly. “I will not pretend that I have not come to care for your daughter, Your Grace, for that would be a lie – however, there is only a friendship between us, and I will not press her for more. You have my word.”

The Duke took a breath and, after a few moments, nodded. “My wife told me that she thought you could be trusted, and I am inclined to believe her,” he said, quietly. “However, I must ask if there is more to this story than meets the eye. All I know is that Polly wished to spend time with her sister and, given that she is the youngest of my children, I must admit that I find it difficult to refuse her. However, I am concerned that she is now apparently refusing to return home, as though she wants to miss the rest of the Season when she had been enjoying it so very much.” He tipped his head just a little, looking carefully at Sebastian. “You have been staying with Greville, have you not? What is the matter with my daughter? And why will she not tell me herself?”

Sebastian paused for a moment before replying, his mind working hard. He did not want to reveal all that had occurred, for he did not think it was his place and yet, sitting in front of the Duke, he knew he could not pretend he knew nothing. It was apparent that the Duke was upset about the entire situation, feeling in the dark in regards to all that had gone on and why his daughter was keeping it all from him.

“Your Grace, I believe this is something Polly should share with you herself,” he said, slowly. “It is not my place to reveal what has been on her heart.”

The Duke frowned, clearly displeased.

“However, what I will say is that she has been badly hurt – not physically you understand – and that she needs time to heal from that.”

“Then why will she not tell me what it is!” the Duke exploded, his face going slightly red. “She is my daughter, and my children should be able to tell me when something goes wrong. Why has she turned to you and not to myself or her own mother?”

Sebastian pressed his lips together, aware that underneath the Duke’s anger, there was a deep, cutting pain. He was upset that his daughter had not come to him but had, instead, turned to Sebastian – a gentleman she did not know very well. The Duke’s anger was understandable.

“Your Grace, if I may be so bold, it is because she was afraid she would bring shame to her family,” he said, as the Duke glared at him. “And, if it is any consolation, she has spoken in depth with her sister, and together we have encouraged her to come to you both with the story of what occurred.”

The Duke sighed, his shoulders sagging as the anger seemed to go from him. “I am afraid that it is something terrible,” he said, softly, the redness slowly leaving his features. “I have been so worried that she was with child, or something else equally dreadful.”

Sebastian drew in a deep breath and got to his feet. “Your Grace, I can assure you that there has been no physical damage to your daughter. Her heart has been broken, and she feels ashamed and embarrassed. I also believe that she worries you might do something rather drastic, should she tell you all.”

The Duke gave a half smile, clearly aware of his outburst. “I can’t imagine why she might think that,” he said, ruefully. “I just want to know that she is safe, Lord Taylor. I have always wanted my children to be happy and settled, even though most of them have taken their own path to get to that place. Polly is the youngest, and I was glad for her that she was to have a Season all of her own. Now that seems to have been thoroughly ruined in one way or the other. I take it there is a gentleman involved?”

“There is, but I will not speak his name nor talk about what occurred,” Sebastian replied, stoutly. “That is for Polly to do.”

“If she ever returns to me,” the Duke muttered, passing a hand over his eyes. “I do apologize for losing my temper, Lord Taylor. My concern for my daughter has been growing steadily. In fact, I was just about to head to see Greville myself – without an invitation you understand – when the butler mentioned you had been seen in London and I thought it might be best to talk to you first.”

“I am very glad you did, Your Grace,” Sebastian replied, feeling much more at ease with the older man. “Shall you come to Greville’s estate now?”

There was a prolonged pause. The Duke shook his head a little, his expression one of resignation. “I do not believe I need to, not yet. From the sounds of it, my daughter will come to me and tell me all when she is ready. As much as I dislike it, she is of age and able to make her own decisions. I do not think pressing her will get her to open up to me. I can only hope that it will not be too long before she returns home.”

Sebastian smiled and held out his hand to shake the Duke’s. “Your Grace, I promise that I shall have Polly back with you before the end of the Season,” he said, as the older man looked back at him steadily. “I cannot say too much but there will be an end to the whispers that are going around and the gentleman in question – the one who I know is attempting to spread gossip – will be shown to be the culprit.”

The Duke sighed, looking a little happier than when Sebastian had first entered. “I take it that you have a plan then, Lord Taylor?”

“I have indeed,” Sebastian replied, not wanting to go into too much detail until Polly spoke with the man. “It shall be dealt with very swiftly, Your Grace, and Polly shall soon be back at all the balls and recitals she could wish for. I will not allow this gentleman to continue with his roguish ways. A man like that needs to be called out for his behavior, no longer allowed to engage with society, no longer a distinguished member of the beau monde. I believe I have found a way for that to happen.”

The Duke’s smile was a genuine one. “Then I will not keep you, Lord Taylor. Thank you for speaking with me. Do you intend to return to Greville’s estate now?”

“This very moment,” Sebastian replied, with a quick bow.

“Then please send my regards to my daughters,” the Duke replied, with only a slight hoarseness to his voice to betray his emotion. “And tell Polly that I am looking forward to her coming home again.”

“Of course,” Sebastian said, with a small smile. “That will be one of the first things I shall say to her, Your Grace. Good day.”