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Every Lady Wanted the Duke — But He Chose the Chubby Girl Who Didn’t Even Notice Him

Every Lady Wanted the Duke — But He Chose the Chubby Girl Who Didn’t Even Notice Him

Chapter 15

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Mabel pointed at him. "You are not going to threaten him."Lucien kept his voice calm. "I was going to speak to him."Mabel studied him. "With what expression?"Lucien straightened. "A reasonable one."Mabel shook her head. "Your reasonable expression makes footmen stand straighter."Lucien frowned. "That is because they have poor posture."Mabel studied him. "You read my private letter."Lucien nodded. "Yes."Mabel folded her arms. "You investigated my private reputation."Lucien nodded again. "Yes."Mabel narrowed her eyes. "You are very bad at this rule."Lucien met her gaze. "It was a badly written rule."Mabel pointed at him. "You wrote it."Lucien kept his expression steady. "I am beginning to understand its weaknesses."Mabel should have been angry. Instead, she laughed. Lucien looked at her as if she had handed him a gift.The printer was found in a tavern near Fleet Street. He had printed the letters for a man wearing a gray cloak and a ring shaped like a fox. Mabel remembered seeing that ring on Silas's secretary, Mr. Hobb.Lucien wanted to confront Hobb immediately; Mabel stopped him at the carriage door. Mabel held up a hand. "We need proof."Lucien frowned. "We have the letters."Mabel kept her hand raised. "We have proof that someone paid for letters. We do not have proof that Hobb paid him."Lucien pointed toward the tavern. "The printer can identify him."Mabel shook her head. "The printer can identify a ring. Half of London owns ugly rings."Lucien folded his arms. "What do you suggest?"Mabel kept her voice low. "We let Hobb think the letters worked."Lucien narrowed his eyes. "You want to pretend the rumors have upset you?"Mabel shook her head. "No. I want to genuinely be upset, but for strategic reasons."Lucien studied her. "Can you manage that?"Mabel smiled slightly. "I have been insulted by women who wear feathers in their hair. I am an experienced sufferer."They returned to the house separately. Mabel went to her room and wept loudly enough for two maids and a footman to hear. She was not naturally gifted at weeping, so she cut an onion beside the open window. Within an hour, the entire household believed that the new duchess had been destroyed by a cruel letter.Lucien found her in the pantry eating cheese. Lucien leaned against the shelf. "You are recovering quickly."Mabel took another bite. "It was a small onion."Lucien glanced toward the hall. "Mrs. Crest says you have been sobbing."
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Every Lady Wanted the Duke — But He Chose the Chubby Girl Who Didn’t Even Notice Him

29 Part