Court of Flowers (Sutherland Book 1)

VIII | One Night with a Duke

Gabrielle knew more than what she was willing to share, Sasha concluded as the woman simply nodded.

Yet what more could she expect from the Court of Arms? They held many secrets and rightly so because their task was to protect Belcourt, the children, and the ladies.

"He does not require or wish to engage in a sexual relationship with me or any Belles. He became a flower for his one goal."

Gabrielle frowned at this. "You have to get yourself invited into his home. Do whatever is necessary. Find out what he intends to do. Surely, there is a plan."

"That is my current predicament. He procured a villa for our meetings."

Gabrielle sighed, shaking her head. "He is proving to be challenging, then."

"He is quite smart."

"Most of them are." Gabrielle focused her gaze back on Sasha. "You did agree to his proposal?"

"I initially refused, but after I was given my mission, I agreed to him."

"He already made his purpose known before you came to Belcourt? Before you met us in Lady Mariam's study?"

Sasha swallowed. "Yes."

"And you did not tell us?"

She nodded. "Because I knew I was going to receive a mission. I had to know what I had to do first before I said anything."

"Did he make you sign a contract?"

"An agreement, yes."

Gabrielle nodded her redhead slowly, her eyes thoughtful. "Then he had been planning this for quite some time."

"He must have. If we are to believe him, he has been in search of his sister for quite a while. Belcourt is his last resort."

"Were there any information about the sister?"

Sasha told Gabrielle everything West told her.

"Elizabeth Blackwood?"

"His mother, the one he shares with his sister. They do not share the same father," she informed Gabrielle. "Surely we can check if the woman indeed existed. She was never mentioned in any of our lessons on history."

"She does exist. I am quite certain. He would not provide you with a non-existent name. Her name would be in the public records."

"He believes she left Belcourt alone." When Gabrielle did not reply, Sasha wondered aloud, "Does this have something to do with the sister's father?"

"If she is indeed a bastard, it would be very hard to know who the father is. Most of these women do not share such things."

"He refuses to tell me anything more. I am expected to find his sister with just his mother's name." She scoffed. "He is giving me two months."

"That is not enough."

Sasha shrugged. "He had not seen Belcourt."

"You ought to have asked for more time."

"I reckoned that I would have already completed my mission on him in two months. I do not have to find his sister, do I?"

Gabrielle nodded. "You are correct. But should you find that you need more time for this mission, you demand more time from him."

"Then two months should suffice. For now."

"But it shall not be enough if you cannot access his home, Sasha."

Sasha smiled. "Then I should try harder, yes?"

*****

Mrs. Barbara Compton was a jaunty old woman who did not only bake the best apple tarts but also seemed oblivious about her neighbor's standing in society.