by Quinn, Ella
* * *
Sally, the tweenie went to the market this morning as one of Cook’s girls was not feeling well, and the other was already making breakfast. When she was buying potatoes, a maid comes up and asks where Ruth, the regular maid, was. Sally told her and this other maid starts telling Sally about a Lord Quartus and how he was dangerous to young ladies and other young females. She must have heard his name mentioned, because she came straight to me and told me what she’d heard. As was my duty, I discussed with Mr. Puller what was to be done and he spoke with Miss Annot. Sally made sure to get the maid’s name, Susie, and the address, Number Six Hill Street.
Sally has been assured that you are not angry. If you have any other questions, Your Grace, she will answer them.
Mrs. J. Flowers
* * *
Anna was thankful she had decided to have the upper servants talk to the tweenie. It was not nearly as complicated as her maid had originally made it sound. Still, she must tell Meg Hawksworth about this immediately.
“I shall want my carriage as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
As she was in the hall pulling on her gloves, someone plied the knocker.
Chapter 8
Meg lost no time entering the hall. “May we speak in private?”
“Yes. Indeed, I was just about to have a missive sent to you.” Anna said. It was probably better that the lady was here. That way she could answer her questions. There were sure to be several. The tweenie was here as well.
“Your Grace, will you still require the coach?”
“If we need to go anywhere, mine is waiting,” Meg handed her gloves to the butler.
“Come with me.” Anna led the way to her study in the back of the house, overlooking the garden. “I have some disturbing news.”
“First, tell me.” Meg’s forehead pleated with concern. “Have you been ill? No one has seen you since the Flowers’s ball. At first I thought you might be a little fagged from all the parties, but Quartus said that he has not seen you either.”
“As if he would want to bother with me when he is marrying another.” Anna did not wish to have the conversation. “Nevertheless, it is about Lord Quartus I had written to you.”
“Marrying another? Oh, good Lord!” Meg folded her lips together and shook her head. “And of course my sapskull brother-in-law did not tell you about Lady Sarah.”
Anna’s legs threatened to give way, and she quickly lowered herself onto the sofa, motioning Meg to sit as well. “Lady Sarah. That is her name?”
“Yes, but he is not going to wed her. She has been betrothed for years to another gentleman.”
The headache that had threatened earlier moved to her temples and started to thrum. This was worse than she had thought. He was playing with a woman who was already taken. “Does Markville know?”
“Markville and my father-in-law planned it.”
But Markville had said . . . Wait, none of this was making any sense at all. “I think you had best tell me all of it from the beginning. But first, wine or tea?”
“Wine, please.” She glanced at the door. “We will not want to be interrupted.”
Wishing it was rum, Anna poured two glasses of the red burgundy her predecessor preferred over claret.
“Excellent,” Meg said after she had a sip. “Now, let me tell you what this is about. Somerset decided to see Quartus married to a lady he chose. Markville agreed that his sister and Quartus would suit. The only problem is that she is already betrothed, and has been for four years . . .”
Before Meg had finished, Anna had drained her glass and refilled it. She was definitely ordering a supply of rum. She had been right about not encouraging the marquis. How could he be so cruel to his sister? “So when I heard Markville talking to Quartus, it was not what it seemed. Well as far as Markville knew it was, but Quartus is actually assisting Lady Sarah to marry her intended.”
“Precisely.” Meg nodded. “We are in the process of working out a way for them to wed without either the duke or her brother discovering what we are doing until after the deed is accomplished. Everyone agrees that one or both of them would attempt to stop the wedding.”
How Machiavellian. Anna’s esteem for Meg grew. “How will you do that? If you can tell me, that is.”
“We have arranged a house party where Lady Sarah and her betrothed will marry. He will arrive with a special license. It is all perfectly legal as her father signed the agreements before he died.”
A house party? The only event of that sort Anna knew of was . . . “At the Huntley’s estate?”
“Yes.” Meg glanced at her almost empty glass and grinned. “I know you were invited. Do you plan to attend?”
“My maid is packing as we speak.” This might work out very well. She would have a whole week with Quartus and without her aunt and Markville interfering. “I’d better tell you my news, and as my maid said to me, ‘you are not going to like it.’ This morning . . .”
As she related what she’d heard, Meg’s eyes narrowed and her lips formed a thin line as she grew angrier and angrier. “That is all I know.”
“That insufferable commoner.” She set her glass down with a loud snap. “That care-for-nobody here-and-therian.”
“The duke, I take it.”
Meg nodded. “If Quartus doesn’t murder him, Hawksworth will.”
Anna poured her friend another glass of wine. “I am loath to mention it, but patricide as well as killing a duke is against the law.”
“After all that devil has done, no one could possibly be blamed.” Her friend took a large drink of wine.
“Are you so sure it is Somerset?”
“Who else could it be? There is no way Quartus could have engaged in that sort of behavior and his mother not discover it, and she would have told my husband. Not only that, but my grandmother Featherton would have heard about it as well.”
“I agree, it is damning, however, what must be done immediately is to scotch the rumors.”
“We have enough friends and allies to accomplish that in short order. By the time we return from the house party, all will be right.” Meg rose. “Now, where were we going?”
“To a house on Hill Street where the maid works.”
“Hill Street?” Her jaw dropped for a second then snapped shut. “There is one house on that street that neither of us will wish to be seen visiting. Unfortunately, I do not know the address.” Meg placed the bonnet she’d removed back on her head, tying the bow off under her ear. “We should speak to my husband and brother-in-law first. Quartus deserves to know what is being said about him.”
Anna did not even bother to argue. If her friend said that the house might not be an appropriate place for a lady to be seen, it must be notorious. Duchess she may be, but it would not be prudent to risk her reputation. “Very well, but I’m coming with you.”
“I would not attempt to stop you.” Suddenly, Meg gave Anna a conspiratorial smile. “You might even be able to meet Lady Sarah. She has been spending a great deal of time at our house sending and receiving letters from her betrothed.”
“I imagine the visits also serve to convince her brother and the duke of Quartus’s interest in her.” And make Markville believe that his sister and Quartus would actually wed.
“That is part of the scheme.”
If everything Meg had said was true, and Anna had no reason to believe it was not, then she would have to find a way to convince Quartus that she was not going to marry Markville. The problem was how to do that and not look as if she were asking for a proposal. And could she do it in the space of a week?
As Quartus brought the curricle to a halt in front of Lord Markville’s house, he noticed Sarah’s hands clenched together. Beneath the gloves her knuckles were most likely white with apprehension. “Your brother has said you could attend the house party, has he not?”
“Yes.” She nodded slowly. “Yes. As long as I bring Mrs. Potter and my maid, of course, he does not object.” Sarah glanced
at him. “I am just so afraid that something will go wrong.”
Quartus tied the ribbons off and covered her hands with one of his. “You must trust us. We will see you and Jeremy through this.”
“You are right. I’m being nervous for nothing.” Her grip relaxed and her lips tilted up slightly even if they wobbled a bit. “After all, he will be better able to further his suit with the duchess if he does not have to concern himself with me.”
And that was the one thing that worried Quartus. Despite all of Markville’s advantages, or what appeared to be his advantages, Quartus could no longer see Anna wed to a man who would run roughshod over her as he was trying to do with Sarah. Yet, for the nonce, there was nothing he could do about it. When he returned from the country, and if she was not already engaged, he would do his best to tempt Fate and court her in earnest.
For now, he had to help Sarah and Jeremy. “It will all work out. It always does.”
After escorting her to the door, and making a show of bowing over her hands, he said in a low voice. “We will be by at eight o’clock to fetch you and Mrs. Potter. Your maids will be picked up by Meg and Hawksworth’s personal servants about a half an hour earlier.”
“We shall be ready,” Sarah assured him with more confidence than she’d had a few minutes ago. “With luck, my brother will still be asleep.”
Several minutes later Quartus entered Hawksworth’s house, and was almost to the morning room when his brother’s bellow seemed to bounce off the walls. “I am going to roast the blasted scoundrel over a spit!”
What the devil? He entered the room stopping by the door on the off chance he was the one in trouble. “Roast whom over a spit?”
“Our father.” Damon bit out, resembling nothing so much as an enraged bull.
“What has he done now?” The duke should be under the impression that everything was working out as he had arranged.
“He is attempting to blacken your name,” he replied through clenched teeth.
“But why?” Meg took Quartus’s arm, leading him to the sofa. “I do not understand. He cannot possibly know that Lady Sarah and I will not wed.”
“Thank God for that,” his brother snapped. “The Lord only knows what he would do if he suspected his scheme was in danger of coming to naught. It must be his way of ensuring your marriage takes place. If you do not marry Sarah, then no other woman will have you.”
Quartus knew his father had behaved in a dastardly manner to Hawksworth, Frank, and their wives, but he had a difficult time believing the duke could be so reprehensible for no apparent reason.
“But how do you know he is responsible?” Not that Quartus could think of anyone else that would start rumors, unless it was Markville, but he thought Quartus was marrying Sarah. He took the glass of wine Meg handed him.
“Aside from no one else wanting to cause you harm? Anna Wharton told me that a maid who works at a certain house on Hill Street started the rumors at the market this morning. The house is currently occupied by a Mrs. Grayson”—his brother glanced at Meg for a moment—“the duke’s former mistress.”
“Grayson?” Air rushed out of him as if he’d been punched in the gut. “If she is a lady around thirty or so, she introduced herself to Anna and me at the museum.”
“The effrontery of the woman.” Damon scowled. “She probably thought to ingratiate herself with the duchess and spread her lies in private.” He headed swiftly toward the door. “I’ll take care of this immediately.”
“If you are going to confront her, I’m coming with you.” Quartus followed his brother into the corridor. “It is me she is trying to slander.”
Damon stopped and turned, a wicked look graced his face. “And have her lie to me? I am going to speak with her current protector, and the conversation will be short in the extreme.”
“Oh. I see.” The idea of women being bought and traded sickened Quartus, and he was not at all sure he wished to be part of the discussion. That his father had betrayed his mother was even worse. Yet, now he knew where he must have heard the name Grayson. Frank had to have mentioned the woman when paying the duke’s expenses. Shrugging, Quartus straightened his shoulders. Nevertheless it was his reputation at stake and he would not stand by and watch everyone else protect him. “I am still accompanying you.”
“While you do that—” Meg rose from the writing desk—“I shall pay a visit to my grandmother. She will know exactly how to stop this talk from going any further.”
* * *
The next day, Anna met the Hawksworths, Quartus, and Lady Sarah at an inn for luncheon, the journey to the Huntley’s estate near Long Medford in Suffolk took on an almost festive atmosphere. As the weather was fine, the gentlemen decided to ride and the ladies invited Anna to join them in Meg’s coach. Mrs. Potter, Lady Sarah’s companion, snoozed against the corner of the coach, and the afternoon passed quickly. Sooner than Anna had thought possible, they were stopping at the inn Caro Huntley had recommended to break their journey.
Mrs. Potter retired to her chamber after they had finished an excellent dinner, and shortly thereafter Sarah began to fret. “What if something has happened to Jeremy?” She wrung her hands together as her brow pleated with worry.
“I am sure everything will be fine,” Meg responded. “You should not borrow trouble.”
“But I have not heard from him in several days.” Sarah’s tone wrung Anna’s heart. She knew what it was like not to hear from the man she loved and to fear the worst. Though, in her case the worst had happened. Aaron had died. Anna doubted the same fate would befall Jeremy.
The younger woman looked to be working herself into a passion when Quartus took her fingers in his much larger hands. “Sarah, if he has been following the plan, he will have been traveling hard during the past few days.” His serene, sympathetic tone seemed to immediately calm her nerves, and Anna was impressed at his ability to so quickly reassure the lady. “It would have been difficult to write to you. I am sure he will arrive at Lord and Lady Huntley’s estate shortly after we do.”
“Do you truly think so?”
“Yes. Else I would not have said it.”
Lady Sarah nodded, appearing to accept Quartus’s assertions. “I should not worry myself so.”
“I think your feelings are normal. After all, you and your Jeremy have not traveled an easy road.”
She nodded again, the strain slipping from her features as she gave a slight smile.
Quartus patted her hands and rose. “Shall we seek our beds? A good night’s sleep will help us to arrive rested in the morning.”
Anna waited until there was only she and Quartus in the parlor. “You did a very good job of comforting Sarah.”
He tucked Anna’s hand in the crook of his arm. “I have always been able to calm people and situations.” He shrugged. “I believe that is the reason my father thought I would be a good clergyman.”
It was also a skill useful for a politician and in a man who would help her run her duchy. And although he seemed drawn to her, the difficulty might be in convincing him that he was the right gentleman for her. “There are many ways to put such talent to work.”
He looked surprised. “I have never really thought about it.”
“Perhaps you should. Being a rector is only one option you have in life.” Should she mention the parliamentary position she had coming open? Would she want him around if they were not to marry? She did not think she could stand the idea of him being with another woman. “There might be an opportunity for you to run for the House of Commons.”
“I appreciate you trying to help me, but one must have property in order to run for the Commons. Even if I found a peer to support me for the office, I have no property.”
He would if they married. “Forgive me. I did not know.”
They strolled to the stairs and climbed them. When they got to her room she reached up on her toes and kissed him softly on the lips. “Good night, Quartus.”
His arm circled her waist, an
d he pressed his lips to hers. “Good night, Anna.”
He opened the door and she walked in backwards, watching him as he made his way down the corridor. Touching her lips she sighed. She was definitely kissing him again.
Chapter 9
Their party arrived at Stout Manor, named for the river marking one boundary of the Huntleys’ estate, just before noon the next day. As their coaches drew up before the large portico, Caro and her husband came down the steps to greet them.
She appeared perplexed. “Are you missing someone?”
“My father.” Anna felt like rolling her eyes. “He discovered he has a friend not far from here and has ridden over to visit for a while.”
“Ah. It is not a bother. He can arrive when he chooses.” Caro’s smile widened as Sarah was assisted from the carriage. “This must be Lady Sarah. My lady, there is a gentleman who has been anxiously awaiting your arrival. I believe he told me his name is Mr. Bellingham.”
Sarah’s eyes widened as her jaw dropped. “Jeremy? Here? How did he arrive so soon?”
“Come with me.” Taking her arm, Caro led the younger lady into the house as the rest of them followed. “I was once told that there is nothing a gentleman in love will not do for his lady.”
A man with burnished brown hair who looked to be in his middle to late twenties stood in the hall.
“Sarah,” he breathed as if his breath had been stolen. “You are even more beautiful than I remembered.”
“Jeremy, how I have missed you!” The next moment she was in his arms. “You are much broader than I remember and as brown as a nut.”
“I was afraid your brother would do something to keep you from coming.”
“I, as well. Yesterday, I was so worried, but”—she firmed her chin—“I never would have let him. I would have disguised myself and climbed out of a window.”
“Thank God that didn’t happen,” Meg murmured.
Thank the Lord indeed. Anna glanced at Quartus. “I am so glad you helped her.”