by Abigail Agar
She, Julia Kelley, was now Duchess of Thornton. What an odd idea, she puzzled, that she should be so after just a few short weeks of meeting the Duke by random chance.
As everyone got set to retire for the night, the Duke caught up to her as she headed up the stairs. “Our rooms are this way,” the Duke said jovially to Jules.
She blushed. “Oh yes,” she said with a shake of her head. “This has been such a long day,” Jules said.
“Are you still not feeling well?” the Duke asked with so much worry that Jules smiled at the man.
Jules shook her head. “I am well enough,” she said softly.
“I have a surprise for you tomorrow,” the Duke said as he held out his arm. Once Jules had slipped her arm through his, he led her towards his own set of rooms as he spoke, “We are going to the country with your family for the remainder of the season. I thought it might be nice to have a bit of quiet after where we started a few weeks ago.”
Jules admitted, “That sounds lovely, but what about the trial?”
“Oh,” Gregory said with a smile. “They were released. I got Maxwell to change his mind on a few points.”
Jules eyed the man incredulously. “Truly?”
“Yes,” Gregory said with a smile. “There will be other struggles, but for now, I thought we might just pretend that things are peaceful.”
Jules thought about it and sighed. “I don’t suppose the world will right itself any faster with our presence.” She let the man lead her to their chambers. At the door, he scooped her up causing Jules to laugh. “Your Grace, what are you doing?”
“You are my wife; you can call me by my name, I would think,” Gregory said with a chuckle as he pushed the door further open with his leg.
Jules wrapped her arms around the man’s neck and smiled, “I think I shall, Gregory.”
***
The next morning with the first rays of the sun, Gregory came into the kitchen and gave his mother a smile. “Good morrow, Mother,” Gregory said jovially as he snatched a piece of peach off the platter.
“And to you, Gregory,” Lady St Claire said with a smile of her own. “Where is your bride?”
Gregory bit the peach and laughed. “She is getting ready for our journey. Will you be accompanying us to Thornton Hall or remaining here for the season?”
“Oh, I think I shall stay here the remainder of the season to give your household time to adjust,” Lady St Claire said wryly. “I may take up permanent residence here. I love being close to the centre of things, after all. I have not yet made up my mind fully.”
Gregory shook his head at his mother. “You are always welcome at Thornton Hall.”
“I will return,” Lady St Claire promised her son. “Just take the time to make sure that the young lady is adjusting and that she knows how you feel, Gregory. That is all I ask. Well, that and grandchildren.”
Gregory chuckled. “I would advise against asking about grandchildren in front of the new Duchess. She might faint.”
“She’s a hearty sort,” Lady St Claire said dismissively. “She can handle most anything, I would wager.”
***
Thornton Hall, the country estate and family manor of the St Claire family, spread over more land than Jules could believe. She was certain that if she lived there a hundred years that she would never see all of it, but she was determined to try.
With Georgie and Tally in tow, Jules set off each day to make it as far as she could in each direction. That was how she passed the first week.
Gregory and Fredrick spent a good bit of the first week at the country estate going over financial matters and balancing books. It seemed tedious to Jules, but the men insisted that it needed to be done first thing. Fredrick could surely manage it, but Gregory was always checking to make sure things were running smoothly.
Jules fell in love with Thornton Hall immediately. It was an old-fashioned home that sprawled out and upward with grace and splendour to spare. Lady St Claire had talked of how the manor looked when she first saw it, and Jules had to agree that Thornton Hall was a sight to behold.
It was hard to imagine that not only her sisters, but someday her children as well would grow up on the grounds of the grand estate.
For a time, it was everything that she imagined life could be. With all things, there has to come a moment when things change. Although the St Claire family treated its servants and employees well, it took little time for Jules to realize that some of their nearest neighbours did not.
Jules had gone visiting the Whatley household which lived a few miles away with Gregory a couple of weeks into their stay at Thornton Hall.
Lady Whatley was a stern woman who handled her children and her staff with a firm hand. Jules had feigned illness to get away when there was an incident with a serving girl that clumsily tripped and spilled a touch of brandy on Gregory’s trousers.
Gregory had simply laughed off the incident, but Lady Whatley had ordered the girl to be whipped, and Jules could take no more of the Whatley household.
Now she had committed herself to simply enjoying the estate and would not be persuaded to socialize with the members of the local families who were not enjoying the London season. If Gregory took issue with her attitude, he did not speak about it to Jules. She carried on contentedly exploring.
“There you are,” Gregory said as he walked up to where Jules was resting under a shaded tree. “Come,” he held out his hand. “It is high time we got down to business and got you a horse.”
“A horse? But I can’t ride,” Jules protested as she let the man pull her to her feet.
Gregory nodded and said, “That is precisely why you need to learn, and to learn you need a horse to learn on. I think we have a very nice mare that you would like. She is quite a calm creature.”
Jules could see that she was not going to get out of this, so she simply nodded and went along with the man. She had always admired horses, but they were so tall that they frightened her too. Nervousness settled in the pit of her stomach.
“You look like you are going to faint,” Gregory said jovially, “and we have not even made it to the horses yet.”
“Gregory,” Jules said in a sweet tone to lull the man as they approached the stables. “Are you sure this is wise? What if I fall?”
His grey eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned over to whisper, “Then you will get back up.”
“What if I hurt myself?” Jules stalled as she eyed the stable.
The summer sunlight glinted through the trees, and the shadows played over the nobleman’s blond hair. He gave Jules a smile. “I think you are going to be fine. I will be with you the whole time.”
Jules finally allowed him to lead her into the stable. The horses snorted and looked over at them with interest. Jules had to admit that they were beautiful, if large and intimidating.
“Here she is,” Gregory said as he stopped in front of one of the stalls and presented the horse to Jules with a sweep of his hand. “We call her Tulip, but you can rename her if you wish.”
Jules smiled at the brown and white mare. “Tulip is a lovely name,” Jules said as she reached her hand tentatively out to touch the mare’s muzzle. “It tickles,” Jules said with a laugh. It had been a long time since she had held horse reins for a bit on the street.
“You can get to know her while I go get the saddle,” Gregory said with a smile.
Jules did not take her eyes off the horse. She just nodded. Gregory’s steps got further away, but Jules did not mind. “You have such warm eyes, Miss Tulip,” Jules said gently. She rubbed her hand up the horse’s head, and to her surprise, the horse leaned forward as if encouraging her to continue. Jules laughed softly, and soon she got a bit bolder with her caresses.
“I see you two are getting along very well,” Gregory said as he came back. Jules looked around to see a saddle in his hands. He put the saddle down and opened up the door. He clicked his tongue, “Come on, girl, out you go,” Gregory said coaxingly.
<
br /> To Jules’ surprise, the horse came out of the stall easily. The mare stood still while Gregory fastened the saddle onto her. Gregory showed Jules where all the straps went. What at first looked overly complicated actually was fairly simple. As Gregory put the bridle on, he said to Jules, “Here, take her reins. I’m going to let you walk her outside.”
Jules was a lot calmer once she realized that she was going to lead the horse a little piece before she attempted to get up on it. Gregory had her lead the horse, which took only gentle pressure to move, to a large pen. He then stopped at what looked to be a set of steps that led to nowhere. “Pull her in front of them,” Gregory instructed. “There. Now I’ll hold her steady, and you use the steps to get into the saddle.”
“Oh,” Jules said. “That makes it easier.”
Gregory shrugged. “Ladies often find it easier to use the step-up, but you can practice getting into the saddle with the stirrups once you are more comfortable,” he said reasonably. “Now, up you go.”
Jules took a big breath. “Okay, Tulip, here we go,” she said as much to calm the horse as to calm herself. Jules sat gingerly down in the saddle.
It was not the most comfortable thing she had ever felt, but she did not feel like she was going to fall out at least. She sat side-saddle with respect to her skirt. “Am I in properly?” Jules asked with laughter.
Gregory agreed, “It does appear that you are. Now sit still, and I shall go get Trapper.” Before Jules could ask who Trapper was, the man was gone back into the stable.
Tulip made a noise and shifted. Jules patted the horse’s neck. “There, there. He’ll be back, girl,” Jules whispered.
Sure enough, Gregory returned on a black horse which he rode into the pen. He leaned over to take her reins into his hand. “I’ll lead you out. I only wanted you in the pen so she would not get any ideas about bolting,” Gregory explained. Jules nodded and let the man and his horse lead them out of the pen.
They rode for a piece with Gregory leading Tulip along beside Trapper. It was peaceful, but it did require concentration, Jules discovered. She had to keep her weight adjusted in the seat, or she began to slide with the movement of the horse’s muscles.
After that first day, Gregory and Jules returned to the stables almost every day, barring weather, and Jules slowly gained in confidence with her riding.
She also learned all sorts of things about her husband that she had not known. She learned about his childhood adventures. He told tales about his father and what Thornton Hall had been like during that time.
Jules began to see Thornton Hall through the Duke’s eyes. She began to see it as a home, not simply an intimidating large building. He told her of love and loss. She told him of her time learning with her father, of how hard it had been growing up and repressing herself so that she could earn a living, and the hardships that followed her father’s death.
It was not fair that they had both suffered loss, but Gregory’s loss seemed so much more to Jules. To know that a family member possibly killed your father and be unable to seek your revenge must have eaten away at the man. Jules understood more and more why and how Gregory had found her on the street that day.
***
“Mother, I am not going to drink that,” Jules said with disgust.
Mrs Kelley put her hands on her hips. “It is a family recipe that will fortify you,” she said firmly. In the past, that tone of voice would have assured swift obedience, but Jules was not so easily bent to the woman’s will these days, even if that will was probably for Jules’ best interest.
“I do not need to be fortified,” Jules said as she pushed the beverage away again. Its pungent odour wafted over to her, making Jules’ stomach curdle.
Mrs Kelley shook her head. “You are clearly ill,” the mother said knowingly.
“I’m fine,” Jules insisted. She put her hands on the table in front of her and stood up. “I am tired of this. I am not ill.”
The sound of horse hooves swiftly moving over the cobbled driveway interrupted the women. They went over to the window, and Jules gasped, “That’s David.”
“David Larkin?” Mrs Kelley asked in puzzlement.
Jules nodded and then was off out of the kitchen and around the hallways to the grand hall that the front doors opened onto. Jules made it about the time that David swung down out of the saddle. “David,” Jules exclaimed in joy at seeing her old friend.
When David turned to face her, Jules’ joy plummeted. The look on the man’s face was contempt. “Some fancy house you got,” David said with a sneer.
Jules could only regret her ruse. She shook her head. “I can explain, but what are you doing here?”
“I came to see for myself what you had sold us all for?” David said with an angry edge. “Was this house worth the lives of those men? I thought you off married happily until I was told that you had sold yourself and your guildmates for this. I had thought better of you, Jules.”
Jules shook her head and took a step back. “I have done no such thing. What are you talking about?”
“I am talking about the men they just hanged on the gallows last week, or did you not even care enough to notice?” David’s lip curled up in hatred. “I had to see it for myself before I believed it.”
Jules shook with righteous anger. “Who was it that they hanged? I was told that the men of the guild were to be set free,” Jules’ voice rose in a fury. “Tell me now, David.”
David faltered a bit, and then he said, “Merrill, Turner, and the younger Trenton boy. They said they were treasonous.”
“If any should hang, it should be me,” Jules said. “They never did anything. Those three were just apprentices.”
David sneered, “Maybe you should ask your Duke why they deserved to die, Duchess.” With that, David turned and swung back up into his saddle. He tugged at the reins and gave the horse a kick. “If you decide that you want to make this right, I’ll be at the inn.”
A moment later, Gregory appeared in the doorway. “Was that your friend from the guild?” the Duke asked in amazement. “You could have invited him in.”
Jules turned towards the blond man with a look of incredulity. “Why did you lie to me? Did you do it to soothe me so that I would be easier to take to your bed?” Jules stomped up the steps towards the man and tapped him squarely in the chest. “Why did they have to die?”
“Who are you talking about?” Gregory asked as his brow furrowed.
Jules shook her head in amazement. “You honestly are just going to pretend like you know nothing about my three guildmates that they hanged not more than a week ago. When were you going to tell me that three apprentices’ lives were what it took to get them to release the others? They were boys,” Jules howled at the man.
“I would never have made a deal such as that,” Gregory growled. “After all this time, do you still not trust me more than some …” His voice trailed off, but Jules eyes sparked with anger.
Jules said, “Go on then, say it. Do I not trust you more than some mason or some tradesman? Because you are better than them, isn’t that right, Your Grace?”
“This conversation is at an end,” Gregory said firmly.
Had she not been so angry, Jules might have thought it reasonable to stop, but as it was, she merely shook her head. “You don’t own me,” Jules said with disgust. “I am not one of your hounds to be silenced when I have bayed too loudly. No. I think it’s rather time that I reminded you that I know how to bite.”
“What are you talking about?” Gregory narrowed his eyes at the woman.
Jules shook her head. “I am going to go talk with my mother and then, Your Grace, I want a carriage at my disposal,” Jules said as she stormed off towards her mother’s quarters.
***
Gregory watched the dark-haired Duchess go in her fury. He had to stop himself from going after her. Yes, the woman was angry, but what she had said was even more worrying. What had she meant about the men dying? No news of hangings h
ad reached Gregory.
With a bark of an order, Gregory sent the doorman off to find Stanley and get a carriage ready for the Duchess. As soon as his order was given, Gregory went off to Fredrick. He found the man in one of the studies upstairs. “Fredrick, have we gotten any correspondence from London?”
“None that I know of,” Fredrick said. He frowned. “What is the matter?”
“The Duchess is leaving,” Gregory said. “One of her guildmates showed up to tell her that three of her fellow masons had been hanged earlier. Dulock was supposed to tell me if things went sideways for him. Why did he not send word?”