The Artisan and the Duke

by Abigail Agar

  Fredrick shook his head and said, “Maybe he simply could not. Are we headed to London then?”

  “It seems so,” Gregory said with a sigh. “I suppose a month is about all the reprieve I can expect.”

  There were voices downstairs that sounded like women’s voices crying. “Sounds like the news has spread,” Fredrick said solemnly. “Is the Duchess travelling alone? That would be unwise.”

  “I doubt she will accept my company at the present time,” Gregory said with a shake of his head.

  Fredrick stood up and grabbed his cane. “Then it is up to me,” Fredrick said gallantly.

  “I pray that she listens to you better than she does me,” Gregory said as he clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Keep her safe, Fredrick. I will be right along behind you.” Fredrick nodded and made his way out the door with purposeful strides. Gregory listened to the clink of the man’s cane as he walked downstairs.

  ***

  “Duchess,” Fredrick called as he came across the stone floor as hastily as he could. “It is not wise to ride alone, especially in such an emotional state. I will ride with you to London, so you do not have to be subjected to my brother. He will follow later on.”

  Jules looked at Fredrick and sighed. “I suppose I should have a companion, but you must listen to what I say,” Jules said as she pulled her hat down over her head to keep the sun out of her eyes.

  Fredrick nodded eagerly. “Of course,” he accepted graciously. “Come, let us hurry. I think we all want answers as to what happened in London.”

  Yes,” Jules whispered as she turned to get into the carriage. As the driver set off, Jules said, “We are not going directly to London. I have to make a stop at the local inn. A friend is there who I must assure that I am still the person that he knew.”

  “This is the man who arrived at the house with the news?” Fredrick enquired. When Jules nodded, Fredrick counselled, “Are you sure that you can trust him? How is it he found you if he thought you were married to a commoner?”

  Jules shook her head. “I have to try, Fredrick. Surely you understand that, of all people.”

  “I do,” Fredrick said sadly. “That is why I told my brother that I would come with you to put his mind at ease. I knew that no one should be alone with a burden such as this.”

  Jules frowned. “So, why not ride with your brother?”

  “My brother prefers to keep his pain to himself, Duchess,” the man said sadly. “Much like you do, I suspect.”

  Jules looked out the window. “I just want answers, Fredrick. I just pray they are ones that I can live with.”

  ***

  “I do not understand what has happened,” Mrs Kelley said as she shook her head at Gregory.

  Gregory pulled on his riding jacket and agreed with the distraught mother, “I do not either, but I promise you that I will find out what happened and who is responsible.”

  “Give her time. Jules always lets her temper get the better of her,” Mrs Kelley said hastily as Gregory went to leave.

  Gregory assured Mrs Kelley, “I have all the faith in the world in your daughter. I just hope she has some left in me.”

  Chapter 9

  The ride to London took a full day, and by the time Gregory did arrive, it was completely dark. When he arrived and found the house secured for the night and dark, Gregory frowned and told the driver, “Hold a moment until I can rouse someone.”

  He knocked on the door puzzled as to why no one was waiting for him. Surely Fred and Jules would have told the household that he was on the way? The heavy knocker echoed loudly as Gregory slammed it down onto the door.

  “Perhaps they’ve all set straight to bed with fatigue from the road,” the coach driver offered between knocks.

  Gregory’s frown deepened. “Surely we could not have been so long delayed behind them that there would not still be somewhat awake,” Gregory said grumpily as he hit the door harder with the metal knocker.

  There was a clamour inside after a time, and Gregory drew in a breath of relief. He had feared something was amiss when there had been no welcome waiting.

  The door swung open, and the doorman, a sour-faced man by the name of William, looked at Gregory in surprise. He fumbled, “Your Grace. We had no word of your arrival. Is everything well?”

  “No word?” Gregory asked in puzzlement as he stepped past the man and into the house. His mother was just making her way down the stairs wrapped in a robe and looking perplexed at the commotion. Gregory called, “Where are Fred and the Duchess? They should have arrived before I did.”

  Lady St Claire hurried down the stairs with her hand over her chest. “We have had no visitors,” the woman said as her voice rose with concern. “They were ahead of you?”

  “Yes,” Gregory said in irritation. “They should have been here before me. I do not understand. How are they not here? I did not pass them on the road in.”

  Lady St Claire shook her head. “We should send someone out to check the roads and inns. It is possible they merely got tired,” the woman said reasonably, but Gregory heard the worry in her voice.

  “I’ll ride out with them,” Gregory said as he turned.

  Lady St Claire begged, “Please rest. You are tired from your journey.”

  “And do you think I can rest not knowing where they are?” Gregory asked and shook his head. “I will be of more use riding than pacing my bedroom floor.”

  With a nod of her head, Lady St Claire conceded the point. “Very well,” she said, “Will, go and rouse up a couple of the boys and get them to ride with the Duke, won’t you?”

  William swiftly nodded and took off towards the workers’ housing. Gregory went to get ready for the ride. In his room, he splashed water on his face and took a deep breath as he eyed his tired reflection before he squared his shoulders and grabbed his riding coat.

  ***

  “We should have at least sent word on to the manor house in London. Gregory will certainly get there before us now, and he will not know where we are,” Fredrick said with a deep frown to the dark-haired Duchess seated beside him.

  Jules sighed and folded her hands in her lap. The rush to leave had meant that she was still wearing the day’s riding clothes. “I know. We should tell Thompson to go ahead of us. I did not think we would have to wait such a long time here,” Jules said, worry getting the better of her.

  “I can step outside and tell him if you wish,” Fredrick said as he pushed himself up with his cane. “If your friend does not show soon, we should leave as well.”

  Jules nodded and watched the man leave via the front door to the inn. Truly when they had arrived, and the innkeeper told her that Mr Larkin was not in, Jules had almost shrugged off the whole thing and gone straight to London. However, she wanted to show the man that he had her good faith, and she meant to keep her word.

  “Jules,” David said quietly causing Jules to jump. “I’m sorry to startle you, Duchess,” the man said louder. He was standing just inside the inn. “I didn’t think you’d show.”

  Jules straightened her back as she stood up to face the man. “Then it shows that you’ve forgotten who I really am, Mr Larkin.”

  “I’ll admit that I had my doubts as to who that might be,” David said with a smile. “But if you are here, then I suggest we go.”

  Jules frowned. “Go? I don’t understand.”

  “I want you to meet with a benefactor and friend of mine who has been helping the guild’s cause in spite of your husband’s actions,” David said. “Or is your faith waning, Duchess?”

  Jules pressed her lips together firmly and looked around at the door. “We can leave as soon as my brother-in-law returns. He’s escorting me to London,” Jules said.

  “That’s odd; I didn’t see anyone outside,” David said as he pursed his lips. “Did he have to ride somewhere?”

  Jules shook her head and pushed past David towards the inn’s door. “What foolishness is this?” she asked as she opened the door and stepped ou
t. Their carriage was missing.

  She should have seen it as soon as she walked outside, but instead, there were only a few horses getting ready for the stables. “I don’t understand. He just walked out here a few moments ago to send a rider to London so that the Duke would not worry about us,” Jules said incredulously. “Where is he?” She spun on David and narrowed her eyes at him. “You had to have seen him when you came in.”

  “I saw no one, aside from the stable boy who fetched my horse from me,” David said with a shrug. “Perhaps he rode on to London himself.”

  Jules scoffed, “Without telling me? No. Sir St Claire is more honourable than that. Something has happened to him.”

  “Then we should make haste,” David said. “I’ll help you search out this brother-in-law of yours, but if we can’t find him, then we should make for London as quickly as we can.”

  When Jules hesitantly nodded, David walked outside and shut the door behind them. “Then let’s start with the stable boys. They always know all the latest gossip and see everything that happens in the yard,” David suggested.

  It sounded reasonable to Jules, so she nodded and followed David towards the stables. Jules had a sinking feeling that something was not right, but she needed David to help her, and she would not get his help by pushing suspicion onto the man. She trudged along beside him and prayed that Fredrick was just with the carriage or horses.

  ***

  The wind snatched at Gregory’s hair as he rode in front of the two lads that had agreed to come with him. The summer night’s heat had brought lightning out to play, and Gregory hoped fervently that the rain stayed clear of them. They had checked the closest inn, but there had been no sign of Jules or Fredrick there.

  The next inn was a few hours’ ride, and Gregory’s muscles were already burning. The horses protested the pace, and eventually, they had to slow to a canter to Gregory’s vexation. As anxious as he was, he dared not push the horses any harder, or they might not make it to the inn.

  One of the boys called, “Your Grace,” as he rode up abreast of Gregory. “There’s a light there!” The boy pointed to the side of the road. Sure enough, there was the twinkling of a light through the trees. “House?” the boy asked curiously.

  “Looks more like a lantern,” Gregory said, and he turned his horse to get a closer look. There was a small path just wide enough for a carriage or two horses riding abreast of each other. Gregory followed the path around a stand of trees.

  In a small clearing, there was a wagon with two horses tied nearby. The lantern swung on a post above the wagon. It looked to be well-worn. “Is anyone about?” Gregory called cautiously.

  “Aye,” an old woman said as she stuck her head out of the wagon. “Oh, I say, what are you?”

  Gregory chuckled and said, “Just a traveller. I was wondering if you had any water to spare. We’ve ridden our horses hard, and they could use a drink.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t, but there is a stream up the road. It’s clear and cool,” the woman said helpfully.

  Gregory nodded and then ventured, “Have you seen any other travellers tonight? We are missing some friends and ride in search of them. They should have been in a carriage.”

  “I can’t say that I’ve seen much like that in the last while. It has been quite for a few hours now,” the woman said with a frown. “If you don’t mind, Sir, I have to be about early in the morning. I’ve goods to get into London.”

  Gregory nodded and said, “Of course. I apologize for disturbing you. Thank you for your kindness, good lady.”

  The woman gave Gregory a pleased smile before she ducked back into the wagon. The three men turned their horses around and made their way back onto the road. As the woman had said, just a mile down the road, they came to a stream which ran near enough to the road that the horses could drink.

  While the horses drank, one of the young men who went by the name of Talbert asked, “Do you think they are perhaps at the next inn? Haven’t seen any signs of a broken carriage.”

  “Could be,” Gregory said with a nod. “If the Duchess saw the lightning, she might have wanted to stop. She is not much on storms.”

  Olly, Talbert’s older brother, said, “I sure hope we find them soon.”

  “Me too,” Talbert said.

  Gregory could only nod. He understood how tired the two young men probably were. The fatigue was wearing on Gregory as well. “Looks like they’ve had their fill of water for now,” Gregory said, and he guided his horse back towards the road.

  “Back to it,” Olly said as he swung up onto the mare he was riding.

  Gregory and Talbert were soon mounted up as well. This time they did not push the horses quite so hard. The next inn was a long way, and they needed the horses to make it there in one piece.

  ***

  Jules called over to the stable boy, “Have you seen a man with a cane?”

  “Oh yes, Ma’am,” the boy said with a vigorous nod. “He’s just over there talking to someone.” The boy pointed towards the back of the stables.

  The relief flooded through Jules as she rushed out the backdoor of the stables. She could hear David’s footsteps right behind her. “There you are,” Jules said with a smile as she caught sight of Fredrick leaning on his cane and talking with Thompson who was mounted upon a horse as if he were about to leave.

  “Duchess,” Fredrick said, “I thought you were waiting inside. Ah, who is this?” Fredrick looked behind Jules at the tall, lanky young man who was following behind the Duchess.

  With a smile, Jules said, “This Mr David Larkin, Journeyman Mason.”

  David gave Fredrick a nod of his head. “And you must be Sir St Claire. The Duchess was most worried about you. We were afraid you had decided to ride on without us,” David said with a smile.

  “After only a few minutes’ absence?” Fredrick asked with a laugh. “I had no idea that my loss would be so keenly felt. Now, what is this about your going with us?”

  Thompson cleared his throat. “Sir?”

  “Yes, ride on ahead, Thompson, and tell the Duke that we will meet him in the morning at the manor house. The hour is so late now that I think it would be better to rest, especially since there appears to be a storm on the road towards London.” Fredrick nodded towards the lightning that lit up the skies in the direction of London. “Ride fast and ride safely,” Fredrick said to Thompson who in turn nodded and urged his horse forward.

  Once Thompson was gone, Jules nodded as well. “It is probably for the best to wait until morning,” she said.

  “Nonsense,” David said. “I have to be back in London tonight. If you wish to truly help, then you will accompany me. Otherwise, I will assume that your loyalties are not with the guild at all.”

  Fredrick bristled. “You don’t speak to the Duchess in such a way,” he ground out as his fist tightened around the cane.

  “I apologize,” David said quickly, and he gave both the others a bow. “I’m just overly anxious to be back where I can do some good for the guild.”

  Jules nodded. “We understand, Mr Larkin,” she said gently. “Perhaps we could ride on and Lord St Claire could join us in the morning.”

  “I will not stay here while you journey with someone I do not know,” Fredrick said swiftly. “If you wish to proceed, then I will go with you. I had just thought that given you do not appreciate storms, you would wish to wait, Duchess.”

  Jules said anxiously, “I do not adore storms, this is true. However, Mr Larkin is right. There is no telling what might befall my guild mates while we sit here waiting for the storm to pass.”

  “As you wish,” Fredrick said with a bow of his head. “I’ll get the carriage ready.”

  David agreed, “Yes, I’ll see to my horse then.”

  As Fredrick and David got ready to leave, Jules went back inside to try and settle her nerves. Just the sight of the lightning was enough to get her out of sorts. Not even as a child could she stand storms. Their roof often leaked, and Jules f
ound the old nervousness settle over her as she eyed the roof of the inn.

  “Will you be staying with us, Your Grace?” The innkeeper asked with a warm smile as Jules settled on a cushioned bench inside the door. The woman and her neat bun reminded Jules of her old schoolmistress before her father had pulled her out of the school to go to work.

  Jules shook her head and said apologetically, “I fear that my travelling companions have decided to ride on tonight. I would gladly have stayed on otherwise. Looks to be a storm coming.”

  “Yes, the lads mentioned the storm when they came in this evening. I do wish you a safe journey,” the innkeeper said earnestly.

  Jules wished that the woman’s well-wishing had made her feel better, but in truth, it had only made her more anxious. She took her mind away from the storm and innkeeper. She just closed her eyes and reminded herself to breathe. Jules was, after all, not a child anymore.