by Abigail Agar
Gregory had to keep himself from copying the doorman’s expression as he said, “Please, show him in.”
The door closed only to be opened a few moments later as Boris burst into the room. The man’s face was clouded by something Gregory could not decipher. “Cousin, I feel I owe you an apology,” Boris said sorrowfully.
“For what do you owe me this apology, Dear Boris?” Gregory enquired as he waved for the man to take one of the leather seats in front of the desk.
Boris wrung his hands piteously as he sank into the leather of the chair. “I have lied to you, Dear Cousin. I thought that I was protecting my family, but it turns out that I was protecting someone that family means very little to.”
“You are referring to my uncle, I gather?” Gregory ventured.
Boris nodded slowly. “He all but admitted that he had set those men on Fredrick. Why did you not tell me of the attack?”
“I was overwhelmed with fury at the sleight to my wife, and with her missing, my heart is without a compass. I know not what I do, good Boris,” Gregory said softly.
Boris nodded his understanding as he leaned forward to put his hand on Gregory’s arm. “I have tried all I know to find Her Grace. She is simply gone. What can I do … What would you have me do, dear Cousin?”
“I need to find my uncle. He has to be the foul beast behind it. If he could just tell me why he chose to do it,” Gregory whispered furiously.
Boris looked thoughtful a moment. “There is one place that Sir Lawrence liked above others, and that would be the estate north of here that my mother’s family owns. It is very quiet and secluded. One of his mistresses works for my mother’s estate there. It is possible he has gone there to hole up or perhaps somewhere in the woods,” Boris said. “We could go see if he is there.”
“I fear that could take too much time. My wife may very well be anywhere by now, but if he knows something … if we can make him tell us, then I would be most grateful, Boris,” Gregory said as he fumed silently. “To think he could be there sipping wine while my heart dies.”
Boris shook his head with fury, “If he has done so, then he will drown in it.”
“Well, said, good Boris.” Gregory nodded his agreement. “Allow me to let my household know where I am going, and then we shall be off.”
Boris agreed, “I need to alert my own household to my departure, so I shall meet you back here after tea.”
“Very well,” Gregory said as he rose. “We will find him, and when we do, we’ll have answers.”
***
“You cannot be seriously considering going with him,” Lady St Claire said to Gregory as the man pulled on his riding coat. “Gregory, listen to me, please. You are my son; I do not want to see you harmed.”
Gregory sighed, “I know, Mother. However, if there is any chance that this venture may show me some hint of the Duchess’ whereabouts, then I have to try. You will let Fredrick know where I am going. If I am not back in due time, then he has my permission to come to find me.”
“Of course,” Lady St Claire said. It was impossible to dissuade Gregory when he had his mind set on something, so she merely watched with dread as her son strode out of the front door. “Those boys are going to be the death of me, William,” Lady St Claire said to the doorman who was dusting nearby.
William nodded. “His Grace does appear to be rather single-minded, My Lady,” William said with warmth.
Lady St Claire agreed with a laugh, “Yes. Just like his father.”
“His father was a good man,” William said respectfully.
Lady St Claire smiled at William and gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder as she headed towards the kitchen for some tea, “That he was, William. That he was.”
***
When Fredrick arrived home, it was to his mother’s distraught ramblings about his brother going off with Boris which Fredrick confirmed with the household staff as his mother was so upset that the woman went straight off to bed to lie down. Olly and Talbert immediately volunteered to go after the Duke, but Fredrick shook his head.
“If Gregory wants us to wait here, then that is what we shall do. He might seem out of his head with longing for Her Grace, but I promise you that my brother knows what he is doing,” Fredrick said as he clapped Olly on the back.
“We know, Sir; we just feel that we need to help somehow,” Olly said quietly.
William came into the living room and said, “Pardon me, Sir, but there is a Tom from the Mason Guild here. He said that his master sent him with a message for His Grace.”
Fredrick waved for William to let the boy in as he shifted his aching leg up onto the soft pillows of the couch. It was a poor thing to meet guests in such a manner, but he feared that if he did not do that, he may not be able to be much help otherwise.
The young man came in when William ushered him in from the hallway, but it was clear that the youngster was hesitant to enter the room with Fredrick, Olly, and Talbert.
Fredrick called over, “Come in. Tom, is it? I am Lord Fredrick St Claire, His Grace’s brother. If you have a message for him then leaving it with me is the next best thing.”
Tom relaxed a bit at the mention of the Duke. “Yes, Sir,” Tom said as he shuffled into the room. The youth was skinny and dressed in ill-fitting clothes that were surely hand-me-downs. “Master Foster sent me to let His Grace know that Miss—Her Grace is at the Mason Hall.”
“Say that again,” Fredrick said in astonishment.
Tom cleared his throat and said, “Her Grace is at the Mason Hall. She arrived late yesterday on foot.”
“Is she well?” Fredrick asked urgently as he pushed himself up onto his one good leg.
Tom nodded, “Yes, Sir. She was a bit scared but seems alright otherwise. He sent me to let His Grace know so that he could come and persuade her to go home with him.”
“Persuade?” Fredrick asked as he pursed his lips out.
Tom looked at the men who were eying him curiously. He said hesitantly, “She was afraid as I said, Sir. She doesn’t know who to trust. Master Foster had to chase her down the street and coax her to stay at the Mason Hall as it was.”
“I can’t say that I blame her after all she has been through,” Fredrick said honestly. “Go back and tell your master that I will be there shortly. His Grace is traveling at the moment and cannot come himself.”
Tom nodded as the young man seemed relieved to be free to leave. “Thank you, Sir,” Tom said swiftly. “I will, Sir.” Then the young man was swiftly out of the door.
Olly whistled, “Now that’s a break if I ever heard of one. How you’d suppose she got out?”
“I do not know,” Fredrick said honestly, “but with Her Grace, I cannot say that I am surprised that she found a way to escape. She is a resourceful woman.”
Talbert shook his head in wonder. “Want us to come with you, Sir?”
“No,” Fredrick said. “It would do better for you two to stay here and watch after the household. Do not let anyone in while I am gone unless it is His Grace returned. Do you understand?”
Olly nodded and said solemnly, “We’ll tell everyone, including the scullery maids, Sir. No one will be coming in here.”
“Good man,” Fredrick said as he grabbed his cane. “Now let’s just pray Her Grace actually agrees to come home with me.”
***
Jules had left familiar streets behind and was headed towards the more affluent streets. She prayed that none of the guards or others pestered her with how she was dressed. There was a reason that people from her parts of London never ventured into the scrubbed and polished sections of the city.
It seemed like more than days, or was it weeks that she had been gone from these glistening streets? Jules felt more the outsider than ever, and she was still blocks and blocks away from the manor home of the St Claire family. She tried to not think about it and just to act like she belonged here.
“Hey you,” a male voice called.
Jules cursed her luck a
s she slowed to a stop. She swung around to see a guard leaning against the side of a building. “What business have you in that direction?”
“I’ve …” Jules cleared her throat and said, “I am running an errand and have to deliver a message, Sir.”
The guard nodded slowly, “Oh? Where is this message going then?”
Jules figured she had little to lose at this point and said, “To the St Claire household, Sir. My Master thought it wise that I go work for His Grace for a bit, said it might build character.”
The guard chuckled, “Sounds like your Master is right ready to be rid of you. Alright then, carry on.” The man turned away from Jules, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she hurried away from the man as quickly as she could without drawing his attention again.
Jules broke into a run once she was out of sight of the guard and jogged for a way. When she began to tire, she slowed her pace. There was the sound of a horse, and Jules panicked, quickly ducking aside. It was too late that she recognized the rider. By the time she realized it was Fredrick, he was too far away to hail down.
Her heart leaped because at least now she knew that Fredrick was alive and well. She had wondered what had become of the man after she and David had failed to find him on the way to London. Of course, knowing what she knew now of David, she doubted very much that the man had even bothered to look.
Jules hurried on towards the St Claire family home buoyed now by the thought of Fredrick being okay. Surely that meant that Gregory had indeed come looking for him and Jules.
She smiled and ran the rest of the way not even bothering to look at anything or anyone as she raced along the streets like a madwoman.
***
When Fredrick arrived at the Mason Hall, there were guardsmen everywhere, and his heart sank. He dismounted his horse and approached the two guardsmen outside the door warily. “Good evening,” he said with a smile to the two guards. “I was just coming to call on the Guild Master. Is there some issue?”
“No, Sir,” another guard said as he emerged from the building. “We had just been informed that an escaped fugitive might be hiding inside.”
Fredrick frowned. “I do hope everything is settled now. I doubt very seriously that the Mason Guild would hide criminals,” he said scandalized.
“Everything is fine, and we were just leaving. Apparently, the tip was just rumours. Good day, Sir,” the guard said graciously as he dipped his head and walked down the steps past Fredrick. The two guards outside the door, followed by several others spilled down the stairs behind the lead guard.
Fredrick watched them all clamour onto a waiting wagon and only then did he turn and go up the steps. A grey-haired man met Fredrick at the door. The man eyed Fredrick warily, “Can I help you, Sir?” the man asked as he eyed Fredrick’s nice clothes.
“I am Fredrick St Claire, His Grace’s brother. He is away at the moment and could not come himself to collect Her Grace,” Fredrick explained.
The man looked confused. “I don’t understand. Did you not see her along the way?”
“No,” Fredrick said worriedly. “I spoke to Tom and then came straight here, but I saw no one save a guard or two along my route here.”
The man sighed heavily, “I sent her toward your manor house over an hour ago. You should have passed her on the way. Forgive me, Sir. I am Charles Foster, the Guild Master here.”
“It is nice to meet you,” Fredrick said then he looked around. “I will head back at once and pray that I see her along the way. Perhaps she merely took a different route than I.”
Master Foster nodded, “I wish you good speed. I fear the guards did not really believe that Her Grace was not here. They may be out looking for her as we speak.”
***
Jules was almost to the manor when two men hailed her from across the street. She hastened to keep moving, but she heard one of them call out, “Stop there!”
Running would only make them give chase, but Jules saw the lights of the manor house just ahead. She saw the gate and sighed wearily. She stopped and turned towards the two men. “Is there a problem?” she asked trying to stamp down the fear that crept up with every step the men took towards her.
The guardsmen stopped near her, and one of them said, “We are looking for an escaped criminal. Where are you headed?”
Jules looked between the men. She decided to try and play it off. Perhaps they were not even looking for her. “I am expected at St Claire Manor,” Jules said as she gestured towards the large house across the street. “If I’m late, His Grace will have my head,” Jules said urgently hoping that they would believe her just some servant of the St Claire household.
The guardsmen looked at each other. “Odd thing that. We have reason to believe that the criminal that we are looking for might be headed for the St Claire home. What did you say your name was?” the taller of the two guards asked suspiciously.
“I didn’t,” Jules said and then hastily added, “It is Henry Miller.”
The other guard said to his friend, “Aren’t we looking for a woman? This is clearly a boy.”
They eyed Jules for a moment. Jules had already begun to get ready to run for the manor when there was a familiar voice. Fredrick shouted over, “Hello there. Is there some issue?”
The guardsmen looked around at Fredrick. “No, Sir,” the taller guard said hastily. “We were just asking this boy some questions.”
“They are looking for a criminal and decided to harass me about it,” Jules said.
Fredrick shook his head. “You had better get on to the manor. I will set this gentleman straight,” Fredrick said as he nodded his head towards the manor behind Jules. Jules dipped her head in thanks then took off at a run across the street. “Now, about this search for a criminal and how you thought it necessary to impede one of our servants about it, I think His Grace would find that most interesting,” Fredrick said with absolute sincerity. He eyed the two nervous guardsmen.
Finally one of the men said, “Our apologies, Sir. We were merely asking the boy if he had seen anyone suspicious.”
Fredrick took a deep breath and said, “Do not let it happen again.”
The two guardsmen assured Fredrick that it would not as they hastened to leave. Fredrick watched them for a time and then went to join Jules at the manor. She was waiting outside the manor by the steps when he rode up.
“You’re okay!” Jules said with relief as Fredrick dismounted. No sooner had he landed on the ground than Jules embraced him.
Fredrick smiled and patted Jules on the back. “And I am so grateful to see you unharmed, at least for the most part. Come inside, and you can catch us up on your misadventure,” Fredrick said as he ushered Jules towards St Claire Manor.
Chapter 14
Gregory waited impatiently for Boris to be ready to leave. He gave the maid that came through the room tidying up a smile despite his mood.
The timid woman bobbed her head at Gregory and left the room as quickly as she had entered it. Gregory was beginning to wonder if Boris would ever be ready when the man finally came into the sitting room to collect Gregory.
“Ah, there you are,” Boris said as if Gregory was somehow not exactly where Boris had left him.
Gregory intoned, “Yes, here I am. Are you ready to go?” Gregory stood up and eyed Boris expectantly.
Boris nodded, and they were finally able to make their way back out to where the horses were waiting. Once they were mounted, they made good time across London and swiftly out the other side.