by Abigail Agar
Boris had insisted that they ride instead of using a carriage as the roads up to the old estate were sometimes not the best this time of the year.
As the country grew lusher and the houses sparse, Gregory began to wonder if perhaps he had been wise to come out with Boris on his own. Fredrick and their mother had both been against the idea, but here Gregory was, and there was no use second guessing it now. He followed along with Boris as they rode in silence.
“The ride takes a few hours, so we will need to stop and eat while the horses rest,” Boris said with a smile.
As much as Gregory wanted to remind his cousin that he was not here to enjoy himself through a leisurely ride, his cousin had a point about resting the horses. It would do little good to get there only to have run the horses too ragged to return.
The day, despite Gregory’s foul mood, was a pleasant mixture of clouds, sun, and a breeze that felt just cool enough to take the harshness out of the warm summer day.
***
Jules sat out on the stone terrace with an assortment of fruits and cured meats on the table in front of her. She was starving, so between bits of her tale, she took large bites of all the delicious offerings. Lady St Claire and Fredrick watched her patiently. “I swear that I set out with David with the sole purpose of finding Fredrick, only I was so tired that I fell asleep in the saddle,” Jules said as she frowned.
“I hold no grudge against you, Your Grace,” Fredrick assured Jules. “I think it was boldly foolish of you to even attempt to find me, but that’s exactly what I expect of my brother’s bride. You are both far braver than is healthy for you.”
Jules paused as she picked a cherry out of a dish. “Where did you say that His Grace has gone?”
“He has gone with his cousin Boris to see if they can track down Uncle Lawrence,” Fredrick said with a shrug. “He should be back by tomorrow at the latest. It is quite a ride out to the estate where they think he might be, after all.”
Lady St Claire pursed her lips and added, “I told him not to go with that Boris. His mother was always too fond of Lawrence for my taste. Even with her having no real relation to the man, she found that she had to take him on as some sort of pitiable creature she had rescued from the cold.”
“Well, she always was a bit of an odd duck,” Fredrick said quietly. “She just stays up at Glenwood and never really leaves. I never held that against her, actually kind of envied that.”
Lady St Claire said with a sigh, “Being a hermit is not something to aspire to, Fredrick.”
“Neither is being at every gala, Mother,” Fredrick said with equal certainty. “Speaking of that, are you not joining society this week?”
Lady St Claire fanned herself with a silk fan she held in one of her hands. “Fredrick, you know very well that this late in the season all the get-togethers are more for the courting pairs than any of the rest of us. I have little interest in seeing who has been matched up this year,” Lady St Claire said and then added, “and I should think you would have better manners than to even suggest I might want to socialize while all of this is going on.”
“I do apologize, Mother,” Fredrick said with a frown. He tapped his fingers on the table and added, “Isn’t Cousin Boris courting this year? Could have sworn that Gregory had told me he was when he gave me Boris’ message of goodwill earlier in the year.”
Lady St Claire inclined her head and said, “He was courting one of the daughters of the Marquis of Dorchire. I have not seen him out at many of the events this year, though. Perhaps she soured to him or him to her. It does happen.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but is it that the two of you somehow suspect that Boris is not to be trusted?” Jules had listened as long as she could without learning anything, and her mind was supplying her with all the horrible things that could be happening to Gregory at the hands of the man.
Fredrick shrugged and said lightly, “We do not know what extent Boris is involved, but it was Gregory’s decision to go with him. I trust my brother’s judgement in most things, and I am forced to do so now.”
“We could go after him,” Jules suggested.
Lady St Claire looked scandalized. She said urgently, “You’ve only just gotten in from your ordeal. Would you so soon set off on another?”
“If my husband is in trouble then yes,” Jules said firmly. She placed down the piece of fruit she had been nibbling on while listening to Fredrick and Lady St Claire talk.
Jules shook her head. “What would you have me do? Sit here and work on my needlepoint? Now that I know that Gregory was working tirelessly to find me, I could not in good conscience think of leaving him on his own. I am surprised that you would have me do so,” Jules said to Lady St Claire.
The older woman looked down at the table and said quietly, “I would have to do what I had not the courage to do. I should have gone looking for my husband the moment that Lawrence returned without him. I was petrified to leave the boys. I let the men handle it.”
“I understand why you did what you did,” Jules assured the woman. “I do not think I would have left my children alone with a man that I suspected had harmed my husband. You did the right thing, and you could not have helped your husband.”
Fredrick said quietly, “She’s right, Mother. You held this family together a long time after Father’s death by your will alone.”
One of the chambermaids came scurrying out the sliding doors and said while holding her hands up clasped together to plead forgiveness, “Pardon the interruption, Sir St Claire, but there is a man at the door asking to see you.”
“A man?” Fredrick asked in puzzlement. Fredrick took his leave of Lady St Claire and the Duchess with a dip of his head before he followed the maid back through the kitchens and towards the main entrance hall.
The maid whispered, “He would not give me a name, Sir. He just kept saying that he would not leave until he saw you.”
Fredrick thought that very odd indeed, and his stomach sank as soon as he saw the man. It was an old acquaintance of his that he had not grown reacquainted with since his return from the war for a good reason. The man gave Fredrick a bright smile, “Fred.” The man’s voice held relief that Fredrick did not trust.
Fredrick nodded to the maid, “The gentleman and I will be in my father’s study.” The young woman curtseyed and quickly was off to her other chores. Fredrick eyed his unwelcome guest and asked the man to follow him to the study.
***
“I thought your brother was the one who inherited the title,” Samuel said with an appreciative sip of the whisky that Fredrick handed him.
Fredrick nodded and agreed, “He is. Why would you be puzzled by that?”
“Does he let you often drink from his liquor stocks?” Samuel asked with amusement.
Fredrick sighed. “Yes, he is my brother. We both live here. Which brings me to my question, why are you here, Samuel?” Samuel Teagan was a man who loved gambling and money more than any Fredrick had met thus far.
He knew that if the dark-haired Samuel had landed on his door with his clothes shining with crispness unnatural to the gambler, that Samuel had something up his sleeve.
“My fine fellow, I’m here to beg your forgiveness. I know that we parted on unpleasant terms before you left to fight in the war. I also know that is probably why you have not sought me out since your return,” Samuel said, his eyes just for a moment going to Fredrick’s disabled leg. “So I thought I would come and do the right thing. I just want to end things on a note of kindness.”
Fredrick eyed the man for a moment before he asked, “You need money, do you not?”
“Fred, I don’t know why you would think that,” Samuel said with indignation, but the fury died out of the man’s eyes. “I got into a bit of trouble with the guards. My parents, wealthy as they are, have snatched the purse strings very tight. I fear that I may end up in one of the workhouses before long.”
Samuel had always been in one scrape or another, yet Fredrick frowned
at the man, “Your clothes do not speak of poverty and desperation, Sam. Perhaps you should change before you start your career as a beggar.”
“You always were a self-righteous blowhard, Fred,” Samuel said with a laugh. “I guess some things war can’t even tame. I don’t really need the money, this is true. I just wanted to test the waters.”
Fredrick sighed, “Consider them tested.”
“Fair enough, old friend,” Samuel said. As the man stood, “While I’m here, I should probably tell you that there are some quite odd and awful rumours floating around about your brother and his wife. I daresay that there might be more who believe them than do not.”
Fredrick narrowed his eyes at the man and asked, “What sort of rumours?”
Samuel frowned and pursed his lips out in thought. “Have you really not heard?”
“I have heard that my brother’s wife was guilty of adultery, which is a false allegation,” Fredrick said quietly. “What have you heard, Sam?”
Samuel sighed heavily, “I heard that your uncle was dead, and your brother killed him. I also heard the rumour about his wife, but I am never interested in the romance nonsense that enthralls most of the society women. I am glad to hear that it is a false rumour and can tell people so.”
“I would appreciate that,” Fredrick said before he added, “as far as we know, my uncle is alive. My brother and our cousin Boris are actually out looking for him right now. He’s been missing for sometime, and we have become most worried about him.”
Samuel nodded, “Yes, I have noticed the old man not being around the clubs and such. It lent a little credence to the rumour actually although I don’t know how bloodthirsty I would consider His Grace. He never seemed that ruthless, and it would be an absurd thing to do with how beloved the old man is with the Lords.”
“Yes, it would be,” Fredrick agreed before he assured Samuel, “my brother is one of the most even-tempered people I know. I doubt very much that he would harm the man outright.”
Samuel raised his shoulders in a shrug. “Rumours spread faster if they are lies, or so I have found,” he said with a smile. “It was actually nice to see you, Fred.”
“Be well,” Fredrick said as he rose and reached over to clasp the man’s hand. “I am glad to see you better than when I saw you last.”
Samuel chuckled and agreed with a nod, “Aren’t we all?” As they released the handshake, Samuel gave Fredrick a little salute and then was quickly out the door.
***
“There’s a rumour that Gregory killed Uncle Lawrence,” Jules said in shock.
Lady St Claire sighed, “And yet you are not concerned about the rumour regarding your own virtue?”
“I care not for what society thinks of me, but the rumour about Gregory could be very dangerous,” Jules said softly.
Fredrick nodded his agreement as they sat in one of the sitting rooms. “It could indeed. Let’s just pray that Uncle Lawrence turns up alive and well so that he can stand trial and look like the villain he is.”
“Oh, this is such a morbid thing,” Lady St Claire said with a grimace. “I have no love for the man, but even I do not wish to see him dead, at least not at my son’s expense.”
Jules frowned. “If Boris is involved, then we really do need to find him and Gregory,” she said with worry.
“The Glenwood Estate is quite a ride, and it is also vast. If we get there then we still have to locate wherever Lawrence is holding up, which I guarantee is not going to be at the main house,” Fredrick said reasonably. “We will give him a day, and if he is not back, then I promise I will ride there personally.”
Jules said firmly, “If you go, then I will go with you.”
“Do you recall what happened the last time we went somewhere together?” Fredrick asked with a laugh.
Jules sighed and crossed her arms. She had refused all of Lady St Claire’s attempts to get her to change out of her disguise, so she sat most scandalously on the sofa in her breeches and ample button-up shirt. “That is not funny, Fredrick,” Jules said with a frown.
“You are right. Forgive me, Your Grace,” Fredrick said with a smile, “But I still think you should wait here with Mother. It would be more prudent to do so.”
Lady St Claire interrupted, “I sincerely hope this conversation is all futility in the morning, and Gregory is walking up those steps. I really do not know how much more worry I can possibly contain for your children.”
Jules gave the woman a worried look and put her hand compassionately on her mother-in-law’s arm. “I am so sorry to cause you grief, but he is my husband,” she said softly.
“I know,” Lady St Claire said with a smile as she put her hand over Jules’ hand. “I am very glad that Gregory has found such a loyal wife, but I do wish you were a bit more cautious.”
Jules hesitantly said, “I promise that in the future I will attempt to have more discretion, but I cannot promise that until I know Gregory is safe.”
Lady St Claire smiled warmly and nodded. “I suppose I can live with that.”
***
Gregory was tired of horses and trails. More than that, he was tired of his cousin and his droning voice that seemed never to tire or crack. Boris was still talking, but Gregory had given up listening to the man a long time ago, most of Gregory’s devotion had been put towards simply staying awake.
The woods on the Glenwood estate were dark even during the day, at night they were pitch black enough that they ran the risk of running their horses and themselves into trees or holes. Gregory followed the twisting trail and the outline of his cousin ahead of him. Finally, Boris slowed and waved for Gregory to dismount as well.
Boris whispered, “There’s a small house up ahead where he stays sometimes. I was not sure if we would find him here, but there does appear to be a light on. We should approach cautiously.”
Gregory nodded as it was a reasonable assumption that his uncle might be willing to use some sort of violence to keep from coming back to face the charges that would be brought against him.
Gregory tied his horse to a tree and proceeded to follow Boris on foot through the woods in a more direct route to the house so as not to be seen as they approached.
It took only a few yards into the woods before Gregory spotted the light that had tipped Boris to the fact that perhaps someone was home at the secluded house.
The light twinkled and flickered as if someone had lit a candle or perhaps a fireplace despite the warmth of the evening. Gregory caught himself on a low tree branch and almost stumbled. Boris turned to him quickly and raised his finger to his lips.
“Sorry,” Gregory whispered. He and Boris waited, but there were no noises from the house. Once Boris deemed it safe, they crept through the trees.
The house, despite the light, was quiet as Gregory and Boris approached. Boris peered gingerly into one of the windows. He shook his head at Gregory and waved Gregory towards the back door.
Gregory stepped softly up the steps and took a breath before he twisted the knob. Boris soon joined him as Gregory pushed the door open with a nod to Boris. The inside of the kitchen was dark, and Gregory whispered, “Perhaps they are sleeping.”
“Or reading,” Boris said with a nod. “Let’s go towards the study. That’s where the light was that we saw.”
Gregory followed Boris as the man motioned for Gregory to follow him. There was eeriness to the quiet that Gregory did not like. The silence was too profound. Gregory’s own breathing sounded far too loud, and the crunch of their boots over the wooden floors sounded louder than thunder.