by Wendy Vella
“Of course. Bloody fool. Your father was an idiot in his youth and he gambled nearly everything away. Had that Winchcomb not offered a marriage contract instead of demanding the money your father owed him, we would all have been out on the streets.”
Stunned, Daniel sat back in his chair and stared at his grandmother. Winchcomb had saved his father and the Stratton name?
“You could have warned me,” Daniel said quietly, still reeling from what she’d told him.
“How? By telling you that your future was decided? That would have changed who you have become, changed the path you trod. And more importantly, the chit could have died - both your father and I had hoped for her death. Alas, she did not oblige.”
That was twice in one day his wife had been insulted - first by her brothers and now by his grandmother. Daniel was beginning to feel angry, which was ridiculous, as he had no feelings for the woman other than pity. Needing to look anywhere but at his grandmother, he studied the room around him, seeing but not really seeing. Not much had changed since his last visit. It was still dark and austere, just like its owner. The only pleasing thing to Daniel was that all the furniture was solid and well-built, unlike the current trend of spindly legs and narrow seats, grossly unsuited to his large frame.
“I met her brothers before I came here and they mentioned that Gilbert Huxley has an interest in my Duchess.” Daniel watched his grandmother closely. Her reaction surprised even him. Her hands clenched and her cheeks puffed. These displays did little to alleviate the feeling of unease in his stomach.
“That pathetic excuse for a nobleman - makes my blood boil just to hear his name.”
“Is my wife in danger, Grandmother? Her brothers alluded to the fact that Huxley had unfinished business where she was concerned.”
The older woman nodded her head. “Huxley was there when I visited the Winchcombs for the last time a few years ago.”
“You visited my wife’s family? Why?” Daniel shook his head, confused.
“I visited the Winchcombs to see what sort of family they were and look over the girl. She was only a baby the first time but I wanted to make sure the future Duchess of Stratton did not have a squint or clubbed feet.”
Daniel remained silent; interrupting would get him nothing but a lecture.
“The little girl was pretty. She gurgled and smiled and I was most pleased. Her father was an idiot and tried to kiss me.”
“I beg your pardon!” Surely Daniel hadn’t heard that right.
“I, of course, unmanned him instantly, by, well, you understand.”
Daniel couldn’t help smiling as his grandmother glared at him. He could well imagine what she had done to Winchcomb.
“I am pleased you were able to protect yourself, Grandmother,” he said solemnly.
Thompson arrived then with tea, and Daniel knew better than to ask his grandmother to continue while a servant was in the room so he ground his teeth and waited. The elderly woman nodded for the butler to leave, then proceeded with the long drawn-out ritual that was needed to prepare a good cup of tea. He watched as she turned the teapot four times to the left, then four times to the right, counted for twenty seconds, then repeated the procedure. Usually Daniel found this quaint little ritual quite endearing. Today, however, he would cheerfully have reached across the table, grabbed the bloody teapot and hurled it across the room, but again, he knew better than to hurry her along. One did not hurry his grandmother, so outwardly calm he sat and waited.
“My second visit was, as I said, only a few years ago,” she continued after she had taken a small sip of tea. “I had wanted to check on the girl again, make sure that the tutor I had sent to school her was doing his job and that she was up to the mark. We could not have the new Duchess of Stratton appearing to countrified.”
“And you did not think at this stage that I should have been informed of my impending doom.” Daniel’s tone was terse.
Snorting, she reached for her tea and took a long swallow. “You would have run for the hills or gone into the army, had I informed you.”
She had a point there but he was too angry to acknowledge it.
“Your wife was a small, mousy thing, but for all that she seemed to have pleasing manners and as she had no idea of your contract either, I did not enlighten her. Her father told her that I was a long-lost relative who had come to see the family and that I was the one responsible for the tutor. The girl didn’t question me, yet I could see confusion in her eyes.”
“You hardly look like a benevolent benefactress, Grandmother.”
“It was the only thing that seemed plausible without alerting the girl to the contract between our families, and I will ask you to mind your tone, Grandson.”
“Huxley, Grandmother,” Daniel said, steering the conversation back to what he needed to know.
“Huxley was at the house when I arrived. He appeared familiar with the family and most especially the girl. I, of course, knew who he was as I was unfortunate enough to know his father.”
Daniel watched his grandmother take another mouthful of tea before continuing with her story. Why did he have this feeling of unease inside him?
“At least the youngest two Winchcomb children do not share the elder brothers’ looks. Different mother, from what I gather,” the Dowager Duchess added.
“What happened to her, their mother?”
“Died in childbirth, so Winchcomb told me.”
“Tell me of Huxley, Grandmother.”
“I was invited to dine that night. I was staying at the nearest inn and knowing what Winchcomb was capable of, I had two servants accompany me at all times.” Seeing her nephew’s raised eyebrow, she snapped at him. “I may appear old to you, my boy, but to some, I am still a very attractive woman.”
“I have no doubts as to that, but still you digress,” Daniel said, barely restraining the urge to yell at her.
“The girl,” she said glaring at him, “appeared to be the servant for the night. Her brothers and father ordered her hither and yon, and Huxley touched her intimately on several occasions. She was red-faced with rage by the time dessert arrived and she dumped an entire bowl of very bland apple pudding on Huxley’s head. I, of course, applauded and held out great hope that she would indeed one day be able to fulfill the role as Duchess of Stratton.”
“Are you saying her family just sat there and allowed this man to touch and abuse her in your presence and did little to assist her?”
“Indeed, I was quite disgusted and when I took my leave later that night and found Huxley in the hall trying to kiss the girl. I instantly set my footman upon him, then told Winchcomb senior that if I found out this reprobate had touched the future Duchess of Stratton again, there would be hell to pay.”
“And he kept his word…until now,” Daniel said, leaping to his feet and heading for the door.
“Bring her to London!” his grandmother called as he shut the door.
Something was urging Daniel to return to Stratton Lodge immediately. Running down his grandmother’s stairs, he then mounted his horse and headed for his townhouse. Fifteen minutes later, he was once again dismounting, this time to hand the reins to his butler.
“A note has arrived for you from Luton, your Grace.”
Stripping off his gloves, Daniel took the note and broke the seal, his eyes scanning the neat writing.
A Lord Huxley visited Stratton, your Grace. His actions were not that of a gentleman and the staff was forced to take measures to ensure the duchess’s safety. She was distressed by the incident but expressed a wish that you not be informed. However, after careful consideration, I believed the best course was to do so with some expediency, as when Lord Huxley left Stratton, he threatened to return and harm the duchess. We, the staff, are, of course, ever vigilant and should he return, we will alert you instantly.
Luton
“Please have a fresh horse brought round, Werhnam.” Daniel folded the note and slipped it into his pocket. “I have decided to re
turn to Stratton right away. I will be bringing the duchess back to London with me so prepare her rooms,” he added before heading to his own to change clothes. When he had made the decision to bring her back with him he had no idea, but he knew he wouldn’t leave her behind again.
“So you are going back to Stratton?” a voice greeted him as he walked back out the front door twenty minutes later.
“I thought you’d run for cover, Kelkirk.” Daniel shrugged into his greatcoat and pulled on his gloves. Simon was dressed similarly and stood waiting at the bottom of his stairs.
“Me?” Simon said, placing a hand on his chest. “I’m wounded. I merely went to retrieve my horse, and leave a message that I was accompanying you to Stratton for a few days.”
“And why did you think I would be returning to Stratton?” Daniel looked down at his friend, who was now slapping his hat against his thigh and looking vaguely interested in a large barouche that was trundling past.
“A hunch.”
Daniel snorted, then rolled his eyes for good measure, yet remained silent.
“And I yearn for the wide open spaces and lush green hills of Stratton,” Simon said, adding with a wide smile, “It has been an age since I visited there and I feel that Luton has been denied the pleasure of my company for far too long.”
“You attended my father’s funeral.” Daniel’s voice was dry as he walked down the stairs to take the reins of his horse from his groom.
“Is it wrong to want to meet the wife of my dearest friend?”
“Dearest?” Daniel responded. “I’m flattered.”
“Don’t let it go to your head,” Simon muttered, urging his horse forward to fall in beside Daniel’s.
“I just received a missive from Luton indicating that Huxley called at Stratton and that his intentions were not honorable. The servants saw him off, yet Luton was sufficiently concerned to write to me.”
“Good Lord, so the threat was real. Is the duchess all right?”
Nodding, Daniel added, “Yes, but she asked Luton not to inform me of Huxley’s visit, however that combined with what Grandmother told me was enough to alert my fears.”
“You can’t be surprised by your wife’s request, surely, Daniel.” Simon looked at him. “She was raised by those heathens and then forced into marriage with a man she does not know. Even taking into account the threat from Huxley, she’s hardly likely to want you to return now, when she has probably found a measure of peace for the first time in her life.”
Daniel knew his friend’s words were true, yet that did not make him happy about the fact that she had not notified him. He was her husband, and she was his responsibility whether he liked it or not. He should not have had to rely on his butler to alert him of Gilbert Huxley’s visit.
“In truth, I may need your help,” Daniel said.
“How so?”
Daniel looked at his horse’s ears and then viewed the streets before him. Lord, this was hard. “I don’t know if trouble awaits me but if it does, I would be pleased to have you at hand.”
Simon nodded but remained silent, sensing Daniel had not finished.
“And in truth, my wife may be more comfortable with you around.”
Simon stared at him. “What?”
“You can converse like a woman,” Daniel growled.
“I don’t believe that was a compliment.”
“It wasn’t.”
Simon mulled on that for a minute. “So you’re having trouble communicating with your wife? You, the silver tongued duke who woos woman as easily as the rest of us breathe?”
“It’s different with a wife, Kelkirk, especially one wed under duress. The words don’t seem to come as easily as they would in a ballroom.”
“Or bedroom.”
Giving his friend a foul look, Daniel continued. “I want her to return with me to London and hope that having you there will put her at ease and give us a chance to grow comfortable with each other.” Daniel pushed aside the memory of how he had held her in a darkened room and how they had both spoken without reserve then. He knew that in the light of day things would be different between them.
“I shall, of course, be at your service, your Grace. My silken conversational skills and ready wit will be on hand, should you require them.”
Daniel growled something rude and ended the conversation by nudging his boots in the side of his mount so that it sprang forward into a gallop.
They stopped for the night and were up again at dawn the following day to continue the journey, arriving at Stratton as the sun was sinking behind the hills.
“It is a vision to gladden the most hardened heart,” Simon said as they rode up the long driveway. Stratton was at its most picturesque bathed in golden light.
It was a beautiful sight and one Daniel liked more now his father was not waiting for him inside.
After stabling their mounts, Daniel, followed by Simon, walked to the house. It loomed before him as it always had, large and austere, but this time it would be his duchess greeting him.
“Your Grace, we were not expecting you,” Luton said, hurrying forward as Daniel and Simon entered the house.
“It was a last minute decision, Luton.”
“For my part, I have missed you, Luton,” Simon said, shrugging out of his overcoat and handing it to the butler.
“Where can I find the duchess?” Daniel said, ignoring his friend.
“The duchess is from home, your Grace.”
Daniel stopped in the act of removing his gloves and stared at his butler.
“What? Where is she?”
“Visiting with Miss Belmont, your Grace.”
Stunned that she wasn’t here where he had left her, Daniel simply stood there for several seconds, gaping at his butler.
“And when do you believe she will return?” Simon asked when Daniel remained silent.
“We are expecting her soon, my lord.”
“Excellent. We shall take a tray in the study, Luton, and if Mrs. Stimpel has baked any of that excellent plum cake, I shall not be offended if you place a slice or two upon it,” Simon added.
“I shall see to it at once, my Lord.”
“What the hell is she thinking?” Daniel snapped. “To leave the protection of Stratton on her own!”
“Doesn’t the Belmont estate border yours?”
“That is not the point.”
Following Daniel as he stalked to the stairs, Simon said, “For my part, I have only met Miss Belmont briefly. However, I did not think her a woman with nefarious intentions.”
Opening the door to his study, Daniel stomped inside and headed straight toward the fireplace, where he dropped to his haunches and lit it. “Claire does not have a nefarious bone in her body, you idiot, but with the threat of Huxley still looming, I hardly think it a wise move to leave Stratton alone.”
Simon found the brandy and poured two measures.
“How do you know she has gone alone? She could have taken an army of servants with her.”
Rising, Daniel took the glass Simon handed him and then fell into the nearest chair.
“She should be here, not cavorting around the bloody countryside.”
“What are you annoyed about, Daniel? Should your wife have spent her days at Stratton seeing or visiting no one? That hardly seems fair or indeed, worthy of you.”
“She is an innocent who knows nothing of the world but what she learned in her father’s home! She dresses like a servant and is timid and skinny. The woman should not leave here until she has gained experience.”
Daniel could hear himself and how stupid he sounded yet did not seem to be able to stop. Arriving at Stratton to find his wife was not where he had left her had rocked him. He was angry and worried and and frustrated by both emotions, especially the first, as he had sworn he would not show her his anger again when next they met.
“Your reaction seems a bit dramatic, my friend. However, as the food has arrived, I shall not continue this conversation, as it m
ay lead to you roaring again, and I intend savor this plum cake and give it the respect it deserves.”
“She’s a lovely lady, that Miss Belmont.”
“Yes, she is, Molly.” Eva smiled across the carriage at her maid.
She had spent the afternoon and evening with Claire. They had discussed fashions and the latest hairstyles and Claire had told her about society and some of its more colorful people. Never having mastered the art of womanly conversation due to the lack of friends, it had come as a shock that she actually enjoyed it. She’d caught herself giggling a few times and marveled at the feeling. She was changing. Her life was so different now that she lived without the abuse from her family. Eva had enough food and rest, and more importantly, she had a friend. And although she was consumed with worry for Reggie, she was content for the first time in her life. A child would complete her - a child and a husband - but Eva knew that neither of these was likely to happen anytime soon, if ever. Therefore, she would content herself with this life. She could ride when she chose to, play her piano for hours at a time and read under a tree if the mood struck.
“Thank you for accompanying me, Geoffrey,” Eva told the footman as he opened the door and helped her and Molly down.
“It was a nice night for a drive, your Grace,” the young man said, looking at Molly.
Eva watched her maid return the look and swallowed her smile.
“I will not need you until later, Molly.” She waved a hand over her head as she headed toward the house. She liked both Molly and Geoffrey and would not stand in the way of any blossoming relationship.
“Good evening, Luton. I hope you’ve had a pleasant night,” Eva said, taking off her bonnet and gloves.
“The duke and Viscount Kelkirk have arrived, your Grace, and are at present awaiting you in the study.”
Much like the duke earlier, Eva stood still for several heartbeats as she took in this news.
“He’s here at Stratton?”
“Yes, your Grace.”
Why? She had not thought to see him for a very long time. Why had he returned now and with company? Panic made her chest tighten as she clutched her gloves. She wasn’t ready to see him. Would she ever be ready to see him? What did he want?