by Fimch, Fanny
“He is well. He is not a strong man but he is holding on to his life. I believe I know why.”
The Duke of Lox nodded in agreement. “I do, as well. He is waiting to see his child marry someone who will make her happy.”
Katherine nodded. “Those were also my thoughts, my lord. Do you think my mother will try to convince him to let Emma marry Lord Archibald?”
The Duke of Lox frowned. “Why would you ask such a thing? Have you heard anything more about that situation?”
“No, sir, I have not heard another thing.”
“How much time do you get to spend with the duke?” the Duke of Rabney asked curiously. “Is he awake more often than he was? Lady Wentworth mentioned that he was taking medications that made him sleepy.”
The look on Katherine’s face initially confused the two men. A very small smile broke through her distraught face and her eyes crinkled at them. “It is my opinion that my father refused to take his medications. Just yesterday. I heard Gertrude mention it to my mother. It is my belief he wanted to have his wits about him to talk to you, your grace.”
The Duke of Lox nodded, understanding the knowing smile Katherine allowed them a peek at. “I believe that may be the only thing about this situation I have heard that makes sense. The duke is not a stupid man. He will continue on until he sees his daughter happily married.”
“I would prefer he continue on until he sees my wedding, as well,” Katherine replied in a voice that implied she was feeling better and had confidence the men were going to make everything all right. “And to see our children.” She lost the smile she’d had and gazed at them, moving her eyes from one to the other. “What do you think will happen to Mother if she has done something to Emma? Surely, she will not harm her.”
The Duke of Lox shook his head. “I am afraid we do not know her as well as you do, Miss Katherine, and you are the one who came to us. If you had not thought something bad was happening, would you have come to us for help? Would you not have simply asked your mother where Lady Wentworth was?”
Katherine turned her eyes to look at the passing scenery once more. “I suppose I would, my lord. Yes, I suppose I would.”
“And tell me, Miss Katherine,” the Duke of Lox continued in a gentle voice. “What do you think has happened? Who do you think is responsible?”
Katherine sighed. She did not want to blame her mother. The Duke of Lox understood that. He thought about his own mother, the Grand Duchess. His mother would be outraged by the Duchess of Corning’s behavior. She would have the woman in chains before the day was out.
“I do not know, your grace. That is why I came to you. I do not believe I am a good judge in this matter.”
The Duke of Lox nodded. He decided the girl had been put through enough questioning and fell silent. He was nervous for Emma. In the six weeks of the season that had already passed, he would never have taken the Duchess of Corning for an evil woman.
When she spoke of Emma the very first night they were introduced, she spoke highly of her. She seemed eager for Emma to meet the right man. She even gave the impression the Duke of Lox was that right man. Or perhaps the Duke of Rabney.
What had happened in those six weeks between Lord Archibald and the Duchess of Corning that caused this sudden union of goals?
He moved his eyes back to Katherine. “Miss Katherine, how long has your family known Lord Archibald?”
“He has attended nearly all of the events we have for the last three seasons. While I could not give you a personal account of this, as I was not there for my sister’s first two seasons, I am certain that his name has come up in conversation between my parents.”
“In connection to your sister?”
Katherine looked up, thinking about it. “At first, yes. But when it was brought up to Emma, she did not like the idea and chose to only be friends with Lord Archibald. He seemed like a nice man. I have danced with him several times. He was always very polite but was quiet to a point. I had no opinion of him and he was very obviously not interested in me.”
The Duke of Lox nodded, moving his eyes away from her. An idea was forming in his mind.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
As much as he detested it, the Duke of Lox knew he would have to enlist the help of the Duke of Corning. It was imperative that he know as much about Lord Archibald Van D’Obson as he could. It was obvious he could not ask the Duchess of Corning and so it would fall to her husband.
He had his doubts the Duke of Corning would mind helping to find his daughter and ensure her safety.
They rolled up to the front of Corning Manor and the three of them got out of the carriage. Katherine held her skirts as she hopped up the steps and crossed the porch to the front door. Without hesitation, she went in and headed toward the stairs.
“I am going to see if she is here or if Camilla is still here,” she said over her shoulder as she ascended the curving stairs to the second floor where the bedrooms were.
Neither of the men spoke. They both watched her until she was nearly at the top before looking at each other. The Duke of Rabney lifted his eyebrows. “I know that look, Baldwin. You know what to do. Tell me what you are thinking.”
The Duke of Lox nodded. “I believe I know what we can do. But first, we must find out how much the Duke of Corning knows about Lord Archibald and his family.”
“Do you believe there is something nefarious going on between Lord Archibald and the duchess?”
The Duke of Lox moved down the hallway, shaking his head. “No. Nothing quite nefarious. Mysterious. I believe if we look into Lord Archibald’s history and his background, we will find the answer to this. I am hoping it will lead us to Lady Wentworth.”
“You do not believe she will come back with Miss Katherine? Perhaps she did go shopping with the duchess.”
The Duke of Lox looked over his shoulder. “No, Christian. She is not here.”
His friend’s eyebrows shot up. “I wish I knew what to do for you, Baldwin. I truly understand why you are so keen to find her. I will help you however I can.”
The Duke of Lox nodded at him. “I know, Christian. I am grateful.”
They reached the doors to the room where the Duke of Corning would be laying in his comfortable bed, hopefully alert enough to answer their questions.
The Duke of Lox turned the knob and pushed open the doors. He stepped in with the Duke of Rabney on his heels. Gertrude jumped to her feet, her eyes wide in shock.
“Oh!” Her hands flew to her mouth as she attempted to hide her surprise from the two men. “Oh dear, I am sorry, I did not know you were coming. No one told me. I would have been waiting. I am so sorry, my lords.” She curtsied several times as she passed them, going out the door.
She turned to wrap each hand around a door knob and pull the doors closed behind her. The men watched her leave before turning to the Duke of Corning, who was sitting up higher in bed than he had been the night before and looking even more alert.
A rush of relief ran through the Duke of Lox. He approached the bed.
“My sincerest and deepest apologies for bursting in on you without announcement, my lord,” the Duke of Lox said in a low voice. “But I fear this is an emergency and I need your help… that is Lady Wentworth needs your help.”
The Duke of Corning’s eyes, which had been looking at them curiously, suddenly turned alert and focused. He stared at the Duke of Lox. “What has happened to my Emma?”
His voice was raspier than the Duke of Lox would have liked but he was completely awake.
The Duke of Lox reached out and grabbed the high-backed chair Gertrude had been sitting on. He dragged it closer to the bed and sat down. The Duke of Rabney came up to stand behind him, placing one hand on the back of the chair the Duke of Lox was sitting in.
He sat forward. “Forgive me, sir. I do not mean to upset you.”
The Duke of Corning shook his head. “No time for that now. I must know what is happening to my daughter.”
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��We do not know where she is. I must ask you some…”
“You do not know where she is? I was told she went shopping with the duchess.”
The Duke of Lox shook his head. “Your step-daughter does not believe this to be so, my lord. She has come to us in the early morning hours seeking our assistance in finding her sister. I do not believe Miss Katherine would approve of my visit with you. But I fear you are the only one who can provide some answers.”
“What do you need to know?”
“How well do you know Lord Archibald and his family?”
“Lord Archibald? Emma mentioned him. She does not want to marry him. She wants to marry you. I know she does.”
The Duke of Lox nodded, afraid that he was losing the Duke of Corning’s attention. “I certainly do hope so, my lord. I have not yet had a chance to tell her we have your blessing. I do not believe she would leave on her own. Not without telling anyone. Miss Katherine fears the duchess may have made a promise or an arrangement with Lord Archibald and he has taken her somehow. Away from her home in the darkest hours of night.”
The Duke of Corning’s eyebrows drew together. “The duchess? My wife?”
The Duke of Lox lowered his head, blinking several times, deferring respect to the older man. “Yes, my lord. I am sorry. I do not know this to be fact. I am merely asking you to help me find Lady Wentworth and bring her home. The guilty parties will pay as they must.”
“I met Lord Archibald six years ago at the opening ball of the season. The duchess and I were hosting the affair and he was new to London. He is three years older than my daughter. Emma was not yet of age to attend the affairs in any meaningful way. She did not meet him until three seasons later, when she began attending. Lord Archibald does not have a family, as his father died and his mother abandoned him in the arms of Lady Bonneville, who became his patroness and guardian, such as was needed.”
“What became of his mother?”
“I have never found out that information. The duchess attempted a union between Lord Archibald and Emma but there did not seem any interest on her part and therefore, I directed my wife to discontinue her efforts. She acquiesced to my decision and I never heard another word about it. Until now. This season appears to be different. I hear the women talking as they move about the house and Emma comes in frequently to talk to me, even if she thinks I am asleep.” He smiled. “Which I usually am.”
“Did you consider him a good match for Lady Wentworth? I am asking if there was any effort on your part to pair Lady Wentworth with Lord Archibald?”
The Duke of Corning shook his head. “No, there was no effort on my part. My wife always took care of such matters. She would have continued if she was not told to cease her efforts.”
The Duke of Lox nodded. “Thank you for answering my questions, my lord. Allow me to apologize once more for arriving without announcement.”
The Duke of Corning shook his head slightly. “No need to apologize. I am glad you are going to look for my daughter.”
“One more question before we leave, my lord,” the Duke of Lox said as he stood up. “Do you know of any out-of-the-way properties that Lord Archibald’s patroness, Lady Bonneville, might own?”
The Duke of Corning frowned again. “I see you are assuming Lord Archibald has, in fact, taken my daughter?”
“I do believe it to be so, yes.”
The Duke of Corning moved his eyes and lifted one hand, pointing to a large rolltop desk behind the Duke of Rabney. “There is a map of the area in that desk. Second drawer down, my lord. Please get it. It has all property owned marked by name and territory.”
The Duke of Rabney patted the Duke of Lox on the shoulder. “I have it, Baldwin.”
He turned and went to the desk while the Duke of Lox twisted in his seat to watch him. The Duke of Corning waved his hand, nodding. “Yes, that is where… yes, bring it to me, my lord.”
The Duke of Rabney pulled out a large folded piece of parchment and unfolded it slightly to see what it was. “I believe this is what you seek, my lord?” He held it up for the Duke of Corning to see.
“Yes, that is it. Bring it to me. I will show you where to look.”
The Duke of Rabney brought the map over and the three men unfolded it together, pressing down the edges and scanning it with their eyes. The Duke of Lox stood up to get a better look, tilting his head to read the names.
“You see, there is Cooksey Castle and this is Corning Manor. Here is Hillshire estate and Greenwich Place. Lady Bonneville is here in relation to us.”
The Duke of Lox traced the area between Corning Manor and the Bonneville estates. There were two of them, not any more near each other than they were to Corning Manor. He looked at one and then the other. “Lord Archibald has no estate of his own?”
The Duke of Corning moved his eyes up to look at him. “No, my lord. His father is unknown. His mother, I believe, may have been a distant second cousin to Lady Bonneville. I am unsure of their bloodlines.”
“I understand. Thank you, my lord. May I borrow this map?”
“Of course, my boy, you take it with you and bring it back in my daughter’s hands.” The old man quickly folded the map and pushed it toward the Duke of Lox who picked it up.
He turned to the door, gesturing with his head to the Duke of Rabney. “Let us go formulate a plan, Christian.”
“I am praying you are successful. Do find and bring back my daughter. I wish to see her wed to the man she loves.”
The Duke of Lox smiled over his shoulder. “I wish that for you as well, my lord. We will be back as soon as we can.”
The two men went back through the bedroom doors, walked down the hall and did not speak until they were outside Corning Manor, standing on the front porch. The stable boy had untied their horses from the Corning carriage and tied them once again around the post in front of the house.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Duke of Lox moved to the round white iron table flanked by two chairs that served as part of the outside decorations. He spread the map out again and looked down at it. “We must each choose a property to search.”
“Should we not notify a constable?” the Duke of Rabney asked. “Someone of authority must be there to take Lord Archibald if Lady Wentworth is found. He must face trial proceedings.”
The Duke of Lox nodded. “Yes. I will tell Miss Katherine to go and notify the constabulary. First, do you have a preference which of these properties you wish to go to?”
The Duke of Rabney shook his head. “I do not. Feel free to choose the one you want and give me the other one. I am at your disposal.”
“I do hope she is not too terrified. I hope she is confident I will come find her.”
The Duke of Rabney had a look of amusement on his face. “Her demeanor at the ball suggested she has changed her mind about your worthiness, Baldwin, and I am glad to see it. I find it ironic that when she finally accepts your advances, she is whisked away by a swine such as Lord Archibald.”
The Duke of Lox almost laughed. Hearing the Duke of Rabney’s observations put him in a good humor and the Duke of Rabney’s reference to Lord Archibald as a swine tickled him.
“Your grace!”
The Duke of Lox had his back to the front doors they had just come from. He turned and looked behind him. It was Katherine, her brown hair falling from the loose bun she had been wearing.
“I have looked everywhere, sir, and I did not find her in any room. Wha…” Her eyes dropped to the map he had spread out on the table. “Father’s map!” She came over to stand over it with curious eyes. “Where will we search?”
The Duke of Lox shook his head, amused. “We are not going to search anywhere. You are going to stay here and wait to see if she does come home.” He lifted a hand when it looked like Katherine might protest. “No, Miss Katherine. Lady Wentworth is in danger. We cannot endanger you, as well.”
Katherine stepped back, her head down and her hands behind her back. “I apologize, my lord.
I did not mean to be forward.”
“Go in and have someone send for the constabulary, Miss Katherine. Have them send one to each of these properties. We will take care of this and bring Lady Wentworth home. I promise.”
Katherine retreated back into the house, nodding, a hopeful look on her face.
The Duke of Lox met the Duke of Rabney’s eyes. “Shall we meet back here in four hours, Christian? If I am not back, come to this property. If you are not here, I will go to the second one.”
“We do not know the area well, Baldwin. Who will take the map?”
The Duke of Lox had to think about that for a moment. “Perhaps we should not split up. But time is of the essence.”
“I will have the Corning driver take me there. He will know the way. You take the map.” The Duke of Rabney began folding the map. The Duke of Lox took it from him.
They nodded at each other and separated, the Duke of Lox going to his horse and the Duke of Rabney heading toward the small cottage near the stables where the Corning driver would be.
The Duke of Lox pulled himself up and started down the path away from Corning Manor. His chest was tight with anxiety. The properties of Lady Bonneville were not close by. It would take an hour and a half to get where he needed to go. And then he would have to find her. He had no idea how vast the property was or how he would go about getting inside the place. It could be surrounded by a large stone wall… it could be a fortress for all he knew.
He sighed, wishing he could make his horse gallop the entire way. But the Duke of Rabney was right. He did not know his way around the area well. He was almost envious of the Duke of Rabney. He had a driver who knew the area very well.
He rode the entire way wishing he could have at least seen the place once before so he could plan, see it in his mind, decide what to do ahead of time. He consulted the map frequently to make sure he was going in the right direction. When he saw the property line coming up, he kept his eye out for a gate or a wall. He saw nothing.
As he came through the tall trees, rounding the curve that would take him to the estate house, he had to stop his horse and look up. The house was not a house. It was a castle. It had four tall towers on each corner and was, in fact, built like a fortress. His chest tightened once more and he clenched his jaw.