The message rekindled some of the anger he’d felt. Hellfire, how was he going to explain this to Ardleigh and his wife? Perhaps he’d do best to be honest.
“How close are you to Sara?” he asked.
“I’m quite close to her, Your Grace,” Phoebe answered, “but with all due respect, I would like to know your business with her. I know some of the events that led her here, but perhaps you can fill in a few voids.”
Phoebe’s stare did not soften. Fine, then he would tell her.
“All right. I’ll give you the events as I know them. I sent Sara a necklace, a very expensive necklace. She returned it to me with this note.” He yanked the note from his pocket and attempted to smooth out the creases from the way he had crushed the letter in his hand. His temper flared again, and he relinquished his ministrations and handed the note to Phoebe.
“I wouldn’t have believed it of her—” the duke shook his head as he paced around the library, “—but it would seem she’s quite enterprising, our Sara.”
Phoebe scanned the note and handed it back to the duke. A small smile crossed her face. “Is that what you believe? You suggest that Lady Downey is the type of woman to be bought and sold?”
“Humph!” was the only sound he could express in Phoebe’s audience.
“Shall I tell you the events as I understand them, Your Grace? Or perhaps you are afraid to hear the truth?” Phoebe settled herself in a chair and folded her hands on her lap.
Philip crossed his arms. “Go ahead, Lady Ardleigh. Please try to convince me of her innocence. I will gladly change my opinion.”
“Very well, I’ll tell you what I know. I sent my footman to Lady Downey’s to deliver a gift. Lady Downey’s mother died many years ago, leaving her with a special bag. She has been hoping to make a dress to match for many years, although she needs to first find the right beads. I believed I had found the perfect match and sent them to her for her perusal. I instructed my footman to wait for an answer to my note. Actually, I believe I will ask Frederick to repeat the events as he observed them.”
At the mention of that word—“beads”—Philip’s stomach seemed to drop through his feet. Could he have gotten it wrong after all? He waited, anxious, while Phoebe opened the door to call for her footman. When the man arrived, he seemed almost as anxious as Philip, wringing his hands and glancing about the room with quick darts of his eyes.
“Frederick, if you please, explain to the duke what you saw in Lady Downey’s shop.” She stepped back to give the man space.
“Of course, Your Ladyship.” He nodded briefly at the duke. “Your Grace, it was madness. I was waiting on Lady Downey’s response, as my mistress had bid me, when this wild woman walked in. She accused the lady of stealing her man and called her some most inappropriate names. Then, before either of us could react, she took a knife out of her reticule and just started cutting at the gowns on the wall. She was acting quite mad. I didn’t know what to do!”
Philip felt the blood drain from his face. “What? Who was it? Who treated her like that?” He leaned toward Frederick with fire in his eyes. “Tell me who did this to her! What was her name?”
“Lady Downey called her ‘Lady Monster’ or something like that. I think she recognized her. Must be she has acted like this before.”
Philip glanced at Ardleigh. “Lady Monster? Who the devil is Lady Monster?”
Ardleigh spoke softly to his footman. “Could it have been ‘Lady Montrose’?”
“Yes!” Frederick started. “That was it. ‘Lady Montrose.’ That’s what she called her. Pretty woman with dark hair and big… Oh, pardon me, Lady Ardleigh.” His head dropped to stare at his feet.
Phoebe patted his shoulder. “It’s quite all right, Frederick. Please continue. What happened next?”
“Well, sir, I tried to interfere, but the woman threatened me with her knife, and I got a wife and kids. I couldn’t stop her. Then Lady Downey reached for her and the Montrose woman cut her. The madwoman said she was going to kill her if she didn’t leave her man alone. The duke, that’s who she said.” Frederick stammered as he peered nervously at Philip. “I think it was you she was talking about, Your Grace.”
Philip’s face felt as if it had been carved from stone. Not a muscle moved in his body. He recalled how Eli had tried to tell him something, but his anger had overridden his ability to listen. What a mistake he’d made with Miranda, and to think Sara had paid the price…
“And did this same person break Lady Downey’s arm, Frederick? Did she push her? Is that how her face became bruised?”
“Oh no, she left. Your footman came in the door, and the woman who was attacking Lady Downey left. I ran outside to look for a magistrate, but I was only gone for a few moments. When I went back, she was staring down at the necklace you’d sent her. There were tears in her eyes. After she finished writing a note for your man, she remembered I was still there and gave me a message for the countess. I ran home as fast as I could to tell the Ardleighs what happened.”
Phoebe nodded at her footman. “Thank you, Frederick. You did well today. You may go.”
After she closed the door behind Frederick, Phoebe crossed the room and handed a note to Philip. “This is the note I received, Brentwood.”
His stomach lurched again as he took the note from her.
I am sorry, but I am unable to accept your gift. While I understand that we have certain affections for each other, accepting this would mean that I am willing to live with you as your mistress. I just cannot do that.
I do not regret our friendship. You have taught me much that I may have never learned, but I am afraid I must put an end to our relationship.
The necklace is beautiful, but it’s not for me. Perhaps it belongs with Lady Montrose.
Regretfully,
Sara
Groaning, he rubbed his forehead at his utter stupidity. What had he done? Thank goodness he’d never confronted Sara.
“Which letter do you think was meant for me, Your Grace?” Phoebe raised her eyebrows.
He sank into a nearby chair. “I beg your forgiveness, Lady Ardleigh.”
“Sara is the one you must beg, not me. How could you think someone as innocent and sweet as Lady Downey could ask you for a larger necklace? I know you have known two women who might do such a thing, but Sara?” She shook her head in disgust as she turned away from him.
“Lady Ardleigh, I will beg Sara’s forgiveness.”
“As you should, Your Grace. Now, concerning the other issue in that note, I am not quite bold enough to discuss it with you. I will leave that to Ardleigh.” Phoebe gave her husband a stern look.
The duke glanced from husband to wife. “I assume the authorities are aware of Miranda’s part in this atrocity?”
Ardleigh spoke up. “Yes, I have apprised them of the situation. The magistrate is arranging for a warrant for her arrest.”
“But we still don’t know who hurt Sara.”
Phoebe turned to glare at Philip. “Oh, I know who hurt her, but I don’t know who beat her.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sara attempted to open her eyes, but the lids were still heavy. She pried one open, but the other only opened partially. Where was she? She tried to sit up, but the pain in her arm stopped her.
Memories flooded back into her mind. Glimpses of Miranda Montrose, Stinky, and Phoebe. Oh, yes, that’s right. Miranda tore up my merchandise, Stinky tried to break another finger, and Philip sent me a necklace to try to convince me to whore for him.
Sara groaned and allowed her head to fall back on the pillow. She was at Phoebe’s. It must be just past dawn. A maid stood in front of her, her eyes wide.
“My lady, are you all right? May I get something for you? Shall I get Lady Ardleigh? Are you hungry? Shall I fetch something for you to eat?”
Sara could see the woman had good intentions, but her head was pounding too much for her to carry on the simplest of conversations. “Perhaps some tea, if you don’t mind.”
/> “Yes, Lady Downey. I will return straightaway.” She nodded and ran from the room.
A few minutes later, Phoebe strode in through the door.
“Sara, how are you? You must be in pain? What can I do for you? The doctor left some medicine I can give you.”
“I am all right, Phoebe. I sent your maid for some tea. Then I should get my things together and head back to my shop. I have much to do.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. The doctor said you’re to stay in bed for a few days at least. Your arm must be terribly sore as well as your face. You need to rest. You may eat and bathe today, but no more. I must insist. I know you’re stubborn, Sara, but so am I. You are not leaving this house.”
Sara sighed and decided her friend was probably right. She had a multitude of aches and pains right now and the thought of getting out of bed was not the least bit enticing.
“Besides, if I allow you out, the duke will have my head.”
Sara’s head shot up. “Philip? What does he have to do with any of this?”
“He came here yesterday after he saw the state your shop was in. He was quite adamant that you not be allowed to leave.”
Sara rubbed her head. “Oh, he knows then.”
“Yes, he knows about Miranda, too. He sat with you while the doctor checked your finger. You don’t remember?”
“No, I am afraid I don’t recall much after Stinky left. Except your face, Phoebe. How can I ever thank you for caring enough to come to my shop?” Sara turned her head to hide her tear-stained lashes.
“Sara, you do not need to thank me. We’re friends, and you would do the same for me.” Phoebe’s voice softened as she took a seat on the bit of mattress beside Sara. “But as your friend, I’d like to know more about what’s going on in your life. Don’t you think it’s time to tell me?”
Sara grabbed a hanky to wipe her tears. She nodded her head and told Phoebe all about Stinky.
“Oh my, you poor thing.” Phoebe had reached for her hand at some point in the telling and continued to hold it as she finished. “Does anyone else know about this?”
Sara stared at her lap. “Just Philip. I haven’t dared tell anyone else.”
“Ardleigh and I are here for you now. What does the duke suggest?”
“He wants to pay whomever is involved, but I don’t know who’s in charge. Or if they’ll actually stop if they get the money. I have never seen Stinky anywhere else and he has never given me his name or the name of his boss.” She paused, fighting a swell of emotion, then allowed herself to say, “I can’t live like this anymore. I am tired of looking over my shoulder all the time. Of not being able to sleep.”
The maid returned with tea and toast. After dismissing the woman, Phoebe poured Sara’s tea and patted her hand. “Relax, my dear. You are staying here. You must focus on resting today. My husband and Brentwood will decide what to do about your problem.”
Sara sipped her tea, wincing at the pain such a simple act caused. “I’d prefer not to involve the duke. Our relationship is over.” Setting her cup down, she turned away from Phoebe.
The other woman cleared her throat and whispered, “I received the wrong note, Sara. I am very aware of the status of your relationship with the duke.”
Her head snapped toward at Phoebe. “What note?”
“I received the note you intended for Brentwood about the ruby necklace. Apparently, in the chaos of your shop, you switched the two notes you penned. Brentwood received the note about my beads.”
She groaned in embarrassment as she recalled the content of the two notes. “Please forgive me for the mix-up. I must thank you for the beads. They are beautiful, but not quite the right size.” She shut her eyes, not wanting to look at Phoebe as she said this last part. “I am embarrassed that you read the other note.”
“You do not need to apologize—the duke does. You made the right decision. He is a good man, but he is confused right now.” Phoebe gave her hand a squeeze, and Sara forced herself to open her eyes again. “If you had met his wife, you would understand. Caroline was a selfish, demanding, conniving woman. I am afraid his…connection to Miranda Montrose hasn’t improved his impression of our sex. I believe if you are patient with him, you will not regret it. He is a dear friend of Ardleigh’s and you know how I feel about my husband. They’ve known each other for years.”
Sara’s hand shook as she brought her tea up for a sip.
Phoebe leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I think maybe you should sleep. You have been through so much. Relax and rest. Allow me to give you a bit of the medicine Dr. Newberry left for you.” She added a few drops of the laudanum to the tea and proceeded to help Sara drink it.
As Sara’s eyes fought to stay open, she murmured, “I like this medicine. It helps me forget everything.”
The last thing she felt was Phoebe’s hand tucking the coverlet around her.
***
Philip sighed as he grabbed some coddled eggs from the sideboard.
“Goodness, my dear, that sigh has some strong feelings behind it.”
He turned to watch as his mother pulled out a chair and sat primly with her hands folded on her lap. Why could she always tell just the right time to barge in?
“Why, Philip, you look as if you didn’t sleep a wink last night. Is that true?”
He sat down with his food and shook his napkin out. “Truly, Mother, I did not sleep well last night. I’ve much on my mind lately.”
“Forgive me for prying, but does this thing weighing on your mind happen to weigh about as much as a certain dressmaker we know?” She offered him an innocent smile.
He decided there was no point in denying it. Why try to evade her? She would find out the truth eventually.
“You’re correct. Lady Downey is on my mind.” He gave his mother a brief description of the problems of the previous day, skipping the part about Lady Montrose, of course.
“Ah, so the beads were completely unrelated to the necklace you sent. You said the reticule was her mother’s, yes?”
“It is one of the few possessions she has that belonged to her mother.”
“Who was her mother? Have you determined that yet?”
“She has never said. I only know that she passed away when Sara was quite young. The family lived outside of London until Sara came to the city to marry.”
“Hmmm. You have me thinking.”
He rolled his eyes. He hoped she didn’t think too hard about it, but at least it would temporarily shift her scrutiny off him.
“Why don’t you just give in and court the girl, Philip? It’s clear there is something between the two of you. Why must you persist in fighting it?”
He choked on the tea he was drinking.
“If it would please you, could you be a bit more blunt, Mother? What exactly are you saying?” He wiped his chin with his starched napkin.
“I am saying invite the lady to the opera or the theater. She is a widow. It would certainly be proper.” She bestowed her best smile on her son as she picked at the food the servant had set in front of her.
“You must recall that I vowed never to marry again. If, perchance, I changed my mind, Lady Downey is not of noble blood. You know my sons must be of noble blood. If not, the ton will hold it against all of us and you know it.”
“Fiddle-dee-dee, since when do you listen to the ton? You don’t even know her mother’s name, so you can’t claim to know anything of her bloodline. Moreover, why should you care? I would think you would be more concerned with whether the mother of your sons could give them strength, honor, and character. I believe Lady Downey, with all her recent problems, has shown more strength of character than any other woman in my acquaintance. Certainly she has shown more integrity than a certain duchess I once knew.”
He set his fork down. “You are serious, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am. I cannot believe all the poor girl has had to endure by herself. She certainly doesn’t carry on the way your ex-wife did. If the
color of Caroline’s napkin didn’t suit her, she’d cry on your shoulder. Why, I didn’t hear Lady Downey make a sound when her finger was probed by Dr. Newberry. Was she screaming in pain when he set her finger at the Ardleighs’?”
He gaped at his mother. He’d never seen her in such a tirade before.
Her eyebrows rose when her son refused to answer. “I didn’t think so. Thank goodness Caroline never became with child. She would never have survived the pain of childbirth. And we both know she would have been a terrible mother. I bit my tongue with your first wife, but I refuse to keep my silence anymore. Lady Downey is an amazing person. You need look no further than the way she built her business without the help of anyone. The Lord has given you a gift, and you refuse to accept it. I cannot believe my own son is so ignorant as to ignore what has been given to him by the heavens above. Your insistence on never marrying again disappoints me, Philip. I did not raise you to be afraid of life. Get over your first mistake and move on.” She stood up and threw her napkin down before storming out of the breakfast room.
His brothers snuck in through the other doorway, Adam followed by Ben.
“Dem, what did you do to her to set her off?” Adam asked.
Benjamin shook his head. “We weren’t about to step into the middle of that.”
Philip continued to stare after his mother.
Was she right?
He stood up and strode out of the room. At the doorway, he turned to his brothers, “Please be here at dinner tonight. I have something important we need to discuss.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Philip waited inside the library as Ardleigh’s butler searched for Phoebe. He gazed out the window, thinking about all his mother had said. And his friend Ardleigh, too. Was there a possibility of a true relationship with Sara? Could he picture her sitting across from him every morning at breakfast? Would he enjoy having her on his arm at the required social affairs? He didn’t need to ask himself whether he’d like to have her in his bed every night. He knew the answer to that.
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