The Duke's Predicament (The Reluctant Duke Book 3) Read online

  ‘I wanted to come out and see everything but Cousin Richard said I couldn’t because I’d been a naughty girl. I pretended to be asleep and then slipped out.’

  ‘Then the sooner we get you safely inside, my lady, the better. Are you ready?’

  There was a path through the woods that avoided the garden party and hand in hand they walked back and she was entranced by the birds they saw, by the flowers, and insisted on picking a bunch to give to Hannah.

  The enormity of her actions was beyond her – but God knows what his grace would do when he heard. He wanted to ask her if she’d been hurt but thought it not his business to make any more enquiries. Her grace or Hannah would be the best people to discuss something so intimate and delicate.

  It was hard to keep smiling and chatting as if there was nothing wrong, as if he wasn’t so angry he wanted to go back and break the neck of the man he’d knocked out. If this sweet child had been violated then the perpetrator would die whoever he might be. Patrick was quite prepared to swing at the end of a rope in order to see justice done.

  Chapter Three

  Hannah didn’t wait to reprimand the two girls for being so lax in their duties but ran down the stairs and out onto the terrace in the hope that she might spot Beth from this vantage point. The girl was wearing a pretty pink gown which should be easy to see amongst the drab colours of the less well-off.

  At the very far side of the lawn by the trees she saw Patrick suddenly run full pelt and vanish behind one of the Romany tents. A few seconds later he appeared with Beth in his arms and headed for the woods.

  She scanned the crowd and saw his grace not far away. She would speak to him immediately and then meet Patrick and Beth. She had a very bad feeling about what she’d seen.

  The duke saw her approaching, abandoned his conversation and strode towards her. ‘What’s wrong? Is it Beth?’

  Quickly she explained her anxiety. ‘We’ll go together, Miss Westley, and then I’ll send word for my wife to join us inside.’ From the grimness of his expression he feared the worst, as did she.

  They exited via the side door that led to the stables and from there they could reach the woods without being observed by anyone. She unclipped her cloak and had it ready to envelop Beth when they reached her.

  They stopped their headlong rush when they could hear voices approaching. Beth was chattering and laughing as if nothing was wrong, and Patrick answering. She exchanged a worried glance with the duke and he nodded when she showed him the cloak.

  Beth was so busy examining the treasures she’d picked up along the way that she didn’t notice their approach, however, Patrick did. He shook his head and her heart sank to her boots.

  ‘Well, sweetheart, I’m disappointed in you. I thought you promised to remain inside and that I would come and get you in time for your balloon ride.’

  ‘Cousin Richard, I decided I wouldn’t wait for you. I met a nice gentleman and he showed me lots of interesting things we could do to pass the time. Then Mr O’Riley knocked him out and made me come with him.’ She stamped her foot and glared at them. ‘He threatened to spank me. I want you to send him away right now.’ Regaling this tale brought back Beth’s indignation and she turned and kicked poor Patrick in the shins.

  There were grass stains on the back of her gown and there could only be one way they had got there. Whatever had happened to Beth, and Hannah feared it was appalling, the girl wasn’t to be allowed to behave so badly. The duke was having none of this nonsense.

  ‘He was right to threaten to chastise you. I’m tempted to do the same myself. Are you going to walk with me like a sensible young lady or do I have to carry you like a baby?’

  His stern tone was enough to stem the threatened tantrum. ‘I’ll come like a good girl. Miss Westley, will you hold my hand? Cousin Richard and Mr O’Riley are very cross with me.’

  The duke nodded his agreement. He spoke quietly to her so Beth couldn’t overhear. ‘Patrick and I are going to find this person and put him somewhere he can’t communicate with others until we know exactly what took place. I’ll have Amanda join you upstairs.’

  ‘Yes, your grace, I’ll do that. Come along, sweetheart, let’s hurry, but first I’m going to put my nice cloak around you so no one can see the nasty marks you have on your pretty dress.’

  The girl didn’t object and put her hand trustingly in hers. ‘I don’t like it when gentlemen are cross with me. I don’t mean to be naughty; I want to be a good girl all the time in future.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear it. Now, tell me about these lovely things you’ve picked. Do you know the names of all these flowers?’

  They took the back staircase and went straight to the nursery. Nanny and the two nursemaids were waiting anxiously. Hannah wasn’t sure having them overhear any subsequent conversations was a good idea because neither of the nursemaids could be trusted to keep a secret to themselves. The problem was solved for her when her grace stalked in.

  ‘You three are dismissed from my service. You will go to your rooms and remain there until arrangements can be made for you to depart. His grace will decide whether you are to be given a reference or not.’

  The two maids burst into noisy tears but Nanny was made of sterner stuff and understood this was no more than they deserved. They had all been derelict in their duties.

  She curtsied to her grace. ‘I apologise, your grace, it was my fault. I’m in charge of the nursery floor and I went outside to see the hot air balloon, leaving the two girls alone.’

  ‘I’m not interested in excuses, Nanny. Lady Elizabeth was in your care, we trusted you to keep her safe and you have failed us.’

  The three trooped miserably away and then Beth started to scream. Perhaps it hadn’t been such a good idea to hold this conversation in front of her when she was already so fragile. The noise echoed and Hannah was sure it could be heard outside through the open windows.

  Mrs Marchand at that moment rushed in closing the door behind her and then dashed around the room banging shut the windows.

  ‘Beth, darling, you mustn’t make that noise. It will give you the most fearful headache and you might well cast up your accounts. Come now, let’s take you into your bedroom and we can get you fresh and clean.’

  Between the two of them they persuaded the distraught girl into her room and she then collapsed onto the bed. Hannah climbed on beside her and rocked her in her arms until finally Beth sobbed herself to sleep and she was able to rejoin the other two who had been watching anxiously from the door.

  ‘Your grace, forgive me, but I think we should send for Doctor Peterson. There was a gentleman involved.’

  The duchess blanched as the meaning behind these words were realised. ‘I think I saw him arrive a while ago. I’ll stay here and watch Beth; you go and find him.’

  ‘His grace and Mr O’Riley are dealing with the gentleman concerned and will be with you once that has been accomplished.’

  ‘I understand. We must do our best not to let Sarah or Paul hear of this disaster. We cannot cancel the ball either at this late date as half the guests are already here enjoying the garden party.’

  ‘I am available and can remain with Lady Elizabeth and Miss Westley. Your mama has taken a sleeping draught and won’t wake until the morning. She has her dresser and another maid sitting with her,’ Mrs Marchand said.

  ‘Thank you, ma’am, your assistance will be invaluable. Richard and I must be at the ball or there will be gossip and we wish to avoid that at all costs. Heaven knows how many people saw my poor sister go off with that man – for all we know word has spread already.’

  Hannah couldn’t keep back her biggest worry. ‘Whatever the monster did, I pray that his grace and Mr O’Riley don’t murder him.’

  His grace spoke from behind them. ‘He’s trussed up like a Christmas goose and locked in an outhouse. Patrick’s blow rendered him unconscious but it also broke his jaw. Little point in trying to interrogate him as he’s unable to speak coherently. Peterson
is attending to him now and will then come immediately upstairs.’

  *

  Patrick waited with the doctor whilst he examined the man he’d injured. The molester was semi-conscious and moaning a lot, and in no fit state to be questioned. On closer examination of the villain’s clothes there was no doubt that he was not a villager, but as his cuffs were worn, his boots also, this indicated he wasn’t from a wealthy family either.

  Peterson stepped back after fastening the bandage he’d put around the man’s chin to hold his jaw in place. ‘He’ll have to drink soup for the next few weeks. Is it absolutely necessary that he’s tied up? He would do better in bed.’

  ‘He assaulted Lady Elizabeth. We fear the worst and you’re needed upstairs to examine her.’

  The doctor’s expression changed to one of loathing and he stepped away without another glance. ‘Is he known to you? Let’s hope he’s not the son of someone important as if he did violate the duke’s ward then I doubt he’ll leave here alive.’

  ‘I’ll dispose of him. There’s no need for anyone else to be involved. I don’t give a damn who his parents are. He’s on borrowed time.’

  The sounds from those enjoying the garden party did nothing to lift his spirits. He should have been ascending in the balloon with Hannah – but everything had changed now. He must distance himself from her, push her towards the doctor, as he could see his days of freedom were numbered.

  It occurred to him that it might be sensible to dispatch the bastard in the outhouse immediately and then head for the coast and re-enlist as soon as he got to Portugal. That way there’d be no unpleasantness attached to the family and he’d still be alive.

  Peterson grabbed his elbow. ‘No, my friend, now is not the time. His grace will wish to speak to you before you do anything precipitous.’

  With some reluctance he nodded and together they entered the house and made their stealthy way upstairs. God knows how such a delicate thing as the examination of little Beth was going to be managed. He doubted it could be accomplished without upsetting her further.

  When they reached the first floor, upon which were the guest and family rooms, the duke was waiting for them. ‘We need to talk, not upstairs, come into my apartment where we can be private.’

  None of them spoke until they were safely inside and the door closed. ‘Beth’s sleeping and the ladies are with her. Those that should have taken care of her have been dismissed and will leave here tomorrow. What about the perpetrator of this atrocity?’

  Peterson explained the situation and the duke listened attentively. ‘Patrick, I need you to find out who he is. From your description he’s unlikely to be the son of anyone we know personally. He could be a hanger-on, someone who came with a more important family. I can’t make a decision on his future until I know his provenance.’

  ‘I’ll get onto it immediately. I’ll also talk to as many guests as possible to see if what happened is already common knowledge. I’ll start with the Romany camp. I didn’t see anyone, but there’s probably an old crone in one of the caravans who saw everything.’

  ‘We’ll reconvene here in an hour. Good hunting, my friend.’ He turned to the doctor. ‘Your services won’t be required until my sister awakes. There’s no need to upset her more than necessary.’

  It seemed wrong to be wandering about surrounded by such jollity, smiling and nodding, when something so dreadful had happened. He spoke to a dozen or more, both the well-to-do and the local villagers, and he was certain nobody had seen Beth with that rogue.

  He could hardly ask directly after the bastard without drawing attention to the reason he might be enquiring but he was quite sure no one was looking for him. He’d moved slowly through the throng, even stopping to watch the balloon go up, and was now close enough to the caravans to move between them and find someone to speak to.

  He had no luck at the first caravan but the door opened on the second and a stooped old man beckoned him in.

  ‘I knows why you’re here, it’s about that young’un in the pink dress.’

  ‘It is, sir, can you tell me what happened?’

  ‘It ain’t as bad as you think, that varmint had her on the grass but I set the dogs on him and he jumped up pretty quick. He were just taking her somewhere else when you shows up.’

  ‘Thank God and thank you. Forgive me, I must take the good news to the duke and duchess. Believe me, he’ll come and see you himself to give you his thanks when this is sorted.’ He went to dip into his purse but the old man shook his head.

  ‘Don’t want yer gold, young sir, there’s not many a place we is made as welcome as here.’

  Patrick returned by the woodland path running flat out. The news he had would mean that the doctor wouldn’t have to make an intrusive examination. Beth had suffered no more than a fright.

  He thundered up the nursery staircase and found the duke gazing sombrely out of the window. ‘She wasn’t harmed, an old Romany set the dogs on her attacker and I arrived moments later. I offered him a reward but he refused.’ The doctor wasn’t there. ‘I’m not too late to stop Peterson, am I?’

  ‘Peterson is with Miss Westley in her sitting room. I’m indebted to you, my friend, this could have been so much worse. I don’t suppose you discovered the identity of the culprit?’

  ‘Unfortunately not, your grace. I’m certain he’s not the son of anyone you know. As far as I could discover he’s not been missed. I could hardly ask directly after him.’

  ‘Why don’t you tell Peterson the good news? I’ll inform Amanda and Mrs Marchand who are sitting with Beth at the moment.’

  ‘What do we do with the bugger in the shed, your grace? Obviously, he’s in no position to gossip until his jaw is mended but after that he’ll be free to blacken her name. Or, he could resort to blackmail.’

  ‘One thing I’m quite certain of, Patrick, is that if you hadn’t arrived when you did things would have been quite different.’

  ‘You haven’t answered my question, sir. I thought I could dispose of him and then disappear – head for Portugal and re-enlist which would solve both problems.’

  ‘I don’t wish you to do either. This is my predicament and I’ll solve it without endangering your life. I’ll speak to Amanda before I make a decision.’

  Patrick headed for Hannah’s apartment eager to give her the good news. He was somewhat concerned that the quack was with her, but in the circumstances he couldn’t object. It might very well be fortuitous and make his possible departure easier for him.

  The door was wide open and they were sitting by the window a goodly distance between them. A rush of relief washed over him and his smile when he entered made his news redundant.

  *

  Amanda looked up when Richard came in. He was smiling and she rushed to him. ‘There’s no need for Peterson to look at her. She was mauled but not violated.’

  Mrs Marchand overheard his comment and dabbed her eyes. ‘Then her recovery won’t be as difficult. I’ll be with her tonight – I’ll sleep beside her. I’ll fetch what I need if you would stay here until I return.’

  ‘That’s kind of you, ma’am, and much appreciated,’ Richard said. ‘I’m not sure any of us wish to attend the ball but for Sarah and Paul’s sake we must do so. I’ve no wish for them to hear about this until tomorrow.’

  ‘I’ll not be long. Then, despite the circumstances, I think you should return to the garden party as people will be wondering what’s happened to you all.’

  ‘I would like to go up in the balloon, I’ve been watching it rising and falling from the window,’ Amanda said.

  ‘Then so you shall, my love. Patrick was going to take Miss Westley, but no doubt they’ve missed their slot. Before we participate in the various activities, I must speak to the old man who acted so promptly to save Beth.’

  ‘First, I’ll rescue my bonnet, heaven knows where I put it down in my rush to come up here. I should like to come with you and thank the old gentleman in person. Would that be acceptable?�
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  ‘I don’t give a damn if it isn’t, and neither should you. It’s not like you to be so hesitant, sweetheart. Find your bonnet and I’ll meet you on the terrace in a few minutes.’

  The missing headwear was perched on a chair in the schoolroom. Fortunately, there was a mirror and she was able to restore it to its rightful place and be ready in moments. Miss Westley’s apartment opened from the schoolroom and she could hear voices in there.

  ‘Miss Westley, Mr O’Riley, Richard and I intend to take a turn in the balloon. As you missed your opportunity why don’t you come with us. I’m quite certain we won’t have to stand in line.’

  Patrick appeared at the door. ‘If you’re quite sure, then we should love to join you.’

  Only then did Amanda realise the doctor was also within the room and she’d not included him in the invitation. He didn’t seem at all offended by this omission. He strolled out and smiled at her.

  ‘I’ve no intention whatsoever of taking a ride in that monstrosity. If God had meant us to be airborne, he would have given us wings like the birds.’

  She knew him to be jesting and laughed. ‘In which case, you can stand and watch and admire our courage. We expected you earlier. No doubt you were called to an emergency which I hope was resolved satisfactorily.’

  ‘A complicated delivery, your grace, and the appearance of not one but two babies was the explanation. I’m happy to tell you that both mother and babies are doing well. I have yet to put my bag in whatever chamber I’ve been designated.’

  ‘Then, you must do so. I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but Mama is unwell. She has taken a strong sleeping draught and won’t be awake until the morning but I would like you to visit her before you leave. She seemed quite well to me but was insistent that she felt the mania building inside.’

  ‘I shall speak to her grace tomorrow. I’m sorry that I missed the ceremony and I’m looking forward to attending the ball this evening.’

  Richard took her hand and the doctor seemed about to say something but then changed his mind. As they were returning to the festivities she asked about the man who’d tried to force himself upon her sister. ‘What are you intending to do with him? You can hardly leave him where he is. If he dies then all three of you could be labelled murderers.’