Page 68 of The Icy Duke Claims a Bride

“Will I be able to leave?” Dr. Vernon asked, eyeing the animals warily and remaining very deliberately at his patient’s bedside.

“With your permission, Your Grace?” Bellchurch turned to Hugh, and then at his nod, he brought Lucretia into the room. “This is Dr. Vernon, Lucretia,” he explained, encouraging the doctor to hold out an arm towards the dog.

Lucretia sniffed Dr. Vernon’s hand for a moment and then licked Catherine’s unmoving hand before turning to Hugh with a pleading look in her eyes.

Hugh assumed that the dog deemed Dr. Vernon no animal lover but no threat either.

“Good girl,” Bellchurch said, taking her back to the door again, also apparently feeling that the introduction had been sufficiently made. “She knows you now, Dr. Vernon. There’ll be no problem with you going in or out. I can’t vouch for anyone else, though, Your Grace, and Castor and Pollux are big dogs. They could rip a man’s throat.”

“I’m going to trust Lucretia to keep them in line,” Hugh said decidedly, ignoring the doctor’s pale face. “Now, I must see what that treacherous maid has been doing in my household.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“These were under her mattress, Your Grace,” the red-eyed Mrs. Kaye said, handing Hugh several crumpled sheets of paper. “I’ve read them and put them in date order as far as I could tell. Someone was paying Elsie to watch you and Her Grace, but I had no idea. Her references were genuine, and I thought she was just keen. I’ll hand in my notice now if you wish…”

They stood outside Elsie’s small, drab bedroom in the women’s section of the servants’ quarters. Under the direction of Mrs. Kaye and Perkins, the room had been turned upside down by two footmen, and Elsie’s meager possessions now lay in a small pile on the floor, her spare uniform crowned with a bonnet of incongruously bright trim.

“No one will be handing in their notice today.” Hugh turned to the sheaf of letters rather than his distressed housekeeper. “We will discuss such matters once Her Grace is recovered, and not before.”

“Of course.” Mrs. Kaye nodded. “Her Grace will recover soon, I hope.”

“Dr. Vernon is highly reputed,” Perkins added. “I’m sure that if there’s anything that can be done—”

The bleak look that Hugh shot him shut him up. He could not face even the implied possibility that Catherine might not recover, although two of the birds who ate that cake had died, and the others were half-dead, in the same comatose state as his wife.

The gamekeepers had locked the sick creatures in a shed to keep them safe from the household cats, but the remaining birds currently showed no sign of regaining consciousness.

Upon inspecting the plate in the conservatory, Hugh surmised that his wife had eaten only a few mouthfuls, and that gave him some hope. But how could he be sure? Catherine might well have eaten a full slice before the piece that remained on the plate.

Unwilling to be derailed by such pointless speculations, he focused his attention firmly on the papers in his hands and read.

Thank you for your helpful observations on the 10th of August. They were well worth the money I paid you. It was particularly helpful to know that this outrageous view of E.V. originated from the Duchess. What more can you tell me about her thinking on this matter? Is the Duke persuaded by his wife? Affectionate towards her?

NB. I expect a quick reply.

The hand was immediately familiar to Hugh, and his anger towards Edwin automatically surged once more, overshadowing all rational thought for a few moments. How dare he invade his home and harm his wife in this ugly manner? Hugh wished to lay hands on the man at once and beat the truth out of him.

Another similar letter followed.

Your update on matters at Redbridge was much appreciated. Continue to send me details of all outgoing post. I am most interested in the Duke’s recent letters to London addresses. If you could discover details of their contents, you would be well rewarded again…

The next item was a short draft note scribbled on an old receipt in Elsie’s uneducated hand, and filled with lines and corrections. He presumed it had been rewritten and sent in its final form.

I can’t do this anymore. Telling you ordinary gossip is no sin or crime, but I can’t do what you asked me when we met. Not even if my father loses his job as you say he will… You ask me to go against the law and against God…

This was followed by another letter from Elsie’s manipulator.

You will do as I instructed, or your family will suffer for it. I know where your parents live, and your younger brother, too.There are far worse things than loss of employment. You know what I am capable of. Do not think to trifle with me…

Further threats followed, Hugh knowing enough of Edwin’s history to spot subtle references to physical harm or financial and social ruin experienced by several of his previous business associates and their families. It made Hugh’s blood run cold.

The next section of the letter was no better.

The means to my end can be found at the apothecary’s in Redbridge Village, where you should call as soon as possible in the early afternoon while the apothecary is out on his rounds. Matters have already been arranged, and the apothecary’s assistant will provide those means to you without charge or record if you show him some item with the crest of the Duke of Redbridge.

“Did Elsie go to Redbridge Village this week?” Hugh asked Mrs. Kaye urgently.

“Why, yes, she’s been twice. She takes the letters to the post office, sometimes. It’s very near to the apothecary’s.”

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