Page 50 of Good Duke Gone Far

It must have been a curious sight to the household, for a few people trickled out as Kat alighted from her conveyance. Or perhaps they were expecting guests.

She didn’t even have a chance to reply to the shock in Quinn’s eyes, his raised brow, and the curious but suspicious smirk on his face upon seeing her.

A man who must have been the butler approached with a footman.

“Good day, sir. Welcome to Lanston Manor. How may I be of service?”

“I’m…” Quinn faltered. “Well, apparently I’m the Duke of Greyshire and this is my manor.”

The butler swooned. Actually fell to the side and was caught by the nearest footman. He was a stick of a man, so it seemed likely that any amount of excessive blood flow could fell the twig.

A second man rushed out the front steps. Reigning in his naturally frantic gestures, he called out to the footman, “Take him inside. Grab the vinaigrette from cook. Then get him some tea and fruit.”

He turned to Kat and Quinn. “What happened?” The frenzy trumped etiquette and salutations.

“I gave him my name.”

The man cocked an eyebrow. “And that would be?”

Quinn cleared his throat. “I’m the Duke of Greyshire.”

The man looked about ready to faint as well. Unfortunately there wasn’t a footman at hand.

“Don’t faint.” Kat entreated the man.

“Hardly,” he managed to say, fanning his face. “You say you’re–you are really–you’re Colonel Quinn Hastford? The man we’ve been looking for?”

“I am.”

“Good heavens, this is big news indeed. We have been searching for you. No one could find you.” The man pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his brow. “Oh, good god. What will the tenants say? What will the staff think now? How will I–”

“And you are?” Kat interrupted the jeremiad.

“I’m the former duke’s man of business. I’ve been overseeing everything. Everything I tell you. Where have you been?” Forgetting himself and then finding himself again, the man clenched his fists. “Your Grace. Where have you been, Your Grace?” He bowed, stood upright, dipped his head. And then bowed again.

He was probably about to bow again when Kat chimed in, “Get ahold of yourself, man. We’ve come to set things right, not cause any harm.”

“True, true. I do say I hope that’s true because your timing couldn’t be more…timely.” The man mopped his brow again. “The tenants. They’re all here. Well, I mean, not all. But they said they would do it, and now they have. I never thought they would, you see. I thought I had bought them off, at least for a time. I never expected them to follow through–”

“What’s going on?” Kat demanded with her hands on her hips.

“They’re here. Inside. They’re demanding to know where the duke is. Where you are. They’ve been putting in requests, and I’ve been doing as much as I can, but…you see…they’re not all satisfied. They want to know why you haven’t taken your place. They’re demanding answers and threatening to leave by the droves. They want to know what’s going to happen with the race horses. They can’t just sit idling.”

“Race horses?” Kat wanted some clarification.

“You’ve got dozens of them. Some of the best in the country.”

“I’ve had to tell them something.” The man pulled out a second handkerchief and wiped his face again.

“What exactly have you been telling them?” Quinn asked.

“The truth. As much as possible. And then some.” The man scratched his head. “I told them that the Colonel was away–when he was. And then I told them he was still away–which he was, in a way. I had to make up something, you see. Until we could find you and bring you back here. They wouldn’t accept not hearing anything from you. I mean, the vicar, some villagers, and more, all decided today was the day to show up.”

“So what exactly did you tell them? Be direct,” Kat prompted.

“They would only accept an absentee duke if he was dead, imprisoned, or had a termagant for a wife who insisted they travel. Surprisingly that one came up more than once.” The man darted a look at Kat. Then back to Quinn. Then back and forth a couple more times. “I didn’t like those options. I told them a happier version. I told them you insisted on remaining a Colonel and not accepting the title until you had found true love. Love for you and not your title.” He shot another look between the two. “I promised them if they were to ever run into you to keep your secret. They would be paid handsomely upon your return.” The man swept the wet handkerchief over his forehead and then down around the back of his neck.

“What else did you tell them?” The man was being honest, but not entirely. He was hiding something. Kat could feel it.

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