Page 91 of The Legend of the Betrayed Duchess
Your Grace, The Duke of Sutherland
It is with a feeling of great sadness that I pass these newspaper clippings along to you as I promised. In reviewing the articles, it brought back to me the surprise and disappointment I felt at the time of my initial reading of these news stories.
However, I do feel incumbent to follow through on my promise to you to deliver this sad news. Forgive me.
I believe the stories speak for themselves, but should you have any further use of my services, please do not hesitate to respond with your further requests.
I do look forward to our meeting again during the course of our future business enterprises.
Ever Your Devoted Servant,
Sir Cuthbert Honeyfield, OBE
George read the three accompanying articles provided. They did confirm all that Sir Cuthbert had told him. George felt a great wave of disappointment wash over him. He liked Harold so very much. And he knew this news would be devastating to Lucy. And for her, it could not but mean she would have no living bestowed upon her. Not that that mattered to him, but it would certainly be devastating to her.
Standing from his desk, George began pacing the room. What was he to do? How could he solve this problem so that Betsy and Lucy would not be gravely hurt? What would his father have done? He immediately knew the answer to that—banish him immediately. But that solution held no compassion for Betsy or Lucy. And it would deprive him of an accomplished manager when he needed him most.
As George glanced at his desk, his gaze was caught by a letter he had neglected to see when he first found the letter from Sir Cuthbert. He picked it up. It was from Seth Hardy, his gallery director. Opening it, he was delighted to see that Mr. Hardy was offering George a major one-man show to be held at the beginning of the autumn season. But he would need a considerably larger number of paintings than George had ready at present.
George let the letter drop to the desk. “Damn,” he said aloud, “How am I to produce the needed number of paintings if I no longer have a manager for the estate? How can I possibly let Harold go?”
If only there were someone he could discuss this with. And there was only one person, other than Lucy, he could trust to give him sound advice—Nanny.
* * *
“Mrs. Wilkes?” George called out tentatively as he stepped into the nursery.
Nanny looked up as she sat by the window concentrating on some sewing.
“Master George,” she said, and then corrected herself, “Oh, I am sorry… Your Grace.”
George laughed for the first time in several days. “Oh, Nanny I shall always be Master George to you.”
“Come sit by me. It has been such a long time since we have had a good natter. Tell me all about your life these days. That is, if you have time. Is this a social visit?”
George pulled a chair over by her and sat. “Not strictly, but I do have time to spend with you. Tell me how you are doing with no children to teach.”
He noticed that she still seemed to be her old self—smiling, chipper and it did not look as though she had aged too much.
She chuckled. “They keep me involved with busywork. And your sisters are still not married, so there are still no new children for me to teach.”
“My sisters can sometimes be difficult. But do not give up hope. One day soon, perhaps.”
“I am so sorry about your father…” she said. “I know you all miss him very much.”
“We do.” George was thoughtful, then said, “And that is one reason I have come to see you. I have a situation I would have gone to my father for—for advice. But he is gone, and there is only one person, other than you, that whose opinion I would trust.”
“And that would be Lucy,” she said with a smile.
“It would be, but I cannot ask her because it involves her.”
Nanny took a few more stitches before replying, “I believe you have romantic feelings for her. Is that not so?”
“Nanny… how could you…”
“Oh, I have eyes and remember I know you both so well. So, my dear Georgie, are you here for romantic advice?”
He laughed. “Not today. I need your advice on how to handle a most difficult situation regarding someone who is very dear to Lucy.”
