Page 43 of Code Name Duchess
“You have nothing to be sorry about. And your sister did what she thought was right. Unfortunately, she discovered the note, but perhaps we were wrong to keep her in the dark for as long as we did.”
He chewed the inside of his cheek as he considered this.
“I felt bad about not telling her, but I knew she could not be trusted. I do not know what to do. I am so angry at her, so furious,” Winnifred continued.
He gently took her arm, and they started walking again, this time towards the exit. The sun was beginning to sink in the sky, and he knew that the later the hour, the more people would descend upon Vauxhall Gardens. He did not wish to be around a great many people this evening. The only thing he wanted to do was to return to Lester House, with Winnifred by his side.
He knew the only comfort he could draw this evening was from her. And how strange it was to realize this, for just days ago, he’d been opposed to investigating the case with her. He wanted the opposite then—to stay away from her.
“I know that you were angry. But there is something you have taught me these past few days. It isn’t good to shut people out. It isn’t good to keep secrets, to lock yourself away behind a wall of silence. I would not like it for you to break with your sister entirely. And I cannot help but think what it must’ve been like for her.”
He looked over at Winnifred, who didn’t reply. But he saw in her face is that she was taking in his words. Slowly, her tongue slid over her dry lips as she considered his words.
“She looked so broken. I know she’s wracked with guilt. And I did not help. I must confess, I was rather cruel to her. I said some regrettable things.”
“It is understandable. We came here assuming that we would leave happily with Leo and Rose once we had given the ransom money. Truly, I thought this evening my biggest challenge would be to inspire both of them to admit their secret relationship to us. I envisioned this evening as lighthearted, the four of us seated together celebrating their return. That is if they were in a condition to celebrate, as we do not know how the gang is treating them. However, in my mind, I had painted the picture of peace and joy.”
Finally, she turned her head, a small smile played around her lips. “As did I, Seth. I had thought of many things I could say to Leo regarding his keeping his romance with Rose secret. There are so many things I could tease him with. There were so many things I wanted to tell him. And then when we came here, and Mr. Markham told us what happened… It all fell apart. And now we do not know if we shall ever see them again.”
Her voice broke as she spoke, and her beautiful eyes were misted with tears. He pulled her arm closer.
“We will see them again. I know it.” Seth could only hope that his voice sounded convincing, for inside, he was not at all sure. Would they get another chance at making a ransom payment? Surely these men still wanted their money.
“I haven’t got any hope anymore. I allowed myself to believe that today was the day my brother would come home. I slept peacefully last night, thinking he would be back. And now it’s all ruined. All hope is gone.….” The tears could not be contained any longer and ran down her face like a river.
Her slim shoulders shook as she sobbed, and Seth no longer cared about etiquette or either of their reputations. Instead, he pulled her toward him into a tight embrace and caressed her hair as he gently whispered in her ear.
“Do not lose hope yet. Mr. Markham will speak to the Bow Street Runners and see what their plans are. And he will find out more. You will see tomorrow when we go to his office. He will have a plan for us. And do not forget, what these men want is money. It is their motivator.”
“They said they would kill them if they didn’t get the money, if we involve the authorities. Do you think it is true?”
Without letting go of him, she looked up into his eyes. Seth wetted his lips; he did not want to lie to her, he did not want to tell her that he was entirely uncertain, for he did not know any more than she. But at the same time, the way she looked at him, so helpless, so distraught, he knew he had to lie. And so, he did.
“I am sure. Now let us go, we must return to the house and wait for the morning. And then tomorrow, Mr. Markham will have a new plan, and everything will be well.”
They made their way through the park and back across the bridge, where finally they spotted their carriage and entered. And the entire time, he did not let go of her hand. It was her hand, the connection to her, that was the only thing that kept him sane.
* * *
When they arrived outside the Keating home, Seth jumped out of the carriage to help her out. She was so lost in thought that the man standing by the stairs entirely escaped her attention. It wasn’t until she was on the pavement next to Seth that her eyes settled on the familiar figure.
“Uncle Ezekiel? What are you doing here?”
Winnifred was not in the mood to speak to her uncle, not at this moment in time. Not with everything gone so wrong, and on top of that, her falling out with her sister. Alas, there was nothing she could do. He was already here, and by the expression on his visage, he was in high dudgeon as well.
“Winnifred! Have you just returned from Vauxhall Gardens? Tell me what happened and what ….”
He stopped in his tracks and stared at Seth, who was standing behind her. Immediately his countenance changed, and his face reflected the great dislike he held within him against those above him in the station. He glowered at Seth, who forced himself to remain civil. Although she could tell by the way his shoulders had tensed and how his fingers twitched as if he wanted to roll them into fists, he contained himself, knowing that it was Winnifred’s uncle who caused much of this.
“Your Grace,” her uncle said through clenched teeth. He bowed; it was the kind of bow she had seen people give those who they highly despised. There was no reverence and no respect in it.
Seth, to his grade credit, nodded at her uncle. “Mr. Keating.”
He turned to Winnifred. “Perhaps I ought to let you speak to your uncle alone. I shall return to Lester House. If you like you may call on me later and perhaps we can dine together. Or if you would rather wait until tomorrow, I can collect you before we go to Mr. Markham’s office. Send word either way.”
Winnifred’s stomach clenched. She did not want Seth to leave. She was out of her mind with worry, unimaginable images played in her head again and again of what these men might be doing to her brother. It was only when she looked at Seth that they subsided, but she also knew that her uncle would not tell her whatever he’d come here to say in front of Seth.
With a heavy heart, she nodded and curtsied, as was customary to do in front of a Duke.
