Page 64 of Code Name Duchess
Peter shook his head. “What the boss doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Besides,” he stuck his hand in his pocket and retrieved several gold coins. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
Winnifred’s mouth dropped open, as she was not quite sure if this would work. Undoubtedly not everybody in Elton’s gang was easily bribed…
“Very well. But if the boss finds out, you better bet, I’m going to point fingers at you.”
Peter shrugged. “Point all you want. I don’t care.” He signaled with his index finger for Winnifred and Seth to come forth. When they did, he licked his lips and patted his pocket once again.
“Well, I thank you again for the contribution, and I wish you well.”
With that, he rushed away before either Winnifred or Seth could say anything else. They looked at the other man who glared at them. He was a tall, burly fellow with a shock of red hair. His accent was unmistakably Irish. He eyed them both and shook his head.
“Well, then. Step inside.”
He pushed the door open, revealing a long, dark hallway. “You wouldn’t know when Elton might be back, would you?” Winnifred asked.
The man shrugged. “He won’t be back till evening. But don’t you be long. You never know. And I’m not going to come to your rescue if he shows up early and is upset at finding you there.”
He all but shoved the two of them inside and then shut the door. Suddenly cast in darkness, Winnifred reached for Seth, who clasped his hand around hers. To the right was a door, and Seth gingerly opened it. The room was brighter than the hallway, but the heavy curtains that had been drawn in front of the window kept the sunlight from streaming in. Still, Winnifred could make out a formal drawing room, and beyond it, a dining room. Both looked as though they were hardly ever used, if at all.
“Come this way,” Seth indicated forward to a door at the end of the hall. Underneath the door, light streamed out.
Winnifred charged forth, followed closely by Seth, and when they reached the door, she placed her hand gingerly on the door handle and pushed down. They braced themselves, each taking a deep breath before Winnifred pushed the door open. Immediately, the brightness of the room hurt her eyes, and she had to squeeze them shut for a moment to protect herself from the glare.
When she opened her eyes again, the figure of a woman appeared before her. Auburn-colored hair was piled on top of her head, and she wore a simple white gown, a pretty lace overskirt, and a rose-colored shawl. She stood and stared at Winnifred with her terrified eyes wide open and her mouth open. The fine lines around her eyes indicated her age.
“Who are you? What are you doing in my home?” The shrillness of her tone made her feel almost sorry for the woman. Winnifred stepped forward and indicated for Seth to wait. She raised one hand to calm the woman.
“My name is Winnifred Keating. I’ve come here looking for my brother, Leo.”
The room was bright and spacious, with French windows looking out over a garden. A crystal chandelier hung down in the middle of the room, and a beautiful fireplace sat at the end of the room. The furniture looked expensive, all of it mahogany. A white chaise was adorned with golden trimming. It was this chaise the woman had sat on. It was clear to see from the satin pillow that lay on the floor before her and the spilled cup of tea on the side table.
The sound of another person gasping drew her attention to a figure in the back of the room. Peeking out from behind the pillar in the back of the room, was the face of a young girl. Her eyes were large and curious but not frightened.
Winnifred smiled at her. “Well, hello there.”
The woman took one step to the side to place herself in front of the child, blocking her from Winnie’s view.
“I will ask you again. Who are you? Why are you in my home?”
“Ma’am, please do not let our sudden appearance frighten you too much. We mean you no harm. We have simply come to ask questions. My name is Seth.”
“Are you the Duke?” The little girl’s voice sounded again.
“Helena, please.” The woman hissed through clenched teeth, but it was evident to Winnifred that she was not necessarily afraid of Winnifred and Seth. It was evident by the way she continued to stare at the door, as though she expected others to rush through.
“I am the Duke. The Duke of Cambarton. I take it you’ve heard of me.”
Much to her mother’s horror, the little girl slipped out from behind the pillar. She wore a lovely sky-blue gown that matched her mother’s in style, except that hers was embroidered with little yellow sunflowers.
“Frances,” Winnifred said. She read in one of her novels that it was a good idea to address another person by their first name, to make it apparent there were no ill feelings.
“We do mean you no harm. Your husband, well, you know what kind of business he is engaged in. And it is his business we have come to talk to you about.” She glanced at her daughter, not wanting to make it too clear just why they were here. Just in case the little girl did not know what her father was engaged in.
Helena made her way towards her mother’s side and slipped her small hand into the older woman’s. The girl had to be about ten years old, her pale, round face looked far less fearful than her mother’s, and her large brown eyes sparkle with curiosity.
“You are Lady Rose’s brother, and you are Leo’s sister.”
Her mother gasped and stared from one to the other. “You are?”
