Page 13 of Doubling Down on a Duke
Lady Phoebe sank down into a court curtsy that was graceful and beautifully executed. “Lady Helen… or should I be addressing you as Your Grace?”
“We have known each other far too long for you to be using honorifics with me.” Helen waited for Phoebe to stand.
A few inches taller than Helen, Phoebe straightened to her full height and then linked her arm through Helen’s. “Well…based on what I witnessed in the coach, it would appear as though you and the duke have finally sorted things out, which I’m happy to see. But what I really want to know is…why are you here?”
They walked down the path toward the front door. “We happened to cross paths with Lord Kilman.”
“Lord Kilman,” Phoebe repeated.
With each passing year, Helen had grown fonder of the woman walking next her. Phoebe was like a vault when it came to secrets, and Helen had shared many with the woman over the years as they had spent night after night delegated to wallflower row after their debut and then spinster row. Remaining face forward, Helen said, “Yes, the gentleman you contacted for assistance.”
“Me?” Phoebe pointed to herself. “I think you are mistaken.”
“My husband shared with me Lord Kilman’s secret, so you can stop play acting.”
“You know, you have the most irritating way of taking the fun out of conversations,” Phoebe complained, then added, “Well, where is he?”
“I suggested to Lord Kilman that rather than risking a scandal, he should allow me to assist you.”
“Bah. Even if a scandal were to occur, it would hardly be to Lord Kilman’s detriment.” Phoebe picked up her skirts with her free hand as they began to mount the stairs up to the front door.
Helen followed suit and clutched the material of her gown tightly in her hand. She had to convince Phoebe to hand over the diamonds, if in fact they were in her friend's possession, without divulging the existence of the Network or her association with it.
Helen sighed.
Two steps closer to the door, Phoebe stopped and faced Helen. “Look. I know you want to help.” Phoebe grabbed her shoulders and gave Helen a slight shake. “Really, I understand. I understand because that is how I got myself into this mess in the first place...how I now find myself in this predicament.”
Helen wrapped her fingers around her friends' wrists and brought their hands down in front of them. “Whatever it is, you can trust me. And I’m a duchess now, I can help.”
“Duchess!” Phoebe’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “You’re a bloomin’ duchess.” This time it was Phoebe’s turn to grab her by the wrist.
Helen followed Phoebe up the stairs, through the foyer and into a drawing room that was cozily decorated in hues of cream, navy blue and forest green. As soon as the door closed behind them, Helen asked, “Are you going to allow me to assist you?”
“I know you can keep a secret, so even if you can’t help me out of this blasted predicament, it will be good to at least sharethe burden with a fellow— What am I saying? You are married now.”
Clearly Phoebe was sleep deprived. She was normally the more collected one out of the two them. Helen guided Phoebe over to the settee. “Let’s sit. Tell me everything from the beginning.”
Her friend shook her head. “It’s too long of a story to regale you with, and we are running out of time. I fear we will be caught and then hung for treason.”
“Treason?”
Phoebe leaned in closer and whispered, “You won’t believe how it all came about…but I have in my possession a set of diamonds that belongs to the queen! The Queen of England.”
“Did you steal the diamonds?”
“Technically I stole the jewels from the bandits who stole it from the royal treasury.” Phoebe pressed her palms to her face and then peeked through her fingers to add, “That’s not exactly accurate either.We—Lady Lillian, Lady Ruth and I—stole the gems.”
Helen tugged her friend’s hands away from her face. “Are any of you harmed or injured?”
“Lady Lillian sprained her ankle during the scuffle, but Ruth and I managed to carry her and escape.”
“Can you describe the thieves?”
Phoebe shook her head. “It was night. The men wore their caps low and their coat collars up.”
“So they weren’t ruffians then?” Helen asked.
“I don’t believe so.” Phoebe clasped her hands in her lap and interlocked them tight together. “I’m sorry. My memory is foggy. I’ve been so worried about how to return the diamonds and making sure we weren’t caught by the royal guard or the thieves…I haven’t slept in days.”
