Page 75 of The Heir
“The duchess will do as she is told, or she will find herself out on her arse! Is there anything else? No? Good!”
William turned and barged out of the room, his secretary and retinue of footmen following behind in neat formation.
“Marsters?” he snapped without breaking stride down the wood-paneled corridor.
“Sir?” His secretary stepped up beside him.
“You’ll tell me which of them runs tattling to Conroy and the duchess, as soon as it happens.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Good man.”
Chapter 33
“Speak with Dr. Clarke,” the princess had told her. “It will be the easiest to arrange and can do no harm.”
Lehzen felt an unaccustomed surge of impatience with her charge at this confident pronouncement. She felt an even stronger surge of impatience with herself in that she had not refused the task.
Because the princess was right. There was something going on. It was serious, and Sir John was doubtlessly involved. All the events surrounding Dr. Maton’s death pointed to it.
So. As soon as I can discover whom to trust with this information, I will put it into their hands, she promised herself. Because this . . . thing, whatever it turned out to be, was driving the princess to a level of sneaking defiance even Lehzen had never seen from her before. Secret letters. Secret meetings. A sense of power that was making her careless of her position and her person. What would come next? There was no way to know.
But what Lehzen did know was that if she tried to steer her charge from this course without being able to suggest another one, the princess would shut her out entirely. If Lehzen wanted to be able to protect her, she must, however reluctantly, continue to help her. Which meant finding a way to speak privately with Dr. Clarke.
Having spent much of her adult life in the claustrophobic courts of Germany, Lehzen knew perfectly well how scarce true privacy was inside even the largest palace. But like all those who waited on the great families, she had learned how to scratch out small moments for herself.
So the next day she made sure she had a chance to sit at the worktable with Lady Charlotte.
“I’m having headaches,” she said softly. “And I need some privacy to speak with the doctor.”
When Lady Charlotte was in waiting, she lived in the palace, but not in the royal apartments. She had her own little suite of rooms in the same wing. She and Lehzen were not friends, exactly, and Lehzen was very careful about what she let that lady see, but Lady Charlotte was a good woman and sympathized with the fact that Lehzen had no place in Kensington she could call her own. She readily agreed to loan Lehzen the use of her private apartment.
So it was that when Dr. Clarke answered her summons, Lehzen was sitting alone beside a table with a tea tray, for nothing could be done between the English without tea. She clutched her handkerchief in both hands, trying not to tie it, or herself, into knots.
Dr. Clarke made no remark about her demeanor or their surroundings. He simply set his bag down and bowed.
“How may I be of service, ma’am?”
“Won’t you please sit down?” answered Lehzen. The doctor bowed again and did so, although he refused the cup of tea she offered.
Lehzen took a deep breath. “You must forgive me, Dr. Clarke,” she said. “I am afraid I have asked you here under false pretenses.”
“There is no need to worry, ma’am. You would hardly be my first patient who was a trifle reticent regarding a medical question. If it helps, you may be assured of my absolute discretion.” He was looking at her with gentle sympathy.
My God!thought Lehzen suddenly.Does he think I’ve fallen pregnant?
She downed a gulp of tea to keep from laughing out loud. When she could speak again, she said, “I do thank you, Doctor, but my question, questions, they are not medical ones.”
“Then I’m afraid I do not understand.”
And how do I explain?
Lehzen took a deep breath. As she had many times before, she pushed her uncertainties aside. She had been given a task. She must complete it. She squeezed her handkerchief, as if it was a friend’s hand and she was seeking reassurance.
“I wished to speak to you about the late Dr. Maton.”
“I still do not understand.”
