Page 61 of Death at Fournier Downs
“I will keep that in mind,” Wilkes said, and then joined the footmen at the carts.
Hugh glanced toward the stone edifice of the grand home. There was no avoiding it. He would make his goodbyes and be off.
A footman saw him into the foyer, but as the butler, Verly, approached, the unmistakable sound of sobbing emanated from off the main hall.
“My apologies, officer,” Verly said. “His Grace is unable to receive callers at this time.”
The sobs continued. They belonged to a woman. Hugh could not tame his legs, and ignoring Verly, he swept past, following the distressing sounds toward a room ahead. Hugh’s concern and temper rose in tandem as Verly called after him to stop. The sobbing drew him to the half-closed door to the duke’s study. Hugh entered with a heavily panting Verly on his heels. Audrey sat upon the sofa, her arms bracing Cassandra’s shoulders.
“Officer Marsden, Your Grace,” the butler announced belatedly, after the duke had already seen him. He stood at the windows, a snifter in his hand and a dressing of linen wrapped around his head.
Hugh had already removed his hat and now set it on a table closest to the door. The wound on Audrey’s neck had also been cleaned and bandaged. She met Hugh’s eyes briefly before turning her attention back to her sister-in-law. Cassandra’s eyes were swollen, and she pressed a lace kerchief to her nose.
“Marsden,” the duke said, his voice ragged but calm. “What has happened to that maid?”
“She will live,” he answered. “She’s been arrested and will face murder charges. I have no doubt she will be found guilty.”
It was no reason to rejoice and none of them did so. Instead, Cassandra’s sobs continued.
Hugh did not know what to say. The young woman was ruined—just as thoroughly as Eloisa had been.
“The magistrate has gone to Bainbury Manor to speak to Lord Renfry to discuss his involvement with both Lady Charlotte and Lady Mary,” the duke informed him.
“He will deny it,” Hugh warned. And anyhow, there was enough witness testimony and evidence to secure Andrea Millbury’s conviction without Renfry’s confession.
Fournier slammed his snifter onto his desk. “He will answer for his actions. I will demand an offer for my sister, and to hell with his planned nuptials!”
Cassandra jumped to her feet, throwing off Audrey’s arm. “No! I’ve told you I don’t want to marry him!”
The duke lost his composure. “You have no choice! He has ruined you, Cassie! Do you believe there will be other offers from men of quality after this?”
Audrey stood as well, though she winced and favored her left ankle. “Philip, please. The man seduced his own stepmothers. You cannot force your sister to marry such a scoundrel.”
“She made her choice, and now she must see it through,” the duke bellowed.
Cassandra broke into fresh tears, and Audrey glared. “She does not deserve to be bound to someone so wretched for the rest of her life because she made one mistake!”
“This is your mistake as much as it is hers,” Fournier shouted. She gaped, her color rising. “You were supposed to be watching her. How could you not have known?”
As Audrey’s expression crumpled, loathing for Fournier, hot and potent, rose within Hugh’s chest. Tears brimmed in her eyes, and she turned and limped as quickly from the room as her injured ankle could take her. Hugh watched her go, torn between wanting to follow her and staying to throttle the duke.
Cassandra stifled her tears at glared at her brother. “It happened in London, not here. It isn’t her fault. You can be such a heartless, selfish bastard sometimes.”
With that, the young woman turned on her heel and followed in Audrey’s wake.
The study fell silent, the duke standing by his desk and Hugh by the door. He reached for his hat, wishing like hell he’d taken his leave from Low Heath immediately, rather than come here.
The duke picked up his snifter and swirled his brandy before setting it aside again. “I suppose you think I’m a heartless bastard too,” he muttered.
“I think you could not care less about my opinion. But know this: if you weren’t a duke, I’d knock out your teeth for making her cry.”
Hugh held Fournier’s astonished glare as he put on his hat, then turned and left.
ChapterTwenty-One
After weeping for most of the evening, Cassandra finally fell into a deep, exhausted slumber. For hours, Audrey had sat with her in her bedchamber, soothing her, and assuring her that she would not be forced to marry Lord Renfry, who had, Cassie admitted, swept her off her feet in May. He had charmed her quite thoroughly after Genie introduced them at a dinner. Their flirtation moved swiftly, and encouraged by his words of devotion, Cassie believed it was love.
Renfry had promised to speak to the duke during the summer with an offer. She had believed herself as good as betrothed. However, soon Cassie overheard a few ladies gossiping of how Bainbury’s heir was pressing his suit for the exorbitantly wealthy daughter of a merchant. When confronted, Renfry admitted it was true and that he would not be speaking to the duke after all.
