Page 32 of His Godsent Duchess
She hesitated for a moment, then slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, and they descended the stairs together. "I was going to come find you after the children's studies," she said softly, her tone light but holding something unspoken beneath it.
"And what business have you with me?" he asked, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, trying to ignore the way her closeness affected him.
"It concerns the governess," she replied. "It is taking longer than anticipated to find a replacement for Miss Peversly. I have taken the liberty of placing an announcement in the news sheets."
He nodded, approving her action with a brief, "Very well."
As they reached the grand foyer, a commotion caught their attention. Miss Peversly stood in the doorway of the drawing room, her tone authoritative as she spoke to three footmen. "Who allowed the cat into the drawing room?" she demanded.
Christina frowned and released Victor's arm, moving toward the scene. "What is going on?" she asked.
Miss Peversly curtsied and gestured toward the drawing room. "Your Grace, I would suggest you see for yourself what your pet has done."
Victor followed closely behind Christina as they entered the room. The scene that greeted them was one of disarray. The brocade pillows on the sofa had been shredded, the threads pulled loose, and several delicate ornaments lay shattered on the floor beneath the console.
Christina stood still for a moment, her eyes sweeping over the damage. "Carrot could not have done this," she said, shaking her head. "He's far too small."
Miss Peversly, her tone falsely sweet, responded, "I would never argue with Your Grace, but you may examine the pillow yourself. The cat's fur is all over it."
Christina bent down, picking up the pillow and inspecting it closely. "Yes, his fur is here," she said, looking up at Victor, her expression pleading. "But I still don't believe he is capable of such destruction. If he had such tendencies, he would have done something like this at Hillsbury House."
Victor said nothing, his face impassive. He had never approved of the creature in the first place, and yet now he found himself uncertain. Could the cat really have caused such a mess?
Christina turned to one of the footmen. "Where is the cat now?"
"I do not know, Your Grace," the footman replied.
She looked at Victor again, her eyes silently begging him to believe in the feline's innocence. Victor, however, was unsure what to think. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped when Christina, shaking her head, left the room.
Victor watched her go, debating whether to follow. But something in him held back. Instead, he turned to the footmen and ordered them to clean the room and dispose of the ruined pillow.
Just as he was about to leave for his study, Miss Peversly's voice reached his ears. "Your Grace, it is most unfortunate," she said, her tone filled with sympathy. "But I know of a place the cat could be taken where he will be well cared for. It might be for the best, considering there seems to be no place for him at Kilton Castle."
Victor's eyes narrowed, irritation flashing through him. "That is not a suggestion you are in a position to make, Miss Peversly."
She curtsied, but as Victor walked away, her words lingered. Perhaps there was no place for the creature here.
Fourteen
Christina barged into her bedchamber, slamming the door behind her with such force that the sound echoed through the room. Her jaw was clenched, her heart pounding with indignation.No, Carrot did not do that! He could not have!The accusation lodged itself in her chest like a splinter, driving her mad with frustration.
She began pacing the length of the room, her skirts swishing furiously against the polished floor. The injustice of it all gnawed at her—how dare Miss Peversly, how dare Victor even for a moment believe that sweet, innocent creature could have wrought such destruction?
The door opened quietly, and Christina spun around to see Addison standing there, holding Carrot in her arms. The sight of the small orange kitten, his soft fur ruffled as though he had just woken, tugged at her heart. Without hesitation, Christina crossed the room.
"Where did you find him?" she demanded, her voice sharp with urgency.
Addison looked startled by her tone but answered calmly. "He has been with me, Your Grace. All afternoon. I thought it best to keep him out of sight after hearing what happened."
Christina let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She took Carrot from Addison's arms, cradling him close to her chest, stroking the soft fur between his ears. "I knew it," she murmured, her voice softer now. "It could not have been him."
"No, Your Grace," Addison agreed, shaking her head. "He has been asleep in my quarters most of the afternoon. He could not have done such a thing."
Christina's hand stilled on Carrot's head, and she swallowed hard, her teeth grinding together as a wave of anger swept through her. "I know who is behind it," she said quietly, though her voice trembled with barely restrained fury.
"Miss Peversly?" Addison's voice was low, cautious.
Christina nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Who else? She has wanted Carrot gone from the moment we arrived. This was all part of her plan."
