Page 62 of Unraveled By the Duke
“A member of the household, perhaps?” Aurelia asked.
“I hardly think any of the servants at Banfield House would be so disloyal,” Celia said.
She had a suspicion but did not want to voice it in front of Aurelia. Lavinia was the prime candidate in Celia’s eyes but she did not want to alienate Aurelia.
“There was that maid who left after she got with child. But Papa made provisions for her. He helped her find a house and paid her a stipend. What was her name?”
Celia frowned, fatigue sapping her will to consider the problem and fogging her mind. “Katherine, I think. I do not remember her surname.”
“I bet she is the snake!” Aurelia hissed.
“Now, now, let’s not jump to conclusions. Even if she were, I haven’t the first clue where she is now.”
“Mr. Phelps has a forwarding address for her. I know because I have seen a letter addressed to her at Banfield House, which he took to forward.”
Celia looked out the window at the sunny but overgrown garden. Finsbury House was so neglected. She could understand the reasons, but she felt sad for it and for the servants who were forced to spend time here.
Because of my presence. Poor Peggy. If it were not for me, she would be at Cheverton with her friends. A much cheerier place. But does Finsbury have to be so sad? Can’t it be a joyful place again?
“Celia? Did you hear I word I just said?” Aurelia asked, sounding somewhat annoyed.
“I’m sorry, Aurelia. I am just tired. What were you saying?”
“That perhaps the way to deal with this scandal is to nip it in the bud. Go to the source and persuade her to retract her account.”
It made sense. Discredit the unscrupulous author of the scandal by going to their source. The opportunity of employment in the residence of a duke might be an incentive for Katherine. Assuming she was the source.
And how providential that this comes just when I’m thinking of how to make Finsbury House livable. I wonder how I might persuade Alexander without letting on about this fresh muckraking against me.
At that moment, the subject of her thoughts appeared.
Alexander was in a waistcoat and shirtsleeves, showing off his narrow waist and broad shoulders. He held a steaming cup in one hand and a letter in the other. Celia yawned again.
How can he attend to correspondence after so little sleep? I think I had an hour or two before Aurelia was knocking on my door. She doesn’t know I was out all night; she is perfectly rested.
“I see the source of your distraction now, Sister,” Aurelia said, looking in the same direction. “I would be distracted, too. Is that also the source of your sleepless night?”
Celia reddened, and she reminded herself that her sister was sharper than she often gave her credit for.
“We went to the theater. You know that. Entirely respectable.”
“But it is what happened after the theater that is the question. Has your marriage of convenience become somewhat… inconvenient?” Aurelia teased.
“Very, actually. He is the most prickly man I have ever met. Laughing one moment and offended in the next breath. I feel like I should wear gloves when I am near him, like Mr. Robins does when he is tackling the rose bushes.”
Mr. Robins was the head gardener at Banfield House and usually wore thick leather gauntlets when pruning the rose bushes away from the paths.
“Seriously, though, Celia. How is married life? You have not spoken of it much.”
“It is much like unmarried life, except there is always another person to consider,” Celia replied.
“At least you have been forced to marry a man who is very handsome and rather dashing. It could have been a lot worse.”
Celia bit her lip, watching Alexander as he walked. She studied the slim line of his body, knowing that the slimness disguised muscles that were hard as rock. The fall of his hair from histemples gave him a wild, savage appearance compounded by the hard lines of his face.
It could have been much worse. I did not want to be forced into marriage. To be compelled to give up my freedom. But there are surely far worse men to be chained to.
Aurelia laughed softly, hugging her. “I see admiration in your eyes. Perhaps the beginning of this marriage is not what is important, but how it grows.”
