Page 18 of The Artisan and the Duke
Gregory grimaced, “I will leave this part out when I am selecting memories of our courtship to tell our children.”
“You act as if you already have me at this imaginary altar of yours.” Jules laughed. “You know there are consequences for marrying a commoner if your peers so choose.”
Gregory shrugged as they made their way around the burned edges of the lot where the factory had stood. Gregory looked over at Jules. She had been in that rubble, dragging bodies out. Again, he felt a deep admiration build for the young woman. He knew a lot of men who would not have dared to do that.
“Look,” Jules said as she pointed to the ground. There was a pocket watch there. She picked it up. “It’s got Marcus’s initials on it.”
Gregory said, “So he made it out of the factory at least.”
“Yes, but where did he end up?” Jules looked around as she held the pocket watch in her hand. “There’s really only one way to get out of the lot if you picture where the factory walls would have been,” Jules said thoughtfully.
Gregory followed the young woman toward a gate in the neighbouring lot’s wooden fence. The door came open easily enough as Gregory pushed it inward.
Gregory stepped through first and looked around the empty yard. The house was falling down. A foul smell hit Gregory’s nose. “I think we found Marcus,” Gregory said as he covered up his nose with his sleeve.
“Oh no,” Jules groaned and covered her nose with the handkerchief Gregory had given her earlier. “He’s almost unrecognizable.”
Gregory nodded as he walked around the body of the wayward factory owner. “Looks like there’s a piercing wound in his chest and side,” he said through the fabric of his shirt.”
“I don’t know how you can even tell,” Jules said in admiration. Marcus’ body was decaying, and Jules could barely make out the man’s features.
Gregory shook his head and said, “I had to take fencing in youth. The wound of a sword is a very distinctive thing. The wounds are too wide for a knife.”
“So, someone with a sword killed him.” Jules shook her head. “Why, though?”
Gregory led Jules back out of the lot and shut the door. “I’ll tip someone off to come find the body. I want to distance us from this,” he said logically. They made their way quickly across town on foot. The light was dimming a bit by the time they made it back. Sherry let them inside and ushered them upstairs.
While Jules changed, she thought of Marcus and his fate. Once she was ready for dinner, Jules came downstairs. She was met at the bottom of the stairs by the Duke and his brother. “Come,” the Duke said, and Jules followed the two men towards the drawing room.
The room was filled with bookshelves, a large desk, a few chairs, lots of oil lamps, and family memorabilia. Jules liked it the moment she saw it. It was the closest to a normal room she had seen thus far in the large home. “What is the urgency?” Jules asked as she took a seat in one of the cushioned chairs.
Fredrick cleared his throat. “Well, my brother told me about your adventures, and now I get to tell you what I learned,” he said with a grin. It was the most enthusiasm Gregory has seen from his brother since the man had returned from the war.
Fredrick continued, “Archibald said the insurance company was a precision outfit. However, he did make mention that a few days before the fire they had gotten a call stating that the owner of the factory wanted to cancel the protection of the property. That was the last they had heard until they read about the fire in the papers.”
“So, that’s why the watermen and wagons never came,” Jules said. Outrage swelled up in Jules’ chest. “He cancelled the order of protection. Do you think that Marcus intended on burning down his property?”
Gregory frowned and said, “Most people who burn their properties purposefully are hoping to get something out of it. He got nothing out of it. It is a good plan, and a businessman would have a good financially sound plan.”
“Gregory’s right,” Fredrick said with a sigh. “The fact remains that someone did call and cancel that order ensuring that when the fire was set there would be little to no help coming.”
Jules balled her fists up and hit them against her legs. “That piece of scum,” she growled. “There were children in that building.”
Fredrick hung his head. “I know. I read about it in the paper. Gregory told me that you were there, Miss Kelley. I cannot express my compassion for that.”
“Lord St Claire, you need not worry. I will be fine. I just want to know why those people had to die,” Jules said, softly.
Gregory looked at them sadly. “We are going to find out,” he assured them both. “And we are going to make sure that things do not go well for them.”
“Here, here,” Fredrick enthused.
Jules gave the Duke a smile that the man returned.
***
“My dear, I do hope you are enjoying the London season. Have you been to any parties?” Lady St Claire asked Jules at the dinner table.
Jules said, “I have never–”
