Page 27 of The Artisan and the Duke
The Newgate Prison, despite being recently rebuilt to accommodate more modern inventions such as the penal treadmill, still had the major issue of just having too many occupants.
Gregory counted more than seven men in each cell, and he wondered how many had really done much more than being in debt or homeless to earn their place behind the iron bars? A prison guard bobbed his head at Gregory as the Duke passed. “Your Grace,” the man intoned with respect.
He gave the man a brief nod. Gregory tried to recall the guard’s name but could not. It seemed the guards came and went at such frequency that learning their names was almost an exercise in futility.
He had not come here to make any new acquaintances, but instead had come to see how the barrister was making out with the mason’s guild.
“Hello, my good man,” Gregory said as he caught sight of the barrister a few cells ahead of him.
The man turned and gave Gregory a warm smile. “Ah, there is the patron Duke of Saints,” Reginald Dulock said with a chuckle. “Come to check on me?”
“I have indeed, old friend,” Gregory said with warmth. He did not mind the man’s jest. He and Reginald had worked together before, and he found the man to be amicable, and most importantly, trustworthy. “Have you a moment to pass the time?”
Reginald nodded and waved for Gregory to walk with him towards the courtyard. “Of course, Your Grace,” Reginald said.
As soon as they walked through the courtyard, Gregory asked, “What do you think the odds are for the masons?”
“I think that the case against them is paltry and hearsay, at best,” Reginald said with disgust. The man sighed, “That being said, I hear the judge is quite set against them. He’s already labeled the libels, and the penalty for that alone could put them in the Chates.”
Gregory did not want to hear that, but he had expected it anyway. “I will see if I can broach the subject with the judge in question. He is familiar with me and may show some leniency if I can get him to see reason.”
“You know as well as I do, Your Grace, that reason does not always have a place on the podium of the judiciary,” Reginald said with measured words.
Gregory knew that very well, but he owed at least a little loyalty to Maxwell Chapman for the sake of their boyhoods together. “I will report back to you about my level of success with Sir Chapman,” Gregory promised.
Reginald accepted the Duke’s words with a nod of his head. Gregory only hoped that Maxwell would prove reasonable.
Chapter 6
Jules was fascinated by the food above all else as she gazed at the table holding plate after plate of desserts that she could not even recognize. She was waiting to be announced as the music drifted through the warm summer air. She was standing behind a doorway covered with a fine silky gauze material that Jules’ mother would have been envious to see.
The Duke was waiting by her side to be announced as well. The man gave her an encouraging smile that did nothing to calm the butterflies in her stomach.
A bellowing voice called the names of the couple in front of them, and the line stepped forward one space as the couple moved through the doorway when the fabric was pulled back.
The Duke held his arm up, and Jules took a breath as she placed her hand lightly on the man’s forearm as Lady St Claire had instructed her to do. She would only know the Lady St Claire and the Dowager Stewart, aside from the Duke, who had paid her a brief visit before the party to introduce herself properly.
The booming voice called out, “The Duke of Thornton and Miss Julia Kelley.”
As the material was pulled back, the Duke led Julia through the doorway, and she looked around at the lanterns that hung from the tree branches. There were chairs set about in groupings; tables were set to the sides for people to use and to hold the food. The centre was cleared, and a large circle of stones made a very beautiful spot where couples danced to the flow of the music being played by a quartet under a bay tree.
“It’s beautiful,” Jules whispered.
The Duke gave her a smile. “I hope it is still beautiful once we begin our round of socializing,” the man said with humour.
Truth be told, Jules’ spirit could not even be dampened by the thought of having to smile and curtsey. She spotted Lady St Claire and Dowager Stewart standing near one of the tables with another woman, drinking something that was pink.
Despite her interest in the food table, Jules found herself being guided by the Duke away from the desserts and towards a man dressed in ruffles and tails.
“Sir Chapman,” the Duke said grandly, “allow me to introduce to you my betrothed, Miss Julia Kelley.”
The man grinned broadly and clapped his hands together, “Ah, so this is the lovely lady that Dowager Stewart was telling me about. I have heard so much of you, young lady, that I feel as if we have already met.”
Jules blushed and wondered what the Dowager had actually said about her. The Duke said softly to Jules, “Miss Kelley, let me introduce to you Sir Maxwell Chapman who has devoted himself to a life of the judiciary. Sir Chapman and I practically grew up together.”
Jules smiled and gave the man a deep curtsey. The man was a judge, and Jules knew better than to rankle the ire of someone who willfully threw men in jail for little to no crime. “It is an honour to meet you, Sir Chapman,” Jules said with all the awe that she could muster.
“She’s as lovely as I have heard,” the judge said to the Duke as if Jules was not even present. She quickly set her mind against the man, but she kept the vacant smile plastered on her face that seemed to be the normal expression if she was judging by the women near her.
