Page 42 of The Artisan and the Duke
There were voices downstairs that sounded like women’s voices crying. “Sounds like the news has spread,” Fredrick said solemnly. “Is the Duchess travelling alone? That would be unwise.”
“I doubt she will accept my company at the present time,” Gregory said with a shake of his head.
Fredrick stood up and grabbed his cane. “Then it is up to me,” Fredrick said gallantly.
“I pray that she listens to you better than she does me,” Gregory said as he clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Keep her safe, Fredrick. I will be right along behind you.” Fredrick nodded and made his way out the door with purposeful strides. Gregory listened to the clink of the man’s cane as he walked downstairs.
***
“Duchess,” Fredrick called as he came across the stone floor as hastily as he could. “It is not wise to ride alone, especially in such an emotional state. I will ride with you to London, so you do not have to be subjected to my brother. He will follow later on.”
Jules looked at Fredrick and sighed. “I suppose I should have a companion, but you must listen to what I say,” Jules said as she pulled her hat down over her head to keep the sun out of her eyes.
Fredrick nodded eagerly. “Of course,” he accepted graciously. “Come, let us hurry. I think we all want answers as to what happened in London.”
Yes,” Jules whispered as she turned to get into the carriage. As the driver set off, Jules said, “We are not going directly to London. I have to make a stop at the local inn. A friend is there who I must assure that I am still the person that he knew.”
“This is the man who arrived at the house with the news?” Fredrick enquired. When Jules nodded, Fredrick counselled, “Are you sure that you can trust him? How is it he found you if he thought you were married to a commoner?”
Jules shook her head. “I have to try, Fredrick. Surely you understand that, of all people.”
“I do,” Fredrick said sadly. “That is why I told my brother that I would come with you to put his mind at ease. I knew that no one should be alone with a burden such as this.”
Jules frowned. “So, why not ride with your brother?”
“My brother prefers to keep his pain to himself, Duchess,” the man said sadly. “Much like you do, I suspect.”
Jules looked out the window. “I just want answers, Fredrick. I just pray they are ones that I can live with.”
***
“I do not understand what has happened,” Mrs Kelley said as she shook her head at Gregory.
Gregory pulled on his riding jacket and agreed with the distraught mother, “I do not either, but I promise you that I will find out what happened and who is responsible.”
“Give her time. Jules always lets her temper get the better of her,” Mrs Kelley said hastily as Gregory went to leave.
Gregory assured Mrs Kelley, “I have all the faith in the world in your daughter. I just hope she has some left in me.”
Chapter 9
The ride to London took a full day, and by the time Gregory did arrive, it was completely dark. When he arrived and found the house secured for the night and dark, Gregory frowned and told the driver, “Hold a moment until I can rouse someone.”
He knocked on the door puzzled as to why no one was waiting for him. Surely Fred and Jules would have told the household that he was on the way? The heavy knocker echoed loudly as Gregory slammed it down onto the door.
“Perhaps they’ve all set straight to bed with fatigue from the road,” the coach driver offered between knocks.
Gregory’s frown deepened. “Surely we could not have been so long delayed behind them that there would not still be somewhat awake,” Gregory said grumpily as he hit the door harder with the metal knocker.
There was a clamour inside after a time, and Gregory drew in a breath of relief. He had feared something was amiss when there had been no welcome waiting.
The door swung open, and the doorman, a sour-faced man by the name of William, looked at Gregory in surprise. He fumbled, “Your Grace. We had no word of your arrival. Is everything well?”
“No word?” Gregory asked in puzzlement as he stepped past the man and into the house. His mother was just making her way down the stairs wrapped in a robe and looking perplexed at the commotion. Gregory called, “Where are Fred and the Duchess? They should have arrived before I did.”
Lady St Claire hurried down the stairs with her hand over her chest. “We have had no visitors,” the woman said as her voice rose with concern. “They were ahead of you?”
“Yes,” Gregory said in irritation. “They should have been here before me. I do not understand. How are they not here? I did not pass them on the road in.”
