Page 79 of The Artisan and the Duke
Uncle Lawrence shook his head. “The only thing that means more to Boris than family is duty. Let us face truths, Gregory. You have gone out of your way to shirk your duties at every turn.”
Gregory nodded slowly. “Perhaps. At least he finally saw you for who you really are, eh Uncle?”
“Yes,” Uncle Lawrence said quietly. “I never really tried to hide who I was Gregory, and you would have been happier in the long run if I had taken the title. You despise society, just look at your choice of brides.”
Jules huffed, “Pardon me?”
Uncle Lawrence said, “No offence meant, Your Grace, but you becoming Duchess is a bit of a snub to the high-society ladies that Gregory deals with, do you not think?”
Jules pressed her lips firmly together. Gregory sighed. “Uncle, I have never hidden the fact that I dislike the way society works or rather does not work. And the Duchess is of no concern to you,” he told his uncle.
Uncle Lawrence nodded. “I will admit that I think I would rather have a commoner over a nobleman like Boris. I thought better of the man, but he is quite unstable.”
“Yes, I fear he might be, and I also fear he might have my brother,” Gregory said silently.
Jules put her hands on her hips and said, “Look, as we speak, Boris is probably telling all of the House of Lords his tale of betrayal and intrigue.” Uncle Lawrence looked at her curiously.
“That’s right,” Jules said. “He means to take the title or at the very least get it stripped from Gregory by accusing him of attempted murder of himself and the probable murder of you, Sir Lawrence.”
“He’s been working for some time to crack any residual loyalty left for the St Claire household,” Lawrence said quietly. “He has been putting out a rumour that the Duchess and Fredrick were having an affair, quietly sowing in the doubts that perhaps Gregory is not fit to be a peer to the House of Lords.”
Gregory nodded, “That would not be hard to do.”
“True,” Uncle Lawrence said then he smiled, “but he will have a harder time convincing the Lords of my disloyalty to society. No. He picked the wrong enemy in me, Gregory. If he has Fredrick, there is a good chance he will have taken him to London.”
Jules said, “So let us go there.” The two men looked at each other and nodded their agreement.
Chapter 16
Gregory strode up the steps of St Claire manor and was met at the door by William whose face was a mirror of worry. “Your Grace, I am so happy to see you alive and well,” the old man said as he embraced Gregory without thinking of the etiquette.
With a smile, Gregory patted William on the back. “I am very happy to be seen,” Gregory said. He looked over William’s shoulder and saw his mother coming towards the door eagerly. “Mother,” Gregory said as the woman swept out the door.
“I was beside myself with worry,” Lady St Claire said as William stepped aside so the mother could embrace her son.
Gregory pulled his mother to him in a warm hug. “It is going to be okay,” Gregory promised.
“I do not know if that is true,” Lady St Claire said softly. “Come in, and I will explain as best I can. But wait, where are Jules and Fred?”
Gregory smiled, “Jules is right behind me with a guest.” Sure enough Jules, Uncle Lawrence, and one of the stable boys came along with the older man bracing himself on the stable boy.
Lady St Claire’s mouth settled in a scowl. “What is he doing here?” she demanded.
Gregory said soothingly, “Perhaps inside would be best to explain.”
“Yes, that might be best,” Lady St Claire said as she went back inside while glancing worriedly at the older man being helped up the steps.
Once they were all settled around the dining room table with the cook’s food spread before them, Gregory explained to his mother what had taken place as far as he knew. Lady St Claire listened and nodded. Gregory ventured, “You do not seem as surprised as I thought you might be.”
“It has been a long day, Gregory,” Lady St Claire said softly. “Boris and the guardsmen have been here several times looking for you, Jules, and Fredrick. I did the best I could, but Boris has spread lies everywhere. There is a good deal of the fellows who may not believe the story he is spreading but are eager to make an alliance with the man due to his upcoming nuptials.”
Gregory sighed, “Unfortunately, it will be my word against his as far as the alleged attack goes.”
“But he cannot blame you for my death if I am indeed not dead,” Uncle Lawrence offered. The man cleared his throat. “I know you do not like my being here, Miriam, but I promise you that I have only the best of intentions.”
Gregory asserted, “He has come to help us rein in Cousin Boris.”
“He may fare better than I,” Lady St Claire said sadly. “I fear that not even invoking your father’s name has done much to dissuade people from siding with that ridiculous buffoon of a cousin.”
