Page 37 of The Artisan and the Duke
When Gregory arrived, there were twice as many people as when he left, and spirits were high with respect to the upcoming nuptials.
The cook was making a cake that Gregory thought might have butter cream in it, but he did not want to disturb the woman to ask. He found the ladies seated with his brother at the table, a platter of cheese, bread, and fruit between them as everyone talked amicably.
The two little girls were content to snatch grapes and giggle about their inept thievery while the adults talked. Gregory cleared his throat and said, “Mrs Kelley, it is a delight to see you again.”
Mrs Kelley looked up at the Duke with a broad smile. “And a pleasure it is to see you, Your Grace,” the woman said. “We were beginning to question whether you would be here for the ceremony, or not.”
Gregory laughed and dropped down into a seat near Jules. The young woman gave him a smile, and he inclined his head to her. Gregory said jovially, “I doubt Miss Kelley would put up with my absence for such a solemn affair.”
Miss Kelley hid a laugh behind her hand as she agreed, “I do think that God might take offence to me swearing to both our parts.”
“That is a very good point,” Gregory said thoughtfully. He looked over at his brother. “I see you are enjoying being outnumbered by the gentler sex.”
Fredrick chuckled. “It is a wholly different experience than I am used to in these halls,” the younger St Claire brother said with amusement. Georgie giggled at Fredrick, and the man gave the little girl a wink.
“However, these two knaves needed to be brought to justice,” Fredrick said as he shook his finger at the two little girls merely causing further giggles.
Gregory was surprised at the ease with which Fredrick seemed to be taken with the little girls. He smiled and shook his head. As he did so, he caught the eye of Jules who gave him a small smile.
Gregory ventured, “I daresay that you all probably have the preparations, such as they are, well in hand. Can I steal Fredrick away for a moment?”
Lady St Claire nodded her head and waved the men away, “Go on with you. We will be here when you get done with your business.”
Gregory dipped his head to the ladies before he took his leave with Fredrick behind him. He led the way toward his study. “How are you getting on, old man?” Gregory asked as he spied the can that Fredrick was using.
“Well,” Fredrick said with lightness that Gregory had not heard from the man in some time, “Mrs Kelley gave me a salve that was her mother’s recipe. It does wonders for the stiffness and pain,” he said with a thump to his injured leg. “I must say that I am surprised you got the young lady to agree to bond herself to you.”
Gregory laughed as he held open the door to his study. Once Fredrick was through, Gregory followed him and shut the door. Gregory sighed, “To tell the truth, I am surprised as well. We were quite close a couple of times to calling the whole thing off, and that was before she met Uncle.”
“Yes, rather glad I haven’t seen him yet,” Fredrick said as he sank down into one of the leather chairs. “Wouldn’t mind having some private words with him, mind you.”
Gregory agreed heartily, “That would suit me well, but Mother is insistent that we simply ignore him.”
“I don’t think she would mind if he just disappeared,” Fredrick said with a devious glint in his eyes.
Gregory chuckled and shook his finger at his brother. “I should be getting stories ready for your scheme?”
“I’ve seen enough death to last me a lifetime, but I don’t suppose one more would hurt the balance,” Fredrick said as he shrugged.
Gregory went over to the serving table near the wall behind him and poured some brandy into two tumblers for them. He held out one of the glasses to his brother. “I shall just pretend this conversation never happened,” Gregory informed his brother.
“That probably would be for the best,” Fredrick said with a grin as he took the glass and sipped the brandy. “I do not think we have drunk Father’s cherry brandy in a very long while.”
Gregory nodded as he sank down into his desk chair. He held up the liquid and eyed it with admiration. “I thought he would approve of it as pre-wedding preparations,” Gregory said.
“I would have to concur,” Fredrick said as he took another sip of the sweet liquor. After a moment of contemplation of his drink, Fredrick asked, “I trust things are going well with your investigations?”
Gregory pursed out his lips and said, “Well, I got Maxwell to release the guild members who were being erroneously accused of setting the fire, but I still have no idea who really set it.”
“Might be time to leave such matters behind with your nuptials approaching, Brother. I would hate to think of Miss Kelley coming to harm because you could not let things lie,” Fredrick said with a worried tone.
That very thought had troubled Gregory. It was the only thing that had given him pause about marrying the dark-haired woman. He would never wish to pull her into harm’s way, yet marrying her would assure that she was taken care of as well as her family even if something should happen to him.
“I fear that I will never be able to rest my head if I do not at least try to find out why it occurred. These things are happening far too often for comfort. Would I not be remiss if I did not try to mend the wrongs I see for my own children’s sakes?”
“You guilt me with the ghost of children who are not yet born,” Fredrick said in wonder. “I sometimes wonder if you are not really Father in disguise.”
Gregory chuckled. “He could trick a mule out of his cart, that’s for sure,” he agreed. “But he also said that we had to take pride in who we are and who we were. Can we really do so with this hanging over us?”
