Page 80 of The Artisan and the Duke
Uncle Lawrence said, “Gregory, if you would send for that barrister friend of yours, we will need to get straight into it if we are to stem this tide of panic. First off, we need to make him look as ridiculous as Miriam thinks he is. Indeed, the less credible he is the better.”
“I will send Olly to fetch Dulock immediately,” Gregory said as he stood up.
Uncle Lawrence turned to Lady St Claire, “And you, Miriam, should do what you do best.” Lady St Claire gave him a confused look as if searching for the insult in what the man had said. Uncle Lawrence clarified, “You should throw a party, a dinner party perhaps. I am sure many curious nobles will attend hoping they get a front row seat to some dramatic antics.”
“It is distasteful, but if it helps my sons, then I will do so,” Lady St Claire said as she stood up and dusted her dress off.
Jules said, “What about Fredrick? Is there something I can do?”
Uncle Lawrence shook his head. “I have no idea where Fredrick would be. Boris did not speak much to me of his plans,” Lawrence said with a sigh. “I think you would do best to stay within these walls. The guards will still be looking for you.”
While Uncle Lawrence and Gregory met with Barrister Dulock, Jules was forced to help Lady St Claire with her preparations.
The idea of planning a party was such a ludicrous thing while who knew what happened to Fredrick. Jules resigned herself to do what she could. They had to have Boris tell them where to look for Fredrick. Otherwise, they would waste time scouring the countryside and likely find nothing.
Lady St Claire needed all the help she could get Jules soon discovered. The woman was holding up fairly well, but every so often Lady St Claire would waver and break down.
Jules put her hand on the woman’s back as she sobbed yet again into the silken tablecloth. “It feels like when my husband went missing all over again,” Lady St Claire said as she dabbed her eyes.
“Only Fredrick will return just like Gregory did. We have to have faith,” Jules said to the woman earnestly. “I worry for him fiercely, but what more can we do?”
“I know,” Lady St Claire sniffled.
***
As Uncle Lawrence had predicted, most of society had turned out for Lady St Claire’s dinner party the following evening. Everyone talked quietly over the soft muse played on the piano and violin by a couple of musicians that Lady St Claire invited.
There was a distinct tension in the air. It was not until Boris arrived though that things became so intensely uncomfortable that Jules stuck close with Lady St Claire and Gregory.
Boris made a beeline towards Gregory and Lady St Claire. The crowds parted for the man and the guards that followed him. Whispers broke out, and everyone was sure that what they had come to see was about to take place.
Gregory eyed his cousin and the guards. “What is the meaning of this?”
“I heard of your arrival home and the celebration that was being thrown for you. Unfortunately, Cousin, you are wanted for attempted murder and the murder of a nobleman.” Boris said all of that calmly.
The guards started to walk forward, but Gregory shook his head. “If this is about that ridiculous claim that I tried to attack you then I suggest you leave now before you make a fool of yourself,” he said dismissively to the man. The guards looked at Boris confused as they had expected a different response from the Duke.
“Arrest him,” Boris growled.
The guards hastened to do as they were bid, but Uncle Lawrence called out as he came down the stairs. “Unhand my nephew!”
There were excited whispers as the people gathered looked between the men at the centre of the spectacle. “It is you that needs to be arrested, Boris,” Uncle Lawrence continued as he came down the stairs. “Did you really think that you would get away with attacking me and then leaving me for dead?”
All eyes went over to Boris who was turning a decidedly bright colour of red as he looked between Lawrence and his cousin. “What is going on here?” Boris asked as his voice rose. “Gregory told me that he had killed you.”
“Are you so delusional that you believe your own lies, Boris?” Uncle Lawrence asked as he came to stand next to Gregory. “I might not agree with my nephew, the Duke, all the time, but he is family.”
Boris laughed, “Family? You tried to kill his brother.”
There were more gasps. Uncle Lawrence said, “No. I hired those men to delay Fredrick. If anyone told them to kill him, then it was you.”
Uncle Lawrence looked at the faces of the crowd, “He was angry with me because he thought I would foul up his plan. That’s what he said right before he knocked me unconscious and sealed me up inside the very wall of my own cellar to die. And he talks about duty and family?”
“Duty is everything,” Boris said incensed. “I am not on trial. Your whole lot is on trial for your misdeeds.”
Jules scoffed, “What misdeeds? Gregory seeks to help his fellow man while others turn their backs on them. What have you done for the people of this city, Sir Davenport?”
“You have no right to speak to me,” Boris growled. “She’s a lowly commoner.”
