Page 17 of A Feud with the Duke

“Yes,” she said in a small voice, not wanting to believe it but knowing that Simon and Ruth would not lie. “I understand now. I think I will retire for the evening, it has been an exhausting day.”

She withdrew from their company, head reeling from the disclosures. Upon gaining her bedchamber, Alice wanted to cry. Then she saw the neat square of paper lying on her pillow. She frowned, picking it up and examining the handwriting, which simply spelled out her name. Unfolding the paper, she read the note, realizing who its author was even before she reached the signature at the bottom. It read.

“Miss Hathway. I am sorry that the occasion of your debut was marred by the unpleasant altercation between your brother and I. I do not know what the source of his belligerence is. But I enjoyed our too brief conversation and wonder whether you would be able to find the time to meet with me while we are both in town. The British Museum perhaps? I cannot think of a finer place for two people to walk and talk in pleasant and stimulating surroundings. I will be there tomorrow at one if you would care to join me.

Harold”

Alice read and re-read the brief note. Part of her was angry, knowing what she now knew about the feud between her family and his. Part of her wanted to get his side of the story, or at least hear for herself his explanation for his actions. Another, treacherous part, did not see how he could be responsible for the actions that Simon and Ruth had ascribed to him. And wanted to see them proved wrong.

CHAPTER11

Alice spent a good deal of that evening plotting her escape from Ruth and Simon the following day. She had no doubt that they would not allow her to visit with Harold, given the chance. Which meant that if she wanted to hear his side of the story, she would have to evade them. Unfortunately, she could think of no way other than being up and out of the house before them. That, in itself, presented its own difficulties.

She had no money of her own to pay for a cab. The house they were renting did not come with stables or a carriage. Which meant that she would need to be accompanied. Or else walk to the British Museum. The only drawback to that plan was that, from what she could gather, it was a considerable walk through the city. While she was not averse to hiking through woods and fields at Lindley, the streets of London felt like they would be a different matter.

But what other choice do I have? I must walk. It cannot be so far away. This may be a large city but it does have an end. How big can it possibly be?

She never got the chance to find out. The following morning she bathed and dressed with the dawn chorus. Walking along the hallway which housed the bedrooms for herself, Ruth, and Simon, she heard a rasping snore coming from behind Simon’s door. At the next door, she stopped again and heard another snore. This time it would be Gordon, Ruth’s husband.

Satisfied that she had beaten the rest of her family to wakefulness, she tiptoed down the stairs and hurried along the hall towards the front doors.

“Early riser this morning!” Ruth called out through the open door of the breakfast room.

It was situated just off the main hall, looking out through bay windows to one side of the front doors. Alice froze in mid-step, looking in through the door. Ruth was fully dressed, bonnet on her head and an umbrella across her knee. She sipped tea and gave Alice an innocent smile.

“Gordon does snore so at around this hour. So, I have been in the habit of rising early.”

“I had never noticed.”

“No reason why you would. It has been a few years since I lived at Lindley. So, where are we going this morning?”

Alice stepped into the breakfast room, knowing that she was caught.

At least I won’t have to walk. Now, I just have to find sufficient things for Ruth and I to do until we go to the museum at one. And then find a way to escape her long enough to speak to Harold alone.

“I thought we could do some sightseeing. And maybe go to the British Museum after lunch?” Alice suggested.

“Capital. Why are you leaving so early though?”

“Why not? How often am I in the capital? Or likely to be? I want to make the most of it.”

“Very good. There are a few places I have read about that I would like to see. You did mention the British Museum. Not my sort of thing but I will be happy to keep you company.”

“You don’t have to, you know. The museum is a big place, it will be an awful lot of walking. Wouldn’t you rather stay here?” Alice attempted in vain.

“And let you go off into the capital all alone? Simon would have a fit,” Ruth answered, draining her teacup, and standing with no little effort.

“Where is Simon, by the way?” Alice asked.

“Sleeping off his hangover. Last night was rather stressful for him and the altercation with the Duke of Redwood must have taken more out of him than he let on. Either that or something happened that I know nothing about. He drank heavily after you went to bed last night.”

There was an element in Ruth’s voice that said she thought it was Alice’s fault that Simon had gotten so drunk. Alice refused to accept that guilt.

“It might have all been avoided had the two of you been more forthcoming about our family’s past,” she said.

Ruth shrugged. “We were both bound by promises to Mama and Papa. And to Teddy for that matter. Still, you are probably right. I just never thought the truth would be forced out in such a fashion. What are the chances that Redwood, the notorious social hermit that he is, would choose your debut to make his own debut.”

The idea that Harold had ended his self-imposed exile for her sent a thrill through Alice. It was another question she intended to ask and be answered. Why her? What had made him attend if it was something so abhorrent to him. The Hathway’s were not the wealthiest of families, nor the most prestigious. Assuming he did not know the name Alice Hathway until last night, what had drawn him there in the first place?

---