The Duke's Alliance Book Two: A Dangerous Husband (10 page)

'You can consider your evening a resounding success. That reminds me, I'd better see if Lady Carshalton is ready to return. I've not seen her since she went into supper in high dudgeon some time ago.'

As before there was no sign of his elderly relative, even in the card room. After a fruitless search they came to the conclusion that the garrulous old lady had taken herself back to Heatherfield.

'I've sent a footman to the stables to see if my carriage is still there. If it isn't then I fear I'm going to have to stay here tonight.'

'We have plenty of spare rooms. I'll speak to Peebles and he'll arrange for a temporary valet and find everything you will need.'

The tea tray had been taken into the drawing room and she could hardly leave her younger sister to oversee this ritual. 'What about your meeting tomorrow morning? I doubt your carriage will be back in time to return you.'

He grinned, making him look years younger. 'There is no meeting; I invented it in order to annoy your brother.'

'Then you may have your appointment before you leave. I expect he wishes to discuss the settlement – I suppose you must go through with that as if we intended to be married next year.'

'I'll answer as I would if this was genuine. I've no need of extra funds. I'll tell him your money will remain yours to spend or save as you wish.'

He said this with such sincerity she was quite taken aback. 'Then he will be satisfied. I'm at a loss to know why he acquiesced so easily. Although we spent time together this evening I can't believe it was reason enough for my reputation to have been in tatters.'

'I'll ask him when we meet tomorrow but I think I know the answer. Someone must have overheard me when I said I was going to ask for permission to address you. Word would have been all over the county tomorrow so he was left with little choice in the matter.'

Madeline could recall exactly what had taken place at the supper table. 'I'm sure you're correct. I can only apologise again for provoking you, for being so uncivil…'

'The fault is mine, I lay no blame on you for the situation we find ourselves in.' He turned her so she was facing him and raised both her hands until they were resting on his waistcoat. She could feel his heart pounding beneath her fingers. 'This won't be so bad, sweetheart, we can ride together and I'm hoping to persuade you to come up with me on my phaeton.'

'I'll do no such thing – but I'll be happy to ride with you. Look, the footman is returning.'

He moved over to talk quietly to the servant and then returned to her. 'It's as we thought, she left some time ago. He's conveying the information to your butler so we can return to the drawing room and enjoy the remainder of the evening.'

When Madeline eventually retired she was almost beginning to believe she was really engaged. The congratulations and toasts in their honour made it seem real. Would it be so very bad to marry him? He was the handsomest gentleman she'd ever seen, was wealthy and titled and if she was honest he did make her heart beat a little faster.

Chapter Ten

Grey stretched out on top of the bed in the guest chamber he'd been allocated and reviewed the extraordinary events of the evening. He'd discovered that his grandmother was a hardened gambler and then become engaged to the delectable Madeline.

He should be unhappy, angry at finding himself in this situation, but instead he was surprisingly sanguine. Spending time with her would be no hardship.

He was eight and twenty, a wealthy man, perhaps the time had come for him to step into parson's mousetrap. She wasn't, perhaps, the sort of girl he'd have chosen but she was intelligent, kind, resourceful and undeniably lovely.

Whatever his feelings on the matter he wouldn't take liberties, wouldn't make it impossible for her to retract if she wanted to. It was going to be dammed difficult being in close proximity and not be able to make love to her.

He was drifting off to sleep in a happy daze of good wine and cognac when he jackknifed. His stomach roiled and for a moment he thought he'd cast up his accounts. A few months of civilian life and his military brain had deserted him.

He said he would protect Madeline but she would need protecting from him as things stood. There was someone in his employ working with those who sought to murder him and he'd yet to discover their identity. Once word of his engagement circulated she would be in the line of fire – what better way to bring him to his knees than threaten the woman he was supposedly in love with?

This was an unmitigated disaster and of his own making. Tomorrow, when he had his meeting with the duke, he'd explain his concerns and give his word that he would keep his distance. Perhaps it would be better if he removed himself from the neighbourhood – he could escort his relative to his ancestral home and finally meet his uncle and cousin.

He flopped back into the pillows happy that he'd come to a sensible solution that would keep Madeline safe, but he slept fitfully despite his decision.

He was woken from his restless slumber the next morning by the rattle of curtains and the banging of the shutters as they were opened. Peebles had finally sent him the valet he'd been promised.

'Good morning, my lord, I beg your pardon for disturbing your slumber, but his grace wishes to speak to you immediately.'

As Grey hadn't bothered to undress the night before he was heading for the dressing room before the man had finished speaking. A quick glance at the overmantel clock told him it was not yet eight o'clock. To be summoned so early didn't bode well.

In a short time he was shaved. He was a trifle conspicuous in his crumpled evening rig but he had nothing else to wear. He had no idea where he was to attend this meeting, but no doubt there would be a footman hovering about eager to give him the information he required.

To his surprise the duke was pacing the grand hall. 'Excellent, come with me, we must talk in private.'

His grace strode off and Grey took the last few stairs in one bound and hurried after him. The room they entered was a small, private chamber with only a table and a couple of armchairs in it. The fire had been lit and took the early morning chill from the space.

'Close the door, I don't wish us to be overheard.'

Grey did as instructed and waited to hear what had disturbed his host. 'Something is wrong – tell me why I've been summoned here.'

'I've had disturbing news from London – it arrived by express two hours ago. I took the liberty of making enquiries of my own after my sister was almost killed at your house. I've just received the answer.' He paused and then continued. 'Someone influential is orchestrating these attempts on your life.'

'How the hell do you know that? How did you gain access to such information?'

'My brother was a serving soldier; I used his contacts to elicit this news. You cannot remain here, your life is in grave danger; I've been reliably informed that there will be more attempts. Even with the militia patrolling the neighbourhood it will be impossible to prevent such men infiltrating the area.'

Grey hesitated and then decided to tell the duke about the murder of the man who had been given the task of delivering the letter and knife to Horse Guards. When he'd finished his tale the duke shook his head. 'I wish I'd known this yesterday for I would never have announced your engagement if I had. You must both go away from here – leave in secret – and whilst you're residing somewhere safe I'll lead the hunt for the perpetrators.'

'I can only apologise for involving your sister in my problems. I'd come to the same conclusion myself and have the ideal solution. I'll escort Lady Carshalton back to my ancestral home and Madeline can accompany us. This way she will be chaperoned and when news of our visit eventually becomes common knowledge no one will think it odd that I took my future wife to meet my family.'

'We think alike. However, nobody must know of your departure. I shall announce to the world that Madeline has contracted the measles and will be confined to her apartment for the next few weeks.'

'My grandmother had already told me she's intending to return home in November so nobody will think it strange if she decides to leave earlier. Madeline can travel with her. I'll ride, and leave at night. My staff can announce that I too have contracted the measles and am also confined to my quarters.

'I'll not travel alone; I'll take two men with me but leave the rest patrolling my grounds as if I'm still in residence. I'm certain the informant is an outside man and... Dammit! I've not thought this through. If I take any of my horses, or men, they will be missed from the stables and my absence will immediately be discovered.'

'In which case, Carshalton, you must take mounts and men from here. I think it might be more plausible if we say you've both contracted influenza.'

'We have to organise how Madeline is to join my grandmother. On reflection, your grace, I think it might be simpler if I remained here and didn't return to my home. I'll send for my valet and he can bring what I'll need. I'll also send a note to my grandmother and suggest that she sets off for Blakely Hall immediately. Your sister and I will meet her and then Madeline can transfer to the coach.'

The duke frowned. 'Are you suggesting she travels on horseback with you? What about her luggage and her maid?'

'If the girl can ride, then she can accompany us. We can take what we need on a packhorse. Once we're safely established it will be a small matter to have our trunks sent on to us.'

'I'm not happy about this, but can see no alternative.' The duke gestured towards his desk upon which were the necessary writing materials. 'I'll leave you to compose your letters. There'll someone waiting outside to deliver them for you.'

He headed for the door and turned as he reached it. 'I'm not sure that you're the right man for my sister, but matters have moved on too fast for me to intervene. Let me make one thing clear, Carshalton, if you make her unhappy then you'll have me to answer to.'

Grey nodded. 'I give you my word, sir, that I'll keep Madeline safe. I also can assure you that if your sister wishes to end the engagement anytime I'll not stand in her way.'

'Then I'll have to be content with that. I'll go and speak to her myself.'

The letter to his grandmother was brief and to the point and required little reflection. However, the missive to his factor was more complicated as he wished him to act in his stead. When the militia arrived to begin the investigation into the murder of the journeyman the man needed to be in charge. He also wished him to be wary and not reveal the whereabouts of his master to anyone, even the men employed to patrol the grounds.

It was quite possible one of the new men was the informant and he'd no wish for his location to be known. Jenkins should be back from London soon and Grey was eager to know what he'd discovered about the traitor's family.

When all three notes were sanded and sealed with a blob of wax, he strode to the door, but as he was about to fling it open something occurred to him. There were over one hundred staff employed here and the fact that he was wandering about apparently fighting fit might well be common knowledge and thus defeat their intention.

The duke should have thought of this – indeed, they both should have. Madeline mustn't come down as she was supposed to be indisposed.

He ruffled his hair and loosened his stock before pulling open the door. 'Here, these must be taken to Heatherfield at once.' He staggered and grabbed for the door frame as if feeling faint. 'I don't feel at all well – I'm sending for my man to take care of me.'

His performance must have been believable as the young man stepped forward his face anxious. 'Allow me to assist you to your chamber, my lord, and I'll let Mr Peebles know you're taken poorly.'

'Thank you, the way I feel at the moment I doubt I could ascend the stairs unaided.'

He leaned his weight on the unfortunate footman and allowed himself to be half-carried back to the apartment he'd so recently left. As he flopped onto the bed he asked that the duke attend him at his convenience.

As soon as the man had gone he hooked off his boots, removed his topcoat and flung himself onto the comforter. Better to behave as if he was indeed struck down. He left the bedroom door ajar and was relieved to see his host appear ten minutes later.

'We almost gave the game away, Carshalton. Thank God you thought of it in time. I've spoken to Madeline and she too has retired to bed as if struck down by a sudden illness. You must both remain incommunicado until after dark tonight.'

'Influenza is highly contagious, your grace, it would be best if I received no visitors and both Madeline and I are considered in quarantine. I'm not sure what you do about the doctor – is he reliable and can be taken into our confidence?'

'I've no idea, I hardly know the man. Far better to keep him away – the less people that know about your departure the better. By the by, my sister's maid cannot ride, it would have been a miracle if she could. She will have to accompany the luggage next week.'

'Lady Carshalton must overnight twice but we will only do so once – hopefully by then your sister will be in the carriage. It wouldn't do for Madeline to be seen to be travelling alone with me.'

The duke's eyes were hard. 'I'm well aware of that, but am assuming you will successfully liaise with your grandmother somewhere
en route
before you arrive at the second stop.'

Grey understood the warning but chose not to comment on it. 'My knowledge of the route is non-existent so I'm relying on her to supply me with the information I need. I've suggested that my grandmother departs this afternoon. We shall make far better time on horseback and should be able to catch up with her during the morning.'

'I shall keep up the pretence for a week. Hopefully, by then this matter will have been settled. I take it you've still not heard from Horse Guards?'

'My man was expected back yesterday – he'll come after dark to join me.'

The duke seemed satisfied with this. 'I cannot visit you again as I'll be expected to stay away from the invalids. It wouldn't do for the Duke of Silchester to be struck down with influenza.' Unexpectedly he grinned. 'Until my brother Bennett met Grace this summer my life had been remarkably staid. Now it seems to be one drama after another and I'm beginning to enjoy the excitement.'

'When I left the army I'd hoped my life would be more settled, that I'd no longer be in any danger, but it appears to have followed me into my civilian life. I sincerely wish I'd not involved your sister in this.'

'I'm relying on that. I wish you Godspeed and safe passage to your ancestral home, my friend, and must hope that next time we meet this matter will have been put to bed.'

The door closed softly behind him leaving Grey alone with his thoughts. There would be no rest tonight so he might as well sleep whilst he could.

*

Madeline prowled around her apartment becoming more agitated as the hours passed. It was the outside of enough to be forced to sneak away in the middle of the night – but not to be able to take her abigail with her was too much.

The more she thought about it the more annoyed she became. She understood the need to remain in her apartment, to not be seen around the house if she was supposed to be unwell. If she took the servants' stairs she could creep unnoticed to the guest wing and speak to the gentleman that had caused this upset.

Her maid was equally distressed as she would be required to remain in this apartment, ostensibly looking after her mistress, in order to maintain the deception.

'His grace has explained to you, Lottie, that you'll be unable to join me. You can spend the time catching up on the mending and when that's completed you have my permission to do whatever you like – as long as you keep my secret.'

'I do wish I could come with you, I don't like to think of you managing on your own.'

'I'll be joining Lady Carshalton tomorrow morning and we should be at our destination that evening. I'm sure I'll be supplied with someone suitable until you can come.'

'I'll go down to the kitchens and tell them how poorly you are. No doubt Cook will send you up something suitable for an invalid.'