Two Notorious Dukes (21 page)

Argyll pulled down the window and leaned out,
he could see Sarah and beckoned her to him. ‘Ride
ahead, my love, and send Rogers for a Surgeon.’

She didn’t reply as such, just nodded her head
and kicked her horse forward.
Elizabeth could hear Robert, but a part of her
was afraid it was a dream. All that seemed real was the
pain. The pain she had suffered for a thousand nights
with Edward. She felt fingers on her face, a hand
stroking her hair and suddenly Robert’s voice was in her
ear, whispering how much he loved her and begging her
to stay.
Although it was difficult, she forced herself to
open her eyes. She couldn’t really believe that she was
seeing Robert’s white face before her eyes. But then he
blurted. ‘Oh! My God! Elizabeth!’ and kissed her
forehead so gently.
She was lying on a carriage bench. She swivelled
her eyes and saw Argyll squashed into the corner of the
coach and his face was pale too. ‘Robert?’ she tried to
say his name, but wasn’t sure if she managed so she
tried to clear her throat and say it again. ‘Robbie?’
‘I’m here, my love.’ He said firmly and stroked
her cheek again.
‘Did you kill him?’ she asked and Robert slowly
shook his head.
‘He has until tea time tomorrow to leave
London, or I will!’ he said vehemently.
The carriage pulled up with a jerk and Argyll was
out and holding the door for Robert. He carefully lifted
Elizabeth in his arms and tried not to slip on the steps.
Then he walked purposefully across to the broad stone
steps of Argyll’s ducal residence.
Rogers opened the door and Robert winced at
the bruising. ‘Have you sent for a physician?’ Robert
asked.
‘Lady Verity insisted I get one, so he is waiting in
Lady Elizabeth’s room, Your Grace.’
Robert ran up the stairs as quickly as his feet
would carry him and a foot man was waiting to open
the door. As he entered the room, Mary sobbed ‘Oh!
My poor Lady!’ and helped Robert get her on the bed,
then she slowly opened the eiderdown.
‘Do you know what he used?’ the Doctor asked
softly as Mary revealed Elizabeth’s bloody back.
‘A cat o’ nine tails.’ Robert said hoarsely, the
Doctor nodded and hustled him out of the room.
‘Go and have some brandy, Your Grace. I’ll come
and see you later.’ The doctor instructed and closed the
door in his face. Robert backed away from the door and
Argyll took his elbow and steered him to the study
where he opened the brandy and poured two healthy
measures.
‘Here, drink this!’

The first thing the Doctor did was give Elizabeth
a large dose of Laudanum, to relax her and dull the pain.
He worked over Elizabeth for a good hour. He and Mary
cleaned the wounds and he was relieved to see that
most of them were superficial. ‘Well, we can be grateful
whoever did this wasn’t particularly strong, or the
lashes would have been deeper. I had a feeling the
blood made it look worse than it really is.’ He smoothed
an unction of his own making over the cuts and welts on
Elizabeth’s back, buttocks and thighs and laid a piece of
cotton gauze over it.

‘Now you say she’s with child, do you know how
far along she is?’
‘Not many weeks, Doctor. Possibly a month,
maybe a little more.’
The doctor took out his abdominal trumpet and
carefully turning Elizabeth over he listened intently to
her lower abdomen. Elizabeth looked at him with huge
eyes. ‘Did he kick you at all?’ the doctor asked and
Elizabeth shook her head. ‘Did he force intercourse?’
and again she shook her head.
‘He needed to beat me first otherwise he
wouldn’t have been able to!’ and she started to laugh,
‘just like Edward.’ And the laughter snagged in her
throat in a rush of tears. She rolled on her side and
curled up in a ball and cried. Mary covered her body
with the blankets and gathered all the debris and
started handing it out of the doors to the footmen and
maids waiting to take it away.
The doctor snapped his bag shut and looked at
Mary. ‘Keep her warm and give her hot drinks for the
shock, but no alcohol.’ He handed Mary a jar. ‘Spread
some more on at bedtime and again tomorrow
morning. I’ll be back around mid morning to check on
her condition.’ He sighed. ‘Try not to leave her
unattended. This type of attack can make people do
strange things.’
‘Yes, Doctor.’ Mary said and showed him out of
the room, ‘Would you take the Doctor to His Grace,
please?’ she asked Rogers.

Robert was pacing in the study and as the door
opened, he span on his heel and confronted the
physician with a harsh ‘What’s the prognosis, Doctor?’

‘Robbie let him get in the room, first?’ Argyll said
and picked up the brandy. ‘Drink, Doctor?’ he asked and
Robert tried to contain himself.

‘Just a small one.’ He turned to Robert. ‘Are you
her husband?’
‘Not yet, but I will be as soon as I can get a
special licence for it!’ Robert said forcefully.
‘But you are aware she is with child?’ Robert
nodded. ‘As far as I can tell the child is well. It’s a little
difficult to tell with such a young foetus, as the heart is
not quite fully developed yet, but she assured me there
were no blows to her abdomen, so I suspect the child is
fine. Only time will tell. As for her back, once we washed
away the blood it wasn’t as bad as I feared and most of
the damage is superficial. Some cuts were a little deeper
and had severed some of the veins, but they will heal.
He did not force intercourse, so she should recover
fairly quickly, but I doubt she’ll ever forget it.’ He
accepted and sipped the brandy Argyll offered. ‘Be
cautious with her and try to understand this has been
traumatic. She will exhibit mood swings and impatience,
so be patient with her.’ He drained his glass. ‘Thank you
for a fine brandy, but I have another patient waiting, so
I must away.’ He shook hands with both Dukes and left
quickly.
Robert stared into the fire, his brandy forgotten
in his hand. Argyll had seen the expression on his face
before. It was the one that came before a battle, when
Robert would close his emotions off and prepare to face
the enemy and perhaps die.
‘What do you intend to do?’ Argyll asked softly
as he poured another brandy for himself.
‘I intend to nurse Elizabeth tonight and then I
shall kill Audley at dawn tomorrow, if the blackguard
has the guts to turn up.’ Robert sighed and finished his
brandy. He stood and put the glass down on the desk.
‘I’ll see you later.’ He murmured and turned for the
door.
‘Do you need a second?’ Argyll asked.
Robert stopped with his hand on the handle. ‘I
wouldn’t refuse your company, but I would normally
take Burke on this kind of expedition.’ He said and
opened the door.
‘I shall make myself available.’ Argyll said as
Robert closed the door. He finished his brandy and then
went to change. He had business to attend to now.
I
wonder who his second will be.
He asked himself.
Still, it
doesn’t matter. I just have to go and offer weapons.

Mary opened the door at his knock and smiled.
‘Good evening, Your Grace. Lady Elizabeth is expecting
you.’ she said formally as she pulled the door wide.
‘She’s had some Laudanum, so she’s a little sleepy.’
Mary informed him as she went to go out of the door.

He put his hand on the jamb, stopping her.
‘Thank you, Mary. Have you had your face checked by
the Doctor?’ he asked as he gently turned her head to
the light and inspected her black eye. ‘That looks quite
painful.’

‘Yes, Your Grace. The doctor did check it.’ Her
eyes took on a haunted look. ‘I was outside the drawing
room as usual and he appeared like ghost. As I stood up
to stop him, he just hit me and I don’t remember
anything else until Mr. Rogers woke me up.’ She was
frowning. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him.’ She whispered
and turned soulful eyes up to his. She could see how
hurt he was by this event and her heart went out to
him.

He patted her shoulder. ‘Do not be upset about
it, Mary. Even Rogers couldn’t stop him.’ He shook his
head. ‘He used the element of surprise very effectively.’

‘You go downstairs and have some dinner and sit
by the fire. I’ll see you a little later.’
‘Yes, Sir.’ She muttered again and he let her
leave the room.
He turned to the ornate bed and could see
Elizabeth’s head above the white sheets. Her hair had
been plaited and laid like a rope over the sheet. He
walked slowly up to the bed and knelt down. He picked
up the plait and curled it about his fist, lifted it to his lips
and gently kissed it. ‘I love you, Elizabeth and I’m a fool.’
He whispered. ‘Can you ever forgive me?’
Her eyes opened, but they were unfocused.
‘Robbie?’ she murmured. ‘Damn! I feel drunk!’ she said
and giggled. ‘Would you make love to me while I was
drunk?’ she asked quizzically.
‘No, my love. I wouldn’t take advantage of you
like that.’ He said and smiled gently.
She frowned. ‘Why are you on the floor? You
should be in bed where I can hold you.’ she murmured
as her eyes closed.
Robert stripped off his boots, jacket and cravat.
He opened the collar of his shirt and carefully climbed
on the bed beside her. She moved across the bed,
flinging her arm over his stomach and resting her head
on his chest. ‘Mmm! That’s better.’ She mumbled and
was asleep again almost immediately.
He lay and watched the flames in the fireplace
and considered his actions. He didn’t really believe his
attack on Craanford had precipitated his subsequent
actions, but he did believe that he’d brought them to a
head and pushed Craanford to make an unplanned
move.
If I’d not hit Craanford this morning, might he
have waited to try and take her?
He debated.
But of
course, if he’d been able to take her on his timetable, he
would have been ready and might have secreted her at
another location.
He leaned over, kissed her forehead
and she moaned and rubbed her face with her fist.
Like
a child.
He thought softly as his heart squeezed in his
chest.
Why do I love you so much?
He asked himself
again, but still couldn’t find an answer.
Is it because
you’re beautiful? Or is it because you seduced me and
that’s never happened before.
He was glad that the only
damage to her face was a bruise on her jaw
or is it the
fire in your eyes and your strength. I must admit that at
the opera, the moment you appeared through the door I
had a hard on! But that is not love, it is lust.
He continued to debate and she snored for the
first time. He smiled as he listened.
Mary arrived at ten to re-apply the ointment and
Robert helped turn Elizabeth on her face and gently
peeled off the cotton gauze. He was surprised, as the
doctor said, it was superficial. He’d seen worse backs
when a drummer boy was caught without a stock and
received a dozen lashes.
My imagination was running
away with me.
He decided and watched Mary smooth
on the ointment liberally. They lay the gauze back into
position and then Mary smiled softly.
‘I’ll leave you to it, Your Grace.’ She said coyly.
‘Be here before first light, Mary.’ He said softly. ‘I
have an appointment in Hyde Park tomorrow morning
and I don’t want to be late.’
She looked at him as if she would argue, flicked
her eyes to Elizabeth and then looked back into his eyes
and slowly nodded her head. ‘Yes, Your Grace.’ She
sighed and headed for the door.
Robert climbed back on the bed, put his hands
behind his head and stared at the ceiling.
Argyll knocked firmly on the door of 23 Berkley
Square and waited patiently for the door to open.
The butler opened the door, recognised his face
and looked decidedly unhappy.
‘I wish to see Lord Audley.’ Argyll said calmly. He
fetched out a calling card, complete with the coat of
arms. ‘Would you tell him the Duke of Goring is here
and would be grateful for a moment of his time?’
‘Of course, Your Grace.’ The butler said equally
calmly. ‘May I take your cloak, Sir?’ he asked as Argyll
flicked the cloth from his shoulders, he handed over his
tall hat and gloves as well. ‘If you will wait in the
drawing room, Your Grace. I shall inform his lordship
that you are here.’ He said indicating a door.
Argyll walked into a very comfortable sitting
room and he could see Elizabeth’s hand everywhere
from the choice of curtains to the painting hanging over
the fire. He went to study it and was surprised that it
was practically new, having been painted the previous
year and by a new artist called John Constable. It was a
very nice landscape.
I’ll have to keep my eye out for one
of his paintings. That’s very nicely executed.
The door opened with a bang and Alexander
Audley, Earl of Craanford stood on the threshold and
said ‘What the hell do you want, Argyll?’
‘To see your second.’ He said coldly without
turning from his appraisal of the painting. ‘You have
grass before breakfast in the morning.’ Argyll turned
slowly and looked at the expression of dread forming on
Audley’s face. ‘I’m afraid you picked the wrong Duke to
cross.’ He said almost conversationally. ‘Bosworth is
going to spill your blood tomorrow morning. Now I need
to know who your second is, as we have to discuss your
choice of weapons.’ He was quiet and waited patiently
for Audley to speak.
‘Do I have any options?’ he asked and even
Argyll could hear the tremor in his voice.
‘Yes, you do. Be out of London by tomorrow
teatime and don’t show your face here again.’ He
smiled coldly. ‘If you fail to appear you will be labelled a
coward. The word on the
ton
is that you beat up women
and I for one can’t disagree with that particular piece of
gossip.’ He waited again and watched Audley as he
stood undecided on the threshold.
‘Come with me.’ Audley said softly and turned
away. Argyll slowly followed him through a door that
turned out to be a dining room. The butler held the
door and Argyll was very surprised at Audley’s guest.
‘Lord Beresford. I didn’t realise you were back
from India?’ he said pleasantly enough.
‘Lord Audley was good enough to fill me in on
the gossip. My wife is in the country at the moment,
Your Grace.’
‘Forgive me for speaking bluntly my Lord, but if I
were you, I’d take her with you next time.’
‘I wouldn’t need to if Roding had kept his cock in
his britches!’ he said harshly. ‘But that’s for another
time. I have offered my services to Audley as second so
what weapons shall we have?’
‘You’ll forgive me, but is that what Audley told
you. That Roding has been tupping your wife?’ Argyll
asked with all the innocence he could muster. Beresford
nodded firmly. ‘Amazing how a man that can tie a
woman to a punishment frame and whip her with a cat
o’ nine tails just happens to tell you the man that’s
going to kill him tomorrow has also been tupping your
wife? I rather think you should wait until the child is
born. The chances are it will have blond hair, from
Randolph, Cranwell or Farrington.’ Beresford face
started to suffuse into a deep scarlet and Audley
squirmed in his chair. Argyll kept his voice
conversational, instead of accusational. ‘Of course,
Rathbone was the last one I heard about, so it might
have red hair!’ Argyll pointed at the Claret jug. ‘May I?’
and leaned forward to pour himself a drink. ‘I fully
understand your motives, but you are not duelling
tomorrow, he is!’ he finished harshly and turned his
head to Audley. ‘What weapons would you like, as the
Duke is comfortable with whatever you choose?’
‘Pistols.’ Audley tried to sound firm, but he
couldn’t hide the quaver in his voice.
‘Pistols it is. I have a fine pair of duelling pistols,
or we could use yours, if you prefer?’ Argyll said to
Beresford.
‘Yours will be fine. Mine are still in transit.’
Argyll emptied his glass and stood up. ‘So
gentlemen. I will see you tomorrow morning at first
light in Hyde Park opposite St. George’s Row. If you are
not there by the time the sun is up, I will assume you
are not coming and will act accordingly.’ He speared
Beresford with a piercing look. ‘If he doesn’t show, I
expect him out of London by tea time!’ He offered his
hand to Beresford, who stood and shook it firmly. ‘Until
tomorrow.’ And Argyll walked out of the door.
Damn and blast!
He fumed.
Of all the men he
could have got to be a second, he had to get Beresford!
He scowled in the hall as the butler helped him on with
his cloak. He pulled on his gloves and had just taken his
hat when Beresford appeared out of the door.
‘Your Grace?’ he drew Argyll’s attention. ‘Is it
true? Has she been sleeping with all and sundry?’ He
looked a bit shell shocked.
‘I’m afraid so. Don’t take my word for it, go to
Almack’s and ask.’ He settled his hat. ‘Quite frankly, I
don’t know how many she’s been with, that’s why
Robbie stopped. He was afraid she would give him the
pox!’
Beresford looked at his shoes. ‘Audley has said
that the Lady Elizabeth is his fiancé and Bosworth has
charmed her away.’
‘Really?’ Argyll spluttered and laughed. ‘Lady
Elizabeth has said no to Audley six times. Robbie has
spent the summer listening to her scream from her
treatment at the hands of the Audley’s and that man in
there’ he said pointing to the dining room ‘isn’t any
different. When we kicked in the door this afternoon, he
had Lady Elizabeth shackled to a punishment frame and
was whipping her with the lash.’ He turned to the
butler. ‘Can you show his lordship where Lady Elizabeth
was?’ The butler nodded. ‘Do so.’ He turned back to
Beresford. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ he said and sighed as
he walked to the door and let himself out.