Page 101 of A Baby to Seal the Duke’s Fate

“Her Grace and Lady Isolde are waiting for you in the drawing room.”

Leopold paused. “Now?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Did they say why?”

Wilfred hesitated. “Lady Isolde said there was something you needed to know.”

Leopold’s expression tightened. He handed Wilfred his gloves.

“Can it not wait until morning?”

Wilfred shook his head, and Leopold thought there was sadness in his eyes.

“It seems that it cannot wait until then.”

Leopold nodded, his stomach knotting. Had something happened to Cecily? Or to Phoebe?

“Very well,” he said curtly, rushing away from the butler.

He crossed the hall and entered the drawing room. His mother was seated near the fire. Isolde stood beside the mantel. She turned when he entered and smiled.

“I am glad you are back.”

Leopold closed the door behind him. “What has happened?”

Isolde’s smile faded into something more serious. “There is something I believe you need to know.”

Leopold looked from her to his mother. Verity said nothing. He remained standing.

“Go on.”

Isolde drew a slow breath. “I made inquiries about Miss Redmond.”

Leopold’s chest began to feel compressed, as if a vice had slowly been released.

“Why?”

She continued. “I thought it was prudent.”

“Prudent.”

“Yes.” She held his gaze. “Your reputation matters to me.”

Leopold’s mouth flattened. “I was not aware we had reached that point.”

Isolde ignored the remark. “The agency has no record of placing anyone at Belgrave.”

Leopold stared at her. “What?”

“A month after your illustrious nursemaid appeared, one Miss Phoebe Redmond reported to the agency that she had been sent to interview for a job but was turned away with the claim that the agency had already placed someone. That job was meant to be here.”

He looked toward his mother.

“At Belgrave?” he asked.

Isolde nodded.