Page 25 of The Duke and the Spinster

Satisfied that he looked respectable, he signalled the coachman to drive on, giving him Lady Bellinghaugh’s direction. When they drew up before the door, he was glad that he had stopped to tidy himself – perhaps, he realised, he should have brought Timms, yet he had been in a hurry. When he had sternly told the valet that he could dress himself for a day or two, Timms had looked doubtful, but had not argued. The house was imposing, in a row of imposing houses. This was not a place to arrive looking disreputable.

As he stepped down from the carriage, it occurred to him that he had no idea how to ask the question he needed to ask. He shrugged, and went up the steps to the door. Somehow, he would get through this – it was worth any embarrassment to ensure Lady Juliana’s safety.

The butler who opened the door was old, but still stood straight and proud. He looked at Garrett, unflustered, as if having strangers appear on the doorstep was a normal occurrence.

“Good day, I am the Duke of Kilmerstan. I apologise for appearing here without warning, but I must see Lady Bellinghaugh with some urgency.”

“I see. Please, come in, Your Grace, and I will see if she is available.”

He was shown into a parlour, which was decorated in rich shades of plum and burgundy, with comfortable couches, and a cat on the windowseat in the sun. It felt welcoming. He hoped that was an indication of Lady Bellinghaugh’s nature. Minutes later, the door opened, and he rose as Lady Bellinghaugh entered the room.

Her expression was bland as she accepted his bow, but her eyes were clever, their astute gaze taking in everything about him.

“Kilmerstan. I expect you’ve come chasing after my niece.” At his shocked look, she laughed, shaking her head. “Oh no, she didn’t expect it, or, I suspect, want it. But from what she told me, I wondered if you might. But before you see her, and before I tell you any more, I want to hear the story from you. Tell me about what has happened to her. Tell me why you are here – you, a Duke, not some lackey.”

Garrett felt as if he had stepped into some story, invented for the stage, so unexpected was Lady Bellinghaugh. But he found himself liking her, instantly.

“My Lady. As you wish. And yes, I have come ‘chasing after’ Lady Juliana, and I am most relieved to know that she is here. I gather from your words that she has told you of the events of the last week? That she has done so speaks to me of how much she trusts you.”

The old woman’s eyes sparkled – he suspected that she had been a true beauty in her day.

“Indeed, yes, I appear to have been honoured with her trust. And she has badly needed someone to trust, I gather. But now, tell me everything, from your perspective.”

Garrett nodded, and began. It took some time, and somewhere in the midst of it, she reached out and rang for tea and food, all without interrupting him. When she did speak, it was to ask astute questions, never to comment on his words.

She watched him, all the while he spoke, as he told of what he had discovered about Lady Juliana’s life, her terrible Season, the vicious gossip that had dogged her. He spoke of her inability to believe that he found her beautiful, and of the guilt he felt for what Lady Prudence had done, because of her obsession with him. And, finally, he spoke of the events in the library, when he had saved her from Fondleton’s grasp. He spoke only of her – her struggle, and of his desire to protect her. He made no attempt to impress Lady Bellinghaugh with his actions – she had asked him to speak about Lady Juliana, and he did. When he had finished, she nodded.

“Very well, you may see her. Everything you have said agrees with what she has told me – although I think that, perhaps, you see her more clearly than she sees herself. I assume that you have come here, intending to convince her to go back to her family?”, he nodded, and she continued, “You will find that a challenge, unless you have conceived a magical way to protect them all from those who seek to hurt and use her. But you may try.”

“Thank you.”

“I will bring her to you.”

Lady Bellinghaugh rose, and left the room. Garrett sat, pondering her words – how was he to protect Lady Juliana? If he returned her to her family discreetly, her reputation would be intact, but what then, what of Lady Prudence, and Fondleton? He did not have an immediate answer – and Lady Juliana would expect one, if he knew her at all.

He took a deep breath – he would deal with it all, somehow. He would protect her, but the first and most important thing was to return her to her family – for if her disappearance became known, that would destroy her reputation, and her family as a result, just as surely as either of the other threats. To have any chance of resolving the situation, she had to be with her family, and appearing as if nothing had happened.

Soon, Lady Bellinghaugh returned. Lady Juliana followed her into the room, and stopped, a startled expression on her face.

“Your Grace… My aunt said I had a visitor… but I did not expect…!”

He rose, and went to her.

“Lady Juliana. I am glad to see you well, and unharmed. Your family were cast into a panic by your disappearance. They were wise enough not to make it public knowledge, but I happened to call upon them, and your sister, in her distress, told me that you were gone, and that they did not know where. I promised them that I would find you, and ensure your safe return.”

“Your Grace,” she sank onto the couch, her face filled with shock, “I do not understand why you would offer to help. But, tell me, how did you know where to find me, if they did not?”

Garrett considered his answer – he had to be honest, but that would be revealing his family secrets. So be it.

“My Lady, I have had some experience with young ladies running off. My sister scared us all not long ago. It is not known outside the family, but her visit to a friend in London was not the premeditated and ordinary thing that we made it out to be. So, once I felt reasonably certain that you had not been abducted, but had left of your own will, I considered who you might go to. For you are far too intelligent to have simply run off without a plan! I asked your family a series of questions, and concluded that your great-great aunt was the only person you could reasonably have reached easily.”

She was staring at him, a slightly shocked expression on her face, and he waited for her response with a degree of fear – if she chose to be angry with him, then his chances of persuading her to return to her family were low. After a moment, she turned her gaze away, and her hands twisted together in her lap. Her voice was low, and filled with that bitter edged sadness he had heard from her before.

“Then I cannot even do this correctly. I had intended to simply disappear. My family could have claimed that I had travelled home, due to illness, or that I had gone to visit someone, anyone. They could have been free of me, free of the threat that my very presence is, to their happiness, to Eleanor’s prospects. But it seems that, even in this, I am clumsy and useless!”

“Never! You are not clumsy, and certainly not useless, as I have said before. You are beautiful, and elegant, and do not deserve the way that you have been treated.”

She made a small strangled noise of disbelief.