Page 19 of Her Wily Duke

“Yes, but she didn’t know who he was, either. I think she found him impressive. Still, somehow it made us both rather quiet.”

“Quiet? Why?”

“Because he came out of nowhere. Because he brought mysteries.”

Lady Caroline was dismissed and returned to her bed, still wondering why her brother thought the man they had seen to be important.

“That was no more helpful than what we already knew,” said Wiggins when she had left.

“It wasn’t helpful at all,” said Frederick, scratching his brow in confusion and agitation. “In the last day, four people of my household have witnessed this man riding along the borders of Foxridge Park and have been able to offer nothing more informative than that he was very mysterious and left them quite breathless.”

“And money-less,” added Wiggins.

At that moment Lord Whitewell entered the room, wearing his night attire.

“What is all this commotion?”

“A highwayman, my Lord,” Wiggins replied, “has taken the funds which Walham and I were sent to fetch from the bank. And on Foxridge Park lands, too!”

“Do we know who this man is, or where he may be from?”

“No, my Lord.”

Lord Whitewell considered this for a moment as they watched him. And Wiggins realised that the Duke had noted his servants’ attention to Lord Whitewell, for he had gritted his teeth, apparently seething. Before the Duke could say anything, Lord Whitewell spoke.

“Then we must discern everything we can about this blackguard with the greatest expediency. These people must be dealt with decisively, or they become a plague to everyone in the community. Having successfully performed a robbery on our estate, he may well make another attempt — and we must take every precaution to prevent such an event.”

The Duke glared at Lord Whitewell and clenched his fist at the memory of the stolen money.

“I am certain that this won’t be the last time he makes an appearance. I may have to send the local militia to retrieve my money in future. If what you say is true, he won’t be thwarted by two men riding alone in an old carriage.”

“I felt as if he could as easily have taken on twenty, as two,” said Walham.

“Stop admiring him,” said the Duke. “That’s the one common thread in your reports: everyone was awestruck. You were amazed by his riding ability. Caroline's teacher thought him handsome. You were mesmerized by the skilful manner in which he leapt into your carriage and ran away with all of my money.”

“If you had seen him, you’d understand,” said Wiggins, “I’ve never seen a man move like that, like the air was water and he was a predatory fish.”

“Enough!” said the Duke, stamping his foot. “I understand that he was quite wonderful, and that you all fancy him. I truly hope that I have the opportunity of seeing him for myself, so that I can share in the general adulation.” His voice was filled with frustration and had a sharp sarcastic edge. “There is nothing more that we can do tonight. Go to your beds, and we will consider this further in the morning. Perhaps the cold light of day will bring greater clarity.”

As the Duke spoke, Lord Whitewell watched him with an expression which seemed close to amusement – which, to Wiggins perception, only made the Duke angrier than he already was. But he said nothing. The Duke dismissed the footmen and the two servants, and they all left the study except the Duke, who settled into his chair with a glass of brandy.

Lord Whitewell stated his intention to return to his room, and his interrupted rest, while Walham and Wiggins made their way to the library, where they continued their discussion in private.

“Strange that so much should happen in a single day,” said Wiggins. “It doesn’t bode well for this estate. But then nothing has, not since the old Duke’s death.”

“No, and the charisma of this man,” said Walham, “whoever he is, can’t be underestimated. It is as if he has a way of eliciting sympathy, even in the very act of picking your pocket. If word of his doings makes its way through the household, there could be an insurrection.”

“It worries me,” said Wiggins. “And it worries me even more that the Duke doesn’t seem to be treating the situation with the level of seriousness which is warranted. He is angry, of a certainty, but he seems almost accepting of the idea that we are powerless in the face of this man.”

“He is actually taking it rather seriously, I think,” said Walham. “He just doesn’t quite know what to do next. He knows how much damage this man has the power to do, beyond even the theft of the money. I think that’s why he’s so determined to interrogate the witnesses, such as there are. I wouldn’t be surprised if he summons Miss Mowatt out here tomorrow, even though she’s not scheduled to return until Wednesday.”

“If our interviews and Lady Caroline’s were any indication,” said Wiggins, “he won’t get any more out of her than he got out of us.”

“No,” said Walham. “From the sound of it, Miss Mowatt will report no more than a few hurried glances as the rider passed by. And a curious feeling, as of hope.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Didn’t you feel it when you saw him? A sense that finally, here was a power to match the Duke’s, to disrupt the terrible decline that the estate and village have been in, ever since the old Duke died?”

Wiggins nodded gravely.

“It was all I could think about after he robbed us.”