Page 57 of Three Rules to Wed a Duke

“That’s right, Your Grace. I’m sorry that they were mixed in with your parcels. I’ll inform the shop to be more careful next time,” she said brightly before bending down and scooping the errant garments into her arms.

Frances watched as Miss O’Reilly scurried out of the room with her bundle of gowns. Sara glared at her fiercely.

“Shall I follow her and see what she’s up to?” the maid asked.

“What’s that? No, of course not. I’m sure everything is perfectly…” But Frances’ words trailed off unfinished. In truth, she wasn’t sure about anything, nor did any of it seem perfect.

“Now that I think of it, I shall go after her myself,” Frances said, a renewed determination coming over her.

She followed after the nurse on silent footfalls, tiptoeing behind her and hoping to catch up to her without being seen. As they approached the door to the staircase together, the most amazing act of divine work occurred—the door to the staircase swung shut but stopped only a hair’s breadth from closing. Frances waited breathlessly for Miss O’Reilly to realize it and return to lock it, but she never did.

Do I dare?Frances thought, quickly glancing over her shoulder to ensure that no one was nearby.Anthony was quite adamant that no one is to ever venture into this part of the house… but that was before Agnes and Emma were right! I’ve now learned of his mistress being kept under the same roof as his wife, and therefore, all ‘rules’ mean nothing.

Frances couldn’t hesitate any longer. She took a deep breath and walked over to the door, then grasped the latch and pushed on it. She was surprised to find that it swung open easily. Instead ofbeing thrilled, she almost wished it had fallen shut and locked. Then she would have an excuse to abandon this foolish hunt.

Instead, Frances took the first few steps up the wooden staircase, testing each one before placing her full weight on it, ensuring that it didn’t squeak and give her away. She was certain this was the way Miss O’Reilly had come, but how could it be? What sort of man kept his mistress in a drafty set of attic apartments with a sad excuse for a staircase to guide her up?

What will I even say when I see her?Frances suddenly thought as she continued to climb.Do I call her out? Let her know that I’m aware of their ongoing tryst and order her out of this house?

She knew not what she would do or say, but one thing was for certain: Frances could not live with the unknown any longer. Soon, she would have answers, whether they put her mind at ease or not.

As the staircase wound forward and backward, turning at every small landing, Frances feared she might grow dizzy. The tiny corridor was narrower than any servants’ stairs, and the summer air was growing oppressively thick in the close passage. Finally, she looked up to the last set of stairs and saw a closed door at the top.

Surely, the nurse will have remembered to lock this one, she thought was a fleeting burn of disappointment.

Instead, Frances was delighted to find that it, too, was unlocked. She opened it only a crack, half-expecting to see Miss O’Reilly’s eye staring back at her through the sliver of doorway. Seeing no one, she moved the door even wider and wider again until she was standing framed in the open doorway. Her breath seemed to leave her as she took in the sight of the room.

The first room was immense, decorated more opulently than any salon at Versailles. Gold chandeliers overhead held a dozen or more candles each, while mirrored sconces on the walls could throw glowing light around with a mere brush of a flame to their oil lamps. These were extinguished at the moment due to the glorious sunshine drifting in through a wall of enormous windows. The sunlight shimmered against rich golden wallpapers such as Frances had never seen. A thick rug of woven silk filled the floor, practically beckoning her to stand on it and feel its touch.

In this room, the furnishings were as fine as those in the rest of the house, or perhaps even finer. A pianoforte was positioned against the far wall, and there were chairs on either side where guests might sit to be entertained. A large table and chairs could comfortably sit four people or more for tea or even a cozy dinner, and a cabinet at one end held a golden tea chest, its doors opened to reveal small jars of expensive tea. Two sofas were positioned in the center of the room to face each other, and a low table for tea ran between them.

So, Miss O’Reilly can entertain guests, I see, Frances thought somewhat bitterly. The thought of strangers coming and going through the house undetected suddenly caused her to shudder.

At the end of the room closest to her, Frances saw a closed door. She turned the latch and was taken aback to find a well-appointed toilet closet. On the other wall at the far end of the room, a door that appeared to match this one was situated, only it was slightly ajar. Frances crept across the large sitting room and came closer to the door.

There were voices within, not one, but two. Frances clutched her chest in surprise. Had she just stumbled on Anthony upstairs paying a visit to his ladybird? The thought was appalling, and she felt a flood of embarrassment that sent the blood rushing to her cheeks and pounding in her ears. As she turned to go and escape downstairs where she belonged, Frances heard that it was actually two women’s voices.

She stopped and came back, leaning closer to the opening in the doorway and trying to listen.This is wrong! I shouldn’t be here!she thought, but the presence of a stranger in the house, and a woman at that, intrigued her.

“Oh Rachel, look! It’s simply the most beautiful gown I’ve ever seen!” the woman said, her voice tinkling melodically like the keys on the delicate pianoforte across the room. “How does Anthony always manage to select such gorgeous things for me?”

Anthony?Frances thought, her heart pounding with jealousy.Now we learn why there is no money ‘wasted’ on repairing this house. Every penny must be going to expensive gifts and luxurious apartments!

“I truly don’t know how he does it, my lady,” the nurse answered, prompting Frances to stand up straighter and take notice. Anthony’s kept woman was actually a member of theton? It was unthinkable!

Frances was fuming, enraged to the point that she couldn’t envision her next steps. Thoughts of confronting Anthony with this knowledge swirled in her mind, peppered with visions of barging into the room and demanding to know who this woman was and what business she had with her husband. It would serve them both right if she revealed them to the entireton! Just as she was beginning to think it might not be such a bad thing, for it would mean her freedom from this house, Frances was jolted from her hazy fury by Miss O’Reilly’s next reply.

“Oh dear, I think I might have left one of the items downstairs. I’d best go look for it before that wife of his claims it for herself!” the nurse said, prompting Frances to bristle with anger.

She scanned the large room for a way to make her escape. The stairway door on the other end of the room was too far for her to reach it before the nurse would see her, so Frances ducked behind one of the heavy velvet curtains that hung over the nearest window. She had just managed to drape the fabric in front of her, standing on tiptoe to keep her slippers from sticking out, when the door creaked open wider and Miss O’Reilly hurried through.

Frances held her breath until the stairway door closed behind the nurse. Her heart still raced, leaving her feeling almost light-headed with fear. From her vantage point, Frances could finallysee into the closed off room where the woman waited. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. She leaned closer in hopes of getting a glimpse of this noblewoman who had no qualms about bedding other women’s husbands.

Inside the bedchamber, a monstrous four-poster bed with ornately carved pillars sat centered against one wall. The bed curtains were drawn near the head of the bed despite the heavy summer heat, casting a shadow over the woman who was still lying abed at this hour of the day.

Frances leaned closer, looking around through the wide-open doorway. This room was somehow even more beautifully appointed than the sitting room, and it was clear that no expense had been spared. She emerged from behind the curtain to peer at the woman, and gasped out loud when she realized that the poor dear had to be even younger than she was.

Why, she should be having her first Season! Not being the plaything to a duke!Frances thought.

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