Page 55 of Eliza and the Duke
Every night without fail, Daisy asked if she would see her papa in the morning. It broke Eliza’s heart.
“Daisy is a very bright child to have spent her whole life locked away in an attic.” Violet held her coffee cup while she watched the children play outside the breakfast room window. A sunny room with windows on two sides that was at the back of the house, it had a view of the beautiful walled garden where Daisy and Rosie were playing with Rosie’s nanny.
“She is very bright.” Eliza couldn’t help but smile as she watched them. Daisy jumped off the edge of the low brick wall of a planter and giggled after she landed on her feet. Rosie and Nanny applauded her efforts. In her new clothes, Daisy looked very much like the cosseted daughter of a caring family. It was no less than she deserved. “Henrietta says they were allowed to go out a few times a week while Brody’s knave lurked nearby.”
Her words took on a bitter twist that got Violet’s attention. “We haven’t had much time to speak of it with so much going on, but given this turn of events and the way you two were at the wedding breakfast…well…what are your thoughts for the future?”
“I’d need to speak with Simon, but I hope he’s in my future.”
Violet’s smile broadened. “I don’t mean to push you toward a decision—”
“No, you didn’t,” Eliza hurried to reassure her. “I love him. I don’t doubt that at all.”
Violet nodded and thankfully did not ask how she had spent enough time with him to know this. Eliza didn’t want to explain everything that had happened over the summer. “I only ask because there has been some chatter already. Our servants are faithful, but information can only be containedfor so long. It seems that some people know that we have a child and her nanny staying with us. No one knows her identity and I would never tell anyone. However…it is also speculated that you are staying here.”
Eliza sighed and sat back in her chair. “Is that all there is for people to do in this town? Gossip about everyone else?”
Violet laughed and set down her cup. “I’m afraid there’s a fair lot of that. It’s worked in our favor that Parliament is on break and most families have returned to the country. It should keep the speculation from spreading like wildfire, more of a controlled burn, but we do need to come up with something if you plan to…well…Mainwaring will return soon.”
“Oh no, I’m not marrying him anymore. I’ve already decided.” That thought had solidified in the days since the brawl. She had nothing but time to think at night as she tossed and turned in bed, worried out of her mind for Simon. She’d send word to Mr. Hathaway once things with Simon were settled.
“Why don’t we take things one step at a time? Mainwaring hasn’t returned yet, so we don’t need to do anything on that front, but you should speak with your mother about him.”
“I suppose you’re right. I should begin arranging everything so that when Simon—”
A maid appeared at the threshold of the room. “My lady, a wire has come for his lordship.” She held a small, folded piece of paper in her hand.
Lord Leigh was already out for the day, likely seeing to things at Montague Club. Apparently, the club was abuzz with chatter about Simon and his whereabouts. No one had told them about his identity as the Duke, but according to Rothschild and Leigh, speculation ran rampant from the rumor that he worked in some sort of secret service to the Queen to theone that he might be a criminal on the run. She had no idea how those rumors got started, but they made her laugh.
“Thank you, Beatrice, give it to me,” Violet said, and held out her hand.
Beatrice handed it over and gave a short curtsy before leaving them alone. Violet seemed almost bored. This must be a very common occurrence. Lord Leigh had contacts and business dealings far and wide. Still, Eliza couldn’t shake the idea that this one was meant forher.
Violet scanned the words on the page. Her lips tipped upward at the corners and there was a devilish sparkle in her eyes when they met Eliza’s across the table. “It seems that our estate in Scotland had a visitor arrive last night.”
Everything inside her stilled. “Is it him?”
“I knew he would turn up.” Violet handed over the telegram. It was from the estate manager, a short two lines advising of an unexpected visitor, a man who had visited last summer, and asking for advice on how to proceed.
“It must be Simon,” she said, crushing the paper to her breast as if it were Simon himself. “I have to go.” She came to her feet, her mind racing with all the things she’d need to do, but then she realized she wouldn’t need to do anything except pack a change of clothes and buy a train ticket. If her calculations were correct, she could be there by very late that evening. “What about Daisy? Should I take her?”
“No, it’s best to leave her here since we don’t know that he won’t be found by Mr. Brody. I’ll see that she and Henrietta are taken care of.” Violet rose at a much slower pace due to her pregnancy. “I’ll talk to Christian and Mr. Dunn. Someone will need to go with you. Perhaps you should see your mother before you leave.”
Eliza didn’t want to do any of that. She wanted to leave assoon as possible, but there was one other thing she needed to add to her to-do list. Now that she had found Simon, she needed to officially end things with Mainwaring, which meant she’d have to wire Devonworth for advice. He’d helped arrange the contract and had signed it along with Mr. Hathaway. He’d advise her on how to proceed. She changed course for the writing desk in Violet’s office where she picked up a piece of parchment from the basket and a pen.
I have decided I cannot marry Mainwaring. I love another. Please advise.She wrote it with a flourish and made a little swirl beneath it, not that it would translate well in a telegram. She might not look as much like their mother as Jenny did, but she had inherited her flair for drama.
“Can you see that this gets sent today?” Eliza asked Violet, who had come to stand in the doorway.
“Of course,” Violet answered.
“Thank you, Violet.” Eliza hugged her. “I don’t know what I would do without your help.”
Violet shook her head. “Thankfully, you won’t have to do without it. August is looking into a tutor for Henrietta, and they’re supposed to be stopping by this afternoon. Daisy has a fun day planned with Rosie. You go to Blythkirk. We’ll both be here to take care of everything until you return.”
Eliza hurried up the stairs. She would see Simon before the night was over.
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