Page 14 of His Darling Duchess
“Yes,” she said baldly, obviously too tired to find any pretty words, and he nodded.
“Go and get ready to leave. I’ll send your mother to you and have the carriage readied.” He watched as she made her wayto the foot of the stairs; her sister Ophelia hurried over to accompany her up, so he turned his attention to finding her parents and advising them he planned to leave.
Lymsey didn’t look pleased by the news, but his expression softened a little when Stowe explained that Aurelia seemed tired.
“I plan to take her to Stowe House and let her rest. I doubt she’s slept much in the last few days.”
Lymsey hesitated, and Stowe guessed what the earl wanted to ask even before he fumbled the words out. “Ah, will you be, ah…”
“I plan to give Lady Aurelia as much time as she needs to come to terms with our marriage,” Stowe cut him off before the earl embarrassed them both. “She knows me not at all, and you and I are little better acquainted, but I promise you I am not a cruel man, Lord Lymsey. I will afford her every courtesy.”
“Good, good.” Lymsey looked visibly relieved. “I wouldn’t have let the marriage take place if I didn’t think you were a man of honour.”
“While the circumstances may not have been how either of us would have wished, my lord,” Stowe offered, “I’m truly honoured that you are trusting me with your daughter, and I vow to do my utmost to uphold your trust by treating her with the same tender care she has obviously received all her life from her family.”
“It warms my heart to hear you say so. Aurelia is very dear to her mother and I, and we shall hope to see a good deal of you both in the future.”
Stowe recognised the remark as being more a request than anything else, and bowed. “You and all your family are welcome in any of my homes at any time, Lord Lymsey.”
“As are you and yours in mine - except for Lord Grantleigh, of course.” Lymsey lowered his voice. “Have you heard anything?”
“I fear he’s gone to ground. I approached Bow Street and have two of their best investigators searching for him, as well as myown men.” Stowe grimaced. “My guess is that he came to his senses and retreated in something of a panic. I’ve sent men to his estate and a couple of minor properties he owns, but it could take some time to locate him. Once I do, I’ll consult you as to the best course of action.” He glanced across the room to Viscount Colesworth, moodily sipping on a glass of wine as he stood alone by the fire.
“I plan to send Louis away,” Lymsey said, obviously guessing at the direction of his thoughts. “He’s young and hotheaded; a few months on the Continent will do him the world of good anyway. I’ve friends with sons of a similar age, and we plan to engage a tutor and send them together.”
It wasn’t the worst plan Stowe had ever heard, and it would certainly remove Colesworth from the situation. He was just young and reckless enough to challenge Grantleigh if he should find his erstwhile friend first, which could prove disastrous for both families.
“When?” he asked curiously.
“As soon as can be arranged. We’d planned to return home to Cornwall for Christmas, and I’ve made enquiries about ships sailing from Plymouth, rather than have Louis come back to London. My own, ah, enquiries indicated Grantleigh might have headed north.” Lymsey shot Stowe an apologetic look. “Keeping Louis as far from him as possible is in everyone’s best interests, I believe.”
Stowe absolutely agreed, and he bore no grudge at all against Lymsey for conducting his own investigations into Grantleigh’s whereabouts. With Aurelia safely married, Lymsey still had a hotheaded son to worry about. “If I can be of any assistance, you need only ask,” he offered.
Lymsey inclined his head in thanks, though Stowe suspected the seasoned politician had far better contacts than a man who’d spent the last decade fighting with a rifle regiment. Short ofgoing with the young men and guiding them through Spain or Italy personally, there was little he could do.
“There you are!” Lady Lymsey came out of the parlour to find them standing at the foot of the stairs. “Where’s Aurelia?”
“She’s feeling tired,” Stowe said, feeling awkward to be advising Aurelia’s mother of her feelings. “I suggested she prepare to leave and I’ll take her home to rest.”
“But…” Lady Lymsey began, and then obviously checked herself. She glanced at her husband, who put his hand on her arm in a gently reassuring and curiously intimate gesture. “Of course, Your Grace.” She dipped a respectful little curtsy.
“Please,” Stowe said awkwardly, “don’t, my lady. We are family now. I hope you will call me Stowe.”
Lady Lymsey considered him from blue eyes shaped very much like her daughter’s brown ones, her head tilting slightly.
Despite being the best part of a foot taller than the countess, Stowe felt small under her scrutiny. He’d spent only a few minutes in her company since the shocking moment in his library when she’d jumped to the wrong conclusion about his being alone with Aurelia and her torn gown, but he’d heard enough about her to know she was as respected among the ladies who ruled polite society as her husband was in the halls of Parliament.
“Stowe,” Lady Lymsey said at last. “Your concern for Aurelia is welcome. Might I call in the morning, to see how she’s feeling?”
“Of course, and please, bring your other daughters with you. I’ve no doubt Aurelia will welcome the company of her sisters.”
Light footsteps on the stairs behind him made him turn to look up and see Aurelia descending, still wearing her lovely blue-and-white striped silk gown, but now with a pale blue cloak over top and a bonnet on her head. Ophelia followed a couple of steps behind, wiping a few tears away with a lacy handkerchief.
“My lady.” Stowe bowed as Aurelia descended the bottom step to stand beside him, but did not offer his arm. When she looked up at him, brow furrowing slightly in confusion, he said “You will wish to take your leave of your parents, of course.”
“Oh, yes, of course.” She kissed her father’s cheek and was clasped in a warm embrace by her mother, who whispered in her ear for several long moments.
Aurelia looked even paler as she drew back, and Stowe wondered what her mother had said which distressed her so. Hopefully nothing about submitting to his husbandly demands, as he had no intention of making any!
