Page 68 of Indecent Desires of a Proper Lady
Felix approached him. “We are here to see Lord Durby. Is he at home?”
“No, my Lords. He is away at the moment. At Lady Catherine’s country estate. I can provide you the name of the house, if you wish.”
“Catherine?” Leonard returned to the front door. “But why on earth should he visit her?” His question was more directed at Philip and Felix.
Felix said, frowning, “The Catherine who was your betrothed before you chose Juliet?”
Leonard grumbled. “Yes. That Catherine.”
The butler waited patiently until Philip said, “Yes, the address, thank you.”
“It is Kingdon House, my Lord, in Hammersmith.”
“Thank you,” Philip said, replacing his hat. “Come. We are off. There will be plenty of time to think about it on the way. It will take some time to get there.”
Leonard looked as if he was ready to burst, but Philip and Felix practically pushed him into the carriage, while he turned around to face the footman once again. “This is urgent, man. Send word to Havordshire Cottage. Send a letter stating that we have followed him to Kingdon House in Hammersmith, and that there is trouble afoot. The man has many debts and for deeds nefarious.”
The man nodded. “The letter will be dispatched this very hour, My Lord.”
“Good,” Leonard said gruffly and jumped into the carriage behind his friends before it began to roll down the street.
“At least the women will know our plans. In case something happens.”
Philip’s body tensed. “If I die because of something stupid that our bloody friend has done, I promise to haunt the man forever. I have not yet even been married!”
Felix smiled. “Ah, and we know that wedded bliss should not be missed.”
Despite Felix’s attempts at merrymaking, Leonard’s expression was still grim. “I cannot think what he should have to see Catherine about. The woman is practically a criminal! She has been sent into exile. Why would our friend keep such a thing from us?”
Philip shook his head. “All will be made clear soon enough. And if he does not wish to tell us, well then,” he clenched a fist in his lap, “we shall make him. We have spent long enough trying to sort out his affairs. He has brought us into a right mess.”
The hours passed, and Philip still came to no firm conclusion. His mind flashed back to childhood memories of Charles. Them laughing together in the garden, fighting or playing. Their times gambling in the halls, the air filled with smoke and music. Charles had always been by his side, since his schooling days, and now Philip realized, perhaps he had never really known his friend at all.
The driver slowed, and Philip leaned out of the carriage in the evening light, spotting the lit windows of a cottage in the distance. As the driver opened the door, the men spilled out and at the cottage door, an older woman answered.
“Yes?” she asked brusquely.
“Excuse me, madam,” Philip said, and he pushed by her inside the house with Felix and Leonard at his heels.
His heart was hammering in his chest, beating wildly as he thought what to say when he approached Charles. He wanted to either pummel him into pieces, yell, or shake his friend until he gave him the answers he wanted. He wasn’t sure which would be more appealing. They ducked into doorways and halls, searching, and then they pushed open the drawing room door.
Inside, they found Charles, his arms around Catherine, and his lips on hers. At the arrival of the three men, Catherine gave a shriek and jumped back, falling back into a chair. Charles turned a surprised eye to his friends.
“Felix, Leonard, Philip?! What are you doing here?”
“That is what we are here to ask you, Charles. It appears you are in a lot more trouble than you let on,” Philip watched him with a wary glance. Both Felix and Leonard were gazing on, and Leonard’s eyes were like fire.
Charles face reddened. “Philip, you told them? What I said to you was meant to be kept in the strictest confidence.”
“And yet, you were not totally honest with me.” Philip’s eyes flashed. “Tell us of your debts, Charles. Your true debts.” He looked at Catherine. “And tell us of what this woman has to do with it all.”
Charles looked as if he was ready to burst. His eyes flitted from one man to the next. Philip could not believe what was happening before his eyes. It was as if his old friend had transformed into another person entirely. “I shall tell you nothing,” he seethed, when Catherine stood up, her fear from being surprised having waned.
She snapped, “It is what you deserve, Leonard Whitfield, after what you have put me through!” Leonard lifted his eyebrows.
“What I have put you through?” he asked, incredulous.
“Yes,” she hissed. “We were soon to be married, until you chose that other woman, that temptress, instead of me! My family would have been saved from this ridicule!” Her hands lifted up to indicate their surroundings. “My father is now in prison because of you!”
