Page 16 of Never Beguile a Duke
“Have you introduced a thief into my home?” he growled, pushing the driver aside and glowering into the cabin. “Take her away this instant!”
Mrs. Upton paled and shrank into the coach’s corner, her eyes rounding. “It’s nothing of the sort, Your Grace. Miss Juliette is an exceptional child. If she were anything else, I’d have taken her straight to the workhouse.”
“Then, what is your concern?” Silas softened his tone.
“She screams.” Mrs. Upton scooted forward on the bench and gestured to the seat across from her.
That wasn’t what he expected.
“All the time?” he asked, climbing into the coach.
“Solely at night.” Glancing toward the house, Mrs. Upton twisted her fingers together, clenching them until they turned white. “As you were not aware of Miss Juliette, I’m certain you’re also not aware of the details of her mother’s death.”
Silas shook his head.
“Miss Juliette was with her mother when she passed.” A shudder rolled through Mrs. Upton. “The scream still haunts me.”
“Was the death traumatic?”
“She fell ill and simply stopped breathing, Your Grace.” Mrs. Upton shrugged. “However, Miss Juliette claims something much more sinister occurred that evening. She blamed her mother’s death on a man named Mr. Black.”
“Black?” Silas sifted through years of introductions. “I don’t recall the name.”
“Nor did I,” Mrs. Upton sighed, adding a tiny shake of her head. “However, no matter how many times we pressed, Miss Juliette replied in kind.”
“Did you ask for a description?”
Mrs. Upton choked. “From a nine-year-old?”
“She was the only witness.” Silas tilted his head, mildly amused by the woman’s obvious struggle to hold her opinion in the presence of a duke.
“Dark hair. Dark eyes. Deep voice.”
“That could be any number of men,” he exploded, flinging his arms up. “That could be the Duke of Mansfield!”
The corner of Mrs. Upton’s mouth twitched. “As I said, Your Grace, Miss Juliette is a child, given to fanciful notions. The physician suggested, in time, she’d overcome these false memories.”
“Until then, she’ll scream?” His gaze slid to the house, framed by the coach’s open doorway.
How does one explain the sudden appearance of a troubled child?
“Not every night.”
“Pardon?” He shifted his attention back to Mrs. Upton.
“We couldn’t determine what triggered Miss Juliette’s episodes. Some nights would be peaceful, others…” Mrs. Upton swiped her fingers under her eyes and cleared her throat. “Even with this defect, will you keep her, Your Grace?”
“I will.” Silas nodded once, surprised by the overpowering desire to shelter the tiny girl. “I ask one favor in return.”
“Anything, Your Grace.” Mrs. Upton’s stern features lit with joy.
“Do not repeat what we’ve discussed regarding my daughter’s delicate condition.” Silas leveled a hard gaze at Mrs. Upton. “She’ll heal quicker if others are not aware of the difficulty.”
“Of course,” Mrs. Upton replied, glancing at the driver pacing impatiently outside the coach.
Silas climbed from the cabin and strode toward the house. He didn’t turn around as Mrs. Upton’s carriage departed.
Had Juliette spoken the truth? If a Mr. Black murdered her mother and that man learned Juliette witnessed the crime, then she was in grave danger… and so was every other guest in attendance.
