Page 41 of Never a Duchess
“Will you take me home, Mina?” An unwelcome emotion tightened her throat. “I can walk if not.”
Mina came to sit beside her. “Of course we will take you home.”
“Perhaps it’s best to let Roxburgh and Dounreay thrash the matter out privately,” Devon cautioned.
“I’ll not have them make decisions about my life while I’m absent.” She sounded annoyed, though she was scared, scared she might feel pain when she wanted to feel numb, feel nothing.
The journey to Hanover Square took forever.
She met Dounreay on her brother’s doorstep. “Wait!”
He made no comment and merely knocked on the door.
“I—I’ll not let my brother force you to marry me.”
His eyes flashed with steely determination. “Miss Ware, I’d rather die than marry a woman who doesnae want me. Rest assured, we’ll nae walk down the aisle or have our hands joined over the anvil.”
“Oh!” Her stomach twisted into knots. “That is a relief.”
“I told ye I would handle the matter.” His tone lacked his earlier avidity. “It will have nae bearing on our plans.”
Greyson opened the door, his bushy brows rising in surprise to find her waiting like a visitor on the doorstep. Alexander’s shrill cries echoed through the house, making her wince.
Dounreay appeared unaffected by the din. He thrust his card at the butler. “I’m here to see Lord Roxburgh.”
Panic flashed in Greyson’s eyes. With some reluctance, he stepped aside and welcomed the duke into the hall. “Please wait here a moment, Your Grace.”
Lillian heard Adam and Eliza trying to placate the child. “I shall see if everything is all right.”
She meant for the duke to wait in the hall, but he followed her to the family’s private sitting room overlooking the garden.
Adam was in his shirtsleeves, pacing back and forth, cradling a wailing Alexander in his arms. The poor mite’s cheeks were red, and he dribbled spittle on her brother’s fine waistcoat.
“I’ll not give him morphine or those terrible teething powders,” Eliza said, rubbing her tired eyes.
Adam rocked the child. “I’m not suggesting we do. And though Mrs Abbott advises brandy on the gums, I fear it’s just a method to help adults sleep.”
Greyson hovered on the threshold and cleared his throat. “His Grace, The Duke of Dounreay, my lord.”
“Damnation.”
Lillian edged past the butler before her brother made a scathing comment about the duke. “We heard Alexander’s cries and wish to offer our assistance.”
Seeing Dounreay, Adam merely huffed. “Welcome, Your Grace. As you may have surmised, we will have to postpone our planned meeting for a few hours.”
Dounreay stepped into the room and bowed when Eliza curtsied. “With all due respect, we had nae such plans. Ye summoned me as if I were an errand boy.”
Rather than appear annoyed, Adam seemed impressed by the duke’s retort. “I was informed you’re playing the role of enquiry agent not errand boy. That you’ve dragged my sister into this sorry mess. Though allow me to express my sincere regret over MacTavish’s sudden illness.”
“Angus isn’t ill. Some beggar poisoned him.”
It was hard to converse over Alexander’s cries. Eliza took the child and rocked him back and forth to settle him.
“I can see an argument is the last thing ye need.” Dounreay crossed the room and slipped his finger into the babe’s clenched fist. “Let me make this easier. Nothing will prevent me from discovering who hurt MacTavish. Nothing will prevent me from striving to keep Miss Ware safe.”
“By placing her in compromising positions?” Adam countered.
“Do ye honestly think she willnae try to solve this case without me? Ye know her character better than anyone. She’s in mortal danger if she attempts to deal with the matter alone.”
