Page 10 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
Andrew nodded. “You are one of the few people who know of my thoughts as to what happened.”
Lord Wrexham’s expression grew very heavy indeed, a shadow passing across his expression. “Your brother knows of it?”
Andrew shook his head. “I have told yourself, Lord Henderson and my cousin.”
“Your cousin?”
Andrew nodded. “Lord Chiddick. Are you acquainted with him?”
“Ah.” A flicker of recognition came into Lord Wrexham’s face. “Yes, I do know of whom you speak. He is in Bath at present, I believe.”
“I do not know. The truth is, I did not mean to speak to my cousin about my thoughts as regards my father’s passing but on the day of the funeral – and after I had imbibed a little too much – I found myself speaking of it with a great deal of liberty. I regret doing so a great deal, I assure you.”
“You told him that you believed your father’s riding accident was not, in fact, an accident?”
Andrew nodded. “I did. I told him about what I found in the woods.” His shoulders dropped, recalling how he had discovered a red bit of cloth very close to where his father’s horse had reared up in fright, dropping him from the horse. That red bit of cloth had been tied to a stick, making him believe that someone had stepped out with it suddenly, frightening the horse and leading to his father’s untimely death.
“Do you remember what he said?”
Andrew sighed. “Not all of it and certainly not clearly. What I do recall is that he said there was nothing that could be done, that I was going to be quite unable to prove anything and therefore, to his mind, I ought to give up the whole notion and concentrate on my responsibilities.”
Lord Wrexham considered this, then nodded slowly. “I suppose that is true. What can you do about it? Even if you have your suspicions, even if you believe that your father’s death was brought about by another’s hand, then what can you do to prove it? What can you do to discover that person? Lord Chiddick is right to state that your responsibilities must come first.”
Andrew sighed heavily. “Which I have done,” he admitted, “though my thoughts as regards my father have never ceased. I do not know what it is I am to do about such a troubling thought but it lingers there nonetheless.”
“And you do not wish to bring in a young lady to your manor house – to your life – when you have such questions?”
Considering this, Andrew shook his head. “No, I do not. After all, I do not know what it was that made this person eager to remove my father from this earth and, in truth, I am a little concerned that should someone else reside in my manor house with me, they might be in danger.”
Lord Wrexham’s eyebrows shot upwards. “In danger?”
“Yes.”
His friend swallowed hard, his eyes a little rounder than before. “You believe that there could be someone eager to pursue your death also?”
“I do not know but it is surely a possibility,” Andrew answered, truthfully. “Though it could also be that my father had some enemy that I was unaware of and that is the reason for his death.”
“Or it could be a mere accident,” Lord Wrexham put in, making Andrew sigh and look away. “That is also surely a possibility.”
Spreading his hands, Andrew looked back at his friend. “Regardless, I will still be cautious and careful and until my mind is at ease, until I am satisfied, I will not bring in a young lady into my home.”
“And if you are never satisfied?”
Andrew bunched his mouth for a moment and then let his hands drop to his knees. “I will consider that at a later time,” he stated, firmly. “For the moment, I will do what I can to enjoy society while, at the same time, being quite intentional about those I bring into my sphere.”
Lord Wrexham let out a long, slow breath and then shook his head. “And you will not care if society thinks you a dark, ill-tempered fellow?”
“No,” Andrew stated, firmly. “I will not care in the least.”
Chapter Five
“I do hope the Duke of Longford will be present this evening!”
Rachel attempted to keep her expression clear of any sort of wryness, turning her head away and smoothing her gown with long, gentle strokes though it did not have even the smallest crease in it whatsoever.
“I think you made quite the impression upon him in the park, Bettina,” Lady Carmichael exclaimed, as Rachel dropped her head even lower, making sure that neither her mother nor her sister could see her expression. “Though I must say, I did find his manner a little… dark.”
Rachel lifted her head to see her mother frowning, though Bettina was finishing pulling on her gloves as they waited for their carriage to arrive. She had to admit that the Duke of Longfordhadbeen very unorthodox in the way he had corrected their mother and even now, she could still feel that ripple of surprise rushing up her spine as she took in what he had said to her mother.
