Page 29 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
Rachel swallowed hard and shook her head to herself before turning away to the front door, ready to receive the Duke’s carriage.
“But you do not even like the Duke of Longford,” Bettina protested again as Rachel listened without turning her head. “Is that not so, Mama? You said he was dark and beastly and – ”
“And I still consider him so but given that he cares for your sister, what care I for that?” Lady Carmichael laughed, sending yet another dart into Rachel’s heart. “He is aDuke,Bettina! Andhe wants to spend more time in your sister’s company which might one day make her a Duchess! Can you imagine that?”
Rachel closed her eyes and said nothing. The Duke’s request had come as a very great surprise but the more she had considered it, the more she had begun to wonder if the reason he had asked her for such a thing was because of what he had shared with her at the previous ball. If this was so that they might discuss matters in private, then that would be his reason for calling upon her and requesting such a thing, would it not? It would not be because he truly cared for her.
“The carriage, Mama.”
Lady Carmichael let out a squeak of excitement, as though she was the one who would be walking with the Duke himself, and then caught Rachel’s arm so they might descend the steps together – leaving a thoroughly frustrated Bettina behind.
“Your Grace.” Rachel managed a smile as the Duke stepped out from the carriage to greet them. “Thank you for your prompt arrival.”
“What a glorious day it is for our walk together,” he said, smiling at her. “Please, permit me to assist you both into the carriage.”
As was expected, the Duke first helped her mother into the carriage and thereafter, took her hand. What Rachel did not expect was for fire to erupt in her heart at the touch of his hand on hers, making her heart pound furiously. When she sat down in the carriage, Rachel did not know where to look, finding herself hot all over and embarrassed with it. Why should she have such a reaction to him? Despite her mother’s excitement and her sister’s frustration, Rachel was quite certain that the Duke had another motive for walking with her this afternoon, and permitting her heart to feel anything for him was stupidity indeed.
“It is a very fine afternoon, is it not?”
Rachel looked up at the Duke as they walked, glancing back over her shoulder to see her mother far enough away that the conversation would not be overheard.
“I believe that my mother will not hear us, Your Grace.” Seeing the way his eyes flickered in confusion, she offered him a small smile. “I am quite sure there is another motivation behind this walk, Your Grace. You wanted to speak to me alone, did you not?”
The Duke of Longford’s eyebrows knotted. “I suppose that is so. Though I am hopeful that we will still be able to enjoy a walk together, Miss Grifford.”
“I am sure we shall, given the pleasant afternoon, but I would rather know what it is that you wanted to speak to me about,” she said, firmly. “Is it to do with this note? And the whiskey?”
After a moment, the Duke nodded and Rachel’s heart crumpled. She had been right in her thought that this was, then, only a pretense. There was no genuine interest in her company, no genuine desire for them to become more closely acquainted.
She sighed inwardly but then forced a smile. This was just what she ought to have expected.
“I spoke to Lord Wrexham about what happened,” the Duke continued, quietly, clearly entirely unaware of the pain which now sliced through her heart. “He is a gentleman who knows my concerns over my father and – ”
“Your father?” Rachel looked up at him sharply, recalling how Lord Chiddick had spoken of a troubling situation as regarded the late Duke. “Might I ask what you mean by that?”
There came a short pause, only for the Duke to nod as though he were confirming with himself that it was quite all right for him to do so. “My father died after falling from his horse. It did appear to be a tragic accident though, I am afraid, when I went to the scene where it had taken place, I found a redcloth tied to a stick only a few paces away from where my father’s horse had reared up.”
Fright captured Rachel’s heart. “You mean to suggest that his horse was frightened into rearing up?”
“That has long been my suspicion,” he admitted, quickly, “but I cannot confirm it. Nor can I understand who would do such a thing or why. My father was of excellent character, had no debts to anyone and from what I have learned about him since his passing, had no enemies to speak of either. There was nothing about him which spoke of darkness and I cannot imagine why someone would want to harm him in such a way.”
“Perhaps this person did not mean for him to die.”
The Duke frowned and immediately, Rachel flushed with embarrassment.
“I did not mean to speak out of turn. I do not know the situation and – ”
“That is a good thought and not one that I have considered before now,” the Duke interrupted, though he did not speak harshly. “I must admit that it would not make sense to me for I cannot find a single person who thought ill of him or who held anything against him. Therefore, I must believe that whoever did this did so in order to bring an end to his life – and that then makes me a little concerned that they are also going to be ending my life.”
“Goodness.”
“That is why I wish to do all I can to discover what is happening and who is doing it,” the Duke continued, looking down at her. “And since you have offered to be of aid to me, I thought I should accept that offer though, in doing so, make you fully aware of all that has taken place thus far. It is rather concerning, is it not?”
“It is.” Rachel paused for a moment in their walk, turning so she could look up at him carefully, seeing the worry in his eyesand finding herself wondering if this was the cause of his dark manner and demeanor. He carried a heavy burden, she realized, and that must trouble him a great deal.
“If you do not wish to continue being of aid to me, I quite understand,” the Duke murmured, offering her his arm which she took without hesitation, walking alongside him again. “There is danger here, I fear and I certainly do not wish for you to put yourself at risk in any way.”
“Oh, I have no intention of stepping back!” Rachel exclaimed, seeing his eyebrows lift in surprise at her exclamation. “Certainly not after you have told me about your late father and the burden you carry as regards that. That is truly dreadful, Your Grace. Yes, I should be very glad indeed to be of aid to you though aside from what I offered you, I do not know what else it is that I can do.”
