Page 2 of The Wise Daughter
“But you will not tell me who this unique informant is.”
“No.”
Since announcing his plan a fortnight ago, Nora had been pestering her father for an explanation, but his lips never budged on the subject.
“Was it Mr. Balding? Lord Newberry?”
“Neither.”
“Was it–”
“No. No more guesses. I won’t answer if you keep making speculations.”
“You wish to keep me from speculating? How ironic.”
“Nora!”
Nora loosened the ribbons of her bonnet, their edges irritating her chin. “I can’t help it. Why should you trust this person, Father?”
“There are things I was told in confidence. There will likely be some awkwardness when we speak with the duke–”
“To put it mildly.”
“But I’m sure he is a sensible man who will see us for what we are.”
“Beggars? Peasants? Vagabonds?” The words escaped before she could muster the strength to hold her tongue.
“No.” Her father spared her a cursory glance. “He will see a respectable gentleman who is trying to provide for his daughter.”
She swatted at a fly buzzing around Locket’s ear. “Is that what you are doing? Providing for me? Does that explain why we are going to the duke on horseback? Or why you lost half my dowry at Ascot and the other half at Newmarket? This is about me?”
If her mother still lived, they never would have plummeted to such depths. Her father never would have lost himself in wagers and debts, trying to forget or escape the pain of losing his wife.
If only he let himself grieve, he might find peace.
It was for her mother’s sake that Nora tolerated his foolhardy habits. Nora had frequently, over the course of the month, considered running away and finding a position for herself, but she was convinced it wasn’t what her mother would have wanted. Until her father could face his troubles without lies and betrayals, especially the lies he told himself, Nora would not leave his side.
He stiffened in his saddle. “Nora, what I do is for our future, yours and mine, but especially yours.”
Nora felt the wind pick up speed in sudden, erratic bursts. “Why would the duke trust us? He has no reason to. Even if he does humor us, don’t you think he’ll be curious about what happened to us?”
“I am more than willing to explain to His Grace that, after due consideration, I placed my assets in a speculative venture that failed to deliver on the promised returns.”
“Meaning you gambled away everything we owned. And to be perfectly accurate, there have been quite a few of these speculative ventures. It would be wrong to mislead the duke into thinking there has only been one.”
“I’ve already told you, Nora,” his voice rising. “I’m dreadfully sorry. There’s no need to be a quiz about it. I’ve sworn off gambling forever.”
As angry as she was, her heart softened a tiny bit to hear him repeat his apology, even if she didn’t believe his promise. “Wouldn’t it be easier, Father, or far more appropriate to request a position among the duke’s staff? I could work if I had to.”
“A servant? You would have me be aservant? Honora, our blood traces back to–”
“The Saxon kings of old. I know. You’ve repeated that tasty little fact, which you cannot prove, at least a hundred times since we left on our journey.” Would she ever hear the end of it?
“Well, it’s the truth, and it bears repeating. All I need is one minute with the Domesday Book, and I’m sure I could prove it.”
She rolled her eyes. “How unfortunate we don’t all have a copy.”
“Nora, this is no laughing matter. I won’t be the first in a long and noble line to debase myself by groveling to be a servant.”
