Page 93 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“Me, also!” Frances declared and Elizabeth tittered again.
“I daresay, I have never been so popular,” she jested.
“We are relieved you are well, darling,” Leonard told her sincerely, his voice low. “My heart has never been fuller than this moment.”
Catherine rushed ahead to open the door to her suite where Beatrice had begun to run hot water up for her bath.
“It will not be a minute, Miss Elizabeth,” Beatrice promised. “Food will be along promptly.”
“Thank you, Beatrice,” Elizabeth said gratefully and Leonard placed her gently onto the floor. He wanted nothing more than to remain at her side but of course that was not feasible.
“I will remain outside until you are finished,” he told her. “When you are strong enough to discuss the details of what happened, we will.”
“I am strong enough,” Elizabeth assured him. “But permit me to bathe and dress first.”
“Of course.” He was awed at how collected she appeared, how composed in spite of all that had happened.
“I will be back to brush your hair, Liza,” Frances promised. “If you will permit it.”
“Of course,” Elizabeth replied. “But for now, I would like to be left alone.”
“Yes,” the trio chorused, moving back into the corridor.
“Oh, Your Grace!” Frances squealed happily. “You brought her home as you promised.”
Leonard did not bother to correct her. He was grateful that he was no longer the object of Frances’ ire. Tentatively, he was hopeful that Elizabeth’s arrival marked the beginning of normalcy at Brookside but it was too soon to make such guesses. Only time would dictate such matters.
“Why do you not see if there is cheese for Elizabeth in the kitchen, Franny?” Catherine suggested and as always, the mention of cheese did cause Frances’ eyes to widen.
“She will like that!” Frances agreed, skipping off toward the servant’s stairs.
“I must discuss something with you,” Catherine said urgently, the moment that Frances was far enough away that she might not overhear.
“It can wait, Catherine. I am overwhelmed with emotion right now. I am not certain I can bear another thought in my mind.”
“You must,” she answered shortly. “The shoe in your apartment—the one you claimed was found at Lord Cooke’s manor?”
“What of it, Catherine? I have not thought yet how to deal with Cooke, if that is what you are asking.”
“I am not and I do wish you would permit me to finish,” Catherine retorted. “That shoe…”
She paused and looked at him, shaking her blonde curls nervously.
“Out with it, Catherine. You are making me antsy with wait.”
“It is the same shoe I found when the highwaymen took Elizabeth.”
Leonard did not understand.
“Yes, of course it is. I suspect she wore a matching pair when you left that evening, did you not?”
“No, brother, you are not heeding what I am telling you. It is the very same shoe, not its match. Whoever put that shoe on Lord Cooke’s property had taken it from here.”
Leonard peered at her, his mouth falling open slightly.
“Catherine, are you certain?”
“Indeed. That is the right shoe. I recall thinking how uncomfortable Elizabeth would be hobbling about in only her left. Moreover, if you return to the study, you will see that the shoe from the scene of the kidnapping is not there. I checked myself.”
