Page 22 of The Odd Riddle of the Lost Duchess
I will leave my address with you. I hope that you will write to me, for I feel a connection to you that I have not felt with another.
Yours,
Noah
As mentioned in the letter, the Duke had left the address of his home in Newberry. Ann read the letter over her friend’s shoulder. Emmeline paled.
“Emmeline, who could have killed this St. Maur?” demanded Ann in a whisper.
“I do not know, Ann, but I am certain that the Duke had nothing to do with this,” Emmeline said seriously. “He is an honorable man.”
“You’ve spent so little time with him, how can you know him well enough to believe so?” Ann’s eyes were troubled.
“You’re right,” Emmeline admitted, “I don’t know him all that well, but my soul tells me he is innocent.”
With Ann back in her room, Emmeline undressed with cold, numb hands. The circumstances meant that she would not meet Noah for an unknown duration. What if some other gentleman proposed to her during that time? Emmeline was certain she would not feel the same way about any other gentleman again.
She could not sleep the remainder of the night.
Chapter 6
An Invitation for the Weekend
“My dear, you have such shadows under your eyes!” exclaimed Lady Alford, the next morning. “Have you not slept at all?”
Emmeline suppressed a yawn. “Not enough.”
Lady Alford made a tutting sound. Her husband was present for breakfast that morning, having arrived from his country home in Suffolk. He wore his gold-framed spectacles as he read the freshly-pressed newspaper.
“Good gracious, Catherine! Have you heard about this upsetting tale involving the Duke of Newberry?” Lord Alford said.
Emmeline nearly choked on a piece of bread and Ann patted her back sympathetically.
“What tale, my dear?” Lady Alford demanded.
Lord Alford explained the situation to her. “Terrible news this is, and the Duke’s name in the midst of this all. Such a respectable family. The Dowager Duchess will not be pleased with the mention of her grandson’s name.”
Lady Alford gasped dramatically. “Charles, did I tell you about the ride in the Duke’s phaeton?”
“Whatever are you saying, my dear? I cannot imagine you in a phaeton!” Lord Alford exclaimed.
Emmeline watched as her uncle’s large white mustache bristled in alarm as her Aunt relayed the story.
“I cannot think that the lad fought a duel because that gentleman disrespected you, Catherine,” Lord Alford declared while shaking the paper. “There is a rivalry between Newberry and the St. Maurs. Lady Victoria Fitzroy died while running away with St. Maur’s youngest brother, and the eldest was convinced that the Duke of Newberry is to be held accountable. Pure nonsense to me.”
“Is there is any sense between the Levertons and Newberrys?” remarked Emmeline sourly. “Newberry seems to accumulate a lot of enemies.”
Lord Alford winced. “My dear, I knew the lad’s father, Winston. He was my good friend. There have been many misunderstandings between your family and his. Noah has turned out to be a good gentleman. He is honorable and respectable. This news will make no difference on his reputation, for people of such titles are usually linked with nonsense such as this.”
“Her brother despises him, though,” remarked Ann.
“George has been taught to carry on the feud at your grandfather’s knee. You were young when he passed away Emmeline, or you would have felt the same,” Lord Alford told Emmeline.
“I still believe you should now steer far from him, Emmeline,” Lady Alford said abruptly. “I did not like the animal-like anger in the Duke’s gaze when he argued with that gentleman so aggressively. I was beginning to fear for our safety!”
“Do not be so absurd, Catherine,” Lord Alford said impatiently. “I know the lad well, and he would not have let any harm come to you. In fact, he is a good match for our Emmeline.”
Lady Alford was disgruntled. “Well, he is not in London anymore.”
