Page 8 of The Odd Riddle of the Lost Duchess
“Now, why would you scare off Browning, Newberry?” complained Henry. “His senseless prattling was amusing me.”
“The conversation was annoying me,” Noah said simply.
“So, have you met Lady Emmeline?” Henry asked slyly.
“I have,” Noah admitted.
“At our ball at Croxton House?” Henry was more perceptive than Noah gave him credit.
The latter scowled. “Stop trying to trap me with my words–you were there, so stop beating around the bush.”
“I gather the encounter was not pleasant,” Henry pressed.
“It was actually the opposite,” Noah said flatly. “I saw a different side of her, one I wanted to explore but…”
Henry drained the last dregs of his whiskey. “Then what is the problem?”
“I believe it is obvious–her family name and mine,” Noah told him.
“Come now, Noah, you cannot be serious about this.” Henry shook his head. “You cannot continue a feud that occurred years ago. After all, my good man, we do not live in medieval times.”
“It is almost impossible to consider courting her,” Noah said finally. “My family has given hers the social cut many times in the past.”
“What was this enmity about?” demanded Henry. “Some nonsense about your grandfather being killed by her granduncle? We all know that he died of a heart attack!”
“It is along those lines, and the term my grandmother would use is ‘murdered,’ instead of ‘died.’” Noah scraped the end of his dying cigar on the ashtray. “Lady Emmeline’s granduncle wanted to marry my grandmother, but she was married off to my grandfather, Jacob, the Duke of Newberry, anyway. From what I was told, the two men did not like one another, but the duchies still kept cordial hunting parties. At one such arrangement, the granduncle and my grandfather squabbled, leading to an accident in a hunting party. My grandfather died there. It was believed he was pushed during the hunt and the diagnosis–that he died of a heart attack–was untrue.”
“Fanciful,” muttered Henry, shaking his head. “What is it about this lady that intrigues you, anyway? I have not heard you talk about proper courtship before.”
“I did not because I had no reason or opportunity to,” Noah said darkly. “However...”
Henry’s eyes widened, then he chuckled. “However...”
Before Noah could fall into a brooding silence, Henry said, “Noah, if you want to court the lady, then court her. Perhaps it is time for the ridiculous feud to come to an end.”
Henry could see Noah mulling over the words as his eyes had darkened to a deep shade of gray. Smiling to himself, Henry left the Duke to his musings but hoped he would decide to end the senseless feud.
* * *
Emmeline was tickled at the sour look on Mr. Owen Benwick’s face. The gentleman was clearly not pleased to escort the two ladies to Vauxhall Gardens. Ann, however, had threatened that Emmeline and she would find another way to go alone, and that alternative was completely unacceptable to him.
They had just arrived at the gates of the gardens and Owen paid for them all to enter.
“Look at my dear brother, being so generous in your presence, Emmeline,” Ann mocked jauntily.
Owen glared at her and then walked inside the gates.
“Must you tease him constantly, Ann?” Emmeline asked. “He is consenting to escort us, so let him be. Let’s agree to enjoy this stolen time.”
The vista of the beautiful gardens silenced both ladies as they observed the area. Paths entwined to meet at a large circular clearing, dotted by fairy-like gaslights. Pleasant music intermingled with excited voices and laughter. Stall vendors shouted their wares. The delicious scents of meat pies, fruity tarts, and freshly baked scones lingered in the breeze. Emmeline was reminded that she had not eaten well at dinner because of excitement.
“Can we purchase a pie?” Ann’s voice echoed her thoughts.
Owen gave a non-committal grunt, walking to a nearby apple pie seller.
“I am so happy we are here,” Ann said to Emmeline, “This is marvellous.”
“As am I!” Emmeline exclaimed. “Look! They are removing the canvas from The Cascade.”
