Page 48 of Unchaining the Heart of the Marquess
“I feel better,” she replied with a smile. “Did you find your mother?”
“It is possible that she is in Italy.”
Josephine looked at him in surprise. “Italy… When will you be leaving?”
“I do not know. I must speak with Father before I take any further action.”
“I am so very sorry that you are going through something such as this, Rick.”
Mrs. Merton’s eyebrows raised in surprise at her use of his childhood nickname. “Forgive my daughter, Your Lordship. She is not quite herself as of yet.”
“Mother, I do not need you to apologize for me. This is how we have always been, as you well know.”
“You are no longer children, Josephine.”
“Mrs. Merton, might I speak with Josephine alone for a moment,” Frederick interrupted.
“Of course, My Lord,” Mrs. Merton arose and left the room.
“Your mother does not approve of our friendship.”
“No, she never has, but she is not alone in that.”
“No, she is not. My parents have felt much the same,” Frederick admitted. “That is something I would like to discuss with you.”
“That sounds ominous,” Josephine remarked with concern.
“Not at all.” Frederick was not certain how to proceed, but he did not want to leave for the continent without telling her how he felt. He had waited too long as it was.
“Oh?” Josephine asked raising a brow in inquisition.
At the exact moment that Frederick opened his mouth to tell her how he felt about her, a knock sounded at the door and Lt. Buckworth stepped inside. “Pardon the interruption, My Lord, but the Duke has returned and awaits you in the library. If I might take the liberty of saying so, His Grace does not look quite himself.”
The look of concern on the lieutenant’s face spurred Frederick to action. “I am sorry, Josephine. We will have to discuss this later.”
“Not at all, Frederick. Please go to your father. He has not been the same since your mother left,” Josephine reassured him waving him out of the door. The sympathy she felt for him and his family was clear in her eyes.
“I will return,” Frederick promised as he followed Buckworth out of the door and down the stairs.
Frederick found his father pacing back and forth, mumbling to himself. He looked rumpled and unkempt, a state in which he had never seen the Duke before. His father had always been meticulous in his toilette. Frederick could not imagine the Duke’s valet allowing him to reside in such a state willingly. “Father?”
“Frederick.” The Duke turned upon hearing his son’s voice. His eyes were bloodshot. Frederick was not sure if it was due to lack of sleep, from weeping, or from drink. “Where is your mother?” The Duke moved forward everything about his stance spoke of the fear and concern he felt for his wife.
“We believe Mother boarded a ship in London for Italy under the name Mary Smith.”
“How do you know this?”
Lt. Buckworth stepped forward. “I have a friend in the Bow Street Runners who made discreet inquiries on your family’s behalf. Two women matching the Duchess and her maid’s description boarded a ship bound for the Italian coast. There were to be multiple ports of call.”
“Sorrento, she would have gone to Sorrento,” the Duke informed them raking his fingers through his hair. “The late Marchioness, the Duchess’ mother, her family has a villa along the Sorrento Coast.”
“I was quite young when last we were there and did not remember the familial connection,” Frederick admitted. “How do you wish to proceed, Father?”
“If she is with family, then she is safe, but we have no way of knowing that is so as the villa is empty a large part of the year. If they are present, it is doubtful that she would have shared with them the danger she is in.”
“Father, if we can ascertain where she is then so too can her blackmailer.”
“A woman as beautiful and elegant as your mother cannot go about without drawing notice. Every man upon the docks will have seen her and remembered such a beauty.”
