Page 146 of His Duchess in Disguise
“Makes you wonder what might happen to the young lady.” Arnault sipped at his wine.”
“Oh, kept pregnant and hidden away, no doubt. You can be sure that Harlow won’t want her interfering with his pursuits.” Sir Draper picked up the wine bottle. “A little more?”
Captain Arnault placed his hand over his glass. “No, no. This is quite enough for now. Let it breathe a little and leave some for our guests.”
There came a knock at the door. Two gentlemen stood without, hats in hand, both with a hangdog look about them.
“Come in,” Sir Draper said, “We’ve been expecting you. Come sit and have a glass of wine.”
The taller of the two gentlemen eyed them carefully. “We’ll not be staying long enough for that. The duel is off. The Duke of Menhiransten is dead. Rumor has it that his heir is responsible for the slaying.”
“What!” Captain Arnault shot to his feet, oversetting his wine glass. The red liquid spread out over the table, staining the cloth blood red. “How can this be? He was alive and well when I saw him last. He was setting out for Gretna Green with his bride-to-be. He was determined to be wed before the duel.”
“It would seem,” said the shorter man with a degree of relish, “that he did not reach his destination. He was set upon by what seemed to be footpads. The young lady and her maid were snatched, and the rest of the bridal party was slain.”
“I must get back to Menhiransten at once!” Captain Arnault declared. “I cannot believe that this is the case, but if it is, all must be in a shambles there.”
“You can be assured of that,” said the taller man. “You could hardly expect an estate that has lost two lords in less than six months to be other than in turmoil. Who can say what will happen to it?”
“I’ll settle up the reckoning,” Sir Draper put in, “And I’ll come with you, Arnie. You might well need the support.”
“My troops are there,” Captain Arnault said. “I will not be wholly alone. But I will welcome your company for the ride. Egad! What ghastly business this has become.”
“We shall withdraw and leave you to your preparations,” the taller man said almost gently. “It is, as you say, a ghastly business.”
“Wait,” Sir Draper held up a hand. “Where might we find Lord Harlow, should we need further discussion?”
“I believe he is at his country estate in Cleweme, preparing for his nuptials,” the man smirked. “You must realize that he is not overcome with grief at the Duke’s demise.”
The two men then withdrew, leaving the Duke’s seconds to hastily assemble themselves for travel. It was not yet fully dusk when they rode out for Menhiransten.
Chapter 44
Reggie slipped into Menhiransten with his companions just as the sun was slithering down the sky to slide over the horizon. His plan was to install himself in his room as if he had not been out of it the whole day, but he was met by the elderly butler and sharp-nosed housekeeper. One of the first things he would do would be to get rid of them both, the interfering old busybodies.
“Supper will be served at seven,” the butler intoned. “You have just the time to get cleaned up for it.”
The old fellow had the gall to look Reggie up and down, assessing the dust on his clothing and the general state of his boots. Reggie lifted his chin defiantly. In so doing, he revealed a light spatter of blood on his cravat.
“You’ve been out hunting, Master Reginald?” the butler intoned, using the schoolroom address.
“Yes, yes. With little success, I fear. I want to clean the dust from my clothing before dinner.”
“Of course,” the butler nodded, gesturing for him to come on through.
Reggie did not see the butler give him a narrow-eyed look as he quickly departed. Nor did he realize that when the footman who attended his bath took away his laundry, the fellow silently handed the neckcloth to Mr. Giddeon as he passed him in the hall.
Dinner was served at candle lighting time, with Reggie, Mr. Nod, and Mr. Willoughby at the head table. Reggie started to assume the chair at the head of the table, but at a quelling look from the butler and a lifted eyebrow from Mr. Willoughby, he didn’t quite dare and subsided into his customary spot.
It was an unusually silent meal and a very simple one. The clear chicken broth came and went, followed by broken chicken meat and dumplings. Indeed, the sliced ham and crusty bread served at the lower tables to Captain Arnault’s men were nearer to the repasts to which Reggie had been accustomed.
The gentlemen were just rising from their chairs to retire to the library for brandy when there was a disturbance outside.
Chapter 45
Leo strode to the edge of the clearing to meet the party that was approaching. Accompanied by John Goodkind, they had, indeed, brought tracking hounds.
The tavern keeper rode with them. A lanky man, clad in a rude leather jacket and breeches, walked his horse beside him. The leather-clad man gestured for the party to keep back, including the several dogs who were on leads.
