Page 13 of His Duchess in Disguise
“I am sorry to be the bearer of ill-tidings, sir, but your daughter is gone.”
“Gone? Where could she go? Run away to her aunt or that new friend of hers, I’ll be bound.”
“I have no idea, Lord Hoskins. But she left Mrs. Able a note. Perhaps she will let you read it.”
“Let me? Of course, she will let me! Mrs. Able knows her place, always has.”
Gilbert stomped out of his quarters and down to the housekeeper’s office. He rapped loudly on the door panel and then rang the bell. It was some minutes before Mrs. Able opened the door.
“What is going on?” the Baron demanded. “Where is my daughter?”
“Gone, Lord Hoskins,” Mrs. Able said. The housekeeper’s eyes were red-rimmed, and her nose was pink as if she had been crying.Missish woman. What did she have to cry about?
“Mr. Jones says that you have a note.”
Wordlessly, Mrs. Able thrust the note at him. Gilbert Hoskins focused on the neat script and read aloud:
My Dear Mrs. Able,
By the time you read this, I will have left London. I don’t know where I am going, but I must leave. My father has created a situation which I cannot bear. It is time for you to go to your sister’s because I will not return.
Forever Yours,
Emma
“Get her back!” Gilbert bellowed.
“I am sorry, Lord Hoskins. I am not at all sure what the situation might be, but I have only remained because I made a promise to Emma’s mother that I would look after her daughter. Since Emma has paid the household expenses out of her allowance for the last three months, and I have not been paid at all, I believe it is time for me to go.”
“Go? Where can you go? You’ll not have a roof over your head.”
“That is not your problem, sir. However, I will be going to my married sister’s home. She recently had a new baby and could use the help. I will be leaving as soon as I tie on my bonnet.”
With that, Mrs. Able tied on her bonnet, turned, and walked out the door in the back her office – the one that led down to the servants’ quarters.
“Come back here! I’m not done talking to you!” Gilbert Hoskins bellowed.
Mr. Jones appeared. “I am sorry, Lord Hoskins. Mrs. Able has left the house. I don’t believe she will be back.”
Gilbert stared at him in dismay. “Then who will bring my breakfast?”
“I’m sure I don’t know, sir. I have only come up the stairs to tell you that I am also leaving.”
“I’ll not give you any reference!” Gilbert threatened.
“Not necessary, Lord Hoskins. I already have a place. I’ll be on my way now.” Mr. Jones left by the same door through which Mrs. Able had exited.
Gilbert Hoskins stood staring at the closed door for a full five minutes. The townhouse was quiet. When he came to himself enough to go down the servants’ stair to the kitchen, he found it empty and the hearth cold. A plate of biscuits and a pot of tea sat on the kitchen table. A note in Mrs. Able’s hand read:For your breakfast, Lord Hoskins. All the fires are banked and the candles out, you need have no fear of fire.
Gilbert stared at the biscuits and tea a moment before pouring himself a cup and picking up one of the biscuits to nibble on it. The biscuit was stale, and the tea cold. He set down the teacup and climbed the stairs up to the schoolroom where Emma normally resided.Perhaps it was all a mistake.
Emma’s rooms were as empty as the kitchen. Her books were gone, and an old bread box sat on her bed. Empty, of course. Most of Emma’s worn gowns hung in her wardrobe, but the bed where the little dustmop she called Rags (you could hardly call the creature a dog) normally slept was also empty.
It began to sink in.My daughter is really gone.
Gilbert Hoskins slowly climbed up the stairs to his rooms. The fire was out on the hearth in his room. Clearly, it had not been kindled this morning.I might as well go have breakfast at my club and get a shave. Then I’ll think about what to do next.
Just as he was getting ready to leave, the doorbell rang. Gilbert opened it to find Percy Harlow, Earl of Cleweme, standing there.
