Page 36 of The Duke's Carriage Window
“You need not be shy, dear,” Frances said with a twinkle in her eye. “I came from circumstances much like yours. I was the natural daughter of no one knows who and worked as a seamstress for nearly ten years. Then Daniel Petersham found me working in a shop in Cornwall and swept me off my feet. The next thing I know we’d married and moved to London.”
“Thank you, Frances.” Meredith relaxed. “London has been quite a change for me. I fear I’m still adjusting to it.”
“I felt much the same when I first moved here. But do not worry, you are young and the city has so much to offer.”
“Well, you should have nothing to fear. The duke is a fine guardian to have. I asked about him when I received his reply to my advertisement. Only good things were spoken in regard to him.”
“Oh yes, Darius is a fine man, a wonderful man,” she agreed.
“Then do not worry. We shall find you the perfect husband. Now, tell me, what are you reading lately? I was thinking we could visit a few circulating libraries this week if that would suit you? That way we could see a bit of the city, which would allow you to feel more at home here.”
“Oh, that would be more than lovely.” As she and Frances spoke of their mutual love of books over tea, Meredith knew she had found a new friend in her chaperone.
Warren checked the time on his pocket watch as he lingered just inside the doorway of a coaching inn an hour outside of London. The taproom of the inn was filled with travelers, and the courtyard was crowded with coaches. Warren had trailed Mr. Crell from his townhouse that afternoon to this inn on horseback. So far, the man had been alone, and had spoken to no one other than the innkeeper. There was no sign of traveling with his wife which meant Warren was in for a wait and possibly another day of tailing Crell to his country house to see if his wife arrived there or was perhaps even already there waiting on Crell.
The fellow, Crell, now sat in a chair finishing his supper. Warren was bored. Why the devil had Darius sent him on such a mission? The man wasn’t doing anything the least bit interesting. Wouldn’t a man who might have possibly harmed his wife be looking more…guilty or at the least furtive?
Suddenly, Crell checked the time on the clock by the fireplace at the far end of the taproom and stood up. A new crowd of people flowed into the taproom as several coaches stopped outside. Crell searched the newcomers with clear interest. Warren straightened slightly, his vision sharpening on the latest arrivals to the inn.
A woman in a dark blue carriage dress and a large poke bonnet that somewhat shielded her face was amongst the latest passengers to enter with a servant on her heels. The moment Crell spotted her, Crell came toward the woman and held out his arms. He embraced the woman and led her upstairs after he spoke with the footman that had been traveling with her.
Warren cocked his head, watching the two climb the rickety set of stairs. Wasn’t Mrs. Crell supposed to be an invalid? She certainly wasn’t having any difficulty with the stairs. If anything, that woman had a spring to her steps.
The servant went back outside. Warren casually followed him, as though he was in need of a bit of fresh air.
Warren smiled politely at the footman. “Long day ahead for you?”
“Oh yes. Another two hours by coach tomorrow,” the man said as he retrieved a trunk from the back of the coach. “And this bloody trunk hasn’t made the job easy
“Let me help you.” Warren grabbed the other handle of the trunk and helped the footman carry it to a storage area for the night. It did weigh rather heavy.
“Your master packing stones in this?” Warren teased.
“I have no idea. I do not know the man well. I’ve only been hired for this journey and then I’m to return to London.”
“Ahh,” Warren replied, trying to keep his tone nonchalant.
“What about you?” the man asked as they headed back to the taproom.
“Oh, I’ll be headed back to London in an hour,” Warren said with a grin. He had what he’d come to find. A source of information. “Care for a drink? My treat, old boy.”
The young man nodded eagerly and Warren guided him to a table inside before he waved down a bar wench.
“Shall we drink to the end of a long journey?” he asked as they knocked their pints of ale together in a toast.
The footman grinned, eager to enjoy his free ale. “To the end of long journeys.”
Warren sat back in his chair, sipping his ale, waiting for the right moment to ask the man a few questions. He would get his chance soon enough.
Mrs. Petersham was perfect. Darius couldn’t be more pleased with her as a chaperone. Rather than some fire-breathing dowager dragon, she was an amusing breath of companionable fresh air. Most importantly, she seemed to put Meredith at ease. At dinner, Mrs. Petersham had drawn out Meredith’s smiles and conversation, making the young woman sparkle in front of his friends.
The only problem was that his friends, who had joined them for dinner, were all now quite drawn to Meredith, providing Mrs. Petersham with her first true challenge.
Felix sat beside Meredith and seemed to be captivated by every little thing she said. Darius sat at the head of the table and could not miss the attention his friends were paying to his ward. He wasn’t happy with that, even though he should be… Was it because Meredith wasn’t his to claim in front of his friends? And that meant any of them had a chance to win her away? The thought made his stomach clench.
“Darius,” Suzannah murmured next to him. He managed to tear his gaze away from Meredith.
“Yes?”
