Page 86 of The Duke's Carriage Window
“A trunk? You mean to say he traveled with it when he went to the country?” Warren asked.
“Yes, I believe so.”
“Christ,” Warren muttered. “I might have helped lift that damn trunk down with the man’s hired footman. All that time, the poor woman was right there, and I didn’t know.” That was going to haunt him a long time. If he’d looked in that trunk, he would have found Mrs. Crell and caught her husband right there, and avoided the events that led to Meredith and Darius being attacked.
Vincent clapped a hand on Warren’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “A damned shame what happened to her, I know. But you and Meredith caught the man,” he told Warren. “You did all that you could for that woman.”
“Yes,” Warren said softly. The entire incident had left him with a sinking melancholy. But Vincent was right. Crell was dead, and his wife was avenged. It would have to be enough.
“Your turn, Warren,” Felix announced. Warren set down his brandy and took up his cue, leaning over the billiard table to take his shot.
It was early evening when Meredith came down the stairs to see about dinner being sent up to her and Darius in their bedchamber. She was tiptoeing down the stairs on bare feet, wearing nothing but her chemise and dressing gown when she heard strained voices. Mr. Chelsea was in the drawing room, arguing with someone.
“Let me see her! I know she’s here,” a man’s voice snapped.
“No,” Chelsea replied firmly. “I’m afraid she is unavailable for visitors.”
“Mr. Chelsea?” She pushed the door open and froze as she saw who was arguing with their butler. It was Harry St. John.
“Aww, Merry dear, tell this fool that you will see me.” Meredith pulled her robe more firmly around her body and crossed her arms. Other than her bare feet, she wasn’t improperly dressed for her home, but with Harry she sensed any amount of clothes would not be enough to make her feel safe.
“I would ask that you please leave.”
“Not unless you accompany me. My father wanted me to care for you, after all.”
Meredith blinked. He was here to retrieve her? But that would mean...
She looked to Chelsea and said quietly, “He doesn’t know?”
“He does not.” Chelsea, being the consummate professional he was, said it without smiling, but the implication was clear.
Harry ignored their private exchange. “You know it took me bloody ages to figure out where you’d gone? You didn’t even stay for the funeral. That is badly done, Merry, badly done indeed.”
That struck a chord. She had hated missing Uncle Ben’s funeral, but had had little choice in the matter.
“Come now, pack your things. I have a coach waiting for us.”
Meredith betrayed nothing as she looked to the butler. “Mr. Chelsea, would you?—”
“Yes, of course.” The butler nodded and hastily left the room.
“I have no idea what got into your silly little head,” Harry said, exasperated. “Imposing yourself on the my cousin’s goodwill like this, after he and father had such a falling out. It’s a miracle he didn’t throw you out on the street.
“And you intend to take me back home?” Meredith said evenly.
“Of course. Oh, I know you ran off because I was a bit forward. But honestly, such an overreaction is unbecoming. My conditions for your upkeep are not at all uncommon, I assure you.”
What sickened Meredith most was the feeling that he might not be wrong.
Harry looked up at the ceiling as if weighing her fate with a heavenly expertise. “You can’t expect my cousin to pay to keep you forever, my dear. Charity can only go so far. I, however, shall buy you pretty frocks and all the trinkets you could?—”
“Good evening, Harry,” Darius said coolly as he appeared in the doorway behind Meredith. He was fully dressed, his face a mask hiding all emotion.
“Darius.” Harry’s scowl was replaced by a nervous smile. “How are you?”
“Quite well. And you?”
“Well enough.” Harry cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I only just learned of Meredith’s imposition upon your hospitality, and came at once to take her home. I’m sorry she’s been a burden to you. I promised my father on his deathbed that I would see to her care, but the silly girl left before I could tell her that.”
