Page 46 of A Duke to Restore her Memory
It was silent when they arrived at Barstow’s small stone cottage. The only sound was washing, flapping in the wind. Sebastian rapped on the door. It seemed an eternity before there was a response. To his relief, Barstow answered the door himself.
The man knew something was wrong immediately. Sebastian saw the fear in his eyes.
“I know what you have done, Barstow,” he snarled, grabbing the man by the neck. “Your paymaster Hester has admitted everything … so you may as well admit it too.”
The man crumpled immediately, starting to babble.
“I know I did the wrong thing,” he cried. “But I was desperate, Your Grace! My youngest child needs special care in hospital that I could not afford, and I have so many mouths to feed …!”
“Save your breath, Barstow,” growled Sebastian. “You can tell your story to the constabulary.” He shook his head incredulously. “If it were true about your youngest child, you could have come to me, and I would have assisted you. You know that. But you did not do it. Instead, you accepted a Judas’s coin and killed good men. Your neighbours and friends. How could you do it, man?”
The man’s face crumpled. He slumped, almost falling to the ground. Daniel stepped forward, taking the man away. Sebastian ran a shaking hand through his hair.
So much had happened in the space of the day that he was having a hard time dealing with it all. So much betrayal. Treachery was all around him.
Even though he was shocked by what Hester had done, he had always known he was scum, capable of doing anything for money.
The man had no values whatsoever. But it was different with Abraham Barstow – he had thought his tenant was an ally. He had always treated Barstow with respect and kindness.
He swallowed a painful lump in his throat. He was shaken to the core. He felt as if it was him against the world. For if he couldn’t trust a man like Barstow … who could he trust?
***
Christina paced the floor in her room at Newquay Hall, wringing her hands together.
The duke looked so furious and hurt when she told him about the conversation she had overheard between Hester and Barstow. He had looked as if someone had pulled a rug from beneath his feet.
Her heart turned over in her chest as she pictured his devastated face.
She had wanted to rush forward and soothe him, tell him that everything would be well, and wrap her arms around his waist and hug him tightly. She had only just managed to restrain herself.
She blinked back tears. He had also told her, in a quiet voice, that he believed her – that he didn’t think she was defrauding him.
Her heart had surged with joy when he had uttered those words. She hadn’t realized how much she valued his good opinion of her until it was gone.
She took a deep breath. But now, he was confronting Walter Hester about what he had done. Her heart lurched with fear. What was going to happen to him? Was there going to be a fight? Would he get hurt?
Oh, please, God, keep him safe. Make sure he comes home in one piece. Please, let everything be well.
Abruptly, she stopped pacing before turning and walking to the window, sitting in the alcove and gazing out. The duke and Lord Ealing, who had accompanied him, had been gone for hours. A knot of anxiety was resting in the middle of her chest, small and tight. What was happening? Where were they?
She noticed long shadows falling across the lawn. A gardener, pushing a wheelbarrow filled with weeds, slowly walked down a path. There was no sound of birdsong – the birds were heading to their nests. It was late afternoon now. Soon, it would be dusk. The day was almost over.
There was a soft knock on the door. Christina started, jumping up and smoothing her hair with shaking hands. “Come in.”
The door opened. It was Mrs Sollock, holding a pile of fresh towels. Christina took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto her face. The housekeeper had always been kind to her and was still kind when everyone else was treating her with suspicion and distrust.
“I thought I would bring the fresh towels to you myself,” said the housekeeper with an easy smile. “Just so as I can see how you are.” She paused. “I noticed you went for a long ride after your meeting with his grace.”
Christina nodded, gulping. “Yes,” she said in a faltering voice. “I needed to clear my mind. It seemed that his grace had heard the rumours about me and no longer trusted me, believing I was defrauding him.” She took a deep breath. “I was hurt. I did not know what to do. I told him that I would leave Newquay Hall if he wanted.”
The housekeeper’s expression didn’t change. She nodded. “And now? Do you still think you will leave the manor?”
Christina bit her lip. She hadn’t discussed the possibility of her leaving with the duke at all.
He had told her he believed that she wasn’t defrauding him, when she had returned from the ride and was informing him about the conversation between the men, but he hadn’t addressed her leaving Newquay Hall.
She had no idea whether he wanted her to go or not … or, more to the point, whether it would be the best thing all round if she left. The best thing for both of them.
