Page 21 of The Nabob's Designing Daughter
The two men shared a look. Kinmarty shrugged. “Well then, it’s not Penelope. Henderson works for her.”
“I have another question, your grace. The last two years of my university fees and expenses were paid by an anonymous benefactor. Was that person you?”
“I’ve only been duke for a little over a year.”
“Perhaps the old duke?”
“No. And not Penelope either, if that’s your next question, because she only returned from India a year ago. Why do you ask?”
“I ask because you and Forbes want to show me a cottage you’ve designated for a surgery, and because I’ve just learned that my anonymous benefactor requires me to forgo a plum position in London and serve one year as Kinmarty’s physician.”
Forbes cleared his throat. “Dr. Robillard, I’ve been trying these last months to entice a medical man here. I only ask your help in letting me know if the place will suit. If ye’ll stay, that’ll be grand, but if not, if ye can help us find a doctor, that would be grand as well.”
“We’d be lucky to have you,” the duke said. “Professor Monro said you had the deftist hands of any of the surgeons he’d trained and a good head for diagnosis. Good with maternity complications as well. I can see why you’d be wanted in London.”
“I wondered why you’d asked for me,” he said.
“Andrew, I wondered where you got off to.” The duchess stood in the open doorway and the three men shot out of their seats.
Kinmarty grinned and went to put his arm around her. “Only the best for my duchess. I was telling Dr.Robillard why we asked for his services, my love.”
“Ah. Strachney is roaming about the castle, and the shooting party has returned. You must go and entertain them. I’m in no condition to do so.”
“Are you feeling unwell?” Errol asked.
She waved a hand. “I’ve spent the morning finishing the nursery preparations, with Edme and Ann’s help. I’ll go have a rest before dinner.”
“I’ll escort you, Fil,” the duke said. “You must show me this nursery. Robillard, I’ll leave you to review whatever document it is you’re holding.”
“Very well. Send for me if you need me, your grace. I’ll be in my room.”
“Ye’re dawdling, cuz,”Edme said, taking a jeweled hairclip from Ann’s hand. “The marquess will be waiting for ye.”
Ann rolled her eyes at the reflection in the mirror. Since his return from the morning’s shooting, Hatherot had dogged her through an afternoon when she’d been hoping to speak with Mr. Henderson.
“Is he a fortune hunter, then?” Edme asked.
Ann scoffed. “What do you think?”
“That he’s smitten with ye?” Edme scoffed. “But what a handsome, braw fellow to have chasing ye.”
“Chasing my dowry, you mean.”
Edme loosened a tendril of hair at each side of Ann’s face. “I’ll grant ye your dowry is a draw, but ye’re quite lovely when ye’re not frowning. Ye noticed, I hope, that I stayed faithfully by your side when the gentlemen came in for tea.”
She recalled her father’s words in the carriage.Should any man importune you, only make sure it is one of the single men of high station and we shall have you wed by Hogmanay.
If only Errol would importune her again.
He would be at dinner and so would Mr. Henderson. She found her shawl and hurried her cousin out the door.
On his way to dinner,Errol encountered Henderson in the corridor and exchanged greetings.
“Fine weather we’re having for December,” Henderson said.
Setting the boundaries of the conversation, Errol assumed. They’d have a more private conversation the next day on the ride to Darleton.
“I hope it holds,” Henderson added. “I’ve promised my wife I’ll arrive in time for Christmas.”
