Page 13 of Long Live the Baron
Mr. Ridley tilted his head in question at the duke, who shook his head. “It would not settle the matter because they could not confirm Brendan was there the entire time. It would have to be the lady.”
“Or, perhaps, her servants?” responded the gentleman, a flush rising out of Mr. Ridley’s collar and spreading to his ears, which turned a fiery red. Lily wondered what it was about until she recalled that he had been at Lady Slight’s, but the widow had not been there. Presumably, he did not want to reveal that his paramour had abandoned him all evening, which was why he was musing about the servants in her stead.
“I suppose that the woman in question would need to be agreeable or her servants will not come forward.” The duke was pessimistic in his reply.
Lily stared down at her hands, trying to think of a solution. She knew Mr. Ridley had been at Lady Slight’s the entire evening, but young ladies like her were practically invisible until they wed. And she could not attest for certain that Mr. Ridley had not left Lady Slight’s in the middle of the night. Only Lady Slight’s servants could attest to that, which they would only do with the widow’s permission. If Lily admitted her knowledge, it was certain her cousin would dissuade her from getting involved to protect her from a scandal that might affect her eligibility for a good marriage. But if Mr. Ridley could not request help, perhaps Lily could visit Lady Slight to convince the widow to step forward?
Not, she suspected, if she forewarned the others of her idea. And Mr. Ridley clearly did not wish to reveal the widow’s identity. Conferring with him in private would be impossible and, regardless, he would probably decline her offer to assist him.
“So Mr. Grimes is likely to issue a warrant of arrest for Brendan?” The duchess’s voice was even but thick, and Lily suspected she was on the verge of tears.
“I think it is possible. Briggs is questioning the servants, but so far none of them have confirmed they let Brendan in this morning. Even so, I believe an alibi is the only certain method to have Grimes move on to find the true murderer.”
“What would happen if he arrests me?” Mr. Ridley sounded haggard with worry.
“You will probably be imprisoned and …” The duke stopped, looking away with a pained expression.
“And?” Her Grace queried.
Sophia responded reluctantly, stating what each of them was thinking. “In the last century, the Earl of Ferrers was imprisoned at the Tower and then he was condemned to death by Lords for killing his agent. If Mr. Ridley is tried and found guilty of murdering a peer of the realm …” The countess bowed her head, the room descending into silence with only a low sniffle from the duchess to acknowledge the dire nature of her brother’s predicament.
To Lily’s right, Mr. Ridley collapsed his head into his hands with a groan. “So I am to be arrested, tried, and hanged based on the assumption that I am guilty?”
His anguish was palpable, but unlike earlier, Lily did not think her babbling would lighten the mood. She had never been involved in such an adult conversation, and she was afraid she had nothing useful to offer. Perhaps she was a silly child, after all.
Her frustration rose to engulf her body, a physical sensation that made her skin itch. She finally had a chance to participate in a mature matter, and she found herself speechless. Even so, if it would help Mr. Ridley out of his predicament, she would stand as a witness. But the witness that they needed was not her, it was the widow.
I must find a way to help the duchess and her brother!
CHAPTER4
“Quickness is the essence of the war.”
Sun Tzu, L’Art de la Guerre (The Art of War)
* * *
JULY 21, 1821
“Miss Lily, I ain’t sure about this. Your mama is going to have words with me.” Nancy was plaintive, her eyes furtively searching the street to ensure no one saw them approaching the widow’s door. “The talk belowstairs is that Lady Slight is a bit of a fusty luggs!”
“A WHAT?”
Nancy scowled, her wrinkles settling into deep lines as she mumbled under her breath.
“FUSTY LUGGS?”
The old nursemaid huffed before replying with obvious reluctance, “A mean-tempered trollop.”
Lily’s eyes widened in feigned surprise. “Never say there is gossip amongst the servants!”
Nancy leaned forward to hear better. “Hey?”
Lily tossed her an impish smile and turned back to raise the knocker on the door, bringing it down with a determined wrap. She needed to be quick about this before her family noted her absence.
Lady Slight’s rake-thin butler opened the door, sweeping his gaze over her before rotating his head to take in old Nancy, with her disheveled hair and drooping mobcap. His lips curled in disdain. “May I help you, miss?”
Straightening herself to her full height, Lily adopted the haughty tone she had heard Mama use on those she deemed unworthy. She offered him one of her calling cards. “Miss Abbott to see Lady Slight.”
