Page 34 of Taming a Beastly Duke
“Grandmother, I have estate business to attend to,” he grunted, scowling darkly at Augusta. “I also must now begin the search for a new physician, since…” he trailed off, looking away from his grandmother.
Augusta shook her head, her smile unwavering.
“You shall join us, Marcus,” she said. “Remaining here and hiding will not get you well.”
Thomas watched the interaction with a worried expression, wondering if the dowager duchess might be wrong. Marcus’s tremors had worsened, and his usual commanding presence seemed diminished by recent events. He crossed his arms, the gesture seemingly one of trying to hide the severity of his tremors, rather than one of defiance. Yet Augusta seemed to take it as a refusal of her expectation.
“I am making the preparations now, Marcus,” she said. “This will help us all, especially you. I expect to see you in the grand hall in fifteen minutes.”
Thomas saw Marcus drop his head, a picture of despair. At last, he nodded, silently relenting to his grandmother’s demand.
Thomas smiled at Augusta, even as he gave his friend a sympathetic look.
“I shall help him to the grand hall as soon as we have finished our conversation,” he said.
The dowager duchess smiled approvingly, nodding diplomatically.
“Very good, Thomas,” she said.
When Augusta departed, Thomas approached Marcus with eyes full of empathy.
“Please believe me when I say I am sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I can see that you are unwell, but Augusta is nothing if not persistent. I feared the strain of continuing a fruitless line of reasoning might overwhelm you before this excursion did.”
Marcus smirked weakly, though there was no humor in it. However, he gave Thomas a nod and a grateful glance.
“I know what you did for me,” he said. “Thank you, my friend.”
Thomas nodded, gesturing for them to exit the study to meet the women in the grand hall, as Augusta had demanded. But as Marcus used his handkerchief to wipe his face, Thomas noticed Miss Potter hovering outside the study door. Her eyes were fixed on Marcus, and her eyes were filled with something Thomas tried to analyze. Was she concerned? If so, why did her expression appear to be so calculating?
How is it that she is always near when terrible things happen? He thought, watching to see what the maid might do. And now, it is not even just when Marcus is ill, but when he is upset and having private conversations.
Miss Potter was gone in the same instant it took Thomas to notice her presence. It seemed to have lasted for several moments, but it was over so quickly that Thomas could not be sure that he was right with what he saw in her. However, with all the other strange things that were happening, it stirred unease in Thomas’s mind. The mystery illness was bad enough. Nevertheless, there were now too many unexplained things happening, and all of them seemed to center around Marcus. How could he trust anyone other than Marcus?
***
The early summer sunshine bathed the grounds of Sydney Gardens in a vibrant cheerfulness. It cast a facade of its delight upon their group as they walked along the gravel paths, but it was merely that: a deceptive attempt to claim joy in a day that had brought nothing but tragedy and worry. Adelaide walked beside Edith, grateful to be with her dear friend and far behind the rest of their group. As much as she longed to spend more time with the Duke, she was unsettled by recent events. Besides, she was eager to express some of her concerns about the situation.
She watched the shadows cast by Edith’s and her parasols onto the gravel path for a moment, trying to choose her words carefully. She wanted to confide in her friend, but she did not wish to upset her any more than Adelaide knew she was.
“Are you well?” Adelaide asked, deciding to begin with light conversation.
Edith looked at her with a tired smile.
“I am well,” she said sadly. “As well as one might expect under the circumstance.”
Adelaide nodded, moving closer to her friend.
“It is very strange, is it not?” she asked, dropping her voice. “I cannot accept that someone could blame the weather for the accident when it was as clear as it is here today.”
Edith looked at Adelaide as if she were relieved the subject had been broached.
“It is odd, indeed,” she whispered. “I also do not understand how anyone could know such news when it has not yet reached the newspaper.”
Adelaide bit her lip and nodded.
“I considered the same thing,” she said. “I cannot make sense of any of it. There is so much strangeness of late and none of it explains anything.”
Edith nodded; her eyes wide.
