“My dear, I must have you with me, for you have a good sense about people. You will know who is lying and who is telling the truth.”
“All right, but I do not think your grandson has the same confidence in me.” In truth, she was convinced that he blamed her as Covington did.
Losing the duke’s trust and respect devastated her.
How could she stay if he now loathed her? And yet, where could she go?
She would make the offer to leave, of course.
It was the proper thing to do.
But then, she would have to beg him for the fare to London and a little more to tide her over since she would also need a place to stay while she searched for employment.
It all seemed hopeless.
“I’ll summon them right away,” Harriet said and hurried off to gather the ladies.
Within the quarter hour they were all seated in the drawing room.
“What is all the fuss about?” Lady Marianna asked.
The dowager left it up to Harriet to tell them what had happened. “This is why the duchess has asked you all here. Do any of you have any idea where Lady Beatrice has gone? Her father is frantic with worry for her safety.”
Lady Annalise and Lady Winifred found the situation amusing.
“If she has run off with Captain Arlington, then I expect she will be in no danger,” Lady Annalise said with a dismissive air. “The man is an honorable prig. He’ll marry her, I have no doubt. Less competition for us all.”
Winifred agreed. “She’s a good one to have knocked off Pendrake’s list since she was his favorite. But good riddance to her. She’s made her choice and must deal with the consequences. It is not our concern if her father disowns her. She’ll have to get used to living on a captain’s wages.”
All the ladies tittered at the notion.
The dowager did not look amused.
After asking a few more questions to which she received unhelpful answers, the dowager dismissed the diamonds. “Stay, Harriet.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“I have never been treated with such insolence in all my days,” she intoned. “These ladies are shockingly cold-hearted.”
Harriet nodded. “I do not believe Beatrice would have confided in any of them. I think we will get more out of Lord Covington’s valet or his coachman. Beatrice’s maid would have been most helpful, but she seems to have run off with Beatrice. Your grandson dismissed my suggestion to have her room searched for clues, but I do not see how this can hurt. Would you mind if Mrs. Watkins and I searched her room?”
“It is good idea. Go to it, Harriet. But first ask Flint to summon the coachman and valet. I shall question them in the meanwhile.”
Harriet did as the dowager asked, however her room search yielded nothing, just as the duke expected.
When she returned to the drawing room to report to the dowager, the dear lady appeared equally glum. “The valet and coachman knew nothing.”
Nor could any of the Pendrake maids offer anything.
Harriet thought they might have overheard a whisper or two, but none did. Lady Beatrice and her maid were quite careful and had fooled them all.
Harriet said as much to the dowager.
“Yes, my dear. We were all completely taken in.”
This ought to have made Harriet feel better, but it did not. She could not forget the angry scowl on the duke’s face as he left for the village with Ware, Folkstone, and Beatrice’s father.
Supper was delayed until nine o’clock that evening in the hope the men would return in time. As the hour approached, Harriet thought to simply remain in her bedchamber, but the dowager would not hear of it and sent Millie to assist her. “Wear the lovely ivory with the floral embroidery tonight, Miss Harriet. This will be a casual evening, one that might end shortly after supper if the gentlemen do not return.”
