With fondest regards,
Beatrice
Harriet turned to the duke, uncertain what his response would be to this letter. “Well, Your Grace. She is safe and that is what matters most.”
He shook his head. “Do you really think so? Her father is going to fly into a rage when he sees this letter.”
“Must he see it?”
“I am not going to withhold it from him, Harriet.”
“Of course,” she said, wishing the duke would stop scowling at her. Did the letter do nothing to exonerate her? “His daughter is now happily wed to a good man who has the means to provide for her and loves her. Do you think Lord Covington will eventually see reason and accept their marriage?”
“No. You are deluded if you believe this will end well.”
This saddened her. “I hope it will. I want Lady Beatrice and her father to be happy and reconcile. Life is too short to be wasted on resentment and bile. I do not know Captain Arlington. Is he honorable or a no-good rascal?”
The duke let out a long breath. “He’s a good man, from what I know of him. Whether he will be a faithful husband, only time will tell.”
“Time, and no interference from her father. Love is a precious gift that should never be squandered. I would give anything to make such a match for myself. But as we know, I shall be fortunate to find a position in a good household and not end up begging on the street.”
The duke said nothing.
Harriet stood awkwardly beside him while Flint rolled in a tea cart and then hurried off to attend to the others. Harriet did the honors and poured tea for the duke and Simon, and then cut each of them slices of ginger cake. “Thank you, m’lady. This is delicious,” Simon declared, his eyes wide and smile even wider.
She laughed lightly. “I am glad you like it. Mrs. Paltry is His Grace’s cook and she baked this marvel of a cake.”
“I know,” the lad said between mouthfuls. “She’s my grandmother.”
That got a grin out of the duke. “Forgive me, Harriet. I should have mentioned who Simon was. He’s a regular visitor here.”
He now knelt beside the boy. “Simon, did Lady Beatrice say anything more to you?”
“No, Your Grace. She just handed me the letter, and the gentleman she was with handed me a shilling for delivering it to Miss Comeford at sundown and no sooner. Are you going to ask me for the shilling?”
The duke shook his head and smiled. “No, it is yours. You have earned it.”
He then went on to question the lad about who else was with Lady Beatrice and her gentleman, and whether they mentioned where they were headed.
“No, m’lord. Just the captain and the lady, and the lady’s maid. The captain had a carriage at the ready and they rode off in it right after the lady handed me the letter. They rode north, that’s all I saw. Oh, and the captain gave me another shilling to return the horses the ladies took. I put them in your stable before coming to find Lady Harriet.”
“I am not…” Harriet sighed because it was not worth insisting she was not a lady. “Did they look happy?”
The duke arched an eyebrow upon hearing her question.
“Oh, yes,” Simon said with a nod. “The cove could not stop smiling. Nor could the lady, although she shed a few tears because she was sad about leaving her father. But she thought he would come around in time. That’s what she told the captain.”
“I hope so.” Harriet cut the boy another slice of cake and held back a chuckle as he devoured it in two bites.
“Your Grace, may I go now?” the boy asked after taking a last sip of his tea. “My ma will worry if I’m not back soon.”
The duke had remained on his haunches beside the boy and now rose to his full height. “I’ll have my coachman deliver you home in my carriage, Simon. Are you still hungry? Shall I have your grandmother pack you a supper basket?”
“Yes, Your Grace. That would be just fine. May I go now and ask her?”
The duke nodded. “Yes. Flint will fetch you once my carriage is ready.”
The boy ran off, leaving Harriet alone with the duke.
