“Lady Violet. And…” George suddenly looked around and then nodded his head toward a door. “In here, if you please. I would not say what I have to say where the servants can hear.”
Alexander followed his instruction and found himself in a drawing room. A fire burned merrily and clearly had been burning for no little time. The warmth of the room was close and oppressive. George followed him in and then closed the door behind them both.
“Your Grace. I hope you will permit me to speak to you frankly,” George blustered.
“Of course,” Alexander replied.
“My niece, Violet, is not here and is no longer available to you,” George said hurriedly.
He then looked up at Alexander, chin jutting pugnaciously as though readying himself for a fight.
“Surely, that is up tae her?” Alexander replied, lapsing into his native dialect.
“This is my house and while she is living here, she is my responsibility,” George insisted. “In any case, she is not at home today.”
“I know that she was not at home earlier, for she was in Westminster, listening to a debate. The same which I assume you were present?”
“I was not able to view the debate but I cast my vote in the division lobby,” George replied.
“Would you care tae tell me where Violet is?” Alexander demanded.
“I would not care to, Your Grace,” George replied obstinately. “That is her business and mine.”
Alexander grinned through gritted teeth, fists clenching. The obstinate, pompous old fool was preventing Alexander from finding Violet and making peace with her, if that was still possible.
I walked away from her because of Ambrose’s threat. What he can do to harm her, I cannot think, but if he somehow knows about our intimacy it does not bear thinking about. He could destroy her utterly.
That was now academic. Alexander had information that should nullify any attempt by Ambrose at blackmail. But he had wished to make amends with Violet, to offer an explanation, before going to see Ambrose. It was frustrating that George’s prejudice was preventing that.
“I will ask you as one gentleman to another. I mean her no harm and wish only to give her the opportunity to send me away, if that is what she wishes. I…care for her very deeply but would ask her the question face to face,” Alexander said, hating the pleading tone that he felt was creeping into his voice and hating George just as much for forcing him to put it there.
“I do not recognize you as a gentleman, sir,” George said stiffly. “Had an officer under my command behaved as you have done, I would have him drummed out of the regiment forthwith.”
“And how have I behaved, Lord Ravendel?” Alexander asked.
“I have been informed of your reprehensible behavior. Unbecoming to a member of the gentry, let alone a Duke.”
Alexander nodded sadly. “The fact that I come from the wrong side of Hadrian’s Wall has nothing to do with it. That, when I am not careful, I speak with a Glesga accent and use words you deem to be improper English, has absolutely nothing to do with it.”
He wanted to feel angry, to spit these words at the man with a righteous fury. But it was no longer in him. He had fought for so long against this prejudice, it had drained the life from him. He was tired of fighting.
“Well, it is all about propriety and what is proper. Violet herself would tell you that.”
“Aye, she did. She trained me well but I believe she was starting to see that a man should not deny who he is.”
George opened his mouth to speak but Alexander put up a hand, looking down at the floor.
“It doesnae matter. You win, Lord Ravendel. You are right, of course. I do not belong here. Not in your ballrooms or in your Parliament. I was born in England as the heir to a Dukedom but was sent away by a father who did not care. God put me into the hands of his priests who decided to make money, selling my labor. I grew up on the streets of Glesga. It was not my choice or my fault. I would still be there but an English solicitor found me and gave me a Dukedom. Since then I have tried to live up to that Dukedom but I do not know how. Unlike you, I was not educated on how to do it. I was taught how to climb a chimney, how to steal a loaf of bread to avoid starving, and how to blend into the shadows when I needed to. If I could have grown up in marble halls and silk shirts, do you not think I would have chosen that in a heartbeat, man!”
George looked uncomfortable. He half turned away, harrumphing and pulling at the lapels of his coat.
“Well, I…that is to say…I have commanded men who came from similar circumstances. I know that they do not have the same breeding as myself or…”
“No matter. I will never convince you or any of your kind. I am an outsider and always will be. I just wanted to make this country a little bit better for those who cannot fight forthemselves. I have business to conclude and I will not burden you with my presence. Good day to you, sir. Or as I grew up saying, I’ll see ye aifter.”
He turned to leave but George stopped him.
“Wait! Your Grace. Violet was summoned to the home of Lord Godstone. That is where she has gone.”
