She gazed around the library of her house on Bedford Square where they talked. The house was not nearly as large as Gifford House, of course, but it would suit her. If she lived here she could more quickly finish her other plans for this abode.
Women lacked places to meet and relax, other than each other’s homes. Men had their clubs, taverns, and coffee shops for that purpose. Why shouldn’t women have refuges too? This house, with its dining room and library and drawing room, might serve as one, to a select group of friends. She would not even have to make many changes.
How nice it would be if a woman could leave her home and venture out, knowing that at her destination there would be friends and acquaintances with whom she could spend an hour or so, taking some coffee and cakes, or even, heaven forbid, a bit of sherry or wine. Clara thought she would love to have a women’s club like that, so others probably would too.
“When do you plan to effect this move? It is a big step,” Althea said.
“Tomorrow next. I have already informed my maid to start packing my trunks.”
“Have you informed your brother and sister and, lest we leave her out, your grandmother?”
“Not yet.”
“Do you intend to slip away at night and leave a note?”
“Of course not.” It had crossed her mind. “Let us not dwell on the row that will ensue, but speak of other things. Have you learned anything regarding Stratton?”
Althea smiled smugly. “Perhaps.”
“Are you going to tell me, or tease me?”
“I thought a little of the latter would be fair. It is very provocative news, and considering the guilt I suffered to get it, I ought to make you pay.”
“Provocative, you say. I am all ears.”
“I learned that there was a very vague rumor that the last duke did not perish in a hunting accident as was commonly believed. Rather, he turned his pistol on himself.”
Clara stared at Althea. “Who told you this? It is a shocking thing to say if it is not true.”
“I wormed it out of my great-aunt.”
“The great-aunt who needs watching?”
“I tell myself I did not take advantage, but I think I did. She was visiting my brother, and we were left alone. I had just asked my brother what he knew about Stratton, when he was called away by his secretary. My aunt began sharing whatsheknew of Stratton, as if I had posed the question to her.” She bit her lower lip. “I suppose I should have stopped her.”
“Perhaps she confused him with someone else. Someone from many years ago.”
“I do not think so, considering what else she said.”
Clara leaned in, so she would not miss a word.
“She saidOf course, his loyalty had been impugned. What else could he do?”
“No.”
Althea nodded. “Then my brother returned, and with one glare silenced her.”
“I don’t remember any rumors about his loyalty. Of course, no one would dare sharing such a thing openly if no official accusations had been made.”
“She could also be wrong. Or, as you said, confused him with someone else.”
Not for the first time, discussions of Stratton’s family pulled memories out of Clara, deep ones about things to which she had never attached significance. Now, while she pondered this revelation, snips of images came to her from that time. She saw her father in his study, bent over theTimeson his desk, squinting at a notice bound in a black border. She had only glanced to see what absorbed him because of his expression. It had not been one of sorrow or curiosity. Rather, a steely resolve had masked his face, which she thought odd considering he read a death notice of another peer.
“She also said it happened on a family property,” Althea said. “She spoke like he had shown bad form in killing himself like that.”
“How horrible.” Clara felt sympathy for the duke now. It had been bad enough experiencing the passing of her own father. How much worse to go through that under these circumstances. “Small wonder that he left England so soon after. The current duke, I mean. If your aunt believed this, others did, I am sure. The whispers would have been unbearable during such grief.”
“I think it just as likely he left due to that business about impugned loyalty, don’t you? That sort of thing stains a family name, sometimes forever.”
