Page 76 of Lavender’s Lost Duke

Samuel wrapped Miriam in his arms. “See? She’ll be fine. If Thomas hurries, he can meet her there.” He kissed the top of his wife’s head.

Miriam sniffed and pointed a finger at Thomas. “Don’t you dare bungle this.”

Thomas noticed a folded note on the writing table. He picked it up, but it wasn’t addressed to anyone. He unfolded the parchment and began reading.

My dearest Miriam,

Forgive my exit. It was selfishly done, but I need to find my own way. I’ve stolen Jack, but he’ll return to you soon. I am well prepared for my journey, and my maid is with me. I have a couple of requests for you, if you would be so kind. Please have Samuel give the High Chancellor the letter Tom found. Wish me luck, my friend, I’m off to explore another option to bring my father peace.

Faithfully,

Lavender Gardner

Thomas handed the letter to Miriam, noting how different her letter was from the untidy scrawl of Jack’s. If Jack hadn’t been learning his letters, Thomas would be panicked right now, but because he knew enough to tell him where they were going, he had hope.

Didn’t he?

Lady Lavender left to go marry someone else—or at least she was trying to marry someone else. She didn’t know that Tom the gardener was actually the lost Duke of Fenleigh. Had she given up on loving him so quickly? Yes, he knew she was desperate to bring her family peace, but what about her own feelings?

He’d effectively stomped on her heart by not telling her he loved her the other night. But he’d wanted her to know the truth about who he was. Why had he kept his mouth shut? She’d more than proved her trustworthiness time and again.

He watched Samuel and Miriam reading the note together. When they’d finished, they met his eyes. “She wants us to turn in the letter,” Samuel said as he tapped the parchment against his palm.

“Then you turn in the letter,” Thomas pulled himself up taller. “Follow her wishes in every respect. I’m going home.”

Samuel set his jaw. “You must promise me to retain your disguise until you reach your estate. We can’t chance you running into danger along the road. When I take this to the High Chancellor, I will testify to you being under my employ during the duration of your disappearance.”

“I don’t want your family in trouble, Samuel.”

“It is a fine thing then that we are both dukes. If not for that, we would both be in very real danger. As it is, I believe banding together will help us.”

Miriam squeezed Thomas’s hand. “Find her. We’ll take care of the rest.”

Thomas kissed Miriam on the hand and clapped Samuel on the back as he went to his small quarters beneath stairs. It took him an entire thirty seconds to stuff everything he had with him into a bag. When he exited the small room, Samuel was there again. “Take one of my horses, don’t go too fast, and you won’t need to stop for the night. I’m going to the High Chancellor now.”

“Thank you, Samuel—for everything. I’m blessed to have a friend like you.”

Thomas ran into a startled Mrs. Bitters on his way through the kitchen. He kissed her cheek and then sprinted to the stable. He saddled a horse himself and was off a few minutes later.

Chapter 37

Lavender knocked on the door of the Duke of Fenleigh’s country estate. The butler opened it.

“Good day, sir. I’m sent here by His Grace, the Duke of Gilfordshire. He told me I would find respite from the cares of London for a few days.”

“His Grace is not at home at the moment. Would you mind waiting in the parlor while I fetch his steward?”

“Of course.” Lavender hid her shaking hands behind her back. She hated lying, but she felt certain that Samuel would have allowed her the lie if she asked him to.

The butler opened the door for her and her maid. Jack stayed outside with the carriage, tossing his hat from one hand to the other.

Once Lavender and her maid were left to wait, Lavender made a slow circle of the room. There was nothing here that would give her hints into the Duke of Fenleigh’s person or family. The room was beautiful, the wainscoting was trimmed in gold, and the chandelier was enchanting. Landscapes were the only decorations on the walls, and there was a stack of books on a side table. Lavender walked over to the beautiful pile and started shifting through them to read their titles.

“Good day, miss.”

Lavender jumped and dropped the pile of books loudly back onto the table. She covered her heart with one hand. “Heavens, you startled me. Please forgive my snooping.”

“Lady Lavender, is that you?”