Page 13 of The Duke and the Spinster

Chapter Five

Juliana felt ill. Part of her could not, in any way, believe the words that had just been spoken to her. But the words had sown a seed of doubt – what if Lady Prudence had spoken the truth? She certainly seemed to be close to the Duke’s mother, and, if the words were true, and he was the sort of man who would flirt and converse in depth with one woman, whilst all but betrothed to another…

She could not bear the thought, but now that she had let it into her mind, she could not unthink it. She would avoid him. that would be simpler. If she did so, Eleanor would be pleased, too. Although if Lady Prudence had spoken the truth… then Eleanor had no hope in that direction either.

Juliana stepped out from behind the palms, and set off towards her father. As she did so, she almost collided with a man who was hurrying towards her. She had not been introduced, but she remembered being told that he was the Earl of Fondleton. There was something about him that made her shiver, and avoid the collision with an exaggerated step.

Which made her nearly fall, and made it obvious to all around her how clumsy she was. Sighing, she righted herself, and hurried to her father. She was completely unaware of the Earl stopping and looking after her, his jaw clenched with frustration.

“Father, I have a megrim – might we return to Hardcastle House?”

Her father looked at her, his eyes full of sympathy – he had seen the stumble.

“Of course, Juliana, your mother can stay here with Eleanor, and I’ll send the carriage back for them. I’ll take you back to Hardcastle House now.”

Gratefully, Juliana escaped. Ten minutes later, the Duke returned to the room, and looked around, puzzled at her disappearance.

~~~~~

When Garrett returned to the room, having dealt with a small matter with one of his neighbours, he had hoped to continue his conversation with Lady Juliana. But she was gone. He wondered what had happened. He moved through the room, rather disconsolate and, as always, listening to the snatches of conversation that came to him.

After a short while spent watching a card game, it became clear to him that the tone of the conversations had shifted from local gossip of the general kind to a far nastier sort of gossip, full of snide comments and implications.

That disturbed him, for the local people were rarely so nastily inclined. But what disturbed him more was the moment when he realised that the gossip was about Lady Juliana. Her disappearance suddenly made sense, given what he was hearing.

“…did you see her – she nearly fell over on the floor here, just before she left. They must be right, there’s obviously something wrong with her, and the family are hiding it – for there was nothing for her to trip on – she just twisted and nearly fell…”

His heart ached for her. Now, he had some insight into what she might have suffered over the years. But… why had she nearly fallen? None of it made sense. He would have to discover more – about her, and about her family. He could not allow this to continue, could not allow her to be impugned in this way.

He truly struggled to understand how others could see her so differently from what he saw. Shaking his head, he turned away from watching the card game, no longer even slightly entertained, and sought out his mother and sisters. He was more than ready to return home, for his evening had been irredeemably soured.

~~~~~

The following afternoon, Garrett escorted his mother and sisters into the town, where they settled in the Tea Rooms to partake of the new blends of tea, and the latest pastry confections. He declared his intention to go for a walk, and left them to the tea and gossip.

His walk had purpose, beyond allowing him to escape the tedium of social conversation. A small bell rang as he pushed open the door below the gilded sign – Sandiford and Son, Lawyers.

“Your Grace! What can I do to assist you today?”

The elder Sandiford had surged to his feet, coming forward with a hopeful expression. Garrett, like his father before him, used the Sandifords as his men of business when at Kilmerstan Castle, for they had the convenience of being local, and the excellent attribute of being good at their work. Garrett glanced around the small office, and was pleased to note that neither the younger Sandiford, nor the two clerks were present.

“Good day to you, Mr Sandiford. I was hoping that you might be able to discover some information for me. Quietly.”

“Oh? Of course, Your Grace, I will do my best. Please, do take a seat and tell me what it is that you need to know.”

Garrett sank onto the offered chair, and regarded Sandiford consideringly. He hoped that the man would be as effective in this as he was in everything else.

“I need some background information on a gentleman who is visiting Upper Nettlefold with his family, for the purpose of attending the house party at Hallingbrook Grange. Where he is staying – for he is not staying at Hallingbrook Grange - an indication of the health of his finances, any scandal associated with the name, that sort of thing. And I’d like to know as much as possible by tomorrow.”

“And who is the gentleman in question?”

“The Earl of Delbarton.”

Sandiford’s eyes widened a little, at being asked to investigate a man of the nobility.

“You set me quite a challenge, Your Grace. Is there a particular reason for your request? Anything that I should know?”

“This is to be held in the utmost confidence, Sandiford. There is some gossip, of a rather vicious nature, about a member of his family. It disturbs me greatly, and I would wish to know the truth of the matter, without the necessity to confront the gossipers, or the man himself.”