Page 24 of The Duke and the Spinster

Chapter Nine

The door opened, and a very old butler regarded her with rheumy blue eyes.

“Dobbins? It is Dobbins, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. How is it that you know me, Miss…?”

“I am Lady Juliana Willoughby. I last saw you 8 years ago, Dobbins, when my family stayed here for a month, whilst my great-great aunt was in London.”

His face was transformed by a delighted smile.

“My Lady! Do come in, you look rather tired, if I may be so impolite as to say so. Shall I have some tea and biscuits sent to the parlour for you, whilst I inform Lady Bellinghaugh that you have arrived?” He peered past her, with a puzzled expression. “Aaah, my Lady, where is your maid, and your luggage?”

“I am afraid, Dobbins, that I am here in unusual circumstances. I have no maid with me, and only this valise.”

Shock showed on his face for a moment, then disappeared.

“Very good my Lady. Come this way please.”

She followed him into the parlour, glad of his discretion. The couch was comfortable, and most pleasant after a long day of jouncing on the hard seat of the coach. She almost drifted towards sleep, and was brought back to herself with a start when a maid appeared with the tray of tea and an assortment of pastries which were far more than the simple biscuits that Dobbins had suggested.

Not long after that, Lady Bellinghaugh entered the room, leaning on her intricately carved cane. She was dressed in the height of fashion from ten years previous, but she smiled, her eyes bright and curious. Juliana stood, suddenly finding herself at a loss for words.

“You’ve grown my girl, and grown well. You’re far prettier than your mother was as a young thing, although don’t tell her I said so! I take it, as you’ve appeared on my doorstep with no warning, no maid, and no luggage, that you have a problem of some sort, and need help?”

“Umm, yes, Lady Bellinghaugh. That is the case.”

Juliana felt like a fool, standing there, and was shocked by the comment about prettiness, but the old woman laughed, waving her to resume her seat and coming to sit beside her.

“Good to see that you’re honest, my girl. I never could abide a liar. Now, pour me some of that tea, and tell me the story.”

Juliana started slowly, but her great-great aunt was a kind woman, and patient. She drew her out, encouraging her to go on, and soon, everything came spilling out, in far more detail than she had intended.

It was a great relief to speak of it, and an even greater relief when her aunt did not judge her, did not criticise her, but simply listened. The only comment the woman made was a little shocking – she expressed her wish to damn the entire ton to hell for the sort of behaviour that they had demonstrated to Juliana in her failed Season.

Once the torrent of words ran dry, Lady Bellinghaugh looked at her with knowing eyes, and patted her hand.

“Good for you. I think that you made the right choice – when you cannot strike back at bullies, it’s best to remove yourself from their reach. For now, you need more solid food than this,” she waved her hand at the tea tray, “and then you need a bath, and a decent bed to sleep in. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.”

It was as if an enormous weight, that she had not known she was carrying, lifted from Juliana’s shoulders.

~~~~~

That evening, whilst Garrett travelled into the darkness, Lady Prudence stood in the parlour at Hallingbrook Grange. Where was the satisfaction in knowing that her competitor for the Duke’s attention appeared to have taken her threats seriously and disappeared, when the Duke himself was not present? But then, he had, over the years, never been fond of social events – perhaps he simply had decided to take a day away from the house party. Surely, he would be at tomorrow’s picnic. She drifted through the evening, gossiping, and planning what she would wear tomorrow, to entrance him.

Across the room from Lady Prudence, the Earl of Fondleton also scanned the room. Lady Juliana was nowhere to be seen. That was annoying, especially after she had escaped his arms the previous night. He still was not sure how that had happened. One minute he’d had her trapped, about to capitulate and accept his plans for her, the next, something had grabbed him with immense force, and knocked him unconscious – he had not had time to see who, or what – the world had gone black.

He had woken hours later, to a servant wiping his face with a very cold cloth. The servant had assumed that he had over indulged in the brandy, fallen, and knocked himself on the stairs. The bruising on his face could certainly have been caused by such a fall. But, even if he did not know who, he knew that he had come by that bruise from a man, not a staircase.

To add to his annoyance, Kilmerstan was not present either. What if Kilmerstan had spirited her away somewhere? But no, he simply couldn’t credit that – the man was far too honourable and upright to take sensible advantage. He would have to wait. Surely, she would be in attendance tomorrow.

~~~~~

Garrett travelled far into the night, only stopping at moonset, when it became too dark to continue. They rested until just before dawn in a tiny Inn in a village that barely existed, then were on their way again. He had struggled to sleep, worried about what might have happened to Lady Juliana, if she had not reached Lady Bellinghaugh’s home before dark. In the end, exhaustion took him, and he slept deeply for the few short hours available.

As the sun rose on a beautiful summer’s day, his heart rose too. Hope filled him, that she was safe, that no harm had befallen her. The closer they came to Bath, the more hopeful he felt. Perhaps it was foolishness to hope so, but he could not help himself – for to believe that anything bad had overtaken her would be far too hard to bear.

By the time they reached Bath, it was nearing midday. He asked the coachman to pause a few minutes on the outskirts of the city, whilst he straightened his clothes, tied a fresh cravat, and pushed his hair into some semblance of order. It would not do to appear on Lady Bellinghaugh’s doorstep looking like a ruffian.