“You are not bald, my dear darling,” the governess whispered.
“No? Then we shall marry even though I am NOT bald and COULD attract a mistress!” the duke cried.
And so, they did marry. The villagers were exceedingly surprised by this turn of events, but grateful too. The gentle governess who was now the duchess had assured them that there would be no more mistaken murders. She did not think.
The duke loved his duchess so well that when she said he did have all his fingers and he did still have a nose on his face, he chose to believe her and turn his mind to what else might be missing from his person.
The duke and duchess had many children between them and while all of them were eccentric, not a one of them was totally mad. The castle turned into a very lively place, what with all the children about and the duchess often heard crying, “Do not fear, Duke, I can see your arm with my own eyes.” Or, “Believe me, my love, you are not turning into an octopus.” Or the oft heard, “I swear to you that your body has not disappeared completely.”
They lived happily ever after.
The End.
Miss Mayton sighed contentedly and closed the book.
“I had a feeling they should work it out between them,” the earl said.
“What did you think of it, Van Doren?” Juliet said, clearly attempting to bait him into saying something uncivil.
If he were to give his real opinion, he might express his wonder at an author who had composed such absolute drivel, the publisher who had taken it on, and Miss Mayton who had paid money for it. But then, the earl had for some reason been taken with the story and he would not for the world insult the earl.
“I am glad it all resolved happily, I suppose,” he said.
“You cannot be glad,” Viola said.
“I will not believe you are glad for a moment,” Cordelia said.
Matthew rose. “I will be off,” he said. “I should not like to keep the servants up longer than necessary on the night before a ball.”
“We will see you on the morrow, then,” the earl said.
Matthew bowed and let himself out.
What an evening. He’d been exposed as a foolish gentleman and caused gossip that had reached the house. Conbatten had not exposed himself, but rather filled the house with red roses.
What he thought of the fictional duke and his sweet governess was of no matter. There was a real duke to contend with and Matthew was certain all would come to a head tomorrow night.
*
Darden lounged withhis sisters in the drawing room. As a usual thing, he ought to be off to his club, but this evening was Beatrice’s ball and he must stay on hand in the house. He could not say why there were always last-minute emergencies leading up to a large gathering, but there always were. He’d told his father he’d steer the ship for the ball, and he would.
A footman brought in a note for Beatrice and she opened it. “Conbatten sends his regrets,” she said.
“Lady Jersey knows her business,” Darden said. He was, naturally, disappointed that Conbatten was not coming to his house. However, the cause of it was one to rejoice in. Van Doren had made himself an absolute fool by attempting to drive the duke away from Beatrice and ending by lecturing Harveston instead.
“We still cannot work out why Van Doren did it,” Cordelia said.
“I say he’s gone mad,” Juliet said. “He’s even said I might live in a garret with a poet.”
“Really?” Darden asked. “What else did he have to say for himself last evening?”
“He was glad everything ended happily between the duke and his gentle governess in Miss Mayton’s book,” Viola said. “You will never convince me he was glad.”
“I do not think he liked the red roses at all,” Rosalind said. “Though, that was at least very usual for him. He does not appreciate a grand gesture.”
“We think he’s become intemperate,” Miss Mayton said. “That seems to be how London has affected him, though we cannot think why.”
“Perhaps it is because he finds himself pursued by Lady Mary and Lady Clara,” Darden said, hoping to elicit some response from Beatrice. She had so far been silent on the subject of Van Doren.
