Page 51 of The Duke’s Hidden Duchess

“I had nearly succeeded.”

“Then I am pleased to have interrupted you.”

By the time the rain ceased, the western edge of the sky had begun to clear. Sunlight broke beneath the retreating cloud and spread across the wet valley, turning the river briefly to gold.

Nathaniel brought the cob from beneath the trees and returned it to the shafts. Selina took his arm as they descended the slippery slope and did not immediately release it when they reached level ground.

They drove home slowly, their sleeves touching upon the narrow seat. Neither moved away.

***

Georgiana was waiting in the front hall.

The happiness of the folly receded at the sight of her. She stood near the foot of the stairs with a candle in her hand, though it was not yet dark enough to require one.

“What has happened?” Nathaniel asked.

“I may be mistaken.” Georgiana spoke too quickly, as though she had repeated the qualification many times while waiting. “I tried to persuade myself that I was. But I went into the village with my maid this afternoon, and there was a carriage outside the Wexford Arms which looked exactly like Mr Rowland’s.”

Selina removed her wet gloves slowly. “Exactly in what respect?”

“The colour. The yellow line upon the door. One of the lamps sits slightly crooked because it was struck in March.” Georgiana looked from Selina to her brother. “I saw it waiting in the mews more than once. I think I should know it.”

“Did you see Rowland?”

“No. Nor his coachman. That is why I said I might be mistaken. We had nearly passed the inn before I noticed it, and I did not wish to stop and draw attention to myself.”

“You did well,” Selina said.

“I told myself that another gentleman might own a similar carriage. But the lamp…” Georgiana’s fingers tightened around the candle. “If it is his, he has followed us.”

“Or he has come ahead of someone else,” Nathaniel said.

“Or wishes us to know that he is here,” Selina added.

Georgiana looked towards the front door as though Rowland might already be standing beyond it.

“There was no one I could tell,” she said. “Not anyone who would know whether it mattered. I have been waiting for you to return.”

“You have told us now.” Selina crossed the hall and took her cold hand. “We shall have someone sent to the inn quietly. Until we know who arrived in that carriage, we assume nothing.”

“You do think it was his.”

“I think you recognised something you had reason to remember. That is not proof, but neither is it something we shall dismiss.”

Nathaniel summoned Bassett and instructed him to make discreet enquiries through the steward. Georgiana remained beside Selina while he spoke.

“What do we do if he is there?” she asked.

“We discover why he has come before allowing him to discover anything from us,” Selina said.

Her voice was calm. Nathaniel looked at her once but did not expose the fear beneath it.

“You should go upstairs and change before dinner,” Selina continued. “We shall tell you as soon as we know anything certain.”

Georgiana hesitated, then nodded. At the turn of the stairs, she looked back.

Nathaniel waited until she was out of hearing.