Page 82 of The Duke of Pain

“I don’t believe he received it,” Gideon said, barely containing his anger. “Or I would have heard of it. Where are the three servants who were recently hired?”

One of the women stood. “They did a runner, Your Grace, begging your pardon. Paid with stolen goods, I’ll be bound.”

Gideon turned toward the voice. “Mrs. Peterson. My deepest apologies. I swear to you all, I had no idea what was going on here. I did not take my responsibilities seriously, to this household, to those of you who worked so diligently here for years. I allowed Whinstone to stay here because I wanted him out of my sight. But I never gave a thought to how he would treat you all. I cannot begin to make amends.”

The staff said nothing but were eyeing Gideon warily. Olivia couldn’t blame them.

“Is one of you the housekeeper?” Olivia asked.

“Excuse me,” Gideon said. “This is Miss Olivia Durham, my fiancée. Next to her are Miss Althea Galway and Archie Fitzgerald of the Galway Investigative Agency. We had hoped to catch Whinstone in the act.”

“Hello, Miss Galway,” Mrs. Peterson said. “I am the cook. We’ve not had a housekeeper here for four years. Mr. Chapman hired a few, but they never stayed.” The remaining staff was introduced.

“Do any of you know where Whinstone and his accomplices have gone?” Althea asked.

“No, Miss Galway,” the butler replied, holding a cloth to his head. “I’m sorry.”

“Do not be sorry, Henderson. I am going for the police. Do you need a doctor for your injury?” Gideon asked.

“No, Your Grace. Mrs. Peterson can attend me. It is not serious.”

“I will return shortly. Come, Archie.”

Gideon and Archie disappeared up the stairs.

Olivia turned to face the shaken staff. “You have all been through a horrible ordeal, not only this evening, but the past couple of years Whinstone has been living here. Believe when I tell you that the Duke of Watford is truly sorry that he put you through this. It was as he said, to be rid of the horrid man, he allowed him to stay here. I do hope you will find it in your hearts to forgive.”

Good Lord, she was sounding like she was the duchess already.

“And find it in your hearts to stay,” she continued. “The duke and I will be making Foxmont our home. There will be many changes, all good, I promise you. Now, has Whinstone absconded with the mattresses?”

“No, Miss Durham,” Alice, the head housemaid, replied. “We will ensure rooms are ready for you and your guests.”

“Thank you. And Mrs. Peterson, if you could make a light meal for all of us, the staff included? A few sandwiches and cakes, I imagine. And, one last request, do not place His Grace in the room Whinstone stayed in.”

The staff moved away to attend to their duties and Henderson’s injury. Althea slipped her arm through Olivia’s as they walked toward the stairs.

“Well done,” Althea whispered. “You handled that like a hot knife through butter. You will make a fine duchess.”

Olivia laughed lightly. “Perhaps it is in the blood after all.”

Althea gave her a puzzled look as they headed to find a room with furniture.

She could hardly reveal she was the illegitimate daughter of a duke. But despite her outward calm and taking control of the situation, inside, Olivia was riddled with doubt.

How could she ever pull this off? A duchess?

But with Gideon by her side, Olivia could accomplish anything.

Chapter 24

It was close to thirty minutes past eight before they were heading toward Foxmont once again. Inside the carriage was Archie crowded on the seat with two formidable policemen, while the Chief Constable, Edward Rainer, sat next to Gideon on the seat opposite.

“A bad business, in pursuit of a duke. And in the dark,” Rainer mumbled.

He was an older man with a shock of white hair, with threads of black at the temples. He was tall with the bearing of an ex-military man.

“Peers commit crimes like anyone else,” Gideon replied. “And if the world were truly just, they would be subject to the same punishment as other citizens.”