Page 44 of Maid for the Duke

Thankfully Will had decided not to go into the Peterhouse library today but instead work in the shade in the garden. She hated the idea of him hearing that he was the subject of sordid gossip from judgmental strangers. She did not relish the thought of breaking the news to him, but at least they would have some time in the privacy of the cottage to decide what was the best course of action.

As Amelie rounded the corner on the road that led to the cottage she paused for a second. Sitting outside the little gate that led to River View Cottage was a fancy carriage, painted white with a golden emblem on the side.

Amelie looked at the carriage with curiosity, but there was no clue who the owner might be. It was the first time they had received any visitors and she felt it would be quite a surprise if their presence had nothing to do with the scandal ripping through Cambridge. She thought about trying to slip round the back, but the cottage was so small she would be seen no matter which way she entered.

With a deep breath, she opened the front door and stepped into the cottage.

‘Amelie,’ Will called out, the strain evident in his voice. ‘Come into the parlour.’

Amelie stepped inside, surprised to see two well-dressed young women, both in brightly coloured dresses with perfectly coiffed hair. She did not recognise either of the women, but they were clearly wealthy. Both seemed confident and assured, but one stood out more than the other, and Amelie was unsurprised when it was this young lady who stepped forward.

‘The famous Amelie,’ the woman said, looking Amelie up and down and then turning to Will for the introduction.

‘Amelie, this is Lady Elizabeth Dreardon.’

Chapter Twenty-One

Will saw the blood drain from Amelie’s face as she regarded the woman standing in front of her. It was a shock for him as well. When the knock at the door had come a couple of minutes earlier, he would never in a hundred years have guessed it was his future fiancée paying him a visit.

‘Please, Your Grace, might I have a quick word?’ Amelie said, sounding the most deferential he had ever heard her.

Will gave Lady Elizabeth and her companion an apologetic smile and stepped through to the kitchen with Amelie.

‘There are rumours about us circling around Cambridge,’ Amelie said with no preamble. ‘I heard two women talking and they knew my name.’ Amelie looked flustered, almost wild, and he wanted to draw her into his arms and embrace her, to wait until she had calmed and then they could work this out together, but they did not have the luxury of that just now.

‘I have no idea why Lady Elizabeth is here,’ he whispered. ‘But I assume she has heard similar rumours.’

‘Do you think the gossip has reached London?’

‘Gossip travels fast.’

He gave a surreptitious squeeze of her hand and then led her back into the parlour. It was a disaster, but he needed to have all the information before he could know how best to act. Before he could think about controlling the damage from the gossip, he had to hear what Lady Elizabeth had to say.

‘Would you like me to prepare some tea, Your Grace?’ Amelie said, smiling blandly at their guests.

‘Tea can wait,’ Lady Elizabeth barked. Her speech was abrupt, to the point, and Will got the impression she was not in the habit of wasting words. ‘We need to speak to both of you. I suggest you take a seat, Amelie.’

Amelie sat obediently, folding her hands in her lap and casting her eyes down. She looked the picture of a perfect servant, attentive but docile.

‘Before we start, I would like to introduce you to my companion, Miss Rebecca Flint,’ Lady Elizabeth said, smiling warmly at the other woman.

‘It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Flint,’ Will said. It was unsurprising that Lady Elizabeth would travel with a companion and chaperone, but it was unusual that she wanted to involve this young woman in the discussion they were likely about to have.

Lady Elizabeth took a moment to compose herself and then levelled her gaze at Will.

‘There have been rumours, Your Grace, about what you are getting up to here in Grantchester.’

Will blinked, surprised that she was being so direct, but perhaps that was for the best. He doubted she would want to dismiss the idea of an engagement because of this. He was the only unmarried duke in the country and her parents were ambitious for their only daughter.

‘That is…unfortunate,’ Will said slowly.

Lady Elizabeth suppressed a smile. ‘Unfortunate is one word for it. I understand you have been seen on multiple occasions walking arm in arm with Amelie here along the banks of the river, as if you were a couple.’

Will had not expected Lady Elizabeth to be so forthright. He did not know what she wanted the outcome to be. He could understand if she felt humiliated, given the arrangement their fathers had made, but it was not public knowledge. No one outside of their families knew they were likely to marry one day. A scandal such as this wasn’t pleasant, but as long as there was a little time left between his return from Grantchester and their engagement it would not reflect poorly on her. Men of the aristocracy behaved badly all the time and normally their rank and connections meant they were forgiven and all was forgotten quite quickly.

Lady Elizabeth pushed on and he glanced over at Amelie, his heart sinking further. She looked completely dejected. It was the worst possible outcome for her. The news of their indiscretions had reached London, and although not many people would know who she was now, her name would be linked to this scandal for ever more. Perhaps in a year or two people would forget, but until then she would likely be rejected if she sought a position in a new houeshold. He felt guilty—he had known this was a possibility, but in his eagerness to make her his own for these few months he had dismissed the very real risk of this happening.

‘I understand you even went to a ball at Trinity college together.’