Page 54 of Maid for the Duke

Will had left the same afternoon, breaking his journey at various coaching inns, getting impatient when it took too long to swap over the horses. Amelie had been in Dorset some time in the last few weeks, but she might not be planning to stay there. Every second counted.

Now he had arrived at Lady Elizabeth’s residence, he wanted to leap from the still moving carriage and pound on the door, demanding the information he needed, but he managed to restrain himself.

The door to the dower house was opened by a smartly turned-out footman who led him into an empty drawing room, then withdrawing to find Lady Elizabeth. Will did not sit, preferring to pace backwards and forwards, finding the movement at least a little helpful for his agitation.

It was Miss Flint who entered first, smiling gently at him and welcoming him into their home. She indicated he should take a seat in one of the comfortable arm chairs and sat across from him, then a moment later they were joined by Lady Elizabeth.

‘This is a surprise, Your Grace,’ Lady Elizabeth said as she walked into the room, speaking with her characteristic directness.

‘Please excuse the intrusion. I am here on a matter of some urgency that I did not think I could entrust to a letter.’

‘How intriguing,’ Lady Elizabeth said, making herself comfortable next to Miss Flint. ‘What can we help you with?’

‘I was hoping you might know the whereabouts of Amelie. I have been searching for her for the past few weeks and have been growing increasingly worried when I could not find her.’

‘I mentioned in my letter she was here in Dorset,’ Lady Elizabeth said, nodding.

‘I did not know she had any connections in the county.’

‘She does not, or at least she didn’t,’ Miss Flint said. ‘When we came to visit you in Grantchester, I gave Amelie our address in case she was ever in need.’

This made Will pause. ‘It was you she came to Dorset to see?’

‘Yes.’ Miss Flint glanced over at Lady Elizabeth. ‘I could see she was in some distress and I was aware of the precarious nature of her situation. I too have been friendless at my lowest point and I did not want her to feel she had nowhere to turn.’

‘That was very kind of you, my dear,’ Lady Elizabeth said. ‘It was quite a shock when she turned up on our doorstep with three children in tow, although they were clearly too old to be hers.’

‘She is guardian to her younger sisters and brother,’ Will said absently, wanting to get back to the important information.

‘Yes, she told us her story—tragic and shocking in equal measure—then she asked for out assistance.’

‘She came here for help?’

‘And we were happy to give it,’ Miss Flint said quietly but firmly. ‘Amelie is an extraordinary young woman who has survived so much in her young life so far. She could not be in London because of the scandal attached to her name, and I got the impression she did not want to return to where she was originally from because of how her neighbours had treated her family in the past.’

Will felt devastated at the idea that Amelie had been so alone, so overwhelmed by circumstance, that she had felt the need to reach out to a kindly stranger for help.

‘I knew of a wealthy family with five children who were in want of a music teacher nearby. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for her.’

‘Did she get the position?’

‘She did. She is employed in Berkhall, a village about four miles north of here.’

A wave of relief passed through him. As the days of his search had turned to weeks, he had experienced increasing desperation, but also fear for her safety. Now at least he knew she was settled somewhere with a roof over her head.

‘Does she live with this family?’

‘No. I believe she has rented a small place in the village. There is even talk of the children attending the local school. The vicar’s wife runs it from the rectory.’

Will sat back in his chair. He was glad she was safe and had found somewhere where decent people wanted to help her. It was not what he had been expecting and he felt a wave of relief. He needed to apologise, and alongside that he was going to ask her to forgive him, to see if she might think she could build a life with him. He did not want to imagine his life if she said no, but at least if so Amelie would have a comfortable place in the world.

‘I will give you her address,’ Miss Flint said, rising and heading over to the little writing desk in the corner of the room. ‘I know you are eager to see her, Your Grace, but can I urge discretion? She is using her mother’s name so she is not linked with the scandalous rumours that drove her out of London, but people are quick to make connections.’

‘I will be discreet,’ he said.

Whilst Miss Flint wrote down the address, Lady Elizabeth fixed him with an unflinching stare.

‘Can I give you a piece of advice, Your Grace?’