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Americans, she thought with distaste. She might have known they would not know about proper etiquette. She walked into the salon with a forced smile.
“Good morning,” she offered.
Mr. Mason stood quickly, and then nudged his daughter until she did the same. “Good morning, Baroness. I hope this wasn’t too early to call on you?”
“Not at all,” Caroline bit out. She took a seat by the window. “I do not believe we know each other, do we?”
“No, ma’am,” Mr. Mason said. “I was discussing my problem with a man at the inn, and he suggested I speak with you.”
“And what problem is that?”
“I want to be the next Duchess of Kendal,” Abigail blurted out.
Caroline rolled her eyes. This insignificant girl believed she could be a duchess. Americans, she thought again. “I am not quite sure how I can be of assistance with that.”
“I was told that your husband was next in line,” Mr. Mason said.
“Yes, he is the heir presumptive. However, if the new duke has any boys, the eldest will be the heir assumptive.” Caroline wondered what these two were about this morning. Had the duke sent them to discover what she and Richard were doing?
“My daughter will promise to never have children if you can help her become the duchess.” Mr. Mason’s cheeks blotted red.
Caroline eyed both Mr. Mason and his daughter. Suspicion remained deep in her heart but curiosity won out. “Why?”
“I want to be duchess,” Abigail whined. “I was supposed to be the duchess but my father’s plan went awry.”
Mr. Mason explained what his plan had been until the duke’s cousin ruined everything.
“Elizabeth is with child?” Caroline almost shouted.
“Yes.”
As much as she dreaded the idea, Caroline knew she had no choice in the matter now. She had to keep William from marrying Elizabeth and unfortunately, these two minions would have to assist her.
“How will you keep your daughter from getting with child? The new duke is a young and lusty man. He will demand his husbandly rights.”
Abigail’s face drew pale.
“The man at the inn told me of a surgeon who says he can make a woman barren,” Mr. Mason said.
Caroline winced. What kind of father would subject his daughter to something so horrible? It mattered not to her. They obviously wanted the money and position so desperately it would not be Caroline who stopped them.
“I can get us what we both desire. However,” she said, holding her hand up to stop him from interrupting her, “I will do nothing to assist you until the surgeon guarantees me that the surgery was a success. I will take no chances that she will become with child and have his heir.”
The young girl’s face turned white but she said nothing.
“Do we have an agreement?” Caroline asked impatiently.
Mr. Mason glanced over at his daughter, then nodded. “Yes. We will do whatever it takes to make my daughter duchess.”
“Very well, then. We shall start today. Call for your surgeon.”
Will glanced out the window as the coach rolled toward his home. The last two days had been hell. He’d barely slept, drunk far too much whisky, and did not care about anything. After sending money and passage to Mr. Mason, he was glad to be done with them. With any luck, they would be sailing out of his life in the next few days.
Now, if only he could get over his anger at Elizabeth. A part of him did not believe she only made love with him to get him to stay. He loved Elizabeth. He had wanted to build his life with her. Instead, she had used him. Broke his heart and ripped it to shreds.
Will glanced out the window of the coach as his driver turned down Maddox Street to get around some commotion ahead. He knocked on the roof to gain the groomsman’s attention.
“Yes, Your Grace?” the man said as the carriage stopped.
