AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A woman might have changed that.
The last two Duchesses of Summerton had not survived long enough to make a lasting difference. Caroline was not so superstitious as to consider this a bad omen for the third wife in line, but the situation had created a dreadful challenge. No doubt this Duke meant to leave her to rusticate while he returned to the delights of the city. This was not, after all, a love match. He knew nothing about her beyond her financial health. She, on the other hand, knew a great deal about him.
His city of choice would be London. She needed to be in Manchester, soon.
If only she knew what he planned, having caught her running away.
Without thought, she reached to adjust the lay of her skirts as she took a chair near the cold fireplace. She wasn’t wearing a dress. She blinked and just sat. Her trouser legs pulled uncomfortably. She ignored it. Rather than join her, Summerton leaned against a large desk, deep in shadow despite the candles he’d lit. She waited, legs together, hands in her lap, pretending a calm she didn’t feel. He remained silent, arms crossed over his chest. Finally, his voice cut through the heavy silence, jerking her to attention.
“Was your abigail a part of this?”
She drew back, offended. “Alice?”
“I take it she wasn’t.”
“No.”
He didn’t ask any more questions. Just watched her.
“How long will it take you to change from,” he gestured toward her, “those breeches you are wearing? And to clean your face?”
She’d forgotten about the coal dust. Running from the Duke wasn’t meant to be the end of things. She needed to travel across country without being noticed. No one paid much heed to dirty little urchins. She rose to see if she’d dirtied the seat of the chair, only to realise that a bit of coal dust couldn’t hurt a cushion nearly worn through.
“Well?” he asked, obviously impatient.
She turned toward him. “Not long if there’s enough water. Do you mind telling me what you intend?” He walked over to a wall of bookcases. “I haven’t decided yet,” he admitted, as he reached under one of the shelves. The bookcase moved. He swept his arm out, inviting her to lead the way into a yawning dark hole. This she hadn’t considered. That he’d lock her up in some closet. “I don’t think so.” She tried to sound firm.
He looked beyond the opening and back, reached for his candle and went inside. The halo of light revealed a staircase. He came back out, but the interior stayed alight.
“Now, please, go inside. It’s late and we have considerable planning to do.”
Still, she hesitated. She did not like small dark places. “Are you joining me?”
“Yes, after I’ve informed Hitches that the lad is gone and that you require the services of your abigail and my aunt.”
She blinked. She’d forgotten that his aunt was here. Another one of the reasons she didn’t want to be married to him. He’d arranged for his aunt, as a companion for Caroline. No doubt to free him for pursuits other than getting to know his wife.
“Very well.” She walked up to him. “But you’d best summon the others after I’ve changed.” And sailed past him, stopping two paces into the narrow corridor.
Dust tickled her nose and a sticky spider’s web stuck to her cheek.
She shivered and stepped back.
“Just wait here,” he told her, plopping her bundle on the floor at her feet and shutting the door.
“Wait!” she shouted, but the closure was already well and truly shut. She searched for a lever, a knob, something that would open the blasted thing. She tried pushing. It didn’t move, so she stood still. Very still, and breathed slowly, methodically, trying to stem panic. She closed her eyes, pretending to be somewhere else, anywhere else, only to feel creepy crawlies on her neck, sneaking up her arms. Swatting at them did no good. Either they weren’t really there or they’d gotten away.
Lips tight, she fought back a whimper. She must think. If she went up the stairs, she could end up anywhere. Anywhere was far better than waiting. Voices stopped her.
“Your Grace?” It was unmistakeably Hitches.
“The lad is gone, took off through the window,” Summerton said. “Which makes me question whether he was really the Duchess’s man. Send George out with the dogs and place a couple of good strong lads below the Duchess’s windows.”
Everything in her collapsed. Jeremy was out there.
Summerton continued. “Have my aunt go to the duchess’s room. And see that the duchess’s abigail waits in her dressing room.”
“As you will, Your Grace,” Hitches replied.
