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He reached for her hand, which she willingly extended, allowing him to hold it, to press a gentle kiss to her palm.
“I’ll be back within a fortnight. You are not due yet for a month. I should be back in time. And hopefully with an answer which will ease your anxiety. We can only do what we can, others have their own minds to settle and responsibilities to reconcile. I have to do this for you. You are my heart, I love you.”
Rising swiftly, he left the room.
To Verity, it seemed that all of the air left the room with him.
Chapter Ten
When kissing Verity’s hand, Daniel knew that he must succeed, must resolve the question which had left her so abandoned and uncertain of her place in life. He needed Verity as his wife, his Duchess, and until she knew, for certain, what had happened at Wexley Hall, she could not agree to what he offered.
Now, as he approached the Wexley estate, Daniel stopped to dismount briefly. He did not want to arrive completely dusty. There was a small cottage near the gate – no doubt a gatehouse of sorts, which would do as a place to freshen his appearance. The Wexleys’ gatekeeper would surely understand his desire to appear presentable, and assist him. Knocking forcefully, he held his hat in his hands and smiled as the door opened. The man before him did not encourage him – he was not well presented, and his expression was more one of rejection than welcome.
“Good sir, I am in need of a small favour. I am to visit Lady Wexley, but find myself extremely unkempt from my long ride. Would you be so good as to let me use a washbasin?”
Daniel did not expect an effusive welcome, but was quite taken aback by the narrow eyes and surly response which he received.
“And why should I do that sir?”
The scruffy old man paused to spit some tobacco into the dust near Daniel’s feet.
“Common courtesy?”
“I have no word that visitors are expected. For all I know, you could be a highwayman ready to rob her Ladyship.”
Shoving the hand with his seal ring forward, Daniel made his request more formal.
“If you are a loyal servant of Lady Wexley, you will do well to receive an emissary from her daughter-in-law. I am Daniel Trowbridge, Duke of Summerfield. I am sure that Lady Wexley will be happy to receive my news.”
Swallowing, the surly fellow stepped back, but made no apologies. His eyes darted about.
“Sure, and I didn’ mean no disrespect, Your Grace. We’ve got to be careful. The Baron is ill and the family distraught about losing their eldest son less than a year ago. People take advantage you know.”
Gesturing to a small washstand through a door to one side, he made to shut the door as Daniel stepped through. Daniel’s instinct warned him that all was not right, and he turned, making his opinion clear.
“Not so fast now, I won’t be staying for a visit here. Leave it open.”
The man stepped back, his eyes shifty, and Daniel turned to move towards the washstand. Sensing a movement behind him, he spun back to discover that the man had lifted a cudgel, and was about to swing it at him. But Daniel was younger, and his reflexes were far faster – he leapt forward, and soon his iron grip had wrested the weapon from the man. Daniel tossed it behind him, allowing it to fall to the floor well out of the surly gatekeeper’s reach.
“I’ve changed my mind about a wash.”
Before the man had time to react, Daniel knocked him out with a single punch and slung him over his shoulder. Outside, he settled the limp form over General’s withers, and swung into the saddle, holding the man in place as he set off up the drive.
When he stopped sharply at the front door of the great house, the maid sweeping the steps, and the footman waiting by the door were treated to a display of his anger.
“Fetch me the head Butler, Miss, and make it fast - I’ll take no more misdirection! Tell him that the House of Summerfield demands satisfaction this hour!”
Daniel dismounted and gave the reins to a hastily arriving groom, then pulled on the still limp form of the gatekeeper, and allowed him to fall unceremoniously onto the ground.
The maid scurried off, her face a picture of shock, after one quick look at the unconscious gatekeeper. A look so filled with triumphant venom that Daniel had no doubt that the man had deserved to be knocked out, and more.
Mere minutes later, a very dignified older man, perfectly attired, appeared through the door.
“Your Grace, welcome to Wexley Hall. I am Mr Jameson. What matter is so terrible that you must demand satisfaction from Baron Wexley? I will do all that I can to assist, if you will explain what is needed.”
It took less than five minutes with Mr Jameson for Daniel to spell out his purpose, and the offense given by the still unconscious man on the ground. It then took even less time for Jameson, after instructing two footmen to take the gatekeeper and lock him up securely until his fate was decided, to usher Daniel into the parlour to wait for Lady Wexley herself. That good lady, having observed his arrival from her upstairs sitting room, was nearly there by the time Jameson closed the door.
*****
