The Light in the Duke's Shadow: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 15

  “I really can’t say, Your Grace,” Scott said simply as he folded his hands in front of him.

  Jules nodded. That would be what any good servant would say if he did not want to speculate. “Perhaps she has heard from my household,” Jules pondered aloud.

  “That could be, Your Grace,” Scott said as he waited patiently for Jules to judge himself ready.

  Jules finally sighed at his reflection. “I guess there is nothing much for it. I should go and see what she wants.” He turned towards Scott. “Shall we take on the stairs?”

  “At the ready, Your Grace,” Scott assured Jules as he opened the door for the nobleman.

  Jules made sure to grab the walking cane that Scott had given him to help his mobility the evening before. He had never imagined he might need a cane at his age, but Jules had to admit that the thing came in rather handy. The tap, tap of it by his side as he walked down the hallway was of great comfort as well.

  Scott allowed him space but was near enough that he could come to Jules’ aid should he require it. Between the banister and the cane, Jules fared well getting down the stairs. He almost had time to look around and admire the wall tapestries, almost.

  The bottom of the stairs and the foyer just beyond them came into view revealing not only Lady Winchester, but the Marquis, Lady Withersfield, and most surprising of all was Leander, an employee of his own household. Jules’ face broke into a smile as he saw Leander. “Leander, what are you doing here?”

  “I came to fetch you, Your Grace,” Leander said with a dip of his head to Jules. The man’s voice was a bit strained, or was Jules imagining that?

  Jules stepped down off the stairs and reached his hand out to Leander. “It does my heart good to see you, old friend.”

  “And my heart as well. We were all quite worried for you.” Leander clasped Jules’ hand. A movement made Jules’ eyes go over to Lady Withersfield for a moment, but she was not looking at Jules. Instead, her eyes were on Leander. Jules would have sworn the look was one of suspicion, but Jules had no idea why that would be.

  Leander had been with Jules as an almost constant companion for the last two months. Leander had encouraged him to keep at his enquiries, and when Jules had felt like giving up, Leander had been there to help him. If not for Leander, he never would have attended the fateful party that had brought him to his angel of mercy.

  Jules gave Leander an apologetic smile. “I am sorry to cause everyone such strife. Come now, were you so worried for me that you had to come to collect me as soon as you heard?”

  Lady Winchester’s voice interceded, “I actually sent a letter asking for someone to come and help you back home. I felt you would be more comfortable there than here with strangers.”

  Despite the woman’s kind words, Jules saw her eyes go towards Lady Withersfield and then back to him with such sharpness that Jules pondered what grudge she could hold against him. Leander nodded and drew Jules’ eyes back to him. The man was clutching his hat nervously, and Jules felt a measure of compassion for the man. He had only been in the house for a short time, but Jules had gotten a good healthy dose of what the Marquis and his wife were like.

  “Well, the best medicine often is home and rest,” Jules said with a smile at Lady Winchester. “I thank you for your kind thoughts. However, your hospitality has left me remarkably healed, and for that, I could show you no slight.”

  Lady Winchester’s lips quirked up slightly in the most restrained smile that Jules had ever seen. He thought it possible the woman’s face might actually crack. “We only wish you to be better.”

  “We shall see that he is well taken care of,” Leander assured Lady Winchester. Jules noted how the man practically shrank back when the lady of the house looked upon him.

  Jules nodded. “They certainly will.” He put his hand on Leander’s shoulder, and the man gave him a tight smile. Jules looked over at the family who had given him such care and concern over the last day. His eyes fell upon Lady Withersfield who eyed him with almost distress. Jules gave her a smile. “There are several things that need attending to, that I really should not leave much longer,” he said mostly to the young woman in front of him.

  Lady Withersfield dipped her head thoughtfully to the side. “It would not do for you to be remiss in your duties, Your Grace.” She bit her lip slightly before she added, “That is if you feel well enough for the ride home.”

  “I assure you that I feel quite splendid. I had a very restorative night and feel as if I could take on the world,” Jules said with a smile.

  Her eyes sparkled as she nodded. “I am glad that you are feeling so well.”

  “Now, now, are you really meaning to depart?” Lord Winchester boomed out. The man’s voice echoed around the foyer causing his wife to frown at him.

  Lady Winchester put her hand on her husband’s sleeve lightly. “Dear, His Grace has things to attend to at home. I am sure that he will come and visit.”

  “Yes, you must,” Lord Winchester insisted.

  Jules laughed softly and agreed, “I shall.”

  “Matter of fact, we are hosting a party in two days’ time. We would be honoured if you would attend,” Lord Winchester said and looked quite pleased with himself at getting the invitation in.

  Jules pursed his lips and said, “I think I could manage that.” His eyes darted over to Lady Withersfield who looked rather pleased as well. “Leander, will you go and have Stedman pull the coach around, would you?”

  “Of course, Your Grace,” Leander said with so much relief that Jules was surprised the Winchesters did not take immediate offence. However, the couple seemed not to even notice the man’s quick exit.

  Jules gave Lady Winchester a bow before turning to her husband to extend his hand to the man. “Thank you both for your kind generosity in allowing me into your home.”

  Lord Winchester grasped Jules’ hand in a crushing grip and shook hands as if he were wrestling a wild boar. Jules was glad to get his hand away from him. Lord Winchester laughed uproariously and slapped Jules on the shoulder. “It was merely our duty as good citizens, Your Grace,” Lord Winchester said. Lady Winchester echoed the sentiment with a dip of her head towards Jules.

  “Yes, well, I thank you all the same.” Jules turned towards Lady Withersfield. Jules took her hand which she offered to him with a timidity that Jules wondered at from what he knew of the young woman. He held her fingertips gently and gave her knuckles a light kiss before he released her hand. The feeling of her fingertips lingered as if they still touched his hand. He gave her a smile. “And thank you for your bravery, Lady Withersfield, without which I might not be here to say anything at all.”

  Lady Withersfield laughed lightly. “Something tells me, Your Grace, that you are a bit too stubborn to give up that easily.”

  “You could be right,” Jules said with a laugh. “That sounds like the carriage now. Until the party then.”

  Lady Withersfield nodded. “Until then, Your Grace.”

  Jules gave the young woman a bow before the front door came open revealing Leander on the front steps. “We are ready when you are, Your Grace.”

  “Good,” Jules said crisply. He hated to leave, but he knew that there really were things that needed attending to. He gave the family next to him one last dip of his head before he swiftly followed Leander out the door. Leaving quickly was better, lest he talked himself out of going at all.

  ***

  The carriage bumped ever so slightly in the carriage, and for the first time, Jules felt a stab of pain. He hissed between his teeth. Leander looked over at him in concern. Jules saw the man lift up his hand as if to bump on the ceiling to chastise the driver, but Jules motioned for Leander to put his hand down.

  “It is not his fault the roads are in a wretched state,” Jules explained. “I think he has done remarkably well all things considered.”

  Leander pressed his lips together and leaned back against the seat once again. The man’s sharply-angled face reminded Jules o
f the man’s father who had also worked for the Duchy. Leander’s family had worked for the Dukes of Richmond for generations.

  Jules chided him, “Come now, Leander, do not make such a sour face. All is well.”

  “For now,” Leander said stiffly. “I feel wretched for putting you in such a position.”

  A sigh escaped Jules. “Nonsense, I should thank you.” Leander looked over at Jules at his words. Jules nodded and said in conspiracy, “It paid off, did it not? I think an attack on my person is a fairly good indication that we have found a lead.”

  “Lady Winchester’s letter said you had suffered injuries in an alley. Why would you go into such a place?” Leander folded his arms across his chest as he eyed Jules sternly. The man was a good bit older than Jules, so he understood that Leander probably felt responsible for him.

  Jules flipped over his hand helplessly. “I simply could do nothing else. I met Lord Portland at the party, and his behaviour did not sit well with me.”

  “It was he you followed into the alley then?” Leander leaned forward curiously, his voice low with conspiracy.

  Jules nodded. “I am sure he went down the alley, but I fear I lost sight of him.”

  “Do you think it was he that attacked you?” The man’s hands were in fists, so tight that his knuckles were white.

  With a sigh, Jules admitted, “I do not know. It was very dark in the alley.”

  “You mean that you have no idea who attacked you?” Leander shook his head. “What if it was just some random scum off the streets? We can’t make accusations against Lord Portland without evidence.”

  Jules nodded. “I do not think that the person who attacked me was a nobleman. If they were, then they were disguising themselves, and he hardly had time change clothes.”

  Leander seemed to deflate as he sank back in his seat. They sat in silence for a long while before Jules said, “I do not know if Lady Winchester told you what wounds I received, but I was stabbed.” Leander’s eyes darted over to Jules, and Jules nodded at him. “If it had not been for Lady Withersfield and her mother, I would have likely died right there.”

  Leander’s face took on a look of such guilt that Jules put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “You have nothing to feel guilty for,” Jules told him. “Fate favours the righteous, after all.”

  “I know several heroes of fable that would disagree with that,” Leander snapped back.

  Jules chuckled. “True enough,” he admitted. “But in this poignant story of ours, fate saw me through and into the hands of an angel of mercy.”

  “I have never heard you speak much of young women before,” Leander said, his eyebrows rising.

  Jules smiled broadly and leaned his head back against the seat. “I had never known a young lady until I met Lady Withersfield. Comparing Lady Withersfield to other young ladies is as if you were comparing dressmaker’s mannequins to a flesh and blood woman.”

  “She seems to have made quite the impression then.” Leander smiled and put his hands in his lap.

  Jules nodded, and then he frowned. “Do you think this is what my parents want for me?”

  Leander took a deep breath, his fingers worrying a bit with his trouser leg. “What do you mean?”

  “It is just that since I have met Lady Withersfield, Leander, I feel as if I have been a fool.” Jules rocked his head from side to side on the back of the seat. “I keep looking for something to blame, someone to blame … but what is all this anger doing for me? My friends will barely tolerate me, and I live in constant paranoia that the person is out there somewhere waiting.”

  Leander frowned at Jules. When the man did not speak, Jules pressed on, “I do not think my parents would want me to spend my whole life on revenge and anger. My mother always said that anger was a foul thing that consumed men, and here I am letting it consume me in her name.” Jules sighed. “I am thinking of giving up the search for the person responsible and courting Lady Withersfield. If I do not do so now, she may slip from my fingers for good.”

  “I can’t believe what I am hearing.” Leander scowled. “When you were stabbed, did you also hit your head? It certainly seems you have taken leave of your senses.”

  Jules looked down at his hands taken quite by surprise at the venom in his old friend’s words. He was at a loss for anything to say. He should have talked Leander down about his words, but Jules found he did not have the strength to do so.

  “Forgive me for speaking out of my station, Your Grace. I just keep thinking about your parents and what this has done to you, to all of us. Anne can’t even serve anymore. She blames herself, and your name was left covered in the mud of it all. There has to be some justice in this world, Your Grace.” Leander shook his head and stared out the carriage window.

  Jules looked down at his hands. “I had thought Anne was doing better.”

  “She was for a time,” Leander said in a quiet voice. “She’s been having nightmares lately. The kitchen girls said she can’t even carry a tray without trembling.”

  With a frown, Jules said, “It was not her fault. She knew nothing of the plot.” He breathed out a sigh. “That poor girl. At thirteen she is ruined for life over something outside her power.”

  “Should she not have justice, Your Grace? Perhaps if the person responsible were caught, she would not have this dread that every morsel she served was tainted.” Leander leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as if warming himself by an imaginary fire. “Truth is I understand why you seek to run away from this pursuit. It is a hard one, but it is not one I can give up.”

  The rumble of the carriage filled in the space between Leander’s words and the guilt that welled up inside Jules. Here he was being selfish when this man who was not bound by blood to his family was willing to continue through hardship for his sake. Jules’ words were mere whispers when he spoke. “You speak with loyalty, and although my ears do not wish to understand it, my heart does. You are right. I cannot just throw off the yoke of this investigation. We all need answers.”

  Leander gave Jules a look that he swore was sad. “And for that, I am so sorry, Your Grace.”

  “It is not your place, Leander. It is mine, and you had to remind me of that. I think nothing but the best of you for it,” Jules promised the man beside him.

  Outside the carriage, the morning was warming up the stones of London, wisps of steam rising up from each one towards the sky. Jules frowned at the passing houses. They were almost home, but it was just a house filled with ghosts now.

  ***

  “Your Grace!” Eva, the housekeeper, exclaimed as Jules stepped down out of the carriage. The woman fell into step beside him as she asked him questions. “Are you well? Is it true that you were attacked?”

  Jules let the housekeeper ramble out her questions as he walked up the steps of the house that the servants of the Duchy had lined to welcome him home. Jules gave smiles and nods to the staff as he passed them. “I am fine,” he assured Eva and the rest of the staff. “Please, do not dolt on me so. Go back to work. Everything is as it has been.”

  “Your Grace, can’t we help you in some way?” It was a young stable hand by the name of Daniel.

  Jules gave the young man a thoughtful look. “I can get around sufficiently with my cane here, but I do need someone to go to the hatter’s shop and see about a replacement hat for the one I lost.”

  “Certainly, Your Grace,” Daniel said with a nod of his head.

  Jules smiled. “Very good. Come to the study, and I will write up a specific order. He has all the necessary measurements already.”

  With that, Jules went on into the house. The staff filed in behind him. They wished him well as he turned toward his study and began dispersing back to their own sections of the manor house.