The Light in the Duke's Shadow: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 26

  Lord Winchester put his hand on his head as his eyes widened. It seemed to hit him all at once just what was going on. “This will ruin you,” Lord Winchester gasped. “I do not know how to rectify this, Daughter.”

  Jules looked towards the door as Daniel came in. Jules motioned for the boy to come over and take Lord Portland. “Hold him,” Jules said. A maid squeaked as she came to the door as well. “Maid, what is your name?”

  “Gina, Your Grace,” the maid said as she looked over at her mistress in distress.

  Jules said softly, “Go out to the carriage house and fetch the man named Clint from there. We shall need his help to get Lord Portland settled.”

  “Unhand me,” Lord Portland growled as Daniel pulled him to his feet. Lady Withersfield took a step back from the man, and Jules stepped between the lady and Lord Portland just to be sure that he did not get any ideas.

  “We cannot hold him,” Lord Winchester said as he raked his hand through his hair.

  Jules rounded on the man. “What part of he was trying to kill your daughter are you not getting?”

  Lord Winchester stared at Jules for a long moment before he shook his head. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts for a second before he said, “He will ruin her if we say anything about this.”

  “He will ruin her anyway, and you, and me, and anyone else that he pleases,” Jules said with conviction. “It might bring a bit of scandal, but he is not above me, and I will see justice done for my parents and for Lady Withersfield.”

  Lord Winchester looked over at his daughter. Jules ached at the pain he saw on her face. “If it is truly your daughter’s fate that makes you hesitate so, then you need not worry over that, Lord Winchester,” Jules said in a quiet voice. “Barring I do not bleed to death in the next few hours, I would like very much to marry her.”

  Lady Witherfield’s intake of breath brought Jules’ eyes around to her. Jules shook his head sadly. “That is if she will forgive me for being so dull as to think my own vengeance was worth more than keeping her safe. I promise never to make such a folly again.”

  The smile on the woman’s face made Jules’ heart feel lighter with the sight of it. She nodded at him and then looked over at her father.

  Lord Winchester blew out a breath and rubbed his face. “Well, it certainly seems that I have no choice but to accept your offer of marriage. I think if I do not that my daughter might very well disown me.”

  Lady Withersfield gave a laugh. “Oh, Father, I would not disown you, but I might be a bit grumpy.”

  “What do we do with him?” Daniel asked. Clint came in followed by the maid from earlier.

  Jules motioned for Clint to help Daniel. “He is far too dangerous to leave alone, but I do promise to use every bit of influence that I have to protect the Winchester name.”

  Lord Portland spat, “None of your names mean anything.”

  Jules rounded on the man. “I do not know if what Leander told me was true or not, but I will tell you this – I do not believe my father harmed any woman. If you want your truth in court, then you seek it, because I will seek mine.”

  Despite the glare that Lord Portland gave Jules, the man fell silent. Jules was sure that he was not done by a long shot, but he had gone about as far as he could on such exhaustion. Jules leaned heavily on a bedpost. The touch on his shoulder brought his eyes around to see Lady Withersfield’s face.

  “Are you really about to choose death over marrying me?” she asked with a glint of amusement that eased Jules’ worry for her a little.

  Jules shook his head. “I dare say that if I did, you might follow me into the afterlife just to harass me about it.”

  “Are you staying I am stubborn?” Lady Withersfield asked as she tugged the blanket around her tighter.

  Gina sighed. “Do you think any in this room think you are not?”

  Lord Winchester grumbled, “Let us get this over with. I do hope that your mother has cleared the house of guests somewhat. We shall be the talk of the papers.”

  “Someone always has to be,” Jules said as he came over to slap Lord Winchester on the back. The man gave Jules a look as if to say he did not appreciate it, but Jules was not put off by it. He had been in the papers more than a few times, and it really had not turned out that badly.

  ***

  The next day, Jules came down the stairs to find Miss Lorraine at the door with a gentleman. After the man exited, Miss Lorraine turned and finally noticed Jules descending the stairs. “Your Grace, are you quite certain that you are well enough to be up?”

  The woman’s soft French accent caught Jules’ ears as it had not the night before. “You are Lady Withersfield’s governess, are you not?”

  “I am, or rather I was,” Miss Lorraine said with an incline of her head. “She hardly needs such a thing now. No, I am transitioning on into another part of my life, Your Grace.”

  Jules smiled at the easy grace of the woman. “That is a shame. I am certain that she would have loved to have you stay on and perhaps look after her own children.”

  “Oh, well, the job of a governess is for the young, and I think Penelope will be a much more hands-on mother than her mother was before her. I can, however, make some recommendations if you do decide to take on a new governess.” The smile she turned on Jules spoke of how flattered she was. “I had no idea that Penelope talked of me so.”

  Jules shook his head. “It is not so much about what she says, as for how she says it.”

  “Ah, see you have the painter’s soul as well, I think,” Miss Lorraine said with a knowing smile. “Have you ever tried to paint?”

  With a chuckle, Jules admitted, “I must confess that I have never had the time. Were you on your way to breakfast?”

  “Why, yes, Your Grace, I was,” Miss Lorraine said as she fell into step beside him when he motioned for her to walk with him.

  Jules tried not to lean too heavily on his cane, but he found it impossible not to as they walked further. “What will your new adventure be if I cannot talk you into another tenure as a governess?”

  “That man you saw at the door is a captain of a merchant’s vessel. He rather thinks that I should sail around the world with him,” Miss Lorraine said in a conversational way.

  Jules decided that he liked the woman. She did not put on any unnecessary airs or shower him with redundant titles or honorifics, talking with her felt very much like talking with a member of his own household.

  “Sailing can be quite the adventure. Are you up for all the sea has to offer?” Jules held the door to the dining hall open for the woman. It was every bit as heavy as he remembered and was grateful when another hand caught hold of the heavy door.

  Scott gave him a dip of his head. “Your Grace, it is lovely to see you up and about.”

  “I did not see you last night, Scott. I had feared that someone else had snatched your services away from the Winchester’s household,” Jules said as he offered him his hand as soon as Miss Lorraine was through the door.

  Scott let the door close behind Jules and clasped his hand. “Unfortunately, I missed all the action, I am afraid. It was my night off, ye see.”

  “What luck,” Jules said with a laugh. “So, Miss Lorraine, what about your sea legs? Are they ready for the voyage?” he asked as he followed the woman over to the table.

  Miss Lorraine gave him a thoughtful smile. “I have only been on two voyages, and neither were particularly taxing. What about yourself, Your Grace? Do you like to sail?”

  “I have done my fair share of sailing while helping my father with trade deals, and so on,” Jules acknowledged as he pulled out the chair in front of Miss Lorraine.

  She looked up at him. “Does your family have a large fleet of ships then?”

  “About a dozen or so, at the moment,” Jules said as he eased her chair up to the table. “I must admit that as much as I like being at sea, it has its challenges. I think I shall spend far more time on land than off.”

  Miss Lorrain
e inclined her head as if she truly understood that. “I only wished that I could talk Edgar into being home more. I have considered going back to France, but it would be lonely there for me as most of my family is gone.”

  As Jules set down, he asked, “Have you ever been to India? Or the island colonies?” When Miss Lorraine shook her head that she had not, Jules continued, “I know a lot of sailors that prefer to make their year-round homes in India or the colonies because they like the climate better. Perhaps your Edgar would be more willing to settle if you negotiated a different region?”

  “That might work if he were a one-port of call sort of man. He runs his trade independently, and it leads to him being called all over the seas.” Miss Lorraine frowned. “I worry for him when he is gone for months with no word.”

  Lord and Lady Winchester entered talking quietly amongst themselves. Lord Winchester looked up and gave Jules a smile. “Your Grace, you are up bright and early.”

  “Never waste the daylight,” Jules replied. He stood up as Lord Winchester pulled out the chair for Lady Winchester, only sitting back down once the lady was seated. “Is Lady Withersfield still feeling ill from last night?”

  Lady Winchester sighed. “I am sure she will be down in a bit. She did not sleep well from what her lady-in-waiting said.”

  “That is awful,” Miss Lorraine said with a sigh. “I should go and speak with her.”

  “Let her rest, Lorraine,” Lady Winchester said in a soothing voice. “You need to eat, and she is being well taken care of.”

  Lord Winchester asked, “What were you two discussing when we entered?”

  “I was giving Madam Lorraine some advice about how best to settle a sailor down,” Jules said with a smile at the woman in question.

  Miss Lorraine hid a laugh behind her napkin. One of the serving girls came in and began placing plates in front of them. “Thank you,” Miss Lorraine said to the girl as she picked up her fork and eyed the fruit in front of her with interest.

  “You should see if the Duke will hire him on,” Lady Winchester suggested, causing most everyone to look around at her. “What? It is a simple solution. Lorraine, you are always talking about how he will not settle because his business pulls him all over, why not settle him then?”

  Jules contemplated that then said, “She actually has a point. We could always use good ships and experienced captains. He would only have the one shipping lane to travel. I would even allow him to pick his destination.”

  “That is most generous of you,” Miss Lorraine said with genuine surprise.

  Jules waved off the woman’s words. He picked up his fork and decided to start with the egg in front of him. “It is merely good business.”

  Lord Winchester motioned towards Scott. “Will you go and make sure that my carriage is being readied?” He paused and looked over at Jules. “Would you like us to make sure that your carriage is ready as well?”

  “Knowing my carriage driver, he is already out and about this morning, but it would not hurt to double check,” Jules said with a nod as he scooped up a bit of egg.

  Lord Winchester motioned for Scott to see to it then set about eating his egg. He cracked the egg and tore off a piece of toast to dip into his egg. Lady Winchester and Miss Lorraine seemed content to eat fruit. Jules felt the absence of Lady Withersfield keenly, but Lady Winchester was right. It would do the young lady no good to go hungry themselves.

  After everyone had cleared their plates or at least eaten, Jules excused himself to return upstairs. Clint was waiting near the door. “Your Grace, the carriage is ready when you are.”

  “I shall be ready in a bit. Let me go up and get myself composed for the journey, although I do expect it to be a bit smoother this time around,” Jules said to the man with an affectionate slap on his shoulder.

  Clint bobbed his head. “I promise to attempt a much calmer pace this time, Your Grace.”

  “That is all I ask,” Jules assured the man. “Where is Daniel?”

  Clint sighed, “He is sleeping in the carriage, Your Grace.”

  Jules chuckled and shook his head. He was still laughing as he made his way up the steps. He paused as he came to the room where he had spent his first night in the Winchester household. They had placed him in the same room, to give him a short walk down and up, but Jules thought it somehow poetic.

  His eye went down the hallway, where Lady Withersfield had appeared that night that he had been pacing. She had looked so bewildered in the moonlight. He walked a step toward her door, and then stopped himself. As much as he worried for her, he knew that she needed time.

  As he turned to go back to his room, he heard a soft click of the doorknob. “Your Grace,” the young maid from last night said as she exited the room. She had clearly been startled by him, and Jules felt bad about that even if it was not through any fault of his own.

  “Forgive me for startling you,” Jules said with a dip of his head. “You were there last night?”

  She nodded. “Yes, Your Grace. My name is Gina; I am Lady Withersfield’s lady-in-waiting.”

  “Then I am very happy to make your acquaintance,” Jules said with a smile. “We shall soon be part of the same household, that is if you are willing to come with Lady Withersfield?”

  Gina stared at him for a moment. “I had not even given it much thought. I guess I just assumed that I would. That seems silly now.”

  “Not at all,” Jules assured her. “There is a lot to take into consideration when it comes to employment. You would be welcome to spend most of your time here or come to the country with us during the off-season.”

  Gina nodded. “I would be honoured to stay on with Lady Withersfield. She is a good friend of mine.”

  “And how is she?” Jules asked as he took the opening from the intimate omission to venture one of his own.

  Gina put her hands in front of her and nodded slowly, almost hesitantly. “She is well enough. I think she just got shook up by it. It must’ve been something awful what he was trying to do to her, Your Grace. She could hardly sleep for the crying.”

  “Would it be possible, do you think, for me to see her?” Jules longed very much to see the woman. He had not even gotten to comfort her much.

  There was a moment when Gina’s eyes slid towards her mistress’ door before she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s my place, Your Grace. You could try to talk to her through the door and see how she feels?”

  Jules took the woman’s words into consideration. “I might just do that.”

  Gina nodded and carried on down the hall. When she stepped alongside him, she whispered, “Good luck, Your Grace.”

  After the maid had gone down the stairs, Jules went over to Lady Withersfield’s door and knocked softly. “Lady Withersfield?” Only silence greeted him. “Penelope,” he tried in a soft whisper. “I do not mean to disturb you. I only wish to know that you are well before I have to go.”

  There were footfalls, almost urgent, fast and steady and then the door was being pulled open. Penelope’s face was flush with tears, her eyes wide in distress. “You are going?”

  “I have to return home and get arrangements made. There will be questions to be answered, and I will have to be the one to give them.” Jules wanted to stay and take away that horrible look of abandonment, but his duty was calling him away. “You look as though I am going to vanish into thin air, never to return.”

  “You promised that you would not leave me again,” Lady Withersfield said in misery.

  Jules reached out and put his fingertips on her cheek. “I am so sorry that I left you. I wish that you had never gotten involved in it.”