Page 20 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

The old physician smiled as he applied the unguent to William’s scar.

“He makes jest of you every day in his house,” the old man said.

William was surprised the man said that. He had never known he worked for the Duke of Buckingham and Chados too.

“You’ve heard him do that?” William asked.

The man had applied the unguent and was packing his bag.

“I have heard Duke Nicholas make fun of your gullibility a lot of times. He takes special pleasure in that. The man is as slimy as they come. He is not a gentle man in any way. Sometimes one wonders how he produced such a simple and soft spoken daughter,” the man said, standing up to take his leave.

William stood up after him. He was suddenly very interested in the discussion.

“He has a daughter?” William asked.

“Of course, the lady is a diamond of first water, breathtakingly beautiful. And her comportment is just as good. She has a close friend though, a beastly character that one. Her friend takes no note of the mannerisms of a woman of such standing. She’s a chatterbox that one,” the doctor said as he walked to the door.

William thanked the doctor as he left the room. He liked what he was hearing. He could think of a plot already. Shortly after the doctor left, Lord James walked into the room.

“James, fantastic timing, I have great news for us, or me,” William told his friend.

Lord James looked confused. He took a seat next to the window and listened to his friend.

“I have just found out that the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos has a daughter,” William said.

Lord James still didn’t understand where William was going with this; his expression showed a lack of comprehension. William shook his head at his friend’s simplicity.

“The old physician also works for the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. He also admitted to the fact that the Duke regularly boasts of how easily I was defeated. He also says the Duke has a daughter,” William said.

Lord James still kept staring at William. His eyes were blank and his expression vapid, he still didn’t get where William was going with his talk.

“If I cannot hurt the father directly anymore, I can hurt the father through the daughter. I will find that damsel, court her and leave her feeling bitter and sad,” William said.

Lord James finally saw what William was saying.

“Are you sure you want to do this William? The father and daughter are very different people. One had a hand in the dent in your honour, the other might not even have heard of you before then,” Lord James told his friend.

William shook his head in refusal of his friend’s logic.

“Her father has always been bad. It didn’t start today,” William replied.

“Stop saying this,” Lord James told him.

William turned his nose up to his friend.

“Will you help me find this damsel or not?” said William.

“You are my best friend. Do I have a choice?” Lord James replied.

Chapter 6

Father’s Favourite

Joane Hardwater listened to her father as he spoke to the visiting Marques about the duel he had won. Her father had not stopped talking about a duel he cheated to win. He didn’t even hide that fact and kept blurting it out to all and sundry. Joane shook her head at her father’s insolence. She had never been a part of her father’s revelry and hated witnessing it. She turned around and went back into her chambers; her friend would be here soon.

Joane walked into her room. The room scented of roses, white roses. The bed was huge, taking a large of the part of the room while there were shelves against all parts of the walls. She was a voracious reader and it showed in her room. There were books of all kinds stacked on top of each other in the shelves. The door to her verandah was open.

“Blimey, imagine me leaving this door open,” Joane chided herself.