Page 53 of Never Beguile a Duke

“Your sister?” Winifred separated Miss Juliette’s hair into sections. “I didn’t know you had siblings.”

“I don’t. When Mr. Black discovered a child was the result of one of his attacks on my mother, he broke into the residence, and—” Miss Juliette’s voice cracked.

This poor child!

“Did you hide?” asked Winifred, plaiting Miss Juliette’s hair into two braids.

Miss Juliette nodded as Winifred fastened a blue hair ribbon on the end of the left braid. “As soon as Mr. Black departed from the residence, I woke the household. Mr. Hill examined Mother and claimed she’d taken her own life. Two days ago, when he discovered the missive that my mother wrote regarding the truth of the identity of my father, Mr. Hill demanded I be sent away immediately.”

“I’m confused about a detail in your story,” Winifred said, tying on the green ribbon. “If Mr. Black had previously been a guest of the Hills, why wouldn’t they question him?”

Miss Juliette spun around, her teeth digging deep into her lower lip. “Black isn’t the man’s true name. I didn’t know what to call him. I’d never met anyone with black eyes before…”

Heart hammering, Winifred attempted to keep her tone light. “Have you seen him since your arrival?”

“No.” Miss Juliette clasped her hands in front of her waist. “However, there are many people in attendance, and I haven’t been introduced to them all yet.”

Dear Lord! If Mr. Black wasn’t the man’s actual name, he could still be inside the Duke of Beaufort’s residence.

CHAPTER TWELVE

SILAS MORTON, DUKE OF BEAUFORT

As the coach rolled to a stop, Mr. Aylett yanked open the door and said, “Your Grace, there’s been an incident involving Miss Juliette.”

“Another one?” Silas dragged his hand down his face. “What has she done this time?”

“She almost died.” Mr. Aylett stepped aside as Silas, his foot slipping off the metal coach step, fell out of the cabin.

Grabbing hold of the open door, Silas regained his balance, then turned to Mr. Aylett. “How did Juliette endanger herself while locked in her chamber?”

“Miss Fernsby-Webb coaxed your daughter out.” Mr. Aylett closed the coach door after Roxburghe exited and signaled to Mr. Dunn that he should return the horses to the stables.

Silas’ stomach flipped over.

“Was Miss Fernsby-Webb injured?” he asked, swallowing.

Roxburghe and Miss Webb will never forgive me if I persuaded Miss Fernsby-Webb to come to any harm. And neither will I.

“It’s my understanding that both ladies were shaken by the experience, but no treatment was required.”

He didn’t wait to hear the remainder of Mr. Aylett’s statement and hurried across the snowy grounds. Bursting into his house, he ignored the startled glares from several guests milling outside the parlor and raced up the staircase, taking the steps two at a time.

“Juliette!” His desperation echoed down the second-floor corridor.

Running toward her chamber, he bypassed Miss Webb, who’d popped her head out of her room when he yelled, her face pinched in concern. He shoved open Juliette’s door, mildly registering that the lock wasn’t fastened, and stumbled into the chamber, his wild eyes locking on his daughter.

“Father!” Juliette, clad in her underclothes, ran toward him and flung her arms around his waist.

He returned her exuberant embrace, smiling down at the top of her head. “I’m pleased to see you as well, but why are you in such a state of undress?”

“We went sledding,” Miss Fernsby-Webb replied, rising from the floor and curtsying. “Since Miss Juliette has no other appropriate garments for dinner, we’re drying her dress.”

Silas hit the heel of his palm against his forehead. “I forgot to contact the modiste. Tomorrow, I shall send for Mrs. Talbot as well as a governess.”

“A governess?” Juliette and Miss Fernsby-Webb spoke simultaneously, their faces melting into mirroring expressions of disappointment.

“Certainly.” Silas released Juliette. “I cannot task a guest with your care, and Miss Fernsby-Webb will be returning to her own home after the week is out.”