Page 13 of The Chef and the Countess (The Duke’s Bastards #2)

Since it was Thursday, Doctor Drew Hornsby arrived to offer medical care to the unfortunates lined up to receive free stew. Celia slipped on her woolen coat, scarf, and fur-lined gloves and hurried toward the doctor with a hot mug of tea. It was cold today, and many people standing in line shivered from the brisk breeze.

“Doctor Hornsby, I’ve brought you tea and a bag of ginger biscuits to hand out to your patients. Can I assist you for a while? Liam said I could.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you.” He took the offered mug and took a sip. “Have a seat next to me. It is bitterly cold, and because of it, I will be swift in my assessments today. Hand the patient a piece of paper from the pile before you. It lists the names and locations of the free clinics my family supports. That’s if they want the paper--many cannot read. There is also a crate of used winter boots for children. If I point to the box, have a child select a pair. We don’t have time for them to try on various pairs. Just judge by the size of their feet. I also have woolen socks for the adults. Give each one a pair.”

“Yes, doctor.”

“We also need to take a count of everyone we serve. Will you do that?” When Celia nodded, he added, “Use the pencil and paper before you.”

Celia was shocked at the state of the individuals in the line: threadbare clothes, improper footwear for the weather, and a look of weariness borne from ceaseless poverty. Celia silently thanked Providence that Liam had taken her in, or she would have been in this exact predicament. It also made her admire Liam and Drew for doing what they could to aid those who needed it most.

In under an hour, the crowd had dissipated. “Fifty-four patients, doctor.”

“Thank you for the assistance, my lady.”

“Please, call me Celia. I just discovered the baroness nurse who assisted you is one of the friends I hoped to make contact with.”

“Corrine?”

“Yes. Liam explained she was away on her honeymoon. He also told me in confidence of your blood connection with each other and Corrine’s new husband.”

The doctor pushed his gold spectacles up his nose. “Indeed? Liam told you this? How interesting.”

Celia smiled. “Because he does not often reveal personal aspects or let people close?”

Doctor Hornsby’s mouth quirked with amusement. “Yes, exactly that.”

“Doctor Hornsby, I have another friend. We were together at school with Corrine. Her name is Selena Seaton, and she is married to Lombard Woodhouse, the Duke of Barnsdale. I need to find her, and Liam thought you might be able to help. I was told that Selena is away and the duke is ill, but I do not believe the source. Liam said he would ask you if you know the address.”

He stood and gently took her arm. “I haven’t seen Liam today. Come, let us head inside where it is warm. And call me Drew.” He escorted her through the rear door. “Lads,” Drew said to the boys, chopping onions and carrots. “If you could, please place the boots, socks, and other boxes in the shed, lock it, and return the key to me. Thank you.” Drew held out a key, and Tommy took it and hurried outside.

“Liam,” Drew called out. “May we use your office for a moment?”

Liam turned from the oven where he was basting a large turkey. “Aye. Go on.”

Celia loved roast turkey, and the odor of sage, meat, and onion filled the air. Fiona stood at the preparation table, trussing two more turkeys for roasting. This was a wise choice for a main dish, as leftover turkey could make several other dishes, including sandwiches—or so Celia had just learned.

Once inside Liam’s small office, Drew and Celia took their seats. Tommy came in with the key and gave it to Drew, and Timmy was right behind him with mugs of tea. Left alone, Drew unwound the wool scarf from around his neck.

“I was called to the Duke of Barnsdale’s residence last year. April, I believe it was. The duke stated that his wife had fallen down the stairs. I have been practicing medicine long enough, and have dealt with patients from all walks of life and economic spheres to understand that ‘falling down the stairs’ is often a euphemism for physical abuse.”

Celia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. “I-I-I wondered. Oh, how awful. I haven’t seen my friends since school—well over a decade. We met at your aunt’s tea party at the end of this past November. Selena was distant, not like herself at all. Corrine and I knew something was wrong. Corrine came right out and asked if Barnsdale had hurt her. Selena said if he laid his hands on her again, she would shoot him. Here.” Celia pointed to her forehead, right between the eyes.

Drew shook his head sadly. “Mistreatment is common, even among the elite of society. I asked the duke if I could contact her doctor. Barnsdale said they didn’t have one, which is rare among the peerage. All wealthy families have a physician or two on retainer. To me, it explained more than I cared to know. Abusive men often use different doctors after each episode, so there is no discernable pattern of the beatings. The duchess said it only happened once, and I believed her.” Drew sipped his tea. “Barnsdale was clever; he did not touch her face, but there were a few bruises on her torso. She told me that he kicked her.”

“Oh, my God,” Celia cried, tears welling. “And there was nothing you could do.”

“No. When Barnsdale left us alone, I asked the duchess if she wished me to take her to her family or call the police. She gave me an emphatic no. I slipped her my card, but she never contacted me.”

“Selena is estranged from her parents. They’d pushed her to marry Barnsdale even when we were still in finishing school.” Celia could not believe this, or maybe she could. How astounding that she and her two friends had terrible marriages, although in dissimilar ways. “What would have transpired if you called in the police?”

“Because Barnsdale is a duke--nothing. Even if he weren’t a duke, there are no legal ramifications for any man who beats his wife. However, since ‘78, a wife can obtain a legal separation from an abusive husband, but it’s not easy. There is a bylaw in London saying a man cannot beat his wife between the hours of ten at night and seven in the morning because it keeps the neighbors awake.”

“I had no idea the bylaw existed. That is horrendous!”

“Laws are made by, and for, men.”

Celia shook her head. “Unfortunately, true. Of all the patients you see, you remembered Selena.”

“The duchess is not easy to forget.”

Celia gave Drew a sad smile. “She is quite beautiful.” She sobered. “How frustrating that nothing can be done about such horrid men. As a doctor, you must witness terrible things.”

“I do. The ones I cannot help haunt me. Including the duchess,” Drew replied grimly.

“I must go to her. Do you remember the address?”

“I do. You say the duke is ill?”

Celia nodded.

“Allow me to go to the residence first,” Drew offered. “Since I was there before in a medical capacity, I might be able to gain entry. I will discover all that I can. I’ll return at six and join you and Liam for supper. Is that satisfactory?”

Celia sprang from her seat and threw her arms around Drew’s neck, knocking his spectacles askew. “Thank you!” She jumped back. “Oh, I am sorry!”

Drew chuckled as he straightened his eyeglasses. “Quite all right. No harm done.” Drew stood and picked up his bag and the mug of tea. “I’ll return the cup at supper.”

“Wait! I can make you a sandwich to take with you. I have become quite adept at it these past few days.” Celia ran from the office before Drew could refuse. She pulled the egg salad container from the icebox, made the sandwich, wrapped it in parchment paper, and returned it to Drew in minutes. “There. Something to eat as you travel. Roast turkey dinner tonight. I will see you at six.”

Drew tucked the sandwich into his bag. “I am off to investigate.”

Celia followed him through the rear door and onto the walkway. He flagged a hansom cab and waved to Celia before he climbed in. She waved in return and watched the cab disappear around the corner.

* * *

Between the rush of customers, Celia kept watching the regulator clock in the kitchen, anxious for Drew’s return. There wasn’t much call for tea items this afternoon, so Celia assisted in filling the plates with food and learning Liam’s system of keeping track of what orders belonged to what tables. The orders were completed by half past five, and the doors were locked to transition to the pub and gaming room for the seven o’clock reopening. Everyone had eaten and cleaned the dining area, washed the dishes, prepared the beer barrels, and ensured the few liquors they had available were plentiful. Tonight, they would also offer canapes that arrived this morning from a marquess’s dinner party.

Drew strode through the rear entrance, and Liam pointed to the staff dining room door, then handed her two plates. “For yourself and the doctor. I’ll be right behind you.”

Celia entered the room and placed the full platter before Drew.

“Well, this is quite the meal. Like Christmas dinner.” He looked at Celia and smiled. “Thank you.”

“It does smell and look wonderful,” Celia agreed. “I never celebrated Christmas last month. My husband was too ill. So this is very welcome indeed.” With the three of them seated and the door closed to give them privacy, Celia turned to Drew. “I cannot wait. What did you discover?”

“I will endeavor to explain between bites.” Drew sliced his turkey. “The residence is on Chapel Street, in Belgravia, with the usual grand terraces and stucco design. The butler, Yarrow, answered the door. Hoping the information you were given was correct, I told Yarrow that the duchess had been in touch and asked me to check in on the duke. I was ready to have the door slammed in my face.”

“Did he?” Celia asked.

“No. He looked surprised by my news. ‘You heard from the duchess? How is she? When is she coming home?’ that sort of thing. I asked, ‘When did she leave?’ Yarrow claims she disappeared in the middle of the night with a few valises on December 4 th . She has not been seen or heard from since. I told Yarrow that I had received a telegraph two days ago. Yarrow asked to see it, and I said I did not keep it as I assumed it came from the Chapel Street address.”

Celia looked from Drew to Liam. “Leave? In the middle of the night? I wonder why, besides the obvious reason?”

“I may know the answer,” Drew replied solemnly. “When I was called in last year, the duke wanted me to sign papers so he could start the procedure of committing the duchess to an asylum. I refused. We were alone briefly, and I told her of his plan.”

Celia’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, no!”

“Jaysus,” Liam muttered. “Can a wife be placed in an asylum at her husband’s word?”

“It has been more difficult since a recent law passed. You need more than two doctors’ signatures now. I told Barnsdale this. He did not like what I had to say.”

“What happened next?” Celia asked, caught up in the narrative.

“Yarrow escorted me to the duke’s room. A medical professional can tell when someone is dying. I would say the duke is in the middle stage. He was bedridden, and foul air permeated his room. He had lost weight since I last saw him, and his skin was blotchy. The cough he had in April is considerably worse, as well. I am guessing it’s cancer of the lungs. The duke did not acknowledge my presence as he drifted in and out of consciousness.”

Drew sighed. “How much time does Barnsdale have left? It differs with each person. Two months. Maybe less, or perhaps a bit more. After my obligatory examination, I instructed Yarrow to hire a live-in nurse to make his last days comfortable. I also left new aspirin powder to assist with any pain and a prescription for laudanum. Will the butler do so? That is up to him. He said the duke and duchess had no children and I did not ask about other family members.”

“Bloody hell,” Liam muttered. “Rich or poor, chances are you wind up dying alone.”

“It happens to some, perhaps more than we know, I am sorry to say,” Drew replied.”

“I will never find Selena in this populous city,” Celia remarked sadly. “If she is even still in London.”

“I feel your friend will make herself known once the duke dies. I know that doesn’t assist you in the short term,” Liam replied. “As I said, you can stay here, however long it takes. You have a purpose here—and a home.”

Emotion swelled through Celia. She laid one hand on top of Liam’s and one on top of Drew’s. “Thank you, both of you. You have saved me from a terrible plight. My dear friends.”

Celia meant it. Regardless of their horrid duke sire, these were the two most honorable and generous men she had ever met. In Liam’s case, her feelings were growing beyond friendship. She was not sure if Liam reciprocated her growing feelings, but she was content with their current relationship.

She admired Liam’s kindness and strength and found herself drawn to him in a way she had never experienced before. He was often hard to read. Could there be something lasting between them? How could she feel such intensity on such a brief acquaintance?

Celia would puzzle it out one way or the other.