Page 13 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)

Viola regretted her intemperate words. She did not know him well enough to reveal such intimate details. ‘The horses are cool. I am going to canter the remainder of the distance. I suggest, sir, that you continue to Elveden now that you are in the saddle.’

This was hardly a hospitable thing to say after he had accompanied her and, with his remarkable whistle, recovered the dog without the necessity of an unpleasant confrontation with her neighbour. However, she was now uncomfortable in his company and had no wish to spend further time with him.

‘I was going to suggest that myself, my lady, but was worried the children would be disappointed if I did not join them for luncheon.’

‘I am sure they will survive your absence. After all they have only known you a short while. I shall send Thomas to you tomorrow morning – if the carriage cannot travel safely then he can ride with a groom.’

‘I have reconsidered my decision not to include your daughter in these visits. Therefore, if Elizabeth wishes to come with her brother she will be welcome.’

After having been so ungrateful she could hardly refuse this request. ‘That is most gracious of you, Mr Sheldon. They will arrive at ten o’clock and I shall expect them home in time for luncheon.’

They had now reached her own land. He touched his beaver hat with his whip, nodded politely and cantered off without another word.

From the rigidity of his back it was obvious she had offended him.

For a second she was tempted to go after him and apologise but the moment passed.

She was about to go into the stable yard when she realised Brutus had gone with Mr Sheldon.

It was decidedly annoying that this gentleman had somehow inveigled his way into her family.

Her children adored him and now the wretched dog appeared to have changed allegiance as well.

She must just hope the animal was merely escorting him home and would return where he belonged immediately afterwards.

It did occur to her that she could very well end up having to repeat the process of fetching him back from her neighbour’s kennels. Thomas and Elizabeth would be as cross as she was about this situation.

When she explained why Brutus was not with them Thomas grinned. ‘He likes Mr Sheldon, as we do. He’s a splendid fellow, Mama. I expect our dog will come back when he’s ready.’

‘I wish Mr Sheldon had come in. I did not think I liked him, but now I do.’ Elizabeth looked genuinely upset.

‘Sweetheart, he has said that if you wish to accompany your brother to his lessons he would be happy to have you there.’

Her daughter’s look of absolute delight at the news did not please Viola. ‘Are you sure you wish to go there, as you will have to sit in silence and behave yourself for two hours. I am sure he will not tolerate any of your bad behaviour.’

‘I know he will not, Mama, which is why I have no intention of doing anything to annoy him. I notice there is a harp in his music room. I would like to learn to play that – I wonder if he can show me how to do so.’

‘He is a musician, Beth, I am sure he will be able to, even if he cannot play the instrument himself,’ Thomas said.

‘Shall we eat? I expect you are starving after having had to wait so long. Is your grandmama in the drawing room?’

Her mother called from this chamber. ‘I am sharp-set, my dear. I refuse to wait another minute for my meal.’

The children ran ahead laughing, but Viola followed more slowly. She needed time to adjust to this new circumstance. There was no point in denying it to herself. The reason she had sent him away so abruptly was because she was beginning to have unwanted feelings for him.

As long as he remained at Elveden and did not visit here she could push him from her mind.

There was an uncomfortable tightness in her bodice and she had difficulty swallowing.

Keeping her distance was going to be impossible as she had already invited him to accompany her to London in search of the piano.

Her mother was more interested in her luncheon than discussing the exciting events of the morning. The children asked to be excused in order to go upstairs to continue their battle.

‘Thomas, do you not have practising to do for tomorrow’s lesson?’

‘I have done it whilst you were out chasing Brutus, Mama. I shall do another hour later.’

As soon as the children had gone her mother joined her on the daybed. There was something about her expression that worried her. ‘What have you heard on your visits this morning that bothers you?’

‘It might be nothing, but Mrs Peabody heard from her son who works as footman for Sir Frederick that he has discovered a distant relative of your husband and is having him fetched so he can take over the estate and become guardian to the children.’

Her substantial luncheon threatened to return. ‘How can that be? Rupert was forced to make it very clear in his will that Richard is their guardian and has control of the estate. I cannot believe someone we have never heard of, who has such a tenuous connection, could step into this position.’

‘One would think not, but it is better to be prepared. The children told me we are going to London as soon as the roads clear; that would be an ideal opportunity for you to visit your lawyers and make sure Rupert’s will stands.

I think you should write to Richard at once, send it by express.

He will want to be informed that it is possible this person is going to try and wrest control from him. ’

‘I shall do so. Let us pray that this information is incorrect. I shall ask my lawyers to start making enquiries for themselves.’

The letters were sent and the groom who had taken them to the nearest mailing inn returned with the good news that the lanes were clear. She promptly sent him out again with a message for Mr Sheldon saying that she intended to leave for London the next day, as she had urgent business to attend to.

* * *

Beau had attempted to send the huge hound back to the children, but he had refused to listen. The head groom was watching with some amusement. ‘I reckon he wants to stay with you, sir. I can make him nice and snug in an empty stall.’

‘Do that if you please. He will do better shut in here, as he can escape too easily at Fenchurch Manor.’ He patted the dog’s head and pulled his silky ears before striding indoors and divesting himself of his outdoor garments.

After spending a pleasant half an hour preparing a new piece for Thomas to practise the following morning, he was disturbed by the arrival of the footman with a letter on a silver salver.

His stomach lurched. The only person who knew his whereabouts was Carstairs, his man of business, and he had strict instructions not to contact him unless there was a desperate family emergency.

He snatched the letter up and his breath hissed through his teeth.

It had come from Viola, not Carstairs. He snapped open the wax seal and read the contents.

For her to make such a sudden decision must mean something catastrophic had occurred.

It was none of his business but nevertheless he was concerned for her.

Another visit was out of the question so he must content himself with a letter.

The man who took it would have to wait for a response.

Fortunately, there was an ample supply of paper, quills and pots of ink in the study for his use.

He sat down and composed what he hoped would be a suitable missive in the circumstances:

Lady Fenchurch,

Thank you for your correspondence. You neglected to inform me where you intend to stay. It will be impossible for us to meet in order for you to purchase a piano for your son if I do not have your direction.

Therefore, I shall remain here until you contact me from London with your whereabouts. Then I shall follow post-haste.

He signed the letter with a flourish and was about to sand it, but then turned the air blue. The signature he had scrawled was not Edward Sheldon but his own. He tore the letter into shreds and tossed it into the fire and began again.

He had no notion if Viola and her family intended to travel in their own carriage or go by post-chaise.

If the former they would have to stop to rest the horses and would be unlikely to complete the journey in two days and be obliged to overnight twice somewhere.

If the latter they would be there in a day if prepared to journey in the dark.

Travelling this way was exorbitantly expensive but they could both afford it and it certainly would make things easier. Finding lodgings that would also accommodate a carriage and team might well be problematical. He sincerely hoped she had considered this when she made her decision.

Thomas and his sister would not now be coming in the morning as they would be on their way to London.

What would happen to Brutus whilst they were all away?

He could not be kept shut in and once he was released he would go in search of the children.

On finding them gone no doubt he would return to the kennels in order to chase the bitches.

This was a conundrum he had to solve before he too set out for Town.

He could hardly turn up in the metropolis with no clear idea where he was to reside.

However, on every other visit he had made he had stayed at the family house in Grosvenor Square.

He had told Viola he would find accommodation in Cheapside, but all he knew about that location was that it was on the other side of London and not a particularly salubrious side at that.

The only advantage would be no one there would recognise him.

The butler was a young man – perhaps he might know of a suitable place to stay. When Foster appeared, he put the question to him.