Page 22 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)
Richard put his hand on mama’s arm and immediately she relaxed her rigid stance and smiled at her favourite child.
‘If you had been in the country at the time, my love, I’m sure you would have discovered more than we could.
’ She beamed at Mr Sheldon. ‘My son was travelling in India for our shipping business.’
‘I have never travelled so far; perhaps one day I will do so. Did you find the country as exotic and interesting as I imagine it to be?’
The conversation continued and moved from one subject to another, and it wasn’t until she saw Sally hovering anxiously at the doorway that she realised how long they had been.
‘We are tardy. The children will be eager to go out. Do you wish to come with us, Mama?’
‘I intend to rest this afternoon, my love, so I can be fully restored in order to enjoy my dinner here tonight. Perhaps Mr Sheldon would agree to accompany you instead?’
‘I should be delighted to, my lady. Shall we reconvene in the foyer in ten minutes?’ There was a twinkle in his eye as he said this, as if he expected her to demand longer.
‘It takes moments to put on my bonnet and cloak, sir, so I will certainly be there within that time.’
* * *
The Tower was deemed to be the most splendid building the children had ever set eyes on, the animals astonishing and the ravens very black. In all it was turning out to be a most successful outing for all concerned.
She had watched with interest the interaction between Mr Sheldon and her little ones.
They treated him with affection and respect and she had never known them to behave so impeccably for so long.
Her mother had been right to say that what they needed in their lives was the calming influence of a gentleman.
‘Mr Sheldon, at what time do you intend to depart tomorrow morning?’
He turned to her, his expression serious.
‘That is a subject I have been reluctant to bring up as it will cast a shadow over this delightful adventure.’ He looked up to check the children were busy admiring the battlements with their nursemaid before he continued.
When he told her what had transpired last night in the stables she was shocked to the core.
‘Why have you waited so long to tell me? It is something my brother should be aware of too. This man cannot possibly be Mr Fenchurch, so what can be his motive?’
‘I think he must be in the employ of Sir Frederick. It seems an outlandish theory, but I believe he could be trying to remove your son from the line of succession. This Irish Fenchurch would then become the earl… Do I need to go on?’
His expression told her more than any words. He thought the only possible explanation was that her villainous neighbour was planning to murder her son. She wished she had not eaten so much lunch.
‘What shall I do? How can I protect him?’
He moved in so he was standing no more than a few inches from her and what he said could not be overheard by the other folk milling about in the courtyard outside the Tower.
‘If you will allow me to, I shall take that responsibility upon myself. I give you my word no harm will come to Thomas on my watch.’
‘I accept your kind offer, sir; you are most reassuring. Tell me, how do you intend to make it safe for us to return in the carriage? I imagine that man will masquerade as a highwayman and it will appear he has inadvertently shot my son during the hold-up.’
‘Bishop can ride ahead – I shall purchase a suitable mount for him – and make sure there is no danger waiting. The obvious place for an attack would be somewhere in Epping Forest, for that is a notorious stamping ground of footpads and other ne’er-do-wells.
‘I shall travel in the carriage with you and will be suitably armed. It will be a sad crush with three adults and two children but it cannot be helped.’ His smile was warm and despite her fear she responded. She thought she detected something else in his eyes then dismissed this as fanciful.
‘I was wondering if Brutus could not run alongside your man? He is a terrifying animal when aroused, from what you tell me. Would he not be a valuable asset?’
‘That is an excellent notion, my lady. As we shall be travelling slowly, stopping frequently to rest the team, and breaking our journey twice, he ought to have no difficulty keeping up.’
‘I cannot believe that my obnoxious husband is able to cause so much misery three years after his death. If only we could prevent Sir Frederick from interfering in this way. There must be people of influence I could contact who would take the side of a countess over such a person.’
‘I do know of people who might be helpful in this instance. If you would like me to, I will write to them as soon as we return to the hotel.’
He did not offer to tell her who these people might be, and she was too polite to enquire.
He might be a commoner but so was she by birth – and it was birth that counted in these situations.
This just reinforced her belief that he had been a high-ranking officer in the army but had been obliged to leave for some reason.
She could not for one instant accept he had left under a cloud.
The children returned, eager to tell them everything they had seen and heard.
‘The Yeoman Warders in their splendid red and gold uniforms are my favourite things. You would not believe the tales they can tell about kings and queens having their heads chopped off in the courtyard,’ Elizabeth said gleefully.
‘I like the crown jewels best, Mr Sheldon. I think they have been here for centuries for people to look at,’ Thomas added.
‘It is almost dark and I think that we must return immediately to the hotel,’ she told them and they did not argue. The two of them skipped along ahead, but not too far, as they had been told to remain close. This gave her a further opportunity to converse with her companion.
‘I must thank you for the change you have made to my children in the few weeks you have known them. Elizabeth particularly seems so much happier and she has not had a tantrum since the one she threw the first week you were here.’
‘They are, as I have told you more than once, the most delightful children. It will be March tomorrow, the first day of spring. I am eager to see what sort of flowers there are in my park and gardens. I am hoping there will be daffodils and tulips as well as forget-me-nots and primroses.’
She was surprised by his interest and knowledge of plants. One might have thought he had owned a property before to take such an interest in the gardens.
‘My favourite flower is the rose. Fortunately, there is a beautiful rose garden at Fenchurch Manor, which was planted by my mother-in-law before she died giving birth to Rupert. I was always surprised that the old earl did not marry again, but he remained a widower until he died.’
‘Did you meet him?’
‘No, he too died young. Rupert inherited when he was nineteen years of age and by the time he reached his majority he had been running wild for years. He was too young for such responsibility, and I am terrified the same thing will happen to Thomas if I am not careful. That is why I am encouraging him to pursue his love for music and playing the piano.’
‘I assume you only found all this out after you were married to him.’
‘That is true, sir, but I cannot regret my marriage as without it I would not have my children.’