Page 32 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)

‘I wish for three guest bedrooms to be prepared. They are for the young ladies I am going to interview for the position of governess. They will be staying for several days. They will dine with Mrs Alston and I.’

The housekeeper was efficient and everything would be in place before the carriage pulled into the turning circle. She should really call the children back but having them outside would give her time to talk to each of the candidates before they were introduced to Elizabeth and Thomas.

There was still time for her to rush upstairs and inform her mother. ‘How do you know it is the missing governesses, my love? Do they have a banner blowing above the carriage to indicate who they are?’

Viola laughed. ‘I suppose it would have made sense to wait, but if you remember they were due to come before the snow and that is now more than a week ago. It can be nobody else as we do not have visitors here.’

‘I shall delay until you are certain before coming down. I am fatigued after all the exertions of the past few days and will remain where I am in case you are mistaken in your assumption.’ Then her mother sat up in bed.

‘Mind you, it will be more interesting if it isn’t one of them, so I shall definitely rise and be downstairs within half an hour. ’

Viola had not seriously considered this explanation, but now she was a trifle anxious about the impending arrival of the carriage. Who else could it be? Then an awful possibility occurred to her. Was this Mr Fenchurch and his lawyers come to stake their claim?

She beckoned to the footman who was, as always, waiting in the entrance hall. ‘If the occupants of the carriage are ladies, then allow them in. If it is gentlemen, then do not open the door under any circumstances.’

What else should she do to keep them safe? The doors – there were many and all of them would be unbolted at this time of the day.

‘Make sure everywhere is locked – tell Cook that none of the kitchen maids are to go outside until told otherwise. Also, all the downstairs shutters must be closed. Be quick and get others to assist – the carriage is almost here.’

Now all that remained for her to do was call in her children.

If it was actually this man and his lawyers, they could legally take her children from her if they were able to get their hands on them.

She ran to the window but they were no longer on the grass.

She should be cross for their disobedience but was just relieved they were in no danger.

The constriction around her chest began to ease.

With Brutus beside them they would be perfectly safe, as he would not let anyone touch them, and these people were not likely to be carrying weapons.

* * *

Beau had been tempted to ride Titus on his search for the nearest bishop but decided it would make more sense to travel in a carriage and not arrive dust-stained. His own Bishop travelled on the box with the coachman as he would have need of his services during the day.

He would be away for several days as his enquiries had discovered the gentleman he would have to apply to resided in Ely, which was a deal further than Ipswich from Elveden.

After much thought he had come to the inevitable conclusion that he should tell Viola who he was and why he was masquerading as plain Mr Sheldon before he married her.

He was hoping to delay matters until Richard returned from Ireland and they knew exactly where they stood with regards to the putative heir to the earldom.

If they had been too late and Fenchurch had already accepted Sir Frederick’s offer, she would have to marry him regardless of the circumstances.

What he would have to decide was if the safety of her family was more important than his honour.

Marrying her under false pretences might be the only option, but it was not one he relished.

He travelled with the window open as he enjoyed the fresh air even in the cold.

It was now March and there was a faint haze of green on the hedgerows.

He had noticed in his own grounds that there were patches of golden yellow daffodils around the trees.

He had been assured by his head gardener that the weather was set fair for the next week at least and there would be no more snow until next winter.

He sent Bishop to enquire from the church the whereabouts of the cleric used when he occasionally visited Ipswich.

‘We’re in luck, sir, Bishop Fowley is visiting at Kentwell Hall, which is in Long Melford. He’s going to be there for a week or more, so you can speak to him there.’

‘I take it this Kentwell is a deal closer than Ely?’

‘It is, sir. We can be there before dark and only need to be away one night.’

It took him the best part of the day to locate Fowley. It cost him five pounds – roughly what a chambermaid received for an entire year of dedicated labour. God knows what a special licence would have cost him if he had needed one of those.

‘Bishop, the horses are done, we will stop at the next hostelry we approach.’ Beau was leaning out of the window in order to yell this command.

The inn was tolerable, but no better than that. As long as he did not acquire crawlers, or was obliged to share his bed with a complete stranger, he would have to be satisfied.

‘I shall wish to leave at first light; we will find somewhere better than this place to break our fast.’