Page 44 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)

Viola failed to appear before the nursemaid came to collect the children for nursery tea.

He kissed them warmly and promised to come up and say goodnight later on.

His mother-in-law had also vanished, but he could hardly knock on her apartment, so he would go and see where his wife was.

Her sudden attack of sickness could herald a megrim or could just have been a reaction to her extraordinary behaviour.

He flexed his injured arm and smiled ruefully. He was fortunate it had not been broken by the impact of the metal fire irons. He was waylaid by the butler in the hall. ‘Excuse me, your grace, word has come from the kitchen that a tisane has been requested as her grace is indisposed.’

‘Thank you, that explains why her grace has not joined us this afternoon.’

He knocked and looked into her bedchamber when he was retiring and saw Viola was sleeping.

Hopefully she would be fully recovered tomorrow and in a better frame of mind.

The letters he had sent by express would have arrived by now and Carstairs would no doubt set off first thing in the morning and would be with him the day after.

It was early when he got up and he went straight to her rooms. He knocked and was surprised that her maid did not answer.

After being ignored for several minutes he went in without invitation.

The curtains were still drawn, the fire dead in the grate.

There was a sinking feeling in his stomach and he covered the remaining distance to her bedchamber in seconds.

As he feared the bed was empty, a bolster in place representing his wife.

He snatched up the note and read it. Dammit to hell!

What maggot had got into her brain to think she could find a solution to their problem by dashing off to London to see her lawyers?

He thanked the Lord that her brother would be there to escort her about the place.

He had been unaware that Alston had returned from Ireland – so much had happened in the interim he had quite forgotten about this.

Mrs Alston was in the breakfast parlour and he nodded politely. ‘Good morning, ma’am, I assume that you are aware Viola has rushed off to London in the hope that she can have the marriage set aside.’

The old lady stared at him as if he was speaking in tongues. ‘Good heavens! The girl has run mad. I had no idea, your grace, that my daughter planned to do anything so stupid.’

‘The visit will prove what I have been trying to tell her. There is no way our marriage can be annulled and the sooner she realises that, the happier we will all be.’ He filled his plate and joined her at the table.

‘I shall be leaving for Silchester in ten days’ time.

Your grandchildren will be accompanying me.

I assume you will remain here with my wife until she sees sense. ’

‘I’m tempted to come with you, your grace, and leave her isolated here. I shall not do that, but I can assure you I will do everything in my power to persuade her to forget her nonsense and be happy that she has married not only for expedience, but also for love.’

He buried his nose in his newspaper so he was not obliged to keep up a conversation. He bid her a polite farewell and headed for the stables. A gallop around the park would settle his nerves and Titus needed the exercise.

After an exhilarating and enjoyable excursion he was cantering around the extremity of the park when he saw someone turn into the drive on what was obviously a hired hack. When he was close enough to see the identity of the rider he cursed volubly under his breath.

‘Alston, hold up, I need to speak to you.’ His brother-in-law was supposed to be in London with Viola, so what the devil was he doing here? They both drew rein so they could converse more comfortably.

‘Good morning, sir, I am returned from Ireland with the most extraordinary news.’

‘I thought you meeting Viola in London. We are married now, and I must inform you I am not Mr Sheldon but the Duke of Silchester.’

‘The devil you are! You have trumped my news with your own, your grace. I found the residence of the family and discovered Fenchurch had already departed for London.’

Beau dismounted in the turning circle and tossed his reins to a waiting groom and his companion did the same. He strode into the house and headed straight for his study. Alston’s reunion with his mama could wait until this business had been fully discussed.

As soon as the doors closed he turned. ‘Tell me what you know.’

‘Initially I was horrified I had arrived too late but then made further enquiries which led me to the conclusion that this Fenchurch is not in any way related to Viola. Several of the local families told me categorically he had no connection to any aristocratic English family.’

‘How did Sir Frederick come to make such an error? Surely the man concerned must be aware of his own ancestry?’

‘Indeed he is. I then returned and spoke to his wife who was unhappy at her husband’s deception.

The man had taken the opportunity to make himself rich regardless of the consequences.

On further investigation I did in fact find the genuine relatives, but this man did not produce any male heirs, only females.

It is a coincidence that there happens to be a second family with the same name living no more than fifty miles away. ’

‘No doubt this imposter has now scuttled back to Ireland. I had better tell you how it comes that we are married and why I was living incognito.’

When he had finished his story he added that his wife refused to accept the fact that not only was the marriage permanent but also that he did not care one jot that she could not give him children.

‘She will come around – never fear. She loves you to distraction and will make an excellent chatelaine and duchess. I travelled post and am fatigued. Forgive me, sir, but I should like to get some shut-eye before I see my mother.’

‘I am concerned that Viola is gallivanting about Town unchaperoned. What might have been acceptable for Mrs Sheldon is certainly not for the Duchess of Silchester.’ He sighed. ‘I suppose I am obliged to go in search of her…’

There was a sharp knock on the door and it flew open before he could make a response. His mother-in-law surged in and, ignoring him, bustled across and hugged her son.

‘You should have come to me first, my boy. I am agog to hear your news.’

Beau left them to their conversation and went in search of his valet.

He was in two minds about trekking to London as it was quite possible he would arrive when she was already returning.

His man informed him that one of the grooms had gone with her as well as her maid.

He told him that there was in fact no heir so the danger to the family was gone.

‘If you will permit me to comment, your grace, I believe her grace will be perfectly safe. I cannot see the necessity for us to rush after her in the circumstances.’

‘That is the conclusion I came to. I am glad to have it confirmed by yourself. However, I need to know how she travelled. She did not take a carriage so I suppose she either went post-chaise or took the common stage.’

Again, his man surprised him. ‘I cannot see that it makes any difference to the outcome, your grace. Either way she will be safe and return in a day or two.’

He slapped him on the back. ‘You are an excellent fellow. I cannot imagine how I managed without you. I shall wait here until she comes back.’

He went to the nursery floor to inform the children that their uncle had arrived and found them busy at their lessons with not one, but two, ladies in charge. He had quite forgotten about the governesses.

They both curtsied politely and the children looked for permission to stand up before they rushed over to him. ‘Forgive me for interrupting, but I have come to inform the children that their uncle has arrived. He will not be available for an hour or two as he needs to rest after his exertions.’

‘Why has Mama gone away without telling us, Papa?’