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

The carriage was still outside. ‘Tell the coachman to wait, I wish to go to Elveden Hall.’ The footman nodded and went out to deliver her message.

She must not keep the horses standing in this weather.

She flew up to her rooms and with the help of her dresser put on her outdoor half-kid boots, her winter cloak and matching bonnet.

She was downstairs and on her way in minutes.

‘Coachman, I shall not remain at Elveden for long, so you will have to walk the horses. There will be little point in unharnessing them.’

He touched his hat with his whip and nodded.

He was a taciturn old man, someone who had worked for the family his entire life and his loyalties still lay with her deceased husband.

She really should dismiss him but hadn’t the heart.

Unless she was prepared to give him a cottage on the estate and a pension he would starve. No one else would employ such a man.

The journey was short but it gave her sufficient time to organise her thoughts.

Why was she going? Did she believe her daughter had been mistreated?

Surely the gentleman she had met yesterday could not do such a thing to a child?

Mr Sheldon had appeared to be an honest, trustworthy sort of person, not one who would mistreat a little one.

Elizabeth was a demanding, autocratic child but she was not a liar. Thomas must return with her immediately and there would be no further association with this man.

The air was crisp, the sky blue, and the sun bathed the frost-covered trees with golden light.

Everywhere looked quite enchanting but she knew this to be a deception.

It might look lovely, but if one remained out here for long one would perish.

One could not trust one’s eyes. What might appear perfect, inviting, would prove to be the reverse.

This might seem a pessimistic outlook but her own experience had shown her view to be correct. Appearances were usually deceptive.

She sailed into the house and expected to be greeted by Mr Sheldon looking suitably apologetic.

What met her was the beautiful sound of the piano.

For a moment she was mesmerised by the liquid notes as they drifted from behind the closed doors of the music room and quite forgot why she was there.

Then she recalled her sobbing daughter and her resolve hardened.

She was not going to be sent into the drawing room to wait on him.

She would speak to him immediately. Ignoring the butler, who was attempting to speak to her, she pushed open the doors and stepped inside.

He was the one playing, her son sitting beside him on the piano stool.

They ignored her even though she was certain Mr Sheldon was aware she was there.

Viola stood, tapping her foot, becoming more incensed as the minutes passed and he continued to play. The notes died away and he rose smoothly from the stool and turned to face her. His expression was bland, his eyes watchful, but he did not look at all surprised to find her there.

The silence stretched between them. Thomas wriggled from his seat and ran to her.

‘I do not know what my sister told you, but it will be a tale to her advantage. She refused to leave and so Mr Sheldon picked her up. He was savagely kicked and he laughed at her. That was all that happened. I should never have allowed her to come.’

The weight that had been pressing on her chest immediately lifted. ‘Indeed, you should not have, my dear, but we both know that when your sister decides to do something it is almost impossible to dissuade her.’

Mr Sheldon nodded politely. ‘Welcome to my house, my lady. I wish it were in more convivial circumstances.’

She waited for him to apologise for mistreating her beloved daughter but instead he said something else entirely.

‘Lady Elizabeth is sadly spoiled. The child mostly behaves like an adult and expects to be treated like one. I think it might be wise if you found something to occupy her fierce intelligence before she is quite ruined by your overindulgence.’

How dare he speak to her like that? He scarcely knew Elizabeth; he could not possibly be in a position to pass judgement in this way. ‘Come, Thomas, you will return home with me this instant. You will not be having music lessons in future with Mr Sheldon.’

Her son nodded, did not argue, but his slumped shoulders and tear-filled eyes told her more than his protests ever could. She raked the offending gentleman from head to foot with a steely stare, expecting him to look uncomfortable. He merely raised an eyebrow, which only enraged her more.

If she said anything further it would be so impolite she would regret it later. Therefore, she took her son’s hand and led him away, knowing even as she did so that she was being unfair to both Mr Sheldon and her son. Too late for regrets. The matter was settled.

Thomas said nothing on the return journey.

If he had cried, begged her to reconsider, she might have done so immediately.

His stoic silence, his sitting as far away from her as he could in the carriage, his refusal to meet her eye, pierced her heart.

She prayed she had not irretrievably damaged her relationship with both him and her daughter.

She would have a deal of fence-mending to do before this matter was settled between them.