Duchess by Chance (8 page)

          
“Well this, my friend, is where we part ways,” Simon said, patting his friend’s shoulder in sympathy.

“Coward.”

“Sad but true,” said Simon, waving farewell and setting off in the opposite direction before Daniel had time to draw another breath. The duke’s grandmother had that effect on people.

CHAPTER FOUR

The Dowager Duchess was Daniel’s father’s mother. She’d always been a formidable woman, terrifying every new season’s debutantes with her vicious tongue. She went through a new household of staff every few weeks and was perhaps the only constant in Daniel’s life, though that constant was like a barb being repeatedly jabbed into one’s side. She challenged her grandson on every front, just as she had challenged her son. It was she who had visited him regularly at Stratton Lodge, checking his tutors were schooling him correctly to be the next duke, and later she was the one who’d pushed him through Eton.

There were plenty of carriages filling the streets at two o’clock on a sunny afternoon, yet it took Daniel only minutes to direct his horse to his grandmother’s doorstep. After handing the reins to a groom, he knocked on the large, white front door.

“Your Grace,” the immaculately clad butler said with a deep bow.

“Thompson.” Daniel responded with a nod and handed over his outer clothing. Thompson was the only long-term member of the duchess’s household, and had remained in his position for as long as Daniel could remember. “Is my grandmother at home?” he asked, not sure what answer he hoped for.

“If you will come this way, I will take you to her at once.”

Damn, she must have heard about his wedding, Daniel thought. Otherwise he would have been left to cool his heels in one of her elegant parlors for at least an hour before she condescended to see him.

“His Grace, the Duke of Stratton, your Grace,” Thompson said, ushering Daniel forward.
 

The Dowager Duchess of Stratton was a big woman who had lost little of her indomitable presence with age. Daniel had no idea of his grandmother’s exact age and she was not likely to ever disclose it to him, but she had to be over seventy, he thought, though her black hair was only lightly sprinkled with grey. Her big shoulders, large hands and long, hawk-like nose all added up to a formidable matron who was not to be messed with. They shared the bond of blood but little else. They rarely hugged or touched, she never offered words of kindness of sympathy and in truth, he would not have known how to take them from her. She had a sharp tongue and little wit and Daniel had never really worked out how he felt about her.

“Grandmother.” Daniel bowed over her hand.

“So you have been back eight weeks and now you finally visit me?” the duchess barked.
 

“Yes, I am well, and you also seem to be the picture of health.” Daniel moved to take the chair opposite her.

“Do not bandy words with me, Grandson. I was at your father’s funeral and you did not say one word, so I had to hear of your marriage like everyone else, through the newspapers.” To let him know how angry she truly was, she picked up a book from the table beside her and whacked it soundly on his knee.

“Did you know of this marriage contract?” Daniel rubbed his knee, noting he’d been taken to task by
The
Marauding Adventures of Captain Veesley on the High Seas.

“Of course. Bloody fool. Your father was an idiot in his youth and he gambled nearly everything away. Had that Winchcomb not offered a marriage contract instead of demanding the money your father owed him, we would all have been out on the streets.”

Stunned, Daniel sat back in his chair and stared at his grandmother. Winchcomb had saved his father and the Stratton name?
 

“You could have warned me,” Daniel said quietly, still reeling from what she’d told him.

“How? By telling you that your future was decided? That would have changed who you have become, changed the path you trod. And more importantly, the chit could have died - both your father and I had hoped for her death. Alas, she did not oblige.”

That was twice in one day his wife had been insulted - first by her brothers and now by his grandmother. Daniel was beginning to feel angry, which was ridiculous, as he had no feelings for the woman other than pity. Needing to look anywhere but at his grandmother, he studied the room around him, seeing but not really seeing. Not much had changed since his last visit. It was still dark and austere, just like its owner. The only pleasing thing to Daniel was that all the furniture was solid and well-built, unlike the current trend of spindly legs and narrow seats, grossly unsuited to his large frame.

“I met her brothers before I came here and they mentioned that Gilbert Huxley has an interest in my Duchess.” Daniel watched his grandmother closely. Her reaction surprised even him. Her hands clenched and her cheeks puffed. These displays did little to alleviate the feeling of unease in his stomach.

           
“That pathetic excuse for a nobleman - makes my blood boil just to hear his name.”

           
“Is my wife in danger, Grandmother? Her brothers alluded to the fact that Huxley had unfinished business where she was concerned.”

           
The older woman nodded her head. “Huxley was there when I visited the Winchcombs for the last time a few years ago.”

      “You visited my wife’s family? Why?” Daniel shook his head, confused.

“I visited the Winchcombs to see what sort of family they were and look over the girl. She was only a baby the first time but I wanted to make sure the future Duchess of Stratton did not have a squint or clubbed feet.”

           
Daniel remained silent; interrupting would get him nothing but a lecture.

           
“The little girl was pretty. She gurgled and smiled and I was most pleased. Her father was an idiot and tried to kiss me.”

          
“I beg your pardon!” Surely Daniel hadn’t heard that right.

           
“I, of course, unmanned him instantly, by, well, you understand.”
 

           
Daniel couldn’t help smiling as his grandmother glared at him. He could well imagine what she had done to Winchcomb.

           
“I am pleased you were able to protect yourself, Grandmother,” he said solemnly.

           
Thompson arrived then with tea, and Daniel knew better than to ask his grandmother to continue while a servant was in the room so he ground his teeth and waited. The elderly woman nodded for the butler to leave, then proceeded with the long drawn-out ritual that was needed to prepare a good cup of tea. He watched as she turned the teapot four times to the left, then four times to the right, counted for twenty seconds, then repeated the procedure. Usually Daniel found this quaint little ritual quite endearing. Today, however, he would cheerfully have reached across the table, grabbed the bloody teapot and hurled it across the room, but again, he knew better than to hurry her along. One did not hurry his grandmother, so outwardly calm he sat and waited.
 

           
“My second visit was, as I said, only a few years ago,” she continued after she had taken a small sip of tea. “I had wanted to check on the girl again, make sure that the tutor I had sent to school her was doing his job and that she was up to the mark. We could not have the new Duchess of Stratton appearing to countrified.”

           
“And you did not think at this stage that I should have been informed of my impending doom.” Daniel’s tone was terse.

           
Snorting, she reached for her tea and took a long swallow. “You would have run for the hills or gone into the army, had I informed you.”

           
She had a point there but he was too angry to acknowledge it.

           
“Your wife was a small, mousy thing, but for all that she seemed to have pleasing manners and as she had no idea of your contract either, I did not enlighten her. Her father told her that I was a long-lost relative who had come to see the family and that I was the one responsible for the tutor. The girl didn’t question me, yet I could see confusion in her eyes.”

      “You hardly look like a benevolent benefactress, Grandmother.”

      “It was the only thing that seemed plausible without alerting the girl to the contract between our families, and I will ask you to mind your tone, Grandson.”

           
“Huxley, Grandmother,” Daniel said, steering the conversation back to what he needed to know.
 

           
“Huxley was at the house when I arrived. He appeared familiar with the family and most especially the girl. I, of course, knew who he was as I was unfortunate enough to know his father.”

      Daniel watched his grandmother take another mouthful of tea before continuing with her story. Why did he have this feeling of unease inside him?
 

“At least the youngest two Winchcomb children do not share the elder brothers’ looks. Different mother, from what I gather,” the Dowager Duchess added.

“What happened to her, their mother?”
 

“Died in childbirth, so Winchcomb told me.”

“Tell me of Huxley, Grandmother.”

“I was invited to dine that night. I was staying at the nearest inn and knowing what Winchcomb was capable of, I had two servants accompany me at all times.” Seeing her nephew’s raised eyebrow, she snapped at him. “I may appear old to you, my boy, but to some, I am still a very attractive woman.”

           
“I have no doubts as to that, but still you digress,” Daniel said, barely restraining the urge to yell at her.

           
“The girl,” she said glaring at him, “appeared to be the servant for the night. Her brothers and father ordered her hither and yon, and Huxley touched her intimately on several occasions. She was red-faced with rage by the time dessert arrived and she dumped an entire bowl of very bland apple pudding on Huxley’s head. I, of course, applauded and held out great hope that she would indeed one day be able to fulfill the role as Duchess of Stratton.”

           
“Are you saying her family just sat there and allowed this man to touch and abuse her in your presence and did little to assist her?”

          
“Indeed, I was quite disgusted and when I took my leave later that night and found Huxley in the hall trying to kiss the girl. I instantly set my footman upon him, then told Winchcomb senior that if I found out this reprobate had touched the future Duchess of Stratton again, there would be hell to pay.”

           
“And he kept his word…until now,” Daniel said, leaping to his feet and heading for the door.

           
“Bring her to London!” his grandmother called as he shut the door.

Something was urging Daniel to return to Stratton Lodge immediately. Running down his grandmother’s stairs, he then mounted his horse and headed for his townhouse. Fifteen minutes later, he was once again dismounting, this time to hand the reins to his butler.

“A note has arrived for you from Luton, your Grace.”

Stripping off his gloves, Daniel took the note and broke the seal, his eyes scanning the neat writing.

A Lord Huxley visited Stratton, your Grace. His actions were not that of a gentleman and the staff was forced to take measures to ensure the duchess’s safety. She was distressed by the incident but expressed a wish that you not be informed. However, after careful consideration, I believed the best course was to do so with some expediency, as when Lord Huxley left Stratton, he threatened to return and harm the duchess. We, the staff, are, of course, ever vigilant and should he return, we will alert you instantly.

Luton

“Please have a fresh horse brought round, Werhnam.” Daniel folded the note and slipped it into his pocket. “I have decided to return to Stratton right away. I will be bringing the duchess back to London with me so prepare her rooms,” he added before heading to his own to change clothes. When he had made the decision to bring her back with him he had no idea, but he knew he wouldn’t leave her behind again.
 

“So you are going back to Stratton?” a voice greeted him as he walked back out the front door twenty minutes later.
 

“I thought you’d run for cover, Kelkirk.” Daniel shrugged into his greatcoat and pulled on his gloves. Simon was dressed similarly and stood waiting at the bottom of his stairs.

“Me?” Simon said, placing a hand on his chest. “I’m wounded. I merely went to retrieve my horse, and leave a message that I was accompanying you to Stratton for a few days.”

“And why did you think I would be returning to Stratton?” Daniel looked down at his friend, who was now slapping his hat against his thigh and looking vaguely interested in a large barouche that was trundling past.

“A hunch.”