Terri Brisbin (19 page)

“Doctors, please forgive me for interrupting your schedules with this unusual request.”

“Command was more like it! Your man gave us no choice but to come,” the one with the bushy eyebrows, Penworthy, said.

“How can we be of service to you, Your Grace? Ma’am?” the older one asked, looking at each of them.

“His Grace, the Duke of Windmere, was called away on an emergency, before he could explain the details of his illness to Her Grace. Would you be so kind as to tell her your prognosis?”

Miranda had never spoken to the doctors directly, so she wanted to hear this, as well. Adrian did not always have confidence in them, so another explanation might reveal something to her that could help his condition.

“Our prognosis? His Grace suffers from an asthmatic condition of the lungs, ma’am. When we last examined him, that was…” Dr. Lloyd paused.

“It has been a number of months since we saw him,” Penworthy continued.

“We saw him back in April. Came here to his home and consulted with him about the coughing and the spasms of the chest,” Wilkins finished.

“Had his condition worsened at that time?” Miranda asked.

“He reported an increase in symptoms, but we could find no changes in his lungs.”

“No changes?” she asked. “And the advice you gave him?”

“We suggested some alterations to the medications he took, and that he should take the waters to ease the tightness in his chest.”

This did not sound serious at all. Adrian had told her that they’d predicted his death. Before she could ask, Cordelia did.

“Did you inform my son that his illness had worsened to the point where he would die in less than a year?”

Their expression turned to horror and their heads began to bobble and shake.

“No!”

“Cannot imagine why you would ask such a thing!”

“Die? He will probably outlive us all!”

Now it was Miranda’s turn to shake. The look of satisfaction on the dowager’s face turned to delight as she rose and thanked the doctors. For her own part, the words were just sinking in.

Adrian was not dying, after all.

He had lied to her all along.

Although she could not think of a reason for him to do so, the doctors, by their own admission, had never told him that his condition was so deteriorated that he would die. He had made it up and used it to explain and excuse his actions. To lull her into the situation that now existed—one that he could escape from without difficulty.

She could not breathe.

Cordelia watched all the color drain from Miranda’s face as the doctors left. She had gambled and won, and now things would work out the way she’d planned. She did not care why Adrian had lied to Miranda, but it suited her just fine.

She crossed the room and took several of the papers from the package. Holding them out to Miranda, she explained the situation again.

“You will note that the settlement offered if you sign these now is most generous, Miranda.”

It took only a few minutes to get the signatures in the correct places on the documents. Although Miranda had not moved from her seat or spoken, Cordelia thought it best to clarify a few of the clauses that she’d just signed.

“You have two days to vacate these premises, Miranda. You are no longer welcome here or on any other Windmere property. And take with you only your personal clothing. Any jewelry or valuables remain with the Windmere estate.”

Cordelia gathered up all of the documents and
walked out of the drawing room and called for the Windmere carriage. Climbing in, she was quite pleased with her afternoon’s work. Windmere might balk, but Miranda’s signature and absence would convince him that this was the right course.

It would be a blustery encounter, but she would prevail…as she just had.

E
xhausted from days of traveling to Windmere Park and back again, Adrian walked into his study and poured himself a brandy. Although he would have been happy enough to remain there and wait for Miranda to join him, she had chosen not to come. Now he was here and she was not.

“Where did you say the duchess went?” he asked Sherman when the butler finally entered the room.

“I did not say, Your Grace.”

A hint of belligerence permeated the butler’s reply, which was odd. Sherman had never been anything but helpful and efficient.

“And if you did say, where would you say she went?” Adrian shook his head, tired from his journey and anxious, very anxious, to see his wife. The week or so before he’d been called away had been troubling to him. Something was wrong between them and he could not
identify it. It was not like Miranda to ignore his invitation and especially not reply to it. And he had even invited Lady Allendale to be their guest, hoping it would make her travel more enjoyable.

He looked at Sherman now and lifted his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.

“I could not say, Your Grace.”

“Enough of this, man. Just tell me where the duchess is!” His voice raised to shouting, he glared at the servant. Before he could answer, Thompson came running in.

“She is gone, Your Grace!”

“The duchess is gone? I know she is out, but I am trying to discover her location.”

“She left, sir. About two days after you did.”

“I am exhausted. This exchange might be humorous or even make sense if I was in better shape, but, gentlemen, I have lost my patience.”

Walking to the door, he called out, “Fisk!” If no one else could explain this, his wife’s maid could and would. When the woman did not come, Adrian ran up the stairs to his wife’s rooms. “Fisk!” he called again.

“Your Grace,” Sherman said from right behind him. “The duchess left after she had some meeting with the dowager.”

“My mother was here?”

“Yes, sir. The dowager sent a note and the duchess accepted her call. It was my impression that the duchess thought you had approved of it.”

“I would never have done that, Sherman. You knew that.”

He pushed open the door to her dressing room and looked around. As far as he could tell, only a few gowns were not there. “So, when this meeting happened and the duchess left, where did she say she was going?”

“She left no address or indication of her destination, sir.”

“And Fisk? Did Fisk go with her?” Her maid would never let her go off alone. She was too loyal.

Adrian searched through the bureau, looking for something to tell him where Miranda might be. He found everything there. Miranda’s hair combs, her jewelry, even her wedding ring, and the necklace and earrings he’d given her as an engagement gift. He was beginning to worry now.

“Fisk was let go, sir.”

Adrian turned to face them. “Let go? The duchess turned Fisk out?”

“No, sir, the dowager did that. Then she had her man watch as the duchess packed a few of her things, and he followed her out.”

“This is bizarre. You are telling me that my mother arrived and met with my wife, then fired my wife’s maid and turned Miranda out of her own house with nothing but a few of her gowns?”

The two servants looked at each other and then at him.

“Yes, Your Grace, that is what happened.”

Adrian stared at them, trying to figure out his next
step. He’d been gone for nine days, which meant that this had happened a week before. Miranda had been gone for a week and no one in the household knew where she was. He would need some help…and he would need to speak to his mother.

“Sherman, send a footman to see if Lord Parker can be located and brought here. He may be at the club.” Adrian began tugging off his travel garments as he walked to his room. “Thompson, we may be on the road again, so please prepare for it.”

The last time he’d spoken to his mother, she had mentioned wanting him to divorce his wife. Was that what the meeting was about? Had his mother tried to force Miranda into something?

He took off his shirt and washed his face and hands with the just-delivered hot water. “And find Mr. Anderson and have him come here.”

It took less than a half hour for Adrian to discover the absence of his wife, change and be in the carriage heading to the dowager’s house. He hoped it would take less time to discuss what she had done and to find Miranda.

“It was her own decision, Windmere. Here are the documents.”

“An annulment? You are trying to tell me that Miranda agreed to have our marriage annulled?”

He took the papers from her hands and read them over quickly. In consideration for her cooperation in the annulment proceedings, she would receive a large
settlement. The only requirements would be for her to submit to any examinations requested by the courts, and to sign away any claim to Windmere properties, assets or funds.

“Being barren is an extremely difficult thing for a woman to face, Windmere. When she realized the futility of remaining duchess if she could not fulfill her primary responsibility, she agreed to accept the annulment.”

“Her primary responsibility was to be my wife, Mother.” Adrian dragged his fingers through his hair and fought the urge to commit murder. “What else did you say to her to make her sign this piece of trash?”

“Really, Windmere. I did not force her to do anything,” his mother answered. “It was finding out that you’d been lying to her for months about your health and about that woman that convinced her, if anything did.”

“That woman? My health? What are you talking about?” Adrian walked to the couch and dropped onto it.

“Your mistress, Mrs. Robinson. Although I am embarrassed that you want me to speak of her with you.”

He could swear that she blushed. “Mother, there is nothing we could speak of that would do that to you. What about her?”

“You used to be discreet, Windmere. But your reunion with her and the new house you’ve bought for her are the talk of the ton. You had to know that Miranda would be told sooner or later.”

“For your information, and for that of anyone you care to discuss this with, Mrs. Robinson is not my mis
tress. She is marrying an American and leaving London within a few weeks. The house I bought is for Miranda.”

“You bought a house for her? So you did plan a separation, then?”

The look of glee in his mother’s eyes worried him. “I bought the house so that Miranda has a place to live when I die.”

“According to the doctors, you will live a long life, Windmere. I think that was the key in Miranda’s decision. Once they told her of your true condition and she knew you’d been lying, she signed the papers without asking a question.”

He stared in shocked silence at her words. Dare he believe her? “When did you speak to the doctors?”

“I told her that we had discussed a divorce, and she seemed to think that you wouldn’t live long enough to go through with it. We summoned Drs. Wilkins, Penworthy and Lloyd and they assured her they never told you that you were dying.”

“Brava, Mother! You executed this with the precision of a ballet. Telling each of us just enough of the truth to pull us in and just enough lies to make it work to your advantage.”

He turned from her, so furious he could not think clearly. For several moments he paced in front of her. Could he believe her about his condition? He thought back to the incident that had started this whole chain of events in motion. So, they had not been speaking of him after all? How incredibly stupid of him not to realize it!

All of this could have been avoided if he’d only…

But if he’d not thought he was dying, he would never have looked at Miranda differently. He’d never have tried to settle his estates or make arrangements for her. He’d never have gone back to Windmere Park and begun to discover the real Miranda under the layers she’d built to protect herself from the life they led. He’d never have fallen in love with her or made love to her as he had. He would have continued on his path and never realized what he was missing.

Expecting his death had been a stupid mistake, perhaps, but it had caused so many wonderful things to happen to him. And this terrible one. Miranda should not bear the brunt of his stupidity.

“I will find her, Mother, and I will tear up this agreement in front of her.”

“Do not be hasty, Windmere.”

“Hasty?”

“She has not conceived in over seven years of marriage. This is your chance to wed again. You can marry a young healthy woman who will bear you many children. You have the time, now that you know you aren’t going to die.”

“I know that this is unheard of, Mother, but I have discovered the problem is not hers. It is not Miranda who is barren, but me. The medications I have been taking for years have most likely caused my infertility.”

His mother looked shocked at his admission. But he’d had a frank discussion with several apothecaries
and with Mrs. Gresham, and all knew of stories involving the same situation as his.

“So, an annulment is not going to work. And I will not testify to anything other than the truth about this. Would you like me to tell the courts that the Duke of Windmere cannot produce a child?”

Horror filled her face and she shook her head. “You must be mistaken in this. A new bride, a new wife, and you’ll see that it was Miranda’s fault.”

That was when the truth hit him. His mother had planned this to rid herself of Miranda, who was beginning to be her own person, and to put into her place another woman who would be under her control. “Before I make any decisions, do you have someone in mind?” he asked.

“There would be many suitable candidates, Windmere. One I can think of immediately is—”

“Miss Stevenson?” he finished for her.

“Yes. She is attractive, well mannered, young enough to be guided in marriage by an older, more experienced husband. Juliet is also one of five sisters and three brothers, so has a much better family history than…some others may have.”

“And she and Lord Parker have reached an understanding, and their engagement will be announced by her parents shortly.”

“Never say that!” The dowager looked stricken by the news, and Adrian almost enjoyed it. “You have the higher precedence, your titles are older and more pow
erful, you have more estates and wealth. How could she consider him when you are a more advantageous match for her, or for any woman?”

“For two reasons, Mother. One—she is in love with Parker and two—I am already married and plan to stay that way.”

“I will not let you interfere with this, Windmere.”

He walked over until he stood above her, leaning close so she could hear his whispered words.

“If you ever step foot on to any Windmere property other than this one or your dower cottage at Windmere Park, I will have you escorted off. If you attempt to contact me or Miranda, except to offer your felicitations in writing on the birth of any child we might have, I will cut your allowance in half. If you do anything to interfere in our lives again, or even if I
suspect
that you are, I will change my will and take out every personal arrangement I have made for your upkeep and care in the event you survive me.”

He paused and remembered one other thing, something that had allowed her to wreak havoc in their lives—too much information. “I have discovered two of those in my employ who were loyal to you and who provided you with what you needed to hurt my wife. I will root out the rest and turn them out without hesitation.”

“Windmere,” she whispered as he turned to leave. “I am your mother.”

“Ah, but she is my wife and I love her.”

He thought he heard her gasp, but he would not turn
around again. Adrian left his mother’s house for what he hoped and planned would be the last time.

He spent the next four weeks searching for her. His attempts to speak to Lady Allendale were deflected for more than a week before he discovered Miranda’s friend had left town. Lord Allendale would not reveal his wife’s whereabouts or plans, so Adrian was stymied there. Runners hired to search went to the places at which they’d stayed in Bath and Bristol and Brighton, but could find no sign of her. Other than Lady Allendale, Adrian knew of no other friends in town in whom she would confide.

He summoned the doctors and confirmed that his mother had told him the truth. They had been speaking outside his window about someone else, and that person had passed away a month before. Adrian was grateful that they were not discussing him and hopeful that they were actually more knowledgeable than he’d given them credit for being.

Parker was so outraged when Adrian told him of the dowager’s plans for Miss Stevenson that he went immediately to her parents and made his offer of marriage. Now free of the death sentence that had hung over him for months, Adrian convinced Will to wait until everything had been resolved with Miranda so that they could stand as witnesses at the wedding.

The house that he had lovingly picked out and furnished for Miranda stood finished and ready for an oc
cupant. It was funny, in a strange way, how he had made it so personally hers, and she did not need it.

But then again, she might want it.

He would not force her to stay married to him. His solicitor examined the agreement that she’d signed and said it was both legal and binding if she chose to let it stand. If she decided that Adrian was not worth the pain and trouble he’d caused her, he would not only pay her the settlement agreed in the document, but he had an amount equal to half her dowry set aside for her use, as well. And if she allowed the money to be handled by his managers, he knew it would increase over the years.

But first he needed to find her.

With September upon them and most of the ton leaving for their country estates and the hunting and harvest season, he was faced with the reality that she might truly have disappeared from his life. His heart hurt whenever he thought of her alone somewhere. And he knew he must find her.

He closed up both Warfield Place and Miranda’s house, as he called it now, and headed for Windmere Park. Leaving behind a small staff in case she should return, he left messages for her with the Allendales and traveled north. Parker promised to visit as soon as possible, and said he looked forward to teaching Miss Stevenson how to play billiards.