The Duke Conspiracy (11 page)

“That, and I did feel he needed to be warned
if he happened to be unaware of a plot against him. Despite all
that has transpired between our families, he has been my friend, or
at least my neighbor, for my whole life. I could not stand by and
see him get caught up in one of Broderick's schemes if there was
anything I could do to prevent it.”

“And did he know anything?”

“Not that I could tell. It seemed as though
he barely knew the knight. And he seemed genuinely surprised about
Lady Anne. He said they have barely exchanged words.”

“Words aren't usually what entraps a man,
Miss.”

“I am aware, Mary,” Rose answered, her tone
dry. “He asked for my help. And I agreed.”

Mary gasped. “You are going to have further
association with Wrentham? What if your parents find out?”

“We shall have to ensure they do not,” Rose
stated, not brooking any argument. “It is the best way for me to be
privy to whatever he might be able to find out. I need to know what
Broderick is up to.”

“What is your role going to be? What sort of
help is he expectin' from you?”

“I am to find out what I can from Lady Anne.
And if you would like to assist, you could accompany me on my
visits and see what you might ascertain from the servants'
quarters.”

Mary was clearly torn between her loyalties.
As a member of the Smythe household she felt it her duty to despise
the Wrenthams, but her loyalty to her mistress, who clearly
intended to be involved, pulled her toward participation. Her
desire for excitement won out. “Of course I will assist you in any
way possible, Miss. When do we start?”

“This very afternoon, if possible. I am to
meet the duke again the day after tomorrow so we must make
haste.”

“Did you think you ought to tell your father
about Sir Broderick?” Mary asked.

“That was my first inclination, as soon as I
heard his voice. But I am afraid my father would leave all reason
behind when he heard the duke's name in the story. That is why I
need more information. If we can get Wrentham's involvement out of
the way and ensure he is somehow safe from entrapment, we can
pursue the other angle and get my father involved. I wish there was
someone else I could confide in who would be able to have a clear
mind on the subject because I do fear this is a much bigger issue
than just a plot to entrap a duke. And I would rather have someone
else involved sooner rather than later. But alas, for now it is us
and the duke against the world.”

“Not to overdramatize, right Miss?” Mary
teased.

“A little over dramatization never hurt
anyone,” came Rose's cheeky reply. “Although, in all honesty, it
feels that way at the moment. I am truly uncomfortable about Sir
Broderick's presence in London, let alone knowing of any plot
involving him. I can assure you, I would never have approached the
duke if it were not necessary.”

“Of course not,” Mary soothed. “Now we are
almost home, please tell me our plan so that I can figure out the
rest of my duties.”

“Oh Mary, I hope I am not going to be
burdening you with this.”

“Never fear, Miss. Remember, I asked for
it.”

“True enough,” Rose laughed. “The first place
I was going to start was with my friend Lady Elizabeth. I have not
yet decided how much I wish to tell her. Certainly nothing about
any prior knowledge I might have of Sir Broderick. But she is very
well connected socially so she will be able to introduce me to Lady
Anne at the very least. So, if you could accompany me there this
afternoon that would be lovely.”

“Very well, Miss.” As they entered the house
Mary's demeanor returned to her usual role, as befit her station,
rather than the role of friend that she sometimes assumed when they
were alone. “Shall I take your drawing instruments for you so that
you can adjourn to the dining room and break your fast with your
mother?”

“Thank you, Mary.” Rose glanced in the mirror
over the mantle to ensure she was sufficiently tidy before
hastening away to join her mother.

****

“Rosamund, how lovely to see you this
morning,” her mother greeted in a weak tone.

“Good morning, Mother. Did you sleep all
right?” Rose worried about her mother. She had never been robust,
but ever since Luke's death she had become wan and pale.

“Sufficiently well, my dear, thank you. And
what about you? You appear to be in fine fettle this morning.”

“I was up and about quite early this morning.
I took my pencils and went to see some of the artifacts Lord Elgin
has brought back with him from the Turks as they are set up in
Burlington House. I so hope the lords can finish wrangling over
them, as they truly are a marvel. It is hard to fathom they are so
old. I do believe I shall have to return several times in order to
get my picture quite right.”

“That is lovely, my dear,” Lady Smythe
replied, clearly not paying full attention. Rose grinned. She
doubted she would have any trouble getting out of the house to meet
Alex again. As long as she was accompanied by Mary, all would be
well.

“Do you have anything interesting planned for
your day?” Rose inquired politely.

“Not much, my dear. I have to meet with the
housekeeper and perhaps I shall pay a call or two, but I need to
conserve my strength for this evening. We are promised to the
Charringtons for their ball.”

“Oh yes, I have heard they have a reputation
for their hospitality. There shall no doubt be a crowd.”

Lady Smythe gave a delicate shudder before
asking, “Are you enjoying your stay in London, my dear? I know you
were looking forward to it, but then you seemed rather disappointed
when we first arrived.”

“I will admit to you that I have very mixed
feelings on the subject. I do not enjoy the crowds that most of the
ton
seem to rejoice in. It seems that a hostess is not
satisfied unless she has her rooms crammed past their capacity. In
Vienna it was much more comfortable to my taste. But of course,
here there is a much better mix of people to choose from. In Vienna
we were stuck with the same people day after day for a year and a
half, which could become tiresome if you did not enjoy someone's
company.” Mother and daughter shared a smile over this before Rose
continued. “With greater choice of people I am able to make more
varied friendships, which is lovely. Let us say that the Season is
growing on me.”

“Do you think,” Lady Smythe began hesitantly,
“that is to say, have you met any gentlemen that appeal to
you?”

Rose allowed a low chuckle to escape her
lips. “Ah yes, the real reason behind the Season. No one
particularly as of yet, unfortunately.”

“Perhaps it will be easier for you once your
brother arrives,” suggested Lady Smythe.

“Is it really such an urgent matter, my
lady?” Rose asked with a touch of worry. “Do I have to make a match
this Season?”

Lady Smythe gazed at her daughter with
dismay. “Well no, my dear, it is not urgent per se, it is just
desirable.”

Understanding dawned on Rose. “You do not
enjoy the Season overmuch either, do you? Perhaps I could just
remain single and return home with you and Father,” Rose suggested,
hope ringing in her voice.

“That would be lovely, until your father
passes on and you are stuck as a spinster living upon your
brother's charity. And depending whom he chooses to wed, it could
be even more uncomfortable for you. It is much better for your own
sake for you to find some gentleman with whom you can be happy and
set up an establishment of your own.”

“Must one have a husband to have one's own
establishment?” Rose wondered plaintively.

“It is much more comfortable that way, my
dear.”

Rose knew quite well that was the way of the
world and did not argue the point. Seeing the wisdom in her
mother's words she offered this promise, “I will try a little
harder to see the merits of the gentlemen I meet. I do not
necessarily want to prolong this Season business and would much
rather get on with the business of living. Have you met anyone that
you thought might be interesting for me, Mother?”

Lady Smythe looked at her daughter, surprised
to be asked this question. “Why, thank you for asking, my dear. I
did not think you would care to accept any advice I might have on
the matter so I was not paying particular attention, but I will
from now on.”

Rose felt a twinge of guilt for allowing her
mother to feel that way. She resolved to make a greater effort to
draw her mother out. “We could make a game of it,” she proposed
with a grin, gratified to see her mother's smile broaden in
return.

Rising from the table, Rose went around to
drop a quick kiss on her mother's cheek. “I shall see you later on.
Enjoy your day.”

Rose dashed up to her room to change into
something more appropriate for making calls before heading out to
drop in on Lady Elizabeth.

“Good afternoon,” Elizabeth greeted her
friend with a welcoming smile. “I was not sure if I would be seeing
you today as we had not discussed our plans.”

“Hello!” Rose replied. “I was rather
preoccupied when we were taking our leave yesterday. I apologize.
Do you have any appointments today? Would you like to make some
calls together?”

“That sounds lovely,” Elizabeth answered,
good natured. Her eyes narrowed shrewdly upon her friend's face.
“But what had you so preoccupied yesterday? It seems to me that
your mind has been elsewhere ever since the musicale at Lady
Yorkleigh's. Are you ready to tell me about it?”

Rose grinned at her friend. “Thank you for
not pestering me about it before this. I am sorry that I did not
confide in you previously. I could not decide how I felt on the
matter.”

“Have you come to any conclusions yet?”

“Not really,” Rose laughed. “That is why I
have decided I need to tell you—so that you could help me decide
how I feel.”

Elizabeth joined her friend in a fit of
giggles. “I shall try. Anything is better than this wretched
needlework my mother expects me to work on.” With those words she
tossed the offending craft aside and gave her full attention to her
guest. “Shall I ring for tea?”

“Perhaps later. For now it is best if we are
undisturbed, as I wish for this to remain a secret.”

Elizabeth's eyes widened a little with these
words but she nodded eagerly in response.

“At the musicale I overheard someone
discussing trying to entrap the Duke of Wrentham into marriage.”
Rose did not elaborate, merely stating the bare facts rather
baldly, and waiting for her friend's reaction.

“I beg your pardon?” Elizabeth clearly had
not been expecting this. “Well, I now understand why you were so
undecided on the subject. What are you going to do?”

“I was truly torn, I am rather ashamed to
admit. But loyalty to my former friend won out and I met with the
duke this morning and told him about it.”

Now Elizabeth's eyes were widened to the size
of saucers. “Have you gone mad? What if you had been seen? You
could have been ruined as I am fairly certain your parents would
not countenance a match with him even if it were to avoid
scandal.”

Rose had to grin at these words. “My maid was
with me, have no fear.”

“So why did you decide to tell me now, if you
felt you could not before?”

“I need your help to get to the bottom of the
matter, in all honesty. I promised Wrentham I would see what I
could find out. He seemed genuinely surprised to find out that such
a plan was hatched, especially by the parties involved.”

“Who was it by the by?”

“The conversation I heard was between Lord
Austen and Sir Broderick with regards to Lady Anne.”

“Truly?” Elizabeth gasped. “How perfectly
extraordinary.”

The two girls sat in silence for a moment,
both contemplating the implications. Elizabeth broke the silence.
“That is why you were wondering who Lord Austen is. So, you must
suspect there is something more afoot than Lord Austen wishing to
fill his pockets with some of Wrentham's wealth or you would not be
so concerned. No doubt young ladies have been attempting to entrap
the duke since he left Eton, so I would guess it is second nature
for him to avoid stepping into the parson's mousetrap.”

“You are very astute, my friend. It was the
fact that it was even being discussed that made me first suspect a
hidden plot. And the seeming lack of any connection between the two
men. I would imagine there are various family members who might
discuss such a plan in the privacy of their homes, or perhaps at
their clubs when they are in their cups, but this struck me as
being particularly odd.”

“What did Wrentham have to say?”

“Not much, really,” Rose was clearly
disappointed. “I got the distinct impression he isn't really
interested in my help. He thinks young ladies should be ornamental
rather than of any use. He merely thanked me for the information,
promised to confer with his solicitors, asked me to look into Lady
Anne, and agreed to meet me in a couple days to discuss what each
of us have managed to discover.”

“So you are going to have another clandestine
meeting with the duke?” Elizabeth was incredulous.

“With my maid in tow,” Rose protested.

Elizabeth appeared unconvinced but refrained
from further comment on that score. “So you are actually here to
enlist my aid in meeting Lady Anne, are you not?”

Rose blushed before she could school her
features, causing Elizabeth to burst out laughing. “Oh, do not turn
missish on me now, my friend. I promise you, I have taken no
offense. I understand you have conflicted feelings on this matter.
It is perfectly fine that you could not come to me about this
earlier. But before we delve into Lady Anne, let me ask you this:
are you sure you are going to be all right with any involvement
with the duke, even just a little?”