The Duke Dilemma (17 page)

“The information on the properties you’ve asked for has arrived, Your Grace. I have it for you here.” Abernathy placed a thick packet, bound with string, before him. “If you require further details I recommend sending one of your stewards for a more objective opinion.”

“I’m having second thoughts about a wedding gift for Frederick, Abernathy.” Edward untied the packet and removed the papers, uncurling the mass before pulling them apart for easier perusal.

“Are you, sir?”

“As diligent as Frederick seems to be about marriage, it is apparent to me that his enthusiasm outweighs his ability to choose a bride.” Edward commended his son for confronting the task of duty and responsibility that he would someday inherit. The Duke simply did not believe his son was quite ready.

“Will you refuse consent on his match?”

“I doubt there is to be one.” There was no discerning a preference for a single lady as far as Edward could tell. None Frederick
courted at present met with his approval. “Although…I suspect the challenge of running an estate might be an alternate, and perhaps a more fitting, undertaking for him.”

“He would certainly learn responsibility,” Abernathy added. “Or perhaps, a bit of charity, if he had tenants who needed care.”

“Just so.” The slow nod of Edward’s head relayed his approval. Frederick might not be ready for marriage. However, dealing with an estate and managing property could not be a lesson too early for him to learn. He needed a project to focus his attention else he risked the temptation of idleness and vice. Edward focused his attention on the papers before him. “Let us see if we can find something for him, shall we?”

The Duke read the summary regarding the first property. Located near Chulmleigh, Devonshire, Norham Court was a three-story structure, needing some repair, which included a stone entrance portico and a grand entrance hall. There were two principal reception rooms and eleven suites. An oak staircase connected the floors. Original oak paneling and large carved sandstone fireplaces occupied many rooms. The large windows, with many stained-glass insets, overlooked the grounds with two large lakes, parklands, and woodlands.

“This Elizabethan residence seems a bit too old and the castle which they note requires
some
repair, I would guess, in truth, needs
major
repair.” Edward placed the remaining pages regarding that property aside. “There’s no need to discourage the lad with a task that might overwhelm him.”

“Your interpretation is most insightful, sir.” Abernathy eased himself into a chair near the small table where he kept his satchel and sorted through the many papers that lay within.

Edward continued to the next property, which was located near Millfield, Staffordshire. Bamber Park was a Jacobean stone-built country house with three reception rooms, five principal
bedrooms, five second-floor bedrooms, manicured gardens, and paddocks, and it sat on fifty-three acres in a remote area.

“This is a bit too small and too isolated for what I’m thinking.” Edward tapped the page with his finger. He would like Frederick’s estate to be more than just a residence on a plot of land. All information regarding the Staffordshire property was set aside.

The final property was located near Huddlesford, Cumberland. Edward approved of the location, far from Faraday Hall in Essex.

Penshaw Manor House, built a scant hundred years earlier, was agricultural with multiple farm buildings and sported an estate with twenty-three cottages. The house had nine suites with the majority of principal rooms facing south overlooking the valley below. The entire estate extended approximately 864 acres, compromised of farmlands, woodlands, formal gardens on the estate grounds, and seven outbuildings.

Edward rubbed his jaw in contemplation. He liked the sound of this property. “Let us send Mr. Kittredge to investigate Penshaw Manor and the surrounding area for an unbiased opinion, shall we?”

“It’s an excellent idea, Your Grace.” Abernathy wrote upon his notepad. “I shall have your steward dispatched at once. Is there anything else you need this morning, sir?”

“Yes, there is.” Edward paused. There was one last item he had been curious about. He took up a pencil and pulled a sheet of paper to sketch a map. After labeling a few surrounding streets, he indicated the townhouse he had visited with a large
X
and handed it to his man. “Would you discover who owns this residence?”

Abernathy’s dark brows rose over his widening eyes as he regarded the map. “As you wish, Your Grace.”

“Thank you. That will be all.” Edward leaned back in his chair, feeling a bit uncomfortable with this last step he’d taken.
This wasn’t exactly spying on the residence where he met the lady gardener. He merely wished to sate his curiosity as to who lived at that address.

There was nothing for it. Louise had accepted Lady Augusta’s invitation for tea that afternoon. She could not refuse at the last minute, especially after her friend was kind enough to send a carriage to convey her to Worth House.

Stepping inside the Duke of Faraday’s London abode, Louise’s expectations fell by the wayside, as the establishment was far grander than she could ever imagine.

“Lady Vernon!” Augusta greeted her with outstretched, welcoming arms. “How very good it is to see you.”

“It truly has been an age.” Their reunion was genuinely heartfelt. Louise’s emotions wavered from joy at seeing Augusta to dread that increased with every passing minute in anticipation of her father’s unexpected arrival.

“It is so very good to see you. Please, come in and let us be seated.” Augusta drew Louise by her arm to the front parlor.

“Look at you, you are a married woman.” Louise could hardly believe she was in Augusta’s company once again. She appeared healthy and content with her new life.

“Of some years, now.” Augusta eased onto the striped sofa, guiding her friend to sit by her side.

“And you are a mother. How are Sarah and Michael?” Naturally she had not brought her children to Town with her.

“They are well. Their father and I adore them.” Augusta’s entire demeanor told of her happy home life. “And how are you going along?”

“Splendidly.” Louise was past marriage and children. “I have my friends, my book club, my garden.”

“Your garden!” A breathtaking smile blossomed on Augusta’s face. “You must promise that you will have me visit. I recall the most wonderful sight of the blooms and intoxicating fragrances.”

“I’m afraid you will be sorely disappointed.”

“Why is that?”

“The weather is not cooperating, I fear. There are no flowers.”

“None at all?” Augusta’s brows drew together in disbelief.

“Not a one. Not even a hint of a bud.” Louise vividly recalled the day Augusta came into her garden. The astonishment on her face on finding a place in the city that harbored greenery that rivaled some houses in the country.

“I cannot even imagine your once-lush garden in such a state.”

“The weather has been very odd this year,” Louise repeated. She could not help but feel anxious and glanced to the doorway. “I thought there were
others
joining us. Your sister, perhaps?” She dared not name the person whom she truly dreaded to meet.

“Oh…I expect Charlotte and her guests should arrive anytime now. Frederick is out and about, paying morning calls, and my father may be with him or he might be attending Parliament.”

That was comforting to know. An enormous relief, Louise admitted to herself.

“Recently Papa has been known to miss afternoon sessions. He occasionally attends Freddie on his morning calls. Although I am not quite certain where he is presently.” Augusta’s head turned toward the foyer as if anticipating her parent. “I do hope he returns so I can introduce you.”

Louise hoped otherwise…presently she could relax and enjoy her visit and need not concern herself with dwelling upon the improbable.

“Charlotte has family visiting at the moment.” Augusta’s normally cheerful tone grew strained, appearing to Louise nearly as anxious as she.

“Do I detect you are not entirely pleased with…not your sister, surely, but her company?” Louise had never heard Augusta say one cross word about her sister.

“Well, I must admit I am not pleased with their presence in Town at the moment.” The bitter tinge to her voice was very unlike her.

“You are usually so amiable. How could they make you unhappy, dear?” Louise was very concerned that her friend was so altered. “I do not see that their attendance takes away from my joy of seeing you at all.”

“No, it’s not that.” She stood, wringing her hands while checking the corridor just outside the room. “It is only…I have something to ask you, and I hope you will not mind the intrusion into a personal matter. The last thing I would want, for the world, is to cause you discomfort.”

“What is it?” My, she looked uncomfortable. Of course Louise would do what she could to aid Augusta, especially if it would calm her.

“I was wondering if you might have given some thought to ever marrying again?”

“What?” It was not a question Louise had expected. From her own relatives, perhaps, but not Augusta. “Why? Did you have someone in mind?”

“Yes, I do.”

Louise wasn’t sure she wanted to hear any more. The notion actually frightened her. “To tell the truth, I have no reason to remarry. I’m happy to say I am very pleased with my life as it stands.”

“Of course, if you are content I would not suggest such a thing, but still…that is too bad.” Augusta sounded disappointed. “I thought you might make a very good wife to my father.”

“The Duke? What has given you that idea?”

“Well…
we
think it is time he
marry
again.” Augusta tilted her chin up and stood straight.

“We?” Which small uprising would dare challenge His Grace?

“Muriel, Charlotte, and I.”

And that was the real purpose for the siblings’ presence in Town. “What thinks your brother? Has he an opinion?”

“I do not believe he gives a fig about the matter, but if you press him for an answer I am sure he would agree with us.”

“And what are your father’s thoughts?” His Grace could not have liked this in the least. No one would.

“He does not know.”

“Is he not in the mind that he should remarry or has he no knowledge that his children are plotting against him?”

“Either…both.” Augusta laughed. “You make it sound as if we were planning his demise instead of thinking of his future.”

But they were. Louise had experienced the very same by her own relatives just after she cast off her own widow’s weeds. It was an unpleasant time for her. Perhaps she had been a burden to her husband’s family, but she was the Dowager Baroness and had every right to her jointure. Thank goodness to her brother George for his support and his offer of the use of his London townhouse as her home.

“I’m sorry, Augusta, I must protest on behalf of your father. Pursuing this matter in this fashion is not at all acceptable.”

“You do not even know him and you side with him.” Her smile widened and her eyes lit up with delight. “You see how well you will rub along?”

“You cannot think he will approve.” He would be angry, very angry. Louise could completely understand his reasons why. Unfortunately his daughter, it seemed, would not.

“He will be ever so thankful once he has married. He will wonder why he did not think of it himself.” Augusta clasped her hands together and gazed toward the heavens.

The girl was living in a fairy-tale story.

“Is this why Charlotte’s guests are here? Are they…” Louise had the most unsettling feeling the wheels of His Grace’s matrimonial conspiracy were already in motion.

“Miss Orr and Lady Margaret.” Augusta lost her elated tone and returned to the unpleasant disposition she’d displayed earlier.

“They are possible contenders for the position of duchess?”

“He thinks them tiresome,” she said with some satisfaction.

“Does he?” Louise had no wish to involve herself in the family intrigue of the Worth household. Certainly there were many factions at work, perhaps more than just the two sisters presently at odds.

The rap of the front door knocker was followed by the immediate entrance of the newly arrived guests. The mezzo-soprano voices of some number of women rang through the foyer. Their words gushed forth at an extremely rapid pace.

Augusta’s gaze met Louise’s, both fully aware what was about to come down upon them. The trio entered.

The young, fair-haired lady Louise presumed was Lady Charlotte. She’d heard much about Charlotte over the years, from her nephew Sir Samuel and from Augusta herself. Louise silently noted that there had been no exaggeration. Lady Charlotte did have an angelic appearance, especially when clothed in colors of ivory and soft lemon.

The other two ladies were both tastefully attired, one in a velvet hamlet hat and a sea-green round robe with gold trimming, the
other in a Spanish blue dress and a swan’s down tippet around her neck. Although both were handsome, they were clearly not young. Their marital status: unmarried, from what Augusta had told her. Whether they were agreeable, Louise could not yet determine.