Chapter 8
Eight
Once Esther cleared up the misunderstanding about Alexander’s foil, she would spend the rest of the day in bed. Maybe take a hot bath and recover from an ordeal she had no recollection of.
After the delicious and intense breakfast, she’d decided to walk to Minnie’s house with Mrs. Wilson as her chaperone while Alexander would wait for her in a carriage, in case they needed to drive to the location where the foil was hidden.
She had no idea what type of reception she would receive if her absence had been noticed, and appearing with Alexander would cause more complications.
She and Mrs. Wilson walked past the statue of a swordsman in the garden. It had something familiar. Whatever the statue had triggered, it was gone before she could say ‘foil.’
Mrs. Wilson gave her a long, assessing glance as they walked along the drive to Minnie’s front door. The housekeeper’s eyebrows rose.
“Is something the matter?” Esther asked.
“Apologies, my lady, but I have to say I was worried about you after last night. I didn’t think you would be up and about this morning.”
“Why? How did I look?”
Mrs. Wilson pondered her answer. “The first time I saw you, when you snatched His Grace’s foil, you were excessively energetic, laughing like a madwoman, begging your pardon, my lady.
His Grace chased you, and he isn’t slow, but he couldn’t stop you.
Then you vanished, and when His Grace found you, well…
in your undergarments in the garden, you looked about to die, so cold and pale you were.
His Grace sent for the physician, who wasn’t as worried as I expected.
He said he saw that type of malady every other day in Brighton and that you needed a tonic and to sleep. I was sceptical, but he was right.”
“How embarrassing.”
Mrs. Wilson didn’t offer any words of comfort, looking like her governess. “His Grace was worried about you. He can be strict, but he’s a caring man, as his late father was.”
“Yes, he’s very kind to me.”
Mrs. Wilson paused a few feet from the door. “Please, my lady, help him find his foil. It belonged to the late duchess. It means a lot to him.”
“The duchess practised fencing?”
“Fencing is quite popular among ladies. They can’t participate in official competitions, but many salle d’armes allow women in. His Grace started fencing with his mother. They were very close. That’s why he cares about the foil.”
She let out a long breath. As if the humiliation weren’t enough, now she learnt she’d potentially destroyed a family heirloom.
She knocked on the door without confidence.
The butler welcomed her and remained motionless for a moment. “My lady.” He held the door open for her and Mrs. Wilson.
She stepped into the hallway tentatively as if expecting to be attacked. “Is Lady Minnie up?”
“She’s having breakfast with the dowager and Her Ladyship in the dining room. Would you like to join her?”
“No. Please tell her I’m here and that I wish to see her.”
Frowning, the butler left. Voices came from the dining room, then footsteps. The set of double doors to the dining room was flung open, and Mother rushed to her.
“Darling.” After hugging her, Mother used her lorgnette and studied her. “Finally. Are you all right?”
“Er…” Esther didn’t know what to say. Mother was being too kind, considering her daughter had been missing for hours. “A headache.” Sometimes the truth was the best policy.
“Minnie told me you woke up very early and left for a walk.” Mother regarded Mrs. Wilson. “And who are you?”
The housekeeper curtsied. “Mrs. Wilson, my lady. I’m the housekeeper of the Duke of Richmond.”
At hearing the name of the duke, Mother brightened for a moment. “Why are you with my daughter, and what are you wearing, Esther?”
Esther cleared her throat. “It’s actually quite funny—”
Footsteps pounding spared her from finding an excuse she hadn’t prepared.
The dowager strode into the hallway, fists clenched. “You! Where is it?”
Oh, bother. “What?”
Mother pressed her lips in a grim line. “Honestly, Josephine. There’s no need to use that tone.”
The dowager ignored Mother. “Don’t play games with me. I demand you return what you stole from me this instant.”
Had she spent the night stealing things from people?
Mother was flustered. “My daughter doesn’t steal.”
“What did I take from you, my lady?” Please, not another weapon.
The dowager huffed. “You stole my cloak.”
“I didn’t—” Actually, she remembered that.
Before leaving the house to follow Minnie, she’d snatched a random cloak from the cloakroom. It might have been the dowager’s, but the problem was she had no idea where the cloak was now.
“Pray, continue.” The dowager jutted out her chin.
“I don’t remember where I put it.”
“You lost it!”
“No. I don’t remember where I put it anymore.”
Mother nodded. “See, there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.”
The dowager shot her gaze towards the ceiling. “Now I understand whom Esther took after.”
Before Mother could answer, Minnie arrived. “Esther. You’re back from your walk.”
“Without my cloak,” the dowager said.
“It’s all right, Grandmama,” Minnie said. “We’ll find it. I promise. But now I need a word with Esther. Upstairs?”
“Excuse me,” the dowager said. “I’m having a conversation with Esther about stolen property.”
“I’m aware of that, but my conversation with Esther is more urgent.” Minnie went up the stairs, urging Esther to follow her.
Mother nodded towards the stairs. “Go, darling.”
She tiptoed past the dowager. “I’ll return the cloak. I promise. Mrs. Wilson, thank you for your company. You may leave.”
The housekeeper left the moment she was dismissed, and Esther couldn’t blame her. She went up the stairs, ignoring the dowager grumbling about her precious cloak.
“What in the blazes happened to you?” Minnie asked when they were alone in her bedroom. “When I saw your empty bed, I had to tell everyone you left early, but I had no idea if you were safe. I was worried.”
“What happened after you gave me that vial?”
Minnie fiddled with her hands. “I took that syrup many times, and it never affected me as it did you. It’s only a mixture of spices, some herbs from the far east, and laudanum. You went wild.”
“What did I do in the club?” She was almost frightened to ask.
“You started kissing a bunch of gentlemen.”
She gasped. “What?”
“You weren’t shocked at all last night. But you left with one of them and vanished. I begged you to stay with me, but you didn’t listen.”
“Who was this gentleman?”
“I’m not sure. I only caught a glimpse of him because you two were running away like an eloping couple. What I remember is that he was tall with blond hair. If you need to find him, you should ask one of the attendants of the club.”
She didn’t remember any gentleman. “It’s a disaster. Curse The New Club.”
“From what I saw, you enjoyed yourself.”
“But I don’t remember it!” She raised her voice.
Minnie flinched. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t have foreseen the terrible effect the potion had on you. It’s just supposed to let you release some nervous tension. But nothing terrible happened.”
“I’m not sure about that.” She rubbed her temple.
Minnie hugged her. “I truly am sorry. I didn’t realise you were sick. I thought you were perfectly all right. I became concerned only when I found your bed empty.”
“Do you know anything about a foil, a fencing sword?”
“Good gracious, no. Why?”
“I need to leave.” She walked to the door.
“Again?”
“Thank you for lying for me.”
“Esther.” Minnie took her hand. “Please believe me. This isn’t what I wanted you to experience. My life is so dull that I only feel alive when I go to The New Club, and I wanted the same for you.”
“More than alive, I feel I should be in prison for thievery. But thank you.” Esther started to rush out of the room but paused. “You know, I don’t think I could lead a double life, as you do. I would rather be myself and be criticised for who I really am than be admired for being someone I’m not.”
Minnie seemed on the verge of tears.
“I’ll see you later.” She dashed downstairs before Mother or the dowager could stop her.
Or so she hoped.
“Wait!” Mother caught up with her, coming out of nowhere like an assassin. “Where are you going now?”
Should she tell the truth or a lie? “Mother, I must see the duke. He’s waiting for me. We plan to spend the morning together, and don’t worry. Everything will be well and proper.”
There. The truth a little polished, and a small lie.
“That’s wonderful.” Mother hugged her. “But change into something decent. That gown looks like one Minnie would wear. Remember, behave with propriety, and everything will be fine.”
It was too late for that.