Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
“Iwish you could see yourself right now,” Jonathan drawled, as he adjusted his cravat with a mere flick of a wrist. “You look like a man who had heard news that his hounds had annihilated his prize rose garden. A mirror would do you good right now.”
Richard tried not to engage. His eyes were still on London’s annotated map, seemingly studying the parishes, but his mind was always flitting off somewhere. He could not help the grunt of frustration that escaped his lips.
“You don’t have to say anything. I already know that the cause of the crisis at the moment is not a failed investment and has nothing to do with your map of London!” his friend continued. “Your problem begins with a ‘v’ and ends in ‘a.’ You are fully aware, I know, that she has left you undone.”
“You don’t understand, not really. My focus is on finding an infant’s parentage. It is a matter of urgency. I don’t intend to waste time.”
“Well, your mind is still clouded by a certain somebody, and I can’t blame you. It makes me wonder just how much your wife has managed to exert her influence over you.”
A knowing smirk was playing on Cotswell’s lips. It didn’t look like he would relent.
Richard had lost the tiny bit of his temper left, as he slammed a fist on the table. The teacups rattled slightly. The bottle of brandy made itself known in its corner.
“Yes, influence. Isn’t this search a means to save her reputation? That’s right. That’s the influence I’m concerned about. The faster we secure the baby’s identity, the faster we ensure the duchess’s reputation is safe.”
Richard had many things running through his head, including the possibility that the Penwikes might be involved in leaving the foundling.
He now had men patrolling the perimeter of Hawksford House.
He had a few allies before this, but things had intensified as of late.
The men were armed but discreet and instructed to report any possibly malicious activity immediately.
These days, his mind had been consumed with the safety of not only Victoria but also of Melody. He might not have asked for an infant in his home, but he had been getting used to seeing the child that she had begun feeling like a true member of the household.
The duke forced himself to entertain the troubling possibility that the baby would have to be returned to her family, no matter who they were or what dark circumstances had led them to leave her at his door.
The following day, while Victoria thought she was about to faint from exhaustion, the answer to her problems arrived in the person of Mrs. Hughes, the new nursemaid. She was a pleasant woman. At least, the duchess found her eyes kind and her whole being exuded competence.
“Your Grace, the duke sought help to find one of the best nursemaids for the baby,” Mrs. Davies informed her. “Here is Mrs. Hughes.”
“Oh, how lovely,” Victoria commented, smiling at the nursemaid, who gave her a gap-toothed smile back. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs. Hughes.”
“Likewise, Your Grace. It is my pleasure, ma’am,” the nursemaid replied, giving a little curtsy.
Richard’s efficiency was well-noted, but Victoria still felt a ripple of unease as she remembered the kiss they exchanged before he went on his quiet way as if it had never happened. It looked like he’d rather be a man on a mission than address that particular moment.
“Let us walk together to the nursery then, Mrs. Hughes,” she said with the confidence that she seemed to be lacking recently. She didn’t like surprises, unless she was doing the surprising.
“Aye, Your Grace,” the new nursemaid happily murmured.
As they reached the nursery, they found Bessie hovering over Melody’s bassinet.
“Bessie, this is Mrs. Hughes. From now on, she will be Melody’s nursemaid.
The two servants acknowledged each other. Bessie then excused herself to attend to her other duties. So far, only Mrs. Davies and the young maid had been entrusted with the baby. Now, it was time to pass on the duty to someone more qualified.
“Mrs. Hughes, you must have heard this from the duke, but I will reiterate the facts. Melody is the duke’s late cousin’s daughter. His Grace and I are now raising her as our ward.”
“Yes, Your Grace. The duke has informed me about the baby. It will be my pleasure to take good care of her.”
“Indeed,” Victoria murmured, her eyes flitting from the nursemaid to the slumbering infant.
As if sensing her presence, the baby stirred and fussed.
Mrs. Hughes quickly took over, picking up the infant and hushing her with practiced competence.
However, Melody continued to fuss even as the nursemaid used other methods from her arsenal.
The whimpers became louder cries, and Victoria could see frustration flickering across the woman’s face.
“Oh, dear,” Mrs. Hughes fretted. “She is a spirited babe, that she is. Sometimes, though, they may take time to adjust to someone new.”
A strange thing came over Victoria. She scooped up Melody, holding her close to her chest. Then, she started cooing at the infant in what might sound like gibberish even to someone up close.
Like a miracle, Melody’s cries subsided almost as soon as she began her new ritual.
Warmth and triumph surged through Victoria.
Finally, she felt a connection between her and her new ward.
She needs me!
“There, there,” Victoria murmured, smiling at the baby gently.
“I didn’t think you’d prefer my company, but there you go.
Mrs. Hughes, don’t think that you won’t be necessary to the household because you are.
However, at the moment, you would take on an auxiliary role while I provide primary care.
There are still so many things I need to learn, and you may assist with night relief, for example. ”
Something tugged inside Victoria’s mind, perhaps something she was hesitant to admit. She might want to be close to Melody, after all, especially now that she felt needed.
“As you wish, Your Grace,” Mrs. Hughes agreed in her professional and calm voice. “Would you like me to help you learn the proper technique for feeding?”
“Oh, I would be glad to learn that from you.”
The nursemaid taught Victoria how to warm the milk. Then, she hastened to teach her ways to feed Melody. The duchess’s first attempt was clumsy at best. To her horror, she saw some milk dribbling down Melody’s chin.
“Oh, no!”
“Take it as a learning moment, Your Grace,” Mrs. Hughes soothed.
The second attempt was much better, and the baby was able to drink to her heart’s content. The win made Victoria feel a lot better about herself. She normally did very well in all the things she attempted out of pure instinct and talent. It might be the first one she had to put much effort into.
However, as the baby started settling down, her thoughts turned to Richard once more. She could still feel his mouth on hers, even if she didn’t touch it.
The kiss. The kiss.
Oh, why did she have to think about it all the time?
Richard was just as bent on forgetting about it through activity. He and Jonathan had been engaged in a tedious hunt for Melody’s identity. In a world full of gossip, it was a surprisingly difficult task.
“Not from this register,” the duke muttered, slamming a church book shut.
They had picked the less dusty registers, seeing that Melody was likely only a couple of months old.
“Patience, Hawksford,” Jonathan advised, seemingly too calm and collected for such a tiring task. “Illegitimacy can never be tidy. Too many secrets.”
“So, why are we even looking for answers in the most likely places?” Richard grumbled.
Still, they continued their pilgrimage to churches. They even questioned some willing priests about babies that were christened not too long ago. They asked about names and details that could be linked to the mysterious child in the duke’s home.
The struggle was physical and internal. Richard swore some of the priests had begun looking at them with suspicion, but he’d offer a bit of donation to sweeten the deal.
Whenever he was caught off guard, his mind would turn back to the uncorseted body of his lovely wife. Yes, he had the right to admit that. He could remember the warmth of her mouth on her lips.
What had she done to him?
“Uh, if you are not careful, you will walk into that wall,” his friend noted, steering him away from the offending brick. “You are horribly distracted. Don’t argue. We know why.”
“Well, let us focus on the priority. The baby.”
“If you say so. Perhaps one more church will enlighten your mind?”
So, they headed to the last church on their lists. It was a humble stone structure near the docks, not one that would catch Richard’s attention normally. The two ambled into it, not expecting much of anything. But it seemed that they were finally in luck.
“A Melody was christened here three weeks ago,” the priest declared, tracing a line on his book with a finger.
“Who are her mother and father?” Richard asked, as he felt his blood run cold.
“Er, the column is blank, Your Grace,” the priest admitted, looking guilty. “The mother insisted on discretion. I took pity on her because she looked so frightened, but wanted to do right with her child.”
“Can you give me any more details about her? Appearance? Name?” the duke pressed, finally feeling his body alert.
“She was with an older, quiet woman. You can say she was chosen for her discretion. Her name was Mrs. Tallow.”
Finally, a solid lead. Richard exhaled audibly, threading his fingers into his hair as he and Jonathan exchanged a glance. He then pressed a large amount of money into the priest’s hand.
“Thank you, Your Grace! It will go a long way here in the parish. As you can see, the church needs a lot of help.”
Richard and Jonathan left, feeling lighter. The former returned to Hawksford House, trying to use Mrs. Tallow’s name to ward off other thoughts, such as those of his own wife.
Richard was fully aware of the mistake he was making. He was supposed to seek her out and speak to her about the lead. She deserved to know. However, the memory of their last encounter was still fresh in his mind.
He would talk to her, but not tonight. He needed to focus on finding Mrs. Tallow.