Chapter 12 #3
“They are the thieves,” Meg said, meeting the duke’s gaze. It was difficult, for the blue of his eyes was not like Nat’s. There was no laughter there, only ice, and she felt it so keenly she shivered. But she would not be intimidated by him. Not with Nat beside her, not with the truth on her side.
“Explain yourself, Miss Bancroft,” the duke demanded.
“Very well. My father died, leaving me penniless,” Meg explained, fortified by the gentle pressure of Nat’s hand upon her shoulder.
“He left me two things: an introduction to an old friend of his, who recommended me as governess to his son, and a book. My father had many books, some of them very valuable, but until his death I knew nothing of the debts he had left. Most everything had to be sold. The only book that remained was the one he left me in his will. I treasured it.”
“I see,” Hawkney said, frowning now. “Go on.”
Meg swallowed. “The family I was sent to did not like me. The master of the house especially took me in dislike, I think in part because his father had foisted me on them, but mostly because I was cleverer than he was and he knew I knew it.”
Nat laughed softly behind her, and she glanced up at him for reassurance. “Bloody halfwit,” he said, smiling at her. “Go on, love. Tell Hawk the rest of it.”
Meg nodded and took a breath, finding courage in the fact that the duke was still listening.
“One evening, when the family were all out, and I was alone in the house, I decided to sit and read my father’s book.
I was not allowed a fire in my room, which was extremely cold, so I am afraid I took the liberty of using the master’s library and taking a chair by the fire.
I only intended to sit for an hour to warm up, but I know I ought not to have, for it was expressly forbidden.
This is the height of my wrongdoing,” she said defiantly.
“If not freezing to death is considered a sin. Is it, Hawk?” Nat asked politely.
Hawk levelled an impatient look at him and gestured for Meg to continue.
“The master returned alone to discover me in his study, with my book. I was castigated for my impudence, and he confiscated the book and sent me to my room. The next morning, I was dismissed without a reason or a reference, and the book was withheld despite my demands to have it returned to me. In short, your grace, they stole it.” Meg put up her chin, refusing to look away from the duke.
“I met her standing in a shop doorway, Hawk. She was freezing to death, had not a penny to her name, and had worked herself into exhaustion trying every agency in town to find work. I couldn’t let her starve, or freeze, and I’ve never been so glad I did the right thing for once in my life.”
Meg looked up at him, her heart lifting at his words. Their eyes met, and she covered the hand that still rested on her shoulder with her own.
Hawkney looked between them and let out a breath.
“You mean to say this engagement is nothing more than a means to keep her from the workhouse? For God’s sake, Nat, why did you not just say so?
If you’d brought the problem to me, I would have helped her.
Surely you know that? Or am I such an ogre these days that I would turn a poor, unfortunate girl out on the streets? ”
Nat shrugged. “At the time it suited me to have a fiancée.”
The dowager snorted. “Wicked boy. I ought to have realised. Not that your mama doesn’t deserve to have her schemes foiled. She’s hopeless at them, for one thing. Miss Percy is a nice girl, but you would never have suited.”
“Thank you, Gee-Gee,” Nat replied with a smile.
“Well,” Hawkney said, looking as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“Thank heavens for that. I admit, I expected a very unpleasant scene and am relieved to have escaped it. Now, Miss Bancroft, don’t worry.
You are a welcome guest here at Hatherley Hall until such time as I can find a suitable position for you, so don’t—”
“Hawk—” Nat growled.
The duke sent him an impatient look. “I’m speaking to Miss Bancroft about her future, Nat, if you would be so good—”
“Hawkney! She’s not going to be a bedamned governess, she’s going to be my wife!” Nat shouted, having finally run the length of his patience.
“Very funny, Nat,” his grace said irritably. “But I’m in no mood for your childish antics. If you would—”
“Hawkney!” Nat exploded at the same time as his grandmother.
Nat sighed and let the old lady have her say. “For heaven’s sake, Hawkney. If you cannot see the two of them are in love, I do despair of you.”
Hawkney frowned, then looked from Nat to Meg and back again.
“You can’t be. You said yourselves you only met just before you came here. It’s not possible.”
His grandmother made a scoffing sound. “Yes, Hawkney, you being the expert on falling in love, you’d know all about it. Do stop talking twaddle. It is entirely possible. Just because it is not everyone’s experience does not make it less so.”
“I bow to your greater judgement, as you and Grandfather were so blissfully happy,” he said dryly.
The dowager drew herself up, her eyes as hard as chips of blue glass. “Don’t you cheek me, my lad! You may be a duke, but I won’t take it, you hear me?”
“Very clearly,” the duke replied, looking as if he was holding on to his patience by a thread. He turned his attention back to Nat. “That concern aside, you do not know who she is. She has no family, no connections, no dowry,” he said in exasperation, as if this were an insurmountable problem.
“No, I know, and I don’t care,” Nat said, his voice so implacable Meg felt a swell of love and pride in him.
“Frankly, I wouldn’t care if she were the daughter of a black-hearted rogue who was hanged at Tyburn for his appalling crimes.
But she’s not. She’s a gently bred girl whose father was a respectable scholar, and if that isn’t good enough for you, you may discuss it with me around the back of the stables in the way we used to solve all disputes when we were lads.
Your choice, Hawk,” he said, sounding rather as if he hoped the duke would call for such a meeting.
Hawkney threw up his hands, scowling. “Good God! We’re not twelve years old any longer, Nat, something that you seem determined to forget. I do not indulge in fisticuffs like some ill-mannered lout.”
“Excellent, then it’s all settled,” their grandmother said, looking extremely pleased by the outcome. “Congratulations, my dears. I am so happy for you both. I know you’ll be very happy.”
“Thank you, Gee-Gee,” Nat said, going to her and bending to kiss her cheek. “You were right, as you always are, and I can’t thank you enough.”
“We want to settle here, or as close to here as we can,” Meg offered, hoping this might mollify the duke somewhat. He still looked rather thunderous. “So there will be family close at hand, if her grace needs us,” she added, giving the duke a pointed look.
Hawkney snorted. “I’m beginning to feel uncertain she needs anyone. She has the devil on her side, if you ask me.”
“Don’t be a sore loser, Hawk. I told you I was right about the girl, it’s not my fault if you won’t listen to reason,” the dowager said smugly, clearly enjoying her victory. “Well, now that’s all settled—”
“It isn’t settled!” the duke said crossly, sitting up and glaring at Meg. “Not yet. Not to my satisfaction.”
“Oh?” Nat said, a dangerous note to his voice.
“No, indeed,” Hawkney insisted. He sat back in his chair and then let out a sigh of resignation. “Miss Bancroft, I insist you tell me everything about this wretched family who treated you so ill, and about the book they stole from you.”
There was silence in the room for a moment as everyone digested this, and then Nat laughed. “Damn me, Hawk, and here I was thinking you’d completely lost your sense of honour.”
“No,” the duke grumbled irritably. “I just misplace it from time to time.”