Chapter 9 #2
“Impressive, isn’t it?” the Duke remarked, coming to stand beside Cecily and share the view of the pale stone and marble edifice with its neoclassical columns and pediment.
“My grandfather was quite the builder. He knocked down the old Elizabethan shack and put this place up in less than five years.”
“It’s a beautiful house,” Cecily said quite sincerely. “You are lucky to have it.”
“I suppose I am,” the Duke acknowledged rather philosophically, as though this had never occurred to him before. “Well, Mrs. Barnes is awake and waiting for us up there. We had best go inside and introduce you.”
“Who is Mrs. Barnes?” Cecily asked, looking again at the woman on the doorstep and sensing now some strain in the way she stood with folded arms.
“My housekeeper, technically. Guardian of the soul of the duchy of Greyhaven in her own mind…”
The Duke chuckled at his own words, though Cecily had no idea what to make of them and just hurried to keep up with him.
He walked slightly ahead of her up the stone steps and tipped his head slightly to the housekeeper, whom Cecily could now see was a woman in her sixties, though she had a strong build and an energetic temper for her age.
“Mrs. Barnes, may I introduce you to Miss Cecily Holt, who has consented to be my wife?”
Cecily inhaled sharply. What kind of introduction had she expected from this darkly mercurial Duke? She could hardly object since what he had said was true.
The housekeeper’s eyes briefly swept over her, and her face showed a mix of sympathy, indulgence, and judgment.
“Very good, Your Grace. But why are you bringing the poor girl here alone in the middle of the night?” she demanded, her deference less convincing than her disapproval. “Engaged or not, it isn’t proper, and you know it. I told Lord Patrick the same thing.”
“Lord Patrick is here?” Cecily asked immediately, stepping forward as all other thoughts and feelings flew out of her head. “Is he with my sister, Mary? She is a little taller than I and has lighter hair.”
“They were both here last night and left first thing this morning. They’re going to Gretna Green! I told them not to be so foolish and that you could arrange a proper wedding for them here or in London, Your Grace, but they would hear nothing.”
“Mary is only nineteen,” Cecily said, her heart sinking at the news.
They had missed catching Mary here and would have to pursue the couple further in the morning. At least they were on the right trail, she supposed.
Glancing at the Duke, Cecily saw only amusement on his face while his garrulous housekeeper railed at him.
“Nineteen? Well, nothing good will come of that, will it? Running off without your father’s consent, and now His Grace here stealing away another daughter. Am I to have duels on the lawn next? Has the Duchy of Greyhaven really come to that?”
“My father is dead,” Cecily muttered. “No one will come looking for me.”
Upon hearing that, Mrs. Barnes’ frown deepened, and she shook her head.
“Well, that makes it worse. Two young girls with no father to protect them, carried off in the night…” She tutted.
“Well, I tell you now, Your Grace, there will be no mischief with this young woman while I am under this roof. It is one thing to dally with rich widows and married ladies who are no better than they should be, but you shouldn’t dally with… ”
Nathaniel chuckled again.
Did nothing ever faze him? Was he immune to all normal human feelings?
Cecily was tempted to shout at him for this fresh show of obtuseness, but then she remembered how he had reacted to the bruises on her arm and bit her lip.
No, he was capable of ordinary human feeling, sometimes.
“Mrs. Barnes, I promise you that Miss Holt will leave Greyhaven Park tomorrow in the same state as she enters it. I also have a marriage license in my pocket, which you are welcome to inspect if you wish. You know that I am a man of my word.”
Another shiver of surprise and anticipation ran through Cecily at his words.
He must have gone out immediately after her call at noon and obtained a marriage license from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
For all his show of indolence and carelessness, it seemed that when he wanted something, he could be remarkably determined.
Did he truly want her that much?
The housekeeper gave a long sigh, a smile lurking in her eyes despite her determination to show her disapproval. “You are a man of your word, Your Grace, and must do as you think best. It is not my place to judge you, is it?”
“No, but I would not be the same without it,” the Duke said cheerfully. “Now, have a room and a bath prepared for Miss Holt, please, and then come to my study before you retire. You must tell me everything you know about Patrick’s movements. We will be leaving early in the morning.”
“Of course. Well, welcome to Greyhaven Park, Miss Holt. You must be exhausted from the journey. Will you have supper on a tray?”
Cecily shook her head, eager to rest and get the morning over with. She followed the Duke and his housekeeper inside.
They had barely crossed half the hallway when the shouts of a child preceded an angry little whirlwind that ran barefoot down the stairs and beat its fists against Nathaniel’s legs.
“Papa, Papa!” the little girl cried out. “You are finally here!”
Struck dumb, Cecily could only stare at the scene in consternation.
Papa?!