Chapter 1
“What do you mean Winifred is missing?” Edward demanded as he looked down at his seated relative.
“She’s not here,” Aunt Doreen said as she worried a delicate pink handkerchief in her hands. “I don’t know where she is.”
“You don’t know where your daughter is?” His words echoed through the bright drawing room.
“No.” Her lip quivered as she shook her head, looking more like his youngest niece than a Dowager Duchess.
“How long has she been missing?”
Edward didn’t know what he expected to hear, but his aunt’s sheepish reply took him aback. “Two months.”
Attempting to control the growing anger rising within, he took several deep breaths. “Winifred has been missing for two months and you are only notifying me just now?” Bloody hell. What had his relative been thinking? Winifred was young, na?ve, and certainly not schooled in the ways of the world.
Aunt Doreen attempted to defend herself. “I didn’t know she was missing at first. And when my sister did inform me, I decided Winifred would return home eventually, and the gossips would be none the wiser.”
Besides the fact that Edward truly did not understand his aunt’s reasoning, he was getting weary of only receiving bits and pieces of information. His patience had reached a tipping point. “Why don’t you tell me, from the beginning, what happened?” he ground out from between clenched teeth.
His aunt took in a deep breath, then rattled on, “My sister invited Winifred to accompany her to Bath. You see, Marcia has been an invalid for most of her life and often travels to take the waters—”
“We are discussing Winifred,” he reminded her with growing impatience.
“Oh, oh yes, of course. They were in Bath for several months and everything was going splendidly. My sister wrote to tell me that Winifred was popular and having a wonderful time. But then I received word that there was some unfortunate gossip which had caused Winifred much distress. And then I received another letter from Marcia that said she and Winifred were to depart for Marcia’s home near Brampton.
” Aunt Doreen dabbed the corner of her eye with her handkerchief.
“You see, my sister’s estate is practically in Scotland.
It’s just so far away and the thought of having—”
“Winifred. When did you learn Winifred went missing?”
He should be used to his aunt’s ramblings, but today they were wearing on him. Ever since his uncle, and then his cousin, had passed away, Aunt Doreen and his two younger cousins had become his responsibility.
“Oh yes, shall I continue?”
“Yes,” he said, rubbing his aching temples.
“I received another letter at the beginning of last month from Marcia.” Worry lines creased Aunt Doreen’s features.
“She relayed that Winifred, along with her lady’s maid, had snuck away in the middle of the night hours before they were to leave.
I simply cannot believe she would run away.
If the rumormongers ever discovered the truth, her younger sister would be ruined! ” she cried into her handkerchief.
Bessie, Edward’s youngest cousin, was all of eight years old, and her only desires in life were to play with her dolls and not get dirty. He highly doubted Winifred’s actions would affect Bessie’s chance of marrying any time soon.
“Did Winifred leave a note or any clue to suggest why she would run away?”
“What are you implying, Edward?” The Dowager huffed, coming to her daughter’s defense. “She’s a good girl, she is. Never caused any trouble.” There was a slight downward lilt to her words that made him believe there was, in fact, more to this story than what she was divulging.
He took the seat across from her and softened his tone. “I am not implying anything. I am just trying to gather information and understand the facts.”
“Well…” Aunt Doreen looked down at her clasped hands as if contemplating her next statement.
Seconds passed before she finally spoke.
“Winifred did form a tendre for one of the young men working in the stables. When I learned of it, I instantly told her she couldn’t see the lad again, and then I sent him away.
The daughter of a duke simply cannot be reduced to such a level!
” Aunt Doreen’s haughty tone reverberated through the room.
“It simply is not acceptable! And you can imagine how Winifred reacted. Oh dear! She wouldn’t speak to me or even be present in the same room for weeks.
I didn’t know what to do, and that’s when Marcia suggested Winifred travel to Bath with her. ”
“And your sister has no clue as to where Winifred might have run off?”
“No.” A loud sob burst from Aunt Doreen’s lips. “Edward, you must find her and bring her home. It’s almost Christmastide. Don’t you understand? After all that has happened, we must all be together for Christmas and then Twelfth Night celebrations.”
Edward wanted to remind his aunt that if she’d come to him sooner, Winifred might have already been discovered and back in the bosom of her family. But he couldn’t dwell on what wasn’t. Standing, he offered a comforting pat on his relative’s shoulder. “I will see what I can discover.”
Once again, she dabbed the corner of her eye with her handkerchief. “What are you going to do?”
“Pay a visit to a friend.”
“This is no time for social calls!” She waved her hand for dramatic effect.
“Auntie,” he began in a firm tone, which caused his relative to clamp her mouth shut.
“You are in no position to tell me what I should or should not be doing. If you had been honest and spoken to me when this started, the situation might not be so dire now. If you will excuse me, I will take my leave, and I’ll notify you when I have information.
” And with that, he left. He hadn’t meant to be curt, but ever since he’d assumed the title and had to deal with Aunt Doreen’s outbursts on a regular basis, he’d found his patience dwindling.
By the time his horse was saddled, his aunt’s actions—or lack thereof—still enraged him. Winifred was only sixteen! He had little to go on, but he could use his influence and connections to get prompt answers. He supposed that was one benefit of his newly acquired ducal title.
However, a week later, Edward was still no closer to discovering Winifred’s whereabouts.
Although at least he was now back in London after scouring the countryside in harsh weather with few clues.
He trudged into his study, wanting nothing more than a drink and to sit by the warm fire.
Before leaving his aunt’s home, he’d sent word to his friend, Kenwreck, that he would be returning, and required his assistance.
He only hoped his friend was still in Town.
“Your Grace, Lord Kenwreck is here to see you.” That answered that question.
“Thank you, Hayward, you may show him in.”
Minutes later, Kenwreck entered the room. Since his marriage to Lady Kenwreck, there was a calmness about him that was almost comforting.
“I didn’t expect you to call on me so soon. Care for a drink?” Edward offered as he rose to greet his friend.
“No, thank you. I don’t touch the stuff anymore.” Kenwreck moved to take the seat opposite Edward. “I have news regarding your cousin.”
“You know where Winifred is?” Edward could hear the urgency and desperation in his own voice.
“Not for certain. Two young ladies arrived within the past month at the Home for Desolate Ladies and are now residing there. One matches your cousin’s description, although she is going by the name of Mrs. Mary Smith.”
“It would be just like Winifred to use an alias. That chit has far too active an imagination.” Edward took a sip of brandy, the spicy warmth filling his body. “Is your wife there?”
“No, she is with my mother and sister at Kenwreck Hall. I’m leaving tomorrow to join them.
I’ve already sent word to the proprietress at the Home that there will be a guest at the Dower House.
I did not inform her who the guest would be, just in case your cousin was one of the newest arrivals.
Don’t want to scare her off before you get there. ”
“Thank you. I appreciate your assistance and discretion with this. It has been a rough two years, and Winifred did not deal with the death of her brother well.” That was an understatement if there ever was one.
Winifred and Aunt Doreen had been, quite frankly, handfuls, and Edward had felt as if he’d no life of his own.
The constant tears and hysterics, demands and frequent tantrums about the future—his aunt was exclusively responsible for the latter—were definitely wearing thin.
“Death can be difficult for many. Regardless, I am at your disposal, Your Grace.” Kenwreck ended on a slightly teasing note.
“You know I detest that title.” In Edward’s mind, it would always belong to Jacob, his late cousin.
“Yes, and that’s why I use it,” Kenwreck chuckled. “In all seriousness, you’re dealing with your responsibilities remarkably well.”
“Thank you.” He’d never been one to unload his problems or worries onto others.
As if mourning the death of a man who had been more like a brother than a cousin wasn’t difficult enough, he hadn’t been groomed to be a duke, and it’d been a shock when, upon assuming the title, he’d learned just how dire the dukedom’s financial situation was.
However, with careful planning, he had been able to turn things around, and now he presided over an efficient, prospering estate.
Although now that it was turning a profit, he was finding he had too much time on his hands and was brooding about the past—and the fact that the woman he’d loved had married another.
“There’s something else you should know.”
The solemness in Kenwreck’s voice did not sit well with Edward. He braced himself for the unwelcome news that was certain to follow.
“The proprietress is Mrs. Banks.”
Grace. He felt the breath leave his body. He had heard from her brother—Lord Conway—that she was a widow now and residing with him, but that was…