Chapter 34
Alexander barked an instruction at the driver of the carriage who had borne him to the Ravendel house.
The driver touched the brim of his hat and murmured an affirmative, feeling the weight of the loaded purse that Alexander had thrust into his hand, after stepping into the road in front of his team, demanding transportation.
Alexander hammered on the door with the flat of his hand, then stopped himself.
He stood, hatless and without coat. His cravat had been discarded and the laces of his shirt were undone.
And now I hammer on the door of a respectable house tae demand the presence of the lady of the house? I will be refused and constables called. Duke or no.
He took a step back from the door, running a hand through his hair and then his beard, attempting to make both look more presentable.
As the door opened, he hastily tightened the laces of his shirt, though standing on a public street in shirtsleeves and waistcoat was unusual enough that it would not make a difference.
The servant who answered looked him up and down as though he were a vagabond.
Then the man’s eyes widened as he recognized Alexander.
“His Grace the Duke of Lorchester, to see Lady Violet Ravendel,” Alexander said, applying the same rigid control to his voice and accent that he had mastered for his Parliamentary debate.
The man nodded, stepping aside and opening the door wide. Alexander stepped inside, trying to remember the etiquette lessons he had received from Violet.
“Please inform his Lordship that I should like to speak with his niece,” Alexander said.
“At once, Your Grace,” the man said before hurrying away.
Alexander took a deep breath as soon as the man was out of sight. He hoped that it was not too late, that storming out of Westminster and spurning Violet’s comfort had not proved a point that he could not come back from.
God knows but the lass would have an easier life without me in it. These people will never fully accept me, no matter how I speak or behave. I just want to be done with this cause and then go back to my estate. But Violet would never be happy with such a life.
That meant remaining in London, amid the vipers of the so-called Ton. That was where Violet thrived and if he wished to be with her, so must he. Assuming she still wanted him. Nothing could be assumed on that score.
“No, no, no! Absolutely not!” Came a voice from a distant room.
Hurried footsteps followed and then George Ravendel appeared. He marched with the brisk stiffness of an old soldier and his face was flushed with anger. He caught sight of Alexander and stopped.
“Your Grace. I am afraid it is quite out of the question. You may not speak to Violet,” he said.
Alexander did not like to be told that he could not do something.
He had not liked it as a child, often being driven to see a way to do the prohibited thing just as an act of rebellion against his oppressors for its own sake.
That had continued as a Duke when he balked at being refused because he now held the rank at which no-one other than a King could give him orders.
But Ravendel being who he was, Alexander had to at least try and win his approval. So, he gritted his teeth behind a smile that felt false.
“Ravendel, can I talk to you, good sir?”
“Do not ‘good sir’ me, Your Grace. I am not your ally, nor intend to be.”
“I do not come here to seek political allies. I wanted to talk about Violet.”
“Lady Violet. And…” George suddenly looked around and then nodded his head toward a door. “In here, if you please. I would not say what I have to say where the servants can hear.”
Alexander followed his instruction and found himself in a drawing room. A fire burned merrily and clearly had been burning for no little time. The warmth of the room was close and oppressive. George followed him in and then closed the door behind them both.
“Your Grace. I hope you will permit me to speak to you frankly,” George blustered.
“Of course,” Alexander replied.
“My niece, Violet, is not here and is no longer available to you,” George said hurriedly.
He then looked up at Alexander, chin jutting pugnaciously as though readying himself for a fight.
“Surely, that is up tae her?” Alexander replied, lapsing into his native dialect.
“This is my house and while she is living here, she is my responsibility,” George insisted. “In any case, she is not at home today.”
“I know that she was not at home earlier, for she was in Westminster, listening to a debate. The same which I assume you were present?”
“I was not able to view the debate but I cast my vote in the division lobby,” George replied.
“Would you care tae tell me where Violet is?” Alexander demanded.
“I would not care to, Your Grace,” George replied obstinately. “That is her business and mine.”
Alexander grinned through gritted teeth, fists clenching. The obstinate, pompous old fool was preventing Alexander from finding Violet and making peace with her, if that was still possible.
I walked away from her because of Ambrose’s threat. What he can do to harm her, I cannot think, but if he somehow knows about our intimacy it does not bear thinking about. He could destroy her utterly.
That was now academic. Alexander had information that should nullify any attempt by Ambrose at blackmail. But he had wished to make amends with Violet, to offer an explanation, before going to see Ambrose. It was frustrating that George’s prejudice was preventing that.
“I will ask you as one gentleman to another. I mean her no harm and wish only to give her the opportunity to send me away, if that is what she wishes. I…care for her very deeply but would ask her the question face to face,” Alexander said, hating the pleading tone that he felt was creeping into his voice and hating George just as much for forcing him to put it there.
“I do not recognize you as a gentleman, sir,” George said stiffly. “Had an officer under my command behaved as you have done, I would have him drummed out of the regiment forthwith.”
“And how have I behaved, Lord Ravendel?” Alexander asked.
“I have been informed of your reprehensible behavior. Unbecoming to a member of the gentry, let alone a Duke.”
Alexander nodded sadly. “The fact that I come from the wrong side of Hadrian’s Wall has nothing to do with it. That, when I am not careful, I speak with a Glesga accent and use words you deem to be improper English, has absolutely nothing to do with it.”
He wanted to feel angry, to spit these words at the man with a righteous fury. But it was no longer in him. He had fought for so long against this prejudice, it had drained the life from him. He was tired of fighting.
“Well, it is all about propriety and what is proper. Violet herself would tell you that.”
“Aye, she did. She trained me well but I believe she was starting to see that a man should not deny who he is.”
George opened his mouth to speak but Alexander put up a hand, looking down at the floor.
“It doesnae matter. You win, Lord Ravendel. You are right, of course. I do not belong here. Not in your ballrooms or in your Parliament. I was born in England as the heir to a Dukedom but was sent away by a father who did not care. God put me into the hands of his priests who decided to make money, selling my labor. I grew up on the streets of Glesga. It was not my choice or my fault. I would still be there but an English solicitor found me and gave me a Dukedom. Since then I have tried to live up to that Dukedom but I do not know how. Unlike you, I was not educated on how to do it. I was taught how to climb a chimney, how to steal a loaf of bread to avoid starving, and how to blend into the shadows when I needed to. If I could have grown up in marble halls and silk shirts, do you not think I would have chosen that in a heartbeat, man!”
George looked uncomfortable. He half turned away, harrumphing and pulling at the lapels of his coat.
“Well, I…that is to say…I have commanded men who came from similar circumstances. I know that they do not have the same breeding as myself or…”
“No matter. I will never convince you or any of your kind. I am an outsider and always will be. I just wanted to make this country a little bit better for those who cannot fight for themselves. I have business to conclude and I will not burden you with my presence. Good day to you, sir. Or as I grew up saying, I’ll see ye aifter. ”
He turned to leave but George stopped him.
“Wait! Your Grace. Violet was summoned to the home of Lord Godstone. That is where she has gone.”