Chapter 20 #2
“Almost poisoned him, she did. That’s what she gets for trying to read when cook was out.” The smell of port permeated the man’s speech.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“She read the recipe wrong. The fish for dinner was so bad, the master almost vomited right there at the table. She’s stepped outta line, trying to be more than what she is.”
“All because she made a mistake?”
The man tipped his head up to confront Thomas. “That’s what I said.” He squinted to look closer at him. “Don’t I know you?”
Thomas ducked his chin. “No. You don’t,” he lied. He was sure he’d seen the servant at some point, although he’d never known his name. Thomas turned to the girl. “Get up, and follow me.”
The man atop his horse sneered at Thomas. “Where are you taking the upstart?” He waggled his brows. “To have a little fun?”
Thomas met his eyes. “I’m taking her to be under the protection of the duke.”
She grabbed Thomas’s hand, and he pulled her back beyond the gate, ignoring the yelling crowd behind him.
To his great relief, the other members of the duke’s staff had stayed beside him.
They closed a tight circle around the crying girl until they got to the back door.
“Thanks gents. I’ll take her into Mrs. Bitters. You’ve done well.”
They nodded at him and dispatched themselves to their tasks. Thomas opened the door that led to the kitchen and popped his head in. “Mrs. Bitters, do you have a scone we can share with my new friend?”
Mrs. Bitters wiped her hands on her apron and waved the trembling girl inside. “Goodness, child. Come in.” She wrapped the girl in a hug and led her to the table. Then she looked at Thomas. “What happened?”
Thomas relayed what had occurred in the street, his blood boiling with the injustice of it.
Mrs. Bitters put her hand on his shoulder. “Go wash up, Tom. Cool your head. I’ll take care of her. But it might be best for you to speak with His Grace about it all.”
He nodded and went to do as she bid. While he cleaned himself up, he thought of Jack and how he’d been so fast to learn his letters. Perhaps if all the servants were given an education, maybe they wouldn’t be treated as livestock. When he got back to parliament, he was going to fight for them.
The last thing he did was shave his face, which turned out not to be a task for the faint-hearted. Then he knocked on the door to the duke’s study.
“Come in,” Samuel called.
Thomas pushed the door the study open. “Might I speak with you, Your Grace?”
Samuel’s eyes went wide. “Of course. Come in and shut the door.”
When the door clicked shut behind him, he heard Samuel sigh. “Why have you gotten rid of your beard?”
“I’m going to return to parliament.” It was a decision he hadn’t made lightly. Not only would he be able to do some good for the lower class that he’d been learning to love so well, but this way, he could apologize to Lady Lavender and see if she would give him a chance knowing who he really was.
“I know I can’t make you stay, but I wish you would.” Samuel ran a hand down his face. “Someone said they saw you today. The man was foxed and spouting off all sorts of nonsense, but he recognized you out on the street.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“At White’s. Lord Chilcott marched in triumphant as a captain of the army and announced that he finally had a lead on your whereabouts.
He gave the inebriated man fifty pounds.
Now Lord Chilcott is up to his eyes in people telling him about your whereabouts.
But the worst part is that a few of the stories are matching up.
The Lord Chancellor decided it was time he dispatched a team of searchers to your estates. ”
Thomas fell into a leather chair across the large desk in the center of the room. “What would happen if I just met them there?”
“The price for your person, dead or alive, is now one thousand pounds. It is not wise to risk it.” Samuel motioned to Thomas’s face. “Shaving isn’t helping your case either.”
“I can’t stay here forever. I expect you to give me that hat.” Thomas tried to joke, but it fell flat. “If I stay here, I’m putting your family in danger. I can’t do that to you.”
Samuel shook his head. “I might have a solution, at least until your hair can grow back in. I need you to take up residence in the guest chamber as a sick relative.”
“And just sit around while I worry over Lady Lavender, and Jack, and the new girl, and the children? How am I supposed to do that?”
“The new girl?”
“The one I might have forced Mrs. Bitters to give a position to after her harrowing experience in the street.”
Samuel shook his head, but the corners of his mouth tugged up. “Has she seen you since you shaved?”
Thomas shook his head.
“Let’s keep it that way.” Samuel rubbed his hands together. “Being new, she won’t be loyal to me or you yet, and I can’t risk her making the connection of who you are. I’ll send Jack up to you, and Daniel if you’re really bored. You can teach him how to play marbles.”
“And Lady Lavender?” Thomas had been so excited at the prospect of courting her properly.
Samuel looked at Thomas for far too long. “I will talk to Miriam and my mother about whether or not she should visit. I know you are developing feelings for her, but it’s not wise for her to become attached to a servant.”
Thomas pointed to his face. “I was hoping to tell her the truth.”
Another knock on the door sounded and Samuel put a finger to his lips to tell Thomas to be quiet. “Who is it?”
The door pushed open. “It’s your mother. And we need to have a chat.”
Samuel closed the door behind her and looked at Thomas. “Good afternoon, Your Grace.”
Thomas bowed beneath the dowager’s laughing eyes. “Good afternoon.”
She began to laugh and pointed at him. “This was not a good choice.” She motioned to his face.
Thomas looked heavenward. “So I’ve heard.”
He offered her the chair he’d vacated upon her entrance. She took it graciously. “Now, Fenleigh. What were you two discussing?”
“Mother,” Samuel cut in, “what was it you needed?”
She reached across his desk and patted his hand. “Nothing, dear. I only wanted to hear what you were saying.”
They both looked at Thomas.
“I was asking what he thought about me telling Lady Lavender who I really am,” he admitted.
“That puts her in a terrible position.” Lady Gilfordshire looked deeply into Thomas’s eyes.
“I’ve been a part of one of the Gardner’s engagements.
It was no small feat to help secure that girl’s happiness, and she had a backbone of iron.
Lady Lavender carries a large burden with her this Season as it is.
Unless you are proven an innocent man, she cannot marry you. ”
“Then how do I prove my innocence? How do I prove that I did not help the spies? It seems like the only way for me to be justly accused would be for the authorities to find evidence that I was a part of a plot.”
“There are a couple options. Your cousin could hire an actor to testify against you. I believe this would be foolhardy. Testifying falsely against a duke would not be worth the risk to the man’s life.
Or they could have had someone forge letters in your hand,” the dowager suggested.
“I’ve given it some thought, and I believe some type of forgery is what must be afoot. ”
Thomas hated that she was right. And if it was Lord Chilcott who was trying to frame him, the man would likely have plenty of correspondence over the years for someone to practice Thomas’s hand.
The only reason Thomas hadn’t been called in to testify in court already was because he was a duke.
His title afforded him no small amount of protection.
“So I need to find evidence that I am being framed. That is the only way I can be freed of suspicion.”
“I’ve heard that the authorities are nervous about going through your homes. Why is that?”
Thomas smiled. “I wrote a letter that threatened anyone who acted suspiciously while I was gone. I did tell them they were welcome to search my properties though. I have nothing to hide, But I’m glad to see that the Lord Chancellor hasn’t been jumping to action until now.
I think it shows a least some doubt in the rumor. ”
Lady Gilfordshire smiled at Thomas. “Allow me some time to do a little listening. In the meantime, grow that awful hair back on your face.”
Samuel looked up in triumph. “Yes, we must listen to our elders, right, Fenleigh?”
Thomas and the dowager shot Samuel matching glares.
“Don’t call me old,” Lady Gilfordshire wagged her finger at her son.
After Thomas had been so sure of revealing himself, it was disheartening to discover his plan was utter rot. “I’ll try to bide my time. Thank you both for your help.” Thomas turned to the door.
“You can’t just walk out of here,” Samuel stated. “Let me check the corridor and then we’ll sneak you up to a spare room. You have a head cold. Understood?”
As much as he hated it, Thomas did understand. He had to trust that his time would come, and everything would work out for the best.