Chapter 36
Thomas paced Samuel’s study, wishing it was his own.
He could not regret his choice to disguise himself as a servant because that was what led him to Lady Lavender, but it was past time he stripped himself of the disguise and faced his foes.
He’d decided to do just that, but he hadn’t done it.
He’d been so selfish, so ridiculously arrogant to believe that other people would solve his problems for him.
It wasn’t for his friends’ lack of effort in the matter, but Thomas’s disappearance made it all the more difficult for them to prove his innocence in the accusation of treason.
The letter he had slipped from Lord Chilcott’s library was his ticket to freedom.
But he had to speak with Lady Lavender first. She deserved to hear from himself who he was and why he’d been lying to her all this time.
She deserved to know that he loved her as Tom the gardener, and that he would continue to love her as Thomas Monteclare, Duke of Fenleigh.
He ran his fingers through his hair—longer than it had ever been—and willed Samuel to come to his study.
The door opened, and Thomas strode to greet Samuel. It was Miriam, however, who entered the room. “Good morning, Tom. What can I do for you?”
“I was hoping to speak with your husband.”
“Oh, he went to White’s.” She grimaced.
Thomas slapped his leg. He couldn’t keep putting this off. “Then I’ll appeal to you instead.” He took a deep breath. “Now that we have evidence for Lord Chilcott’s scheme, I am going to tell Lady Lavender who I am. And then I’m going to go home and face the chaos that is my life.”
Miriam tipped her head to the side. “You are free to go home anytime you wish, Thomas. And I believe you are right, the evidence is strong, and Lady Lavender deserves some hope for her future.”
Thomas ran from the room. He wanted to change from his livery into his tattered gardening clothes; it felt right to face the woman he loved in the humblest state he could.
When he entered the cramped room he shared with Jack, his throat grew thick with emotion. He would miss this place. It was here he learned who he really was, and what he could be with the right woman beside him.
A note was on his pillow, and he picked it up. The handwriting was terrible, but he made out the few words scrawled on the page.
She is goin to everle park
Thomas rushed from his quarters and flew up the stairs. She couldn’t be gone, not now.
“Tom!” Miriam yelled from the stairs. “Tom, I need you at once.”
Thomas had never heard the duchess so concerned. Samuel walked in the front door just as Thomas was heading for the stairs. “Follow me, your wife sounds upset.” The men found Miriam in Lady Lavender’s room. The bed was made up, and the wardrobe was open and empty.
Lady Lavender and her maid were gone.
“She must have gone home,” Miriam said. “I don’t blame her after everything she’s been through the past few days. But I would have helped her prepare for the journey.” Hurt laced Miriam’s words.
Thomas cleared his throat. “She is on her way to Everleigh Park. I’ve just found a letter in my room from Jack.”
Samuel wrapped Miriam in his arms. “See? She’ll be fine. If Thomas hurries, he can meet her there.” He kissed the top of his wife’s head.
Miriam sniffed and pointed a finger at Thomas. “Don’t you dare bungle this.”
Thomas noticed a folded note on the writing table. He picked it up, but it wasn’t addressed to anyone. He unfolded the parchment and began reading.
My dearest Miriam,
Forgive my exit. It was selfishly done, but I need to find my own way.
I’ve stolen Jack, but he’ll return to you soon.
I am well prepared for my journey, and my maid is with me.
I have a couple of requests for you, if you would be so kind.
Please have Samuel give the High Chancellor the letter Tom found.
Wish me luck, my friend, I’m off to explore another option to bring my father peace.
Faithfully,
Lavender Gardner
Thomas handed the letter to Miriam, noting how different her letter was from the untidy scrawl of Jack’s. If Jack hadn’t been learning his letters, Thomas would be panicked right now, but because he knew enough to tell him where they were going, he had hope.
Didn’t he?
Lady Lavender left to go marry someone else—or at least she was trying to marry someone else.
She didn’t know that Tom the gardener was actually the lost Duke of Fenleigh.
Had she given up on loving him so quickly?
Yes, he knew she was desperate to bring her family peace, but what about her own feelings?
He’d effectively stomped on her heart by not telling her he loved her the other night. But he’d wanted her to know the truth about who he was. Why had he kept his mouth shut? She’d more than proved her trustworthiness time and again.
He watched Samuel and Miriam reading the note together. When they’d finished, they met his eyes. “She wants us to turn in the letter,” Samuel said as he tapped the parchment against his palm.
“Then you turn in the letter,” Thomas pulled himself up taller. “Follow her wishes in every respect. I’m going home.”
Samuel set his jaw. “You must promise me to retain your disguise until you reach your estate. We can’t chance you running into danger along the road. When I take this to the High Chancellor, I will testify to you being under my employ during the duration of your disappearance.”
“I don’t want your family in trouble, Samuel.”
“It is a fine thing then that we are both dukes. If not for that, we would both be in very real danger. As it is, I believe banding together will help us.”
Miriam squeezed Thomas’s hand. “Find her. We’ll take care of the rest.”
Thomas kissed Miriam on the hand and clapped Samuel on the back as he went to his small quarters beneath stairs.
It took him an entire thirty seconds to stuff everything he had with him into a bag.
When he exited the small room, Samuel was there again.
“Take one of my horses, don’t go too fast, and you won’t need to stop for the night. I’m going to the High Chancellor now.”
“Thank you, Samuel—for everything. I’m blessed to have a friend like you.”
Thomas ran into a startled Mrs. Bitters on his way through the kitchen. He kissed her cheek and then sprinted to the stable. He saddled a horse himself and was off a few minutes later.