The Mad Duke of Walendale
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Chapter One
“I hardly think that you need to worry, my dear.”
Edmund smiled to himself as he watched his mother pat Dinah’s arm reassuringly while they were in the carriage.
“There are going to be many gentlemen present, all eager to make your acquaintance. The only trouble will be that you will, thereafter, have to choose only one to court!”
“My mother is quite right,” Edmund told his cousin, firmly. “You will find an exceptional husband very soon, I am sure.”
Dinah smiled though Edmund could still see concern written in her eyes. “You are both very kind in taking me to London for the Season,” she said, softly. “If only my brother had returned from his Great Adventure, then I might now be under his care rather than being forced upon you!”
“Nonsense,” Edmund told her as his mother smiled warmly. “We are both delighted at this arrangement, I must say. Besides, I have a requirement to make my way to London this Season and it is no trouble to take you with me.”
“Indeed.” His mother shot Edmund a glance though Edmund only smiled back at her, despite the curl of doubt in his stomach. Upon his father’s death, Edmund had been informed that, within the will, there was a strong desire from his father that Edmund wed a Lady Vivianne, daughter of the Marquess of Kent who had been his father’s friend for decades. It had not been a directive, however, had not been absolutely required of him but all the same, Edmund felt the pressure of it upon his shoulders. Whether the young lady herself knew that this was hoped for between his family and hers, he did not know but hearing that she would be present in London and making her debut, he had chosen to make his way to London simply to meet with her. There might, thereafter, come a discussion with her father or mayhap, Lord Kent would speak to him about such an engagement, Edmund did not know. All the same, when he had informed his mother of this, though she had seemed pleased he could tell that there was an uncertainty about it all as well… which was just as he himself felt. Edmund had always expected to decide for himself which young lady he was to wed but now, in many ways, it felt as though that choice had been taken away from him.
“You will be present with me, yes?” Dinah glanced from Edmund to his mother before looking back to him again, a clear nervousness trembling through her voice though she tried to hide it with a smile. “I confess that I fear that society will find me to be a failure in some way and I shall be beyond mortified!”
The Duchess smiled and patted Dinah’s hand. “Have no fear, I shall be present at every moment and I will make certain that my son does the same. That is half the reason I am coming to London!” she continued, a twinkle in her eye and a note of teasing in her voice. “It is to make certain that my son does not hide himself away from society as I fear he might wish to do!”
Edmund chuckled, though he caught the gleam in his mother’s eyes, knowing all too well that his mother truly did fear that he might hide himself from society despite the fact that he had spoken about Lady Vivianne on many an occasion. Clearly, his mother knew him better than Edmund had anticipated. “Mother, given that both of us are now responsible for Dinah, I hardly think that you can have any fears as regards my absence from society. I will do all that I can and all that I must, I assure you.”
His mother tilted her head, the edge of her lip curving upwards. “That is good to hear from you. Does that mean that you shall do all that you must with your own responsibilities and considerations also?”
Before Edmund could answer, Dinah’s eyes rounded and she leaned forward in her seat. “Goodness, dear cousin, are you in pursuit of a suitable match as well? I should never have presumed to come to London knowing that you were to seek such a prospect, too! I feel myself quite embarrassed now, I confess it.”
“No, no, please do not,” Edmund reassured her, quickly. “There is no need for concern. Yes, I am to be considering it but I am not to take it with any great seriousness, I assure you. There is no great urgency on my part.”
“Except that you must produce the heir,” came his mother’s quick response, though Dinah looked away as Edmund’s mother spoke, her gaze going to the window rather than looking back at him. “Your father and I only ever produced daughters after you, and that means that you alone can carry on the title to your sons, should you be blessed with them. That does require a wife, does it not?”
“I suppose that it does, yes,” Edmund answered, mildly, “but I have a good many other things preoccupying me, do I not? While I will consider it – as I have already told you – I must also consider whether this year and at this time would be best. Part of me fears that to take a bride at this time would not be fair on the lady herself, for I would have no time to devote to her and would struggle to bring her any sort of happiness.” That did not mean, of course, that Edmund would ignore Lady Vivianne and refuse to even consider her. It might be that, after becoming acquainted, he would thereafter decide if he would engage himself to her the following Season rather than this year. However, he would ensure to communicate his intentions to her and ascertain that her father would find such an arrangement agreeable. Edmund told himself repeatedly that he wanted to have a little more time for freedom to pursue his own interests, to make and to create and to test and yet, in considering that, he recognized that it might very well be an excuse. The truth was, in his heart, he did not want to marry.
His mother clicked her tongue in obvious disapproval, pulling Edmund away from his own thoughts.. “While you are most considerate, my son, I can assure you that a wife can find herself contented in many things, none of which involve a husband. Her duty is to provide you with children. Your duty is to provide for your wife and any subsequent children, as well as to care for the estate.”
Edmund caught the way that his cousin frowned and felt his own brows drop low. He did not want his mother to give the impression to Dinah that the only thing that was required of her was to produce the children her husband required for that would make her view the gentlemen of London in a very different way from how they truly were. He frowned, wondering if he ought to say anything more. After all, the only thing he had talked about with his mother as regarded Lady Vivianne was his intention to acquaint himself with her and yet, perhaps in his mother’s mind, the courtship and engagement were already set. “I am not certain I would be contented with a match that is only for convenience,” he began, seeing his mother’s brows knit together. “Whomever I marry, I should like to know them well, to find their company enjoyable and to look forward to being with them. To have a wife who is almost a stranger to me is not an idea that I feel at all comfortable with and certainly would not delight in.”
“Nor would I, I do not think,” Dinah interjected, though she spoke quietly as if afraid of what the Duchess’ reaction would be. “I do not want to make a match simply for the sake of making it. I should like to find a husband that truly cares for me.”
Edmund smiled warmly, in what he hoped was an encouraging manner. “I quite understand.” he said, as his mother’s eyes flashed.
“Though that caring can come after your acquaintance and subsequent companionship,” the Duchess put in, a heavy emphasis in her words as she looked long at Edmund though, after a moment when he did not respond, she simply shrugged to herself and then smiled at Dinah. “Of course you must find a gentleman who cares for you. You must make whatever match you wish, Dinah. Neither my mother nor I will force that upon you.”
“No, indeed not,” his mother said, a good amount of fervency in each word. “I would not have you think that you would ever be forced into any match you did not desire. I would not be as cruel-hearted as that.”
Dinah smiled, relief evident. “That is good for me to hear, I am glad to know you both understand.”
“Of course we do.” The Duchess reached and took Dinah’s hand, squeezing her fingers for a moment. “Goodness, I am looking forward to the Season!” She laughed and the faint tension which had been in the carriage for only a few seconds quickly dissipated. “It is almost as though I am a debutante, all over again!”
Edmund smiled and turned his gaze to the window, letting the two ladies talk about the London Season, of society and what Lady Dinah might expect. His own thoughts roved around the Season also, reminding himself that he was there solely for Dinah’s benefit and not for his own purposes – purposes which would have pulled him away from society and into his own company instead.
There is still so much I must learn.
A memory came to him and he let it catch a hold of him as his mother and Dinah continued to talk. It was a pleasant memory, one where he and his uncle had been discussing all manner of things, where they had been talking together in his uncle’s study and, even though he had only been a young man at the time, he had understood a great deal of what his uncle had spoken of. His uncle, the Earl of Fullerton – who had been Dinah’s father also – had always been thinking of ways to improve the situation either at his estate or for his tenants and he had done it by either inventing new things or trying out experiments, simply to see what might work. They had been talking about the difficulty they faced at present with the rains causing floods in the field and his uncle had shown him detailed drawings of his plans to stop that from happening in the future.
Edmund smiled to himself as he recalled those drawings, remembering very clearly just how astonished he had been at the invention his uncle had come up with, something which had combined both a defense against the floods and what had appeared to be multiple metal troughs with which to carry away the water to a nearby reservoir. He had found it terribly interesting, had studied it over and over again as his uncle had described all that he would have to do in order to make it work… and that had been the very moment that the Duke of Wrexham had walked in.
A frown replaced Edmund’s smile as he remembered his father’s expression darkening as he had taken in all that had been going on. There had been a weight in his father’s expression that Edmund had not seen before, almost an anger which he had recoiled from – and which his uncle had seen also. There had come a terse conversation, one where Edmund’s father had thrown up his hands, demanded that his foolish brother stop his inventions and, thereafter, had demanded that Edmund step away from all that his uncle was showing him. ‘You are mad!’ the Duke had shouted, while Edmund had watched his uncle hang his head, as though he were suddenly ashamed. ‘You spend your time inventing ridiculous things, experimenting with all manner of things and, in doing so, neglect society and fail to protect your reputation. You are nothing but a fool, Fullerton and the sooner you realise that, the better it shall be for all of us.’
Wincing, Edmund rubbed one hand over his eyes, feeling a grittiness there. That memory had started off pleasantly enough but had ended in sadness and frustration, for Edmund had longed to spend more time with his uncle and had been ashamed of hearing all that his father had shouted at him. He himself had not believed a word of it, of course, had never once thought that his uncle was a madman. Instead, he had been pleased to see all that his uncle had invented, had even tried to tell his father that the troughs and the defenses which his uncle had built had, in fact, done all that he had intended – but his father had not listened.
That had not put Edmund off such things, however. Instead, he had begun his own inventions, looking into natural philosophy and hiding all that he engaged in from his father so that the Duke would not know of it. Once his father had died, however, such a thing did not have to be hidden any longer and Edmund had thrown himself into it… much to his mother’s chagrin.
“Do not think that you will be able to continue your experiments in London, my dear,” he heard his mother say, looking back at her and pulling himself out of his own thoughts. “You must concentrate on society and on Dinah… and on your own considerations!”
Edmund managed a smile. “I do not need much other than a desk, parchment and ink in order to continue with my inventions and considerations,” he said, making his mother wince. “I shall not pretend that I will not do any, Mother, for that would be an untruth and I have no intention of lying to you. However, I can assure you that I will be devoted to Dinah’s come out and her progress into society. I shall also give time to my own requirements though whether anything shall come from that, I do not know.”
His mother only sighed and tutted lightly but Edmund did not respond to this, knowing within himself that he would continue on with his study regardless of what his mother and even his cousin might think while, at the same time, doing all that Dinah needed from him and making his introductions to Lady Vivianne. His experiments and inventions were much too important to him and, even if they looked down upon him or claimed that he was a fool for pursuing such things, Edmund was determined. Natural philosophy had become his passion and he was not about to hide from it now, especially after he had spent years doing so.
“Goodness, the heavens have truly opened!”
“Hmm?” Edmund looked out of the window, only for his eyes to flare wide in astonishment as he realized just how heavily it was raining. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he had not noticed the change in the weather.
“I am sure we will be quite all right,” he murmured, as his mother shared an anxious glance with Dinah. “The roads have not seen a lot of rain given that it is so close to summer and I am sure that all will be well.”
“Of course it shall be,” Dinah murmured, though her voice was soft and quiet now. “It will not take too long for us to reach the inn, will it?”
Edmund shook his head. “I do not think it will be too much longer before we get there.” With a quick calculation, he grimaced. “Actually, now that I think about it, it will be almost early evening by the time we arrive there. So mayhap a little longer than I had first anticipated.”
His mother clasped her hands in her lap, worrying her lip just a little. Edmund tried to smile to calm her, knowing that the heavy rain and the muddy road was a concern to her. It was to him also but he prayed that the rain would soon stop, the road would not grow muddy and sticky and they would be given safe travel to the inn.
***
“Oh!” The Duchess grabbed Edmund’s hand as a heavy clunk brought the carriage to a stop. “What is that?”
“I do not know, Mother,” Edmund answered, calmly. “Let me go and see what it is that has brought us to a stop and I will be able to return to you with an answer.”
“It is so dark and so wild!” Dinah exclaimed, as the Duchess clung to Edmund’s hand, refusing to let him quit the carriage. “It is as though the summer has forgotten about us entirely!”
Edmund tried to pull his hand away from his mother’s, though he struggled to do so given how tightly she grasped it. “Mother, I will be quite all right. It is only a thunderstorm.” He saw her eyes widen – for it was not as dark as she had proclaimed it to be – and felt his heart soften with sympathy. It was clear that his mother was afraid, scared of what might be, of what could happen to him if he stepped out into the storm and he could not blame her for that. His own father had been lost in a storm, found in a field with his horse already back at the stables and had never recovered. Evidently, his mother was afraid that the same would happen to him.
“I will be quite all right. All I am doing is stepping out so that I can speak with the driver,” Edmund assured her, managing to pull his hand away. “I will not be a moment.”
Opening the door, he held it tightly so that the wind would not yank it out of his hand. Stepping out, he winced against the wind and the rain as he closed the door again, and walked over to where his driver and footman were standing together.
“What has happened?”
“Oh, Your Grace!” The driver turned quickly, his hair already dripping wet such was the storm. “Forgive us. There is a problem with the wheel and I don’t think that we can keep going without damaging it severely.”
“What is it?”
Gesturing to the back wheel, the driver shrugged. “This wheel is stuck so deep into the mud, I am not certain how we can get it out easily and if I have the horses pull it, there is a chance that it could crack. To my eyes – though I can see nothing but mud – there could be something else there holding the wheel back.”
Edmund turned and walked to the back of the carriage, feeling dampness sink through his clothing already. Heedless to the rain and the mud, he bent down and looked at the wheel, a heavy frown falling over his expression. The wheel was half hidden, buried in mud which was now not only that but also a quick forming puddle. He could put his hand into it and try to see what else was there, but that would leave him covered in dirt and wet and, until he had his mother and cousin safely at the inn, he would not do that. With a long breath, he got to his feet and came back to his driver. “Tell me, how far are we from the inn?”
The driver looked around. “I would say less than half a mile.”
“Then my mother and cousin can walk there,” Edmund said, firmly. “You, Benton, you will take them both there and stand guard over them. Do you understand?”
His footman nodded, pushing his thick, dark hair out of his eyes though it was now in dark strands around his face. “Yes, Your Grace.”
Edmund nodded and then turned to his driver. “I will help you with the wheel.”
The driver and the footman exchanged a look and Edmund could tell at once what both were thinking – but which neither of them said aloud for they would never dare to question a Duke. He let himself smile, despite the rain and the whipping wind around them. No doubt most Dukes and gentlemen of high title would have gone to the inn and left their servants to make sure that all was well and that the issue was resolved without involving them in any way – but that was not Edmund’s way. If there was a problem, then he wanted to be involved in solving it and this certainly, was a problem.
“I will speak with them now,” Edmund stated, gesturing to the carriage door. “Be ready. My mother will need to be well cared for when you make it to the inn. She will not only need to be warm and dry soon after her arrival but she will also need to be reassured that I will be quite all right. Whether that comes from you or from Lady Dinah, she will need it. Do you understand?”
The footman nodded and with a nod of his own, Edmund made his way back to the carriage door, pulling it open and informing his mother and cousin of what had happened and what they would have to do now. As expected, his mother made a great deal of protest but Edmund stood firm.
“This is what I enjoy, Mother, and what I am well used to doing,” he said, as his mother closed her eyes tightly, as if to hide him from her view. “I can solve this problem and have the carriage at the inn very soon.”
“Then can we not sit in the carriage?” his mother asked, gesturing to the weather outside, weather which was still battering Edmund furiously. “Why must we resign ourselves to a half a mile walk when we could simply sit here until it is dry?”
“Because the carriage must have as little weight as possible,” Dinah interrupted, before Edmund could say anything. “Is that right?”
Edmund nodded. “Yes, my dear cousin, that is quite correct. I will have to have the footman carry one or two smaller pieces of luggage also, and the rest might have to be placed at the side of the road until I have the wheel free.” He looked back to his mother. “I am sorry that this is inconvenient but it must be done.”
His mother leaned forward in her seat and touched his hand, her face drawn. “Are you sure this is what must be?”
Edmund nodded. “It is.”
“And I cannot convince you to leave this to your driver and footman to resolve?”
“I am afraid you cannot,” Edmund answered, as gently as he could. “You know that I am going to be wherever the problem is, Mother. Now, pull your bonnet as tight as you can and step out of the carriage. The footman will take you to the inn and you can wait for me there.”
With a sigh – though much to Edmund’s relief – both she and Dinah did as he asked, tying their bonnet ribbons and thereafter, getting up out of their seat. With a few more encouraging words, Edmund urged them along the path, watching as the footman led the way before turning back to the driver.
“Now, let us get to the wheel,” he said, rubbing his hands together and grinning, despite the atrocious weather, the wet seeping into his clothing and the clap of thunder overheard. “Somehow, we will find a solution. I am determined to do it.”
Chapter Two
“Wait a moment.” Drumming her fingers on the table for a few moments, Lillian let her gaze drift across the page, taking in every single transaction which had been written there for the last month. “Something here is wrong.” With a frown, Lillian rubbed at her eyes and then replaced her gaze back upon the ledger. Her father had asked her to look over the estate ledgers to make certain there were no discrepancies or the like. Arithmetic was something that she loved a great deal and therefore, since she enjoyed such a thing, her father had asked her to do this every single year without fail, ever since he had learned of her enjoyment and her skill.
“Have you found something?” Her father, the Earl of Galesbury, came over to her from where he had been standing at the window. “Something that no-one else has thus far?”
“It is only a small amount.”
“But small amounts are just as important,” he told her, coming to stand by the desk and, leaning over it, looking at the ledger. “What is it?”
“Here.” Lillian pointed to the first line of money. “You said you received a bill for six meters of one particular fabric – for new gowns, I believe, for Mama?”
Lord Galesbury nodded slowly. “Yes, that sounds right.”
“But you have here that one meter costs this much, which means that six meters should not cost this, but this.” She pointed to her arithmetic, then looked up to see her father scrutinizing her work.
After a few moments, he nodded slowly, rubbing at his grey beard. “This is quite right, Lillian. Well done.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
He patted her shoulder and Lillian almost glowed with happiness. “You have such an exceptional mind. It is quite remarkable, truly. Are you able to look at the rest of the ledger?”
Lillian smiled. “Of course.”
“But you must hurry. Your mother wishes for you to make certain that you have everything prepared for when we make our way to London tomorrow.” He looked at her steadily, pausing for a moment. “Are you quite prepared for that?”
With a small smile, Lillian shrugged her shoulders. “I am to make my debut, just as every other young lady must do. I cannot see that it is a dreadful thing to behold! It is something that simply must be done if I am to find a future in this world.”
“Though you know that I would be glad to keep you here and make use of you at the estate,” her father grinned, his eyes twinkling. “You have as sharp and as learned a mind as any gentleman.” His smile faded. “You must promise me, Lillian, that, you will not accept the courtship or the engagement from any gentleman who does not value you as I do. I will not give my permission to any gentleman that I think is unworthy of you, of course, but if you find yourself drawn to one particular gentleman, I will not stand in your way. But I must beg you to be careful and considerate in all your thinking, for it is very easy to be swept up in one’s emotions.”
A little surprised at her father’s concern, Lillian reached up and set her hand on her father’s. “I will, Father. In truth, I have never had any real interest in marriage, for I find reading and arithmetic in particular to be more than satisfactory!”
Her father laughed and squeezed her shoulder. “I understand but I can assure you, there are a good many things that come from matrimony. That is why it is vital that you find a suitable gentleman, one who will see your brilliant mind and your capacity for arithmetic as blessings, not something to be hidden. Do you understand me?”
Lillian nodded, seeing the concern in her father’s eyes. “I do, Papa, yes.”
“Good.” With a smile, he took his hand from her shoulder and walked to the other side of the room. “Now, let me ring the bell and have some tea and buns brought to you. No doubt you will be needing it by the end of this!”
Lillian laughed and thanked him before turning her attention back to the ledger. She was happy and contented here, glad to be of aid to her father and all the more happy that he valued her in this regard. To have him ask her for her help, to have him thank her for what she did made her feel valued and contented and that, Lillian realized, was something that she certainly did want to have when it came to who she married. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she continued on with her calculations, pushing all thoughts of London and husbands to one side… for the time being, at least.
***
“I do fear we shall never get to London!”
“It is just as well that we are not going to London, then.” Lord Galesbury winked at Lillian as she reached to pat her mother’s hand. “You recall, my dear, that we are to go to the inn first?”
“Yes, yes, I know that.” Lady Galesbury let out a long sigh and directed a sharp gaze to her husband, who was smiling at her. “You are always trying to tease me, are you not?”
Lillian, who had seen this interplay many a time, could not help but laugh softly, despite the wind and rain which rocked the carriage side to side and pelted hard at the windows. Her father had always been jovial, light in his spirits and, oftentimes, teasing. Her mother, on the other hand, had been a little more severe and less inclined to smile but Lord Galesbury seemed to make it his daily intention to have his wife laughing and smiling as much as he could manage – and Lillian had delighted to see the love and kindness shared between her parents. That, she determined, as her mother begrudgingly offered her husband a smile, was the kind of marriage she herself wished to have. One where there was genuine care and affection, one where the years spent together were happy rather than difficult or cold.
“Speaking of cold,” she murmured aloud, shivering lightly as another gust of wind threatened to break through the carriage door and come whistling around her. “It is a summer storm, yes?”
Her father nodded, his expression a little difficult to make out given the dark skies which surrounded them. “It is, though it is a very severe one. The road will be muddy very soon, I fear though the inn cannot be more than a mile away, given how long we have been travelling for.”
Lillian nodded and clasped her hands in her lap, her fingers tightening as she fought worry. They had come to London many a time given that her elder brother had come to make his match here before her – though, much to her parents frustration, he had not chosen a bride even now – and thus, the inn that they always stayed at was a familiar one to them all, but all the same, with the storm surrounding them, Lillian could not help but feel a little uneasy.
“Whoa there!”
Catching her breath, Lillian reached up to grab a hold of the strap as the carriage began to slow, hearing the driver’s exclamation as he pulled the horses back.
“What has happened?” her father called, rapping on the roof. “Are we in difficulty?”
“An accident, my lord!” the driver shouted back, his voice carried away by the wind so that Lillian had to strain to hear him. “There’s a carriage here.”
“Stop, then. We might be able to assist.”
“No, my love!” Lady Galesbury put one hand to her husband’s knee, fear in her voice. “What if it is armed men? What if they have come to steal and kill? We will be next!”
Lord Galesbury put his hand on top of his wife’s one, smiling gently. “My dear, if it is highwaymen, then be assured that they have already left by now and will have robbed the people in the carriage before us. Though I feel quite certain that it is because of the weather that they have stopped. It is, no doubt, an accident with the roads being as bad as they are. Now, stay here and wait for me to return. I will not be long.”
Lillian took her mother’s hand and watched as her father stepped out of the carriage, the wind and the rain pouring in as he opened and then shut the door. Lillian shivered again and pulled her coat around her all the more tightly, glad that she had chosen to wear it rather than have it packed away. “I am sure he will be quite all right, Mama,” she said, quietly. “It is good that he wants to help.”
“He is always very good,” came the soft reply. “Too willing to help, no matter the cost to himself.” She sighed and then looked to Lillian, a small smile on her face. “I am blessed to have him as a husband. My prayer is that you will be able to find someone just as wonderful as he.”
Smiling, Lillian squeezed her mother’s hand and waited, hearing a few exclamations carrying towards them from outside. Eventually, her father opened the door and came to sit back inside, his face wet with the rain, his hair dripping. Running one hand over his face, he picked up one of the blankets and wiped it over his eyes, before smiling reassuringly at his wife.
“You see? I am not captured by highwaymen, nor am I injured in any way.”
“Yes, I can see that. Though you are soaked to the skin and will, no doubt, catch a cold and be most unwell with it.”
Lord Galesbury chuckled and shook his head. “My dear, we are less than a mile away from the inn. The Duke of Wrexham – for that is who is at the carriage – has sent his mother and cousin there and they have had to walk in the wind and the rain, for his carriage is quite stuck!”
“His mother and cousin?” Lillian repeated, turning to look out of the window, horrified at the thought of how cold and wet they would both be. “Can we go and find them and take them in the carriage with us?”
Her father shook his head. “I think that they will be there by now. However, I have said that I will stay and assist them in releasing the carriage wheel from whatever it is stuck in and, thereafter, return with them to the inn.”
“No! You are to stay with us! I could not bear to leave you here, not when it is so wild outside.” Lady Galesbury shook her head, her face going a little pale. “I am scared, Galesbury. It is so very fierce and the thought of going to the inn alone – ”
“You would have Lillian,” Lord Galesbury said, gently, though Lady Galesbury shook her head fervently. “Come now, my dear, do not be unreasonable.”
“I do not mind waiting here with Mama until the carriage is freed,” Lillian said quickly not wanting her mother to be distressed and, at the same time, ignoring the desire deep within her heart to get to the inn and, thereafter, rest in a soft bed instead of sitting upright in an uncomfortable carriage seat. “What is wrong with the carriage, Papa?”
The Earl scowled. “One of the carriage wheels is stuck. It appears to be wedged between two very heavy stones which have been revealed by the rain – but cannot be dug up either, given the weight and the size of them.”
“Might I be able to help?” Lillian asked, though her father immediately shook his head no.
“I do not think that is wise, Lillian, though I am grateful for your willingness to help. The carriage wheel is at a slight angle which is making it difficult and the horses are cold and wet, meaning that they are tugging and pulling at the reins, desperate to get to the inn which is making it all the more difficult.”
Lillian lifted her chin, an idea coming to her. “Papa, I can help. First, the drivers should swap the horses. That way, this carriage and the Duke’s horses can get to the inn and recover. Mama, you will have to go to the inn alone but you could make certain that the Duchess is quite well? She is going to be just as you are, concerned and worried over what has happened and fearful about the storm and what a blessing it would be to her to have you speak with her, reassuring her that all is well.”
“Lillian,” her father began, but Lillian waved one hand, telling him with the gesture that she was not yet finished.
“I am sure that I could help,” she insisted. “If it is stuck and it is at an angle, then there are certain calculations which must be made in order to move the wheel. Please, Papa. You know that I am good at this and even if I cannot help, I would like to have the opportunity to try, at least.”
Her father hesitated. “I – I do not know, Lillian. You will get soaked to the skin and – ”
“It is less than a mile to the inn, as you said, and Mama could have everything prepared for my arrival,” Lillian said, trying to ignore the way her mother shook her head in obvious disagreement. “The Duke must be very cold indeed already, if he has been trying for some time.”
Lord Galesbury bit his lip, then shrugged. “I can see the determination in your eyes and I know better than to refuse you.”
“Galesbury! You cannot think of permitting her this! You have already heard that I am afraid of going to the inn alone and now you are stating that you will do so regardless!”
“It is the Duke of Wrexham in need of our aid, my dear.” Lord Galesbury patted his wife’s hand. “Now, you know as well as I that our daughter has an exceptional mind and, if she can be of aid to him then why should we hold her back? You have your part to play also, my dear, for the Duchess of Wrexham, his mother, and another young lady whose name I forget, are already at the inn. They will need reassurance and the promise that all will be well. No doubt they will be frantic with worry for I believe it has been some time since they set off to the inn. Can you do as Lillian has suggested? Can you go to the inn?”
Lillian waited for her mother’s consent, seeing how she closed her eyes and trembled just a little. Then, with another sigh, she nodded and looked to Lillian. “But you will stay in here until the horses have been changed,” she said, firmly. “I will not have you standing in the rain and the wind until it is absolutely necessary.”
“Very well,” Lillian agreed, as her father quickly stepped out of the carriage. “It may be, Mama, that I am no help at all and will have to sit in the Duke’s carriage until someone else comes up with a solution!”
Lady Galesbury nodded slowly, her eyes searching Lillian’s face. “You are not worried about the Duke’s consideration of you? It is not often that young ladies have as sharp a mind as you.”
Lillian shrugged. “Not in the least.” Remembering how her father had spoken to her the day prior, when she had been doing the ledger, she offered her mother a small smile. “I am not going to hide any part of myself away from society and certainly not from a Duke either. Besides, if I can help him, he shall be in my debt and that is a good thing, is it not?”
She laughed as a gleam came into her mother’s eye but there came no time for the conversation to continue. Her father stuck his head back into the carriage, windswept and drenched. “Are you quite prepared for this, Lillian? It is furious out here. Are you certain you wish to do this?”
“Yes, I am quite certain.” Lillian took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself to enter the storm. Her mother grasped her hand again but Lillian only squeezed it and then let it go, making her way to the door of the carriage, grasping her father’s helping and stepping out.
The response of the storm was immediate. The wind whipped at its new victim, trying mercilessly to blow her in whichever direction it pleased while the rain did its best to seek every tiny hole where it might push through towards her skin. Lillian shivered violently and instinctively lowered her head, though her bonnet was next to useless in keeping her protected.
“This way.” Her father took her hand and guided her to the other carriage, coming around to the other side of it. The sky was dark and gloomy but not dark enough for it to hide the figures there, though each got to their feet the moment Lillian and her father appeared. One kept his head low and that, Lillian presumed, was the driver, which meant her gaze instinctively went to the other fellow.
“This is my daughter, Lillian, Your Grace.” Lord Galesbury released Lillian’s hand. “This is the Duke of Wrexham, Lillian.”
Lillian looked up as best she could, taking in the gentleman before her. His coat was absent, his white shirt and waistcoat soaked through though the smile on his face showed no concern whatsoever as regarded his sodden state. Rivulets of rain ran from his temples to his chin, his sleeves were rolled up and his arms and hands were dirty with the mud from the road but all the same, he did not appear to be in the least bit concerned.
“Lady Lillian, I think you are very brave indeed to have stepped out into the storm. Your father thinks you can help us here?”
Lillian offered him a nod, having no desire to prolong the conversation. “Might I see the difficulty?”
“Of course. This way.”
Within a few minutes, Lillian’s mind was working furiously, taking in everything that she could see and listening hard to everything she was being told. She considered the angles of certain things, seeing them almost light up in front of her eyes. The weight of the carriage and the strength of the horses added to her thinking until, finally, with a small smile despite the wind and the rain, Lillian finally set to work.
Chapter Three
“Remarkable.”
“That is the fourth time you have said that.” Edmund’s mother sniffed as she reached for the teapot. “I do not think that a young lady such as she ought to have been permitted to be out in the storm.”
“That young lady helped us free the carriage wheel,” Edmund answered, as his mother poured a little milk into her tea. “I do not think I have ever seen the like before!”
Again, his mother sniffed. “Young ladies do not need to be as learned as gentlemen. There is simply no need!”
“And yet, we must be grateful that her intelligence brought the Duke back to us, must we not?” Dinah glanced at Edmund, offered him a small smile of obvious support and then looked to the Duchess. “I would be very glad to make her acquaintance, I think.”
After a moment, the Duchess sagged a little in her chair and her expression softened. “Her mother was very kind, I must say. She came to find us directly, told us all that had happened and reassured me when my nerves were already terribly fraught.”
Edmund smiled. “A very genteel lady, then.”
His mother finally smiled. “Yes, my dear, she was very genteel indeed. I should not have been so averse to the young lady coming to help you, it is only that I am very fatigued after yesterday and, I confess, a little out of sorts.”
Edmund smiled at her sympathetically. “Given that you had to walk a long distance in the rain and the wind and, thereafter, wait for some time to hear news, I can understand that you are weary today. We do not have to continue our travels to London today, if you do not wish. We could wait until tomorrow.”
The Duchess shook her head and Dinah looked relieved, glad, it seemed, that they were not to delay.
“We cannot delay,” his mother told him, firmly. “Dinah must make her introductions to the royal family and there is much to be done before that time comes. Now, do not be so foolish as to suggest such a thing again. Tired though I am, I am still able to make my way to London today. Though,” she continued, her brow furrowing, “are you quite certain that the carriage is prepared?”
“Yes, and it is more than able to take us to London,” Edmund answered, with a smile as he recalled how Lady Lillian had assisted them the previous evening. He had managed to come up with a way for the carriage wheel to be released but had been unable to ascertain the angle at which it ought to be done. He had feared, in addition, that doing so incorrectly would result in the wheel being broken and thus, had been unable to move forward with his idea. At the time of Lord and Lady Galesbury’s arrival, he had been thinking hard, attempting to come up with another solution that would help sort out the situation. When Lord Galesbury had suggested that his daughter might be able to assist, Edmund had immediately frowned at the idea, struggling to imagine what a young lady might be able to offer though he had not refused the gentleman outright. What a blessing she had been to them all! With amazement, Edmund had watched as she had not only listened but understood the problem he faced as well as his attempts to fix it thus far. When she had been able to come up with the answer, assuring him that her calculations had been correct, Edmund had only been able to stare at her for some moments in utter astonishment. Lord Galesbury had nothing but belief in his daughter’s recommendations and had encouraged both Edmund and his driver to do as Lady Lillian had suggested – and the wheel had come free without too great a difficulty and had not suffered any real damage either.
How thankful he had been for her – and how glad they had all been to make their way to the inn, cold and shivering and yet delighted in how it had all turned out.
“Have you seen Lord Galesbury this morning?”
His mother’s question interrupted Edmund’s considerations and he shook his head. “No, not as yet. I assume they are in the other private parlor, however, as we are.”
His mother nodded slowly. “All the same, I should like to be introduced to Lord Galesbury and his daughter, I think. I wish to convey my heartfelt gratitude to them both.”
“Of course.” Edmund’s heart lifted as he thought of speaking to Lady Lillian again. “I will send one of the footmen to enquire as to whether or not they have time to take tea with us before they set out for London. And if we cannot meet them here, then I will make certain that we have dinner together once we all return to London.”
“Very good.” His mother smiled and even Dinah looked contented. Settling back in his chair, Edmund picked up his own cup and sipped from it, delighted in how everything had turned out and, on top of all of that, how intrigued he was by the remarkable Lady Lillian.
“I must express my gratitude to each and every one of you.”
Edmund watched as his mother grasped Lord Galesbury’s hand for a moment and then turned to Lady Galesbury to do the very same. The family were due to make their way to London within the hour but as the carriage was being prepared for them, they had been able to come together in the dining room of the inn, which had been set aside just for their own use for a time. Lady Lillian, as yet, had not arrived but Edmund had been assured that she would be ready to join them very soon.
“But of course.” Lady Galesbury smiled warmly and then looked to Edmund. “I am simply glad that you all returned safely to the inn. My heart was filled with a great deal of concern, I can assure you.” Her gaze returned to the Duchess. “Though it would have been nothing compared to yours, I am sure.”
Edmund’s mother sighed and put one hand to her heart. “I was greatly frightened when the wheel became stuck. I was quite sure that something dreadful was going to happen! Though I confess that when I was told I would have to walk to the inn in the midst of that storm, I found myself all the more upset! It was bitterly cold in the wind, though the footman was very good and walked in front of me so that I was shielded from it as best he could.”
Edmund, who had not known this, silently reminded himself to give his servant an extra few coins by way of gratitude for being so considerate. The young man had not been instructed to do such a thing but had shown consideration without any sort of directive and Edmund appreciated that loyalty and concern.
“The inn was warm, at least,” his mother continued, just as the door to Edmund’s left opened. “And we had fires stoked within a few minutes, warm clothes – though they were not mine, of course, but did for a time – and piping hot tea served to us which did warm me through very quickly. But yes, as you yourself said, Lady Galesbury, I was deeply concerned for my son and what was happening with the carriage. To know that he had others with him was a great relief to me so I do thank you for coming to inform me of it rather than waiting at the carriage.”
“But of course,” Lady Galesbury murmured, turning just as the young lady came to join her. “Your Grace, might I present my daughter, Lady Lillian?”
Edmund tilted his head just a fraction, taking in the young lady as she curtsied to his mother. She was willowy in her figure, her brown chestnut curls bouncing gently as she rose from her curtsy. Her lips were curved into a small, seemingly genuine smile and when she looked to him, her brown eyes were warm.
“I am delighted to make your acquaintance formally, Lady Lillian,” he found himself saying, before his mother had a chance to even speak. “We do owe you a great deal, of course, for without your help, the carriage might never have made it to the inn.”
Lady Lillian did not blush nor look away as he might have expected. Instead, her smile grew just a little and, after a moment, her gaze went to Dinah, curiosity coming into her expression instead.
“Forgive me, I have not introduced my cousin,” Edmund said, quickly. “Lady Lillian, Lord and Lady Galesbury, this is my cousin, Lady Dinah. Her father was the Earl of Fullerton and her brother is, at present, out on his Great Adventure! Though I am more than contented to be her chaperone for the Season – both my mother and I, you understand.” Feeling a little flustered and wondering why he had said as much, Edmund clamped his mouth shut and let the bows, curtsies and other formalities continue on without his interference. Some kind words were shared between them all, with both his mother and Dinah thanking Lady Lillian for her assistance though, Edmund noted, she did not say much about that in any way whatsoever. Instead, Lady Lillian only smiled and inclined her head a little, as though somehow, she was a little embarrassed by what she had done.
Though there is no need for that, Edmund considered, remembering what his mother had said earlier when they were in private. I do not consider a learned young lady to be in any way improper, even though my mother might think so. “I think it remarkable how quickly you were able to calculate all that was required for me to free the wheel,” he said, as Lady Lillian’s gaze went quickly to his. “I know we did not say much last evening as we travelled to the inn – ”
“We were all much too cold for conversation, were we not?” Lord Galesbury interrupted, as Lady Lillian laughed and then winced as if the memory of how they had all shivered had quickly come back to her.
“Yes, indeed!” Edmund agreed, his smile warming as Lady Lillian looked back at him. “But I should like you to be aware, Lady Lillian, that I found your work to be of the highest standard and, indeed, I find myself a little jealous that I cannot think through such things as quickly as you can!”
Lady Lillian did not immediately smile and nor did she respond. Instead, she looked back at him for a few moments, her eyes a little sharper than before, only for her expression to then change into one of happiness rather than of scrutiny.
“You are very kind,” she said, making Edmund believe that the silence and the searching of his expression had been to ascertain whether or not he spoke genuinely or not. “I was glad to be able to help you, Your Grace. I presume that your carriage is quite able to take you all to London without difficulty or concern?”
“You are quite right. There is nothing that worries me and the driver has also assured me that all will be well. We shall be in London by this evening, I think and I shall be very glad indeed to be there!”
Lady Lillian looked away but said nothing more, her hands clasped lightly in front of her but her gaze on the floor ahead of her. It was not as though she were being rude but simply that she had nothing further to add to the conversation which, Edmund considered, might be just what a young lady was taught to do in such situations as this.
“I presume that you are also making your way to London for the Season?” he asked, directing his question towards Lady Lillian who, after a moment, glanced at him and then nodded. “To make your debut?”
“Yes, that is quite right.”
“Then it is all the more wonderful that we have met, for Dinah is due to make her come out also and I know is rather concerned about it all.” He gestured to his cousin whilst inwardly delighting in the chance to further their acquaintance. “Is that not so, Dinah?”
“It is,” Dinah said quietly, though she smiled at Lady Lillian. “Might I hope that we could be close to one another during our first ball? I confess that my nervousness is stealing some of the excitement from my heart!”
“But of course! I should be delighted,” Lady Lillian answered, as the Duchess moved forward to speak to Lord and Lady Galesbury, leaving the young ladies to chat together. Edmund himself said nothing, taking in the conversations and quietly contented in how it had all come about. Lady Lillian was certainly intriguing and if she and Dinah could strike up a friendship, then all the better!
Though you first have a responsibility to Lady Vivianne, his conscience suddenly reminded him. You cannot let yourself start thinking about another young lady when matters have not yet been clarified with her.
Recognizing that, Edmund kept his smile in place but then moved to speak to Lord and Lady Galesbury instead. All the same, however, his thoughts and his interest continued to linger on Lady Lillian and, when it came time to take their leave, Edmund’s heart quickened with a sudden sense of concern.
“Might you wish to come to dinner with us once we are all settled in London?” he asked Lord Galesbury, knowing full well that his interest in such a thing came solely from his desire to see Lady Lillian again. “And, of course, if Lady Lillian would be willing to draw near Dinah during the first ball of the Season, I know that my cousin would appreciate it.”
“But of course.” Lord Galesbury beamed at Edmund, clearly delighted at the connection the two families were building. “I know that Lillian would be very glad to do such a thing. She is a very amiable young lady and always willing to be of help where she can.”
“Capital.” Edmund inclined his head, his concerns fading away. “Then might I wish you safe travels to London, Lord Galesbury, and I look forward to seeing you and your family there again very soon.”
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Sounds like a great book
Lovely! Where do I get the book?