Page 22 of Gone With the Rogue
“What about her marriage? Was she happy?”
“As far as I know.” Wiley shrugged again and gave Garrett a sideways glance. “How am I to know? I wasn’t a close friend to her husband. I only know that her uncle wanted her to marry a man twice her age, but she eloped with Lord Kitson instead.”
Nudging his horse to move, Garrett smiled at Wiley’s comment. He could see Lady Kitson having the courage to elope with the youngest son of a duke. And he could also see the duke being extremely upset about that.
“Can you get me an invitation to Lady Hallbury’s party Saturday afternoon?”
“Did Lady Kitson just happen to mention she’d be there?”
“No. Someone else did.”
Wiley laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Chapter 7
“Thank you for going slow,” Julia called up to the driver before stepping into the coach.
She was a fusspot when it came to how animals were treated. If it were in her power to see it done, she wanted them given the same care and provisions all people should receive. Pulling a carriage all day was tiring for horses, so she always insisted the driver take his time—even if she was running late for an appointment or an event.
Julia settled her skirts around her as the coach took off with a lurch and a rattle. She looked over at Brina and smiled. “Thank you for coming by for me.”
“It was the least I could do after I said you’d be joining me for Lady Hallbury’s party when you didn’t even know about it. Besides, I always want you to be my companion when you’re in Town. It gives me an opportunity to be away from Mama for a while.”
“I know, and I am looking forward to the party,” Julia said earnestly. “It’s just that the past three days have been difficult.”
“I know you were searching for the duke’s documents. I take your comment to mean it hasn’t gone well and you haven’t found them.” Brina leaned forward. “But please tell me you didn’t get caught.”
“No. I’ve been very careful. It’s frustrating I haven’t found the incriminating deed to the property so I can prove the duke owned the Eubury-Broadwell Gaming House.” Julia sighed quietly. “I’ve managed to thoroughly search one section of the duke’s book room walls, and the flooring—except for the space under his desk, which is impossible for me to get to.”
“What about his private chambers?”
“Not yet, and I still have hope I’ll find a hidden space behind the books on a high shelf and won’t have to go into them. It would be difficult. Mrs. Desford never leaves the house. Mr. Leeds takes care of all her errands outside the house. For now I’m still opening each book and looking at the wall behind it. It’s time-consuming as some of the books are quite large and difficult to move and there are so many.”
“Oh, Julia, you must let me help you search the house,” Brina insisted. “You can invite me over for dinner and I’ll come up with a reason to stay late.”
“I doubt I could persuade Mrs. Desford to retire before you left. I am making headway through the books, but it’s just not fast enough for me because I don’t know what day the duke might return.” Julia pressed into the back of the plush velvet cushion and sighed. “The worst thing is that now I am havingto cope with the tutor the duke sent for Chatwyn’s lessons. It’s been an absolutely disastrous situation.”
“I was there when he arrived but, of course, didn’t meet him and you couldn’t say much about him before I left. I don’t understand this. Chatwyn should be under Miss Periwinkle’s care for a few more years.”
“Yes, and he will but Mr. Pratt brought me a letter from the duke saying he thinks it’s time to begin a more formal education for Chatwyn to start preparing him for Eton. Including his religious training. The man he sent is simply a beast, and unrelenting in wanting Chatwyn to sit in a chair for six hours a day and practice lettering and numbers. We’ve had more than one row about it and, of course, Chatwyn cries and clings to me. This perturbs Mr. Pratt. He tries to insist I leave the room but I’ve refused to leave Chatwyn alone with the man.”
“I didn’t know all this. I’m so sorry and don’t blame you for being upset. He sounds like a monster. But, oh, what about today? Is Chatwyn alone with him?”
“No. Never, if I have anything to say about it. When Mr. Pratt arrived this morning, I told him Chatwyn had a stomach issue and he couldn’t possibly be expected to sit still and endure lessons today. He said he’d return on Monday. So between my searching the book room, the tutor, and my wayward thoughts about Mr. Stockton—but no, no, Brina, enough about me and my troubles. Please let me hear something about you for a change.”
“But I want to know—what it is about Mr. Stockton that has you on edge?”
Julia smiled softly just thinking about him. “He reminds me of how I long to be free so I can have a mancall on me. He has me thinking of kisses and caresses. Being held, and—no man has made me feel the way he makes me feel when he looks at me. He reminds me just how desperately I want to be free to enjoy my life on my terms.” Julia moistened her lips and took in a steadying breath. “But again, I don’t want to talk about me anymore. Tell me something about you.”
Brina looked down and smoothed the gloves on her hands. “There is something but I haven’t wanted to tell you because I’m not sure you will approve of what I’ve been doing.”
Brina’s matter-of-fact tone caused a slight chill to flutter over Julia even though the coach was quite warm. “I’m surprised that you think I wouldn’t support whatever it is. You wrote to me that you were going over to the school once a week to read to the girls, much to your parents’ angst. I heartily agree with that, so what is it you think I won’t approve of?”
“This has nothing to do with the school.” Her blue eyes turned pensive. “I couldn’t mention this matter to you in a letter, but now that you are here, I would like to talk with you about what I’ve been thinking.”
Julia felt a sudden tension in the back of her neck. “What’s disturbing you? You know you can tell me anything.”
“I hesitate because of the seriousness of my thoughts.” She paused and looked out the window for a few moments. “I’m thinking about the possibility of joining the Sisters of Pilwillow Crossings.”
