Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction #3) - Alexa Aston Page 0,13

it shut. “Thank you.”

She went through the connecting door to the schoolroom. Joseph was just finishing his story. He looked up as she came in. Claire and Josiah applauded.

“Cousin Joseph read us a story, Mama,” Claire said. “He’s a very good reader.”

“He is,” she agreed. “I want to talk to you all.”

Joseph closed the book and pushed it aside. All three children looked at her curiously.

“Claire and I are going to go away for a little while,” she explained. “My mother is ill. We are going to go take care of her.”

“Will she die?” Joseph asked.

“Yes, my papa thinks she will.”

“I don’t know her,” Claire said, her bottom lip thrusting out in a pout.

“I know. She is your grandmother, though. She and your grandfather would like to meet you.”

“And then she’ll die?” Josiah asked.

Elise nodded, knowing none of the three children had any experience with death.

“You will come back?” Josiah asked, a worried look on his face.

“Of course, I will. For now, though, you’ll have a little break from your lessons.”

“No more Latin?” Joseph asked.

“Not until we return.”

He blew out a breath, causing her to laugh. “You may read as much as you like, though. I’ll also talk to the groom and see if you can spend more time on your riding lessons.”

Both boys cheered at that idea.

Elise stood. “Get Miss Molly, Claire.”

While her daughter retrieved her only doll from its chair in the corner, she held out her arms. Her nephews came to her and she enfolded them.

“Now, be especially good for the servants who watch you. And your mama and papa,” she told them.

“We used to be bad,” Josiah said. “But we’re good now.”

“You both are very good boys. I will miss you.”

“I love you, Auntie Elise,” Joseph said.

It was the first time he’d said so. Josiah echoed his brother’s words and Elise found herself tearing up.

By now, the housekeeper had arrived with a maid. “Go ahead, my lady. We’ll look after the little lords. Have a safe trip.”

“Thank you.” She held out her hand and Claire took it, Miss Molly under her arm.

They went downstairs, where several of the servants told her goodbye. She asked the butler to let the groom know that the boys were to spend more time riding while she was away.

“I’ll see to it, my lady. We’ll miss you. Have a safe journey.”

Elise left the house she had come to as a bride and now lived as an upper servant. Though her life had changed greatly since her husband’s death, she still had a roof over her head. And she had Claire. Her daughter curled up next to her.

As the carriage pulled away, Claire asked, “Will Grandfather and Grandmother like me, Mama?”

“They will do more than like you, my darling. They will love you.”

Elise only hoped that was true.

Chapter Five

Brixham, Devon

Weston hammered the last nail into the barn and then took a few steps back to survey his work. He and Neal Digsby had built the structure from scratch over the last few weeks. It had felt good, spending the majority of his days outdoors, using his hands. Though he had accumulated and honed muscles from countless sessions of boxing at Gentleman Jack’s in London, working as a laborer had refined those muscles and added new ones. He felt stronger than he had in years. Capable of doing whatever he wanted.

Even being a duke again.

He’d spent almost three months avoiding who he was. He’d begun walking south from Exeter, his destination unknown. He’d lost his fancy coat and waistcoat in a card game but gained his money back soon after. The coin had gone into his pocket and not to purchase new clothing. By now, his hair was growing out and his beard thick. He continued pushing southward, deciding he wanting to be near the water for a time. He’d always experienced a tranquility whenever water was nearby and often walked along the Serpentine in London for hours. Since he didn’t own any properties by the water, Weston decided when he did return to his other life, he would be sure and invest in one and use it as a retreat.

He’d hitched a ride with a farmer traveling south. Digsby had journeyed north from his small farm near Brixham for the reading of his father’s will. He’d been estranged from his parents ever since he’d wed one of the family’s parlor maids and been ordered to leave his home. Katie, his new wife, had family in Brixham and the couple had gone there,