A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,70
were so red, one would likely have mistaken it as a fever. She didn’t even bother collecting her coat from the footman. Instead, she kept right on walking until she disappeared into the nameless London crowds.
She felt as if she’d been stabbed in the heart.
And she had been the one holding the knife.
* * *
As soon as Katherine had exited his study, Christian stood. Whether to follow, he hadn’t decided yet. Perhaps Katherine left because she was overcome by grief and needed a moment to herself.
He straightened the three packets of receipts for the wives to give him something to do. Something caught his eye when he looked down. Meri’s letter to Katherine lay on the floor, open and inviting. He’d seen her put it in her pocket, but it must have fallen out. He picked it up, then sat at his desk with the paper in hand.
Frankly, he was a bit terrified she might never return after he witnessed her red cheeks and the haunted look in her eyes. He didn’t doubt it was another fiasco that Meri had created.
A brisk knock sounded on the door.
Expecting Katherine, Christian called out, “Enter.”
“Your Grace?” Wheatley asked in a quivering voice.
Christian dragged his thoughts from Katherine to his butler, who stood sheepishly inside the study. “Where is Lady Meriwether?”
“She left,” Wheatley murmured.
“Left the house?”
“Without a word, sir, nor did she take her cloak,” offered the butler.
Stunned, Christian blinked. “Did she say where she was going?”
“No, Your Grace,” the butler murmured. “When I went to follow, a delivery arrived.”
“Have my carriage readied, please,” Christian said as he stuffed the letter in her packet. “I’m calling on Lady Meriwether. She forgot some papers.” Christian rounded the desk then stopped when he saw the sheer shock on his butler’s face. “What is it?”
His butler’s Adam’s apple bobbed erratically. “You should be aware that another package, a bequest … err, some personal property from Lord Meriwether, has arrived from Cumberland for you.”
“Put it in the attic—”
A blood-curdling roar echoed through the first floor, followed by another somewhat more subdued growl. The ominous sounds were so disturbing, the birds in the courtyard abandoned their feeders to escape the menace.
“What was that?” Christian asked as he walked toward the door.
“Your Grace, it appears your brother started collecting tigers. There are two in the entry.”
Christian stopped.
Without breaking eye contact, the butler straightened his waistcoat and adjusted his cuffs as was his habit when he was nervous. “Apparently, Lord Meriwether favored having an actual tiger ride in the tiger’s seat of his yellow curricle instead of a young man.”
“For the love of heaven.” Christian sighed, then cleared his throat. “Have their cage moved outside into the courtyard. Keep them away from the stables. I’ll deal with them when I return.”
“They’re on … a leash.” Wheatley’s voice grew weaker.
“I’ll go out and have a look. Do you think it’s safe for a footman to walk them to the courtyard? We can put them somewhere until I finish my call with Lady Meriwether.”
“I don’t think so. The staff is frightened. They’re afraid to move.” Little beads of sweat dotted the butler’s forehead. “The animals are quite intimidating. Beautiful, but terrorizing. They keep licking their chops.” His voice cracked, and he paused for a moment. “I thought if we could have your calming influence, then the footmen and the rest of the staff might be persuaded to move.”
“Of course. Come with me.” Christian walked out the door toward another snarl coming from the entry. “You were the only one brave enough to leave the entry?”
Wheatley nodded once as he walked beside him. “Yes, sir.”
“You’re a good man.” Christian patted the loyal butler on his back and offered a smile. “I could have used you over in France.”
Wheatley beamed at the praise until another roar echoed through the entry.
Christian wanted to roar himself. Meri’s mischief was keeping him away from Katherine.
What in the devil was he going to do with tigers?
Chapter Fifteen
Several hours later, after pulling the recalcitrant animals to the courtyard where a suitable cage was hastily erected, Christian stood outside Katherine’s town house alone with her cloak folded neatly over one of his arms and the papers in the other. As he waited for someone to answer the door, he prayed Katherine was safe and well.
The door slid open, and a spry woman stood before him. She was dressed elegantly in a spring green gown of the latest fashion.
Christian tipped his hat in acknowledgment. “Is Lady Meriwether available?”