Ten Things I Hate About the Duke - Loretta Chase Page 0,26
was in the last stages of preparing to return to London. I hesitated to journey back and forth some thirty miles.”
“Return to London,” Cassandra said. “But how— Wait.”
“Yes. Back to London. I’ve sent the baggage and servants on ahead. I shall put up at my father’s house while my town house is being refurbished.”
“Refurbished.” Cassandra felt dizzy. “You mean to stay in London, then.”
“Really, my dear, after all that’s happened in the past week, do you wonder at it? Charles and I did what we could for those three boys, but I daresay they were more to one another than we ever were to them. I know their boyhoods were difficult, but that’s hardly an excuse. It would be laughable were it not so infuriating. Dukes’ sons, with every advantage in life, not to mention friends and family who truly cared for them. And what have we now? Grown men, close on thirty, busy making chaos of their lives. Stealing brides and fighting duels—with each other! But nobody’s dead, it seems.”
“How did you—”
“Everybody tells me everything, though there are times I would prefer they didn’t. I had one express after another yesterday. The ball couldn’t penetrate Ripley’s thick skull, it seems. Then there’s the business with Alice and Blackwood. I should like to understand what’s gone awry there, but Alice has always been inscrutable.” She looked at Cassandra.
“I can’t enlighten you,” Cassandra said.
“Can’t or won’t?”
“She doesn’t tell me everything.”
“I’ll get to the bottom of it,” Aunt Julia said. “But Alice can wait. At present I wonder what on earth has possessed my brother. One would think it simple enough for a clever politician to manage his daughters. But you may be sure I shall deal with that as well. Now, my dear, be so kind as to order sherry. I daresay our landlord will have something drinkable, for the dukes if for nobody else. And a bite to eat. I’m famished as well as thirsty. In the meantime, let me have a look at Keeffe. Then I’ll rejoin you, and we shall see what we’ll make of this business.”
And out of the room she went, like a general going out to view his troops before battle, while Cassandra sat staring at the door and trying to make sense of a world in upheaval.
The Duke of Ashmont, master of pandemonium, had not only taken his scandalous self out of the picture and stifled gossip with great lumps of money, but apparently had summoned the one person in all of England who might help Cassandra out of her predicament.
Marry me.
No. Never. Out of the question. She mightn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. That didn’t mean she was blind.
Chapter 5
By Monday, Mr. Greenslade pronounced Keeffe well enough to travel. This was fortunate, because Keeffe was determined to travel in any event. He was obliged, however, over his strong objections, to make the journey in Aunt Julia’s well-sprung and cushioned landau.
Even Keeffe was no match for Lady Charles Ancaster. He submitted at last to riding with the ladies, rather than at the back in the servants’ place, where he belonged. He hid his face, though, tipping his hat low over his forehead, for fear of being seen in this shameful position.
In London, Aunt Julia gave Papa an expurgated account of events. The missing maid required little explanation: She could have been killed, and was wise enough not to risk it again. Since Lord deGriffith disapproved of Cassandra’s driving herself—it terrified him, actually—he could understand the desperate act.
If he suspected he wasn’t being told the whole truth, he kept it to himself. He was far too glad to see his sister out in the world again to scrutinize every word, as he usually did.
The rest of London was pleased as well. Her abrupt reappearance caused a sensation that swept aside other, more commonplace news, like rumors about dueling dukes and drunken sprees thereafter.
On Tuesday, Lord deGriffith, his lady, and his sister were summoned to the royal presence. Lady Charles was a favorite of the Royal Family, and Their Majesties were impatient to see her.
Their parents gone for the day, and no social engagements in sight while Papa’s rule was in force, Cassandra and Hyacinth settled in the library.
By now, Hyacinth knew everything, which was a great deal more than their parents did. She took an overly romantic view of matters, but then, Hyacinth was young, and less cynical than Cassandra had been at the same age.