The Theft of a Dukedom (8 page)

Kitty was sleeping soundly when her maid
entered the room, so Lucy quietly pulled the curtains
across to block out the sunshine and softly closed the
door. As she moved away Havers asked her about tea.
‘Oh! Lady Amelia is fast asleep, Mr. Havers.’ Lucy said.
‘I’ve just pulled her curtains and left her.’

‘Very well, Lucy.’ He said firmly. ‘Go back to the
kitchen, but keep an ear out for her bell.’
‘Yes, Sir.’ And Lucy tripped off down the service
stairs.
Havers went down the main staircase and
checked the breakfast room one more time and was
standing in the hall as the Duke strolled downstairs.
‘Good morning, Havers. Is breakfast out?’ he
asked kindly.
‘Not quite, Your Grace. But there is coffee and
tea in the breakfast room.’
‘Is anybody else up yet?’ he asked and yawned.
‘No, Your Grace.’ Havers smiled. ‘Lady Amelia is
still asleep, Lord Charles hasn’t come home yet, Lady
Agatha is breakfasting in bed and Lord Richard should
be down soon.’
Very soon the footmen delivered the steaming
silver platters of food to the sideboard in the breakfast
room and Thomas filled his plate with alacrity he was so
hungry. He had just started eating when Richard
arrived.
‘Good morning, Your Grace.’ Richard said and sat
down. A footman poured tea and placed a fresh rack of
toast in front of him. As the footman left the room they
both heard the front door bang and then Havers talking
and suddenly Charles came into the breakfast room.
Richard and Thomas both started to laugh
helplessly.
‘I don’t know what’s funny!’ Charles demanded
as he fell into a chair and poured tea. He looked
haggard, with dark circles under his red rimmed eyes.
His cravat was draped around the open neck of his shirt
and he looked decidedly weary.
‘I think, son, you should spend the rest of the
day in bed. You look exhausted!’
‘Did you fuck her all night long?’ Richard asked
softly.
Charles smiled lasciviously. ‘I did. But, I have to
admit at the end she was the one doing all the work.’ He
looked at his father. ‘Did she make your balls ache?’
‘She did!’ he replied smiling. ‘You should ask
Chivers to prepare you a bath. He has some amazing
concoctions for a sore cock!’ He sniggered then. ‘And
for preventing the pox!’
‘Do you think she has the pox?’ Charles asked in
horror.
‘Why do you think she’s barren?!’ Thomas
replied harshly. ‘She suckered poor Rochdale in before
he knew what she was really like.’ Then he thought
about what Richard had said. ‘Like all young girls seem
to be able to do. Tell me? Did you know that Kitty hides
a worldly nature behind innocence?’
Charles shook his head. ‘But that’s hardly
surprising. I’ve been away for four years. She was a child
when I left.’
‘She has married friends.’ Richard said softly.
‘And they talk.’
‘How come you know that?’ Charles demanded
and Richard squirmed in his chair.
‘Kitty and Richard had an unfortunate episode
last night. She tried to wake him from a nightmare and
he tried to kill her.’
Charles was quiet as he thought about it then he
sighed and smiled at his friend. ‘It could so easily have
been me.’
‘According to Kitty, Constance Beresford is a
loose woman with low morals!’ Richard said and
sniggered,
‘I think she’s got the right of it!’ Thomas said and
all three laughed heartily. Richard stood to help himself
to a plate of food and Charles joined him.
‘Are your feelings engaged now?’ He asked
softly.
‘I think so.’ Richard admitted just as quietly. ‘But
I have to spend a little more time with her, first.’
‘Do either of you know what happened with the
punch bowl last evening?’ Thomas asked.
Richard returned to the table and picked up his
cutlery. ‘No.’ He said shaking his head. ‘Kitty had just
put her cup down on the table, there was a crack like
pistol shot and I saw the punch bowl tilt out of the
corner of my eye.’ He wiped his forehead again at how
close she was to being injured. ‘If I’d hesitated for a
second, the bowl would have hit the back of her calves
and broken both her legs.’
‘By the time I looked up, Kitty was already in
your arms.’ Charles said with a mouthful of bacon. ‘I
actually wondered if any of the ladies standing the other
side of the table pushed the bowl off, but I saw the
table collapsing.’
‘I spoke to Henderson and it was the leg of the
table that gave out.’ Thomas explained.
‘Did it give out or was it sabotaged?’ Charles
asked before he shovelled another forkful of food in his
mouth. ‘And was Kitty a target?’
‘You couldn’t sabotage a table to go exactly at
the second that Kitty put her cup down.’ Richard
ventured.
‘That’s true!’ Thomas said. ‘Nobody would have
guessed that she would waltz with you or that you
would invite her to the punch bowl.’
‘Have you been having any problems lately,
father?’ Charles asked and it wasn’t an idle enquiry.
‘No. I haven’t had to sack anybody, nobody has
tried to swindle me and as far as I know nobody objects
to my marriage to Victoria.’
‘What about other suitors?’ Richard asked.
‘She has been exclusively mine for about a year.’
‘You’re sure about that?’ Charles asked firmly,
letting his father know this was serious.
‘Yes, son. I’m sure.’
‘So if it’s not you and Victoria, could it be one of
Kitty’s admirers?’ Richard mused.
‘Who are the most active?’ Charles demanded.
‘At first there was a young Lord Deveron, I
couldn’t find out much about him except he’d come
over from the Caribbean, and Kitty blew him away the
first time she danced with him. She point blank refused
to talk to “that salacious goat” as she called him. I got
the impression that he was too forward and impertinent
for her. Hot on his heels came the Earl of Strathairn, he
took an interest and I thought he was serious. He called
for a few weeks and was followed by the Viscount
Dalton, who over stepped the mark. Lord Brooks had a
look and then went and married Lady Anne Trenchard,
much to Kitty’s relief. Baron Drake came next, but he
was too old for her.’
‘What about Ponsonby?’ Richard asked.
‘He hasn’t made an offer and now I doubt that
he will.’ Thomas murmured. ‘Would somebody be
vindictive because she said no?’
‘I suppose that depends on how unstable they
are. Richard and I have seen the worst this world has to
offer and a jealous man can be very vindictive.’ Charles
explained as he buttered another piece of toast.
‘So we’re looking for a common denominator at
every incident.’ Richard pointed out and wiped the last
of his bread around his plate, making Charles smile.
‘What?’ he asked as he shoved it in his mouth.
Charles shook his head. ‘That just reminded me
of Spain.’ He said looking at Richard’s clean plate.
‘Old habits die hard.’ Richard muttered. ‘I
haven’t forgotten what it feels like to go hungry.’
‘A common denominator would be Kitty.’
Thomas said, bringing the discussion back on track.
‘Who was standing around when she was
doused in wine?’ Richard asked.
‘Well, Wittering did the deed.’ Thomas said ‘but I
didn’t really notice who he was talking to.’
Charles had closed his eyes and pictured the
men standing behind Kitty as Wittering turned and
slopped his claret over her. ‘Deveron was there.’ He said
slowly ‘along with the Hardy twins and Bancroft.’
‘And the devilled eggs?’ Richard prodded,
looking at Thomas.
‘Rathbone and his wife, of course.’ He said in
reply. ‘But I think Rochdale and Dalton were in the
background.’
‘I think we’re chasing shadows.’ Charles said
evenly. He looked at Richard. ‘You and I have come from
a place where threat was in our every waking moment.
But here in London I think we’re overreacting.’
‘If its all the same to you, Charles, I’ve seen too
many incidents to dismiss it so blasély.’ Thomas said. ‘It
could very well be that somebody doesn’t like Kitty.’
‘I shall endeavour to watch over her.’ Richard
said with feeling and both Stafford’s looked at him and
smiled.

Kitty stretched and pushed the pillow away from
her chest. She saw that the curtains were closed and
knew Lucy had been in. She looked at the small clock on
her night stand and was surprised that it was nearly
eight o’clock. She jumped out of bed and yanked on the
bell pull and the morning rituals got underway. First a
bath, then Lucy helped her get dressed. It took a while
to choose the right morning dress, but eventually Kitty
was ready to face the day, with her hair simply pinned
on the back of her head and a high collared morning
dress of periwinkle blue muslin.

‘Oh! Lady Amelia! Where did you get that nasty
bruise?’ Lucy asked as she dressed Kitty’s hair. Kitty
looked at her reflection and could see the dark patch on
her throat. She shrugged her shoulders.

‘I think it was at the ball. I vaguely recollect an
elbow catching me when I was dancing.’ She said
evasively. ‘Still a little powder and nobody will be the
wiser.’ She slipped her shoes on and was out of the door
before Lucy had put her brush down. She ran into
Havers in the hall. ‘Havers! Is there any breakfast?’ She
asked brightly. ‘I’m terribly late.’

‘Of course, Lady Amelia. The Duke and Marquis
are still in the breakfast room with Lord Richard.’
‘Thank you, Havers.’ She said brightly and
skipped to the breakfast room. Standing at the closed
door, she composed her features into a mature
expression and calmly opened the door. She walked
sedately into the room, smiled coyly and said ‘Good
morning.’
Richard was out of his chair like a jack-in-a-box,
and being a gentleman he held Kitty’s chair for her.
‘How’s your throat?’ Charles asked cheekily.
‘Sore.’ She replied and lifted her chin.
‘That’s not as bad as I expected.’ Thomas said.
‘Richard made it sound like he’d almost throttled you.’
‘He did.’ She said quietly. ‘I can honestly say it
was the most frightening thing that has ever happened
to me.’ She looked pointedly at Charles and he nodded
his understanding.
‘I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Lady Amelia.’
Richard spoke softly. ‘But you were just a dark shadow
standing over me and I was probably as scared as you
were.’
‘Well!’ Thomas said firmly. ‘You’re still in the
land of the living, so I shall go and get on with some
work.’ And he left for his study.
After he was gone it was quiet while the
footmen delivered Kitty’s breakfast. She sat with a
somewhat knowing smile playing around her mouth as
she looked across the table at Charles.
As the door closed she said cheekily. ‘It looks as
if you had a demanding night, brother?’ She speared
him with her green eyes. ‘Did Constance keep you
awake all night?’
Charles shuffled in his seat. ‘You’re not supposed
to know about that kind of thing.’
‘Ah! But I do know.’ She buttered a slice of toast.
‘Did she satisfy you?’
Both men coughed and spluttered and Charles
said. ‘I’m going for a bath and some sleep. Don’t let
father hear you talking about such things or he might
wash your mouth out with soap!’
‘Make sure you ask Chivers for his golden
remedy!’ She shouted gaily at his back.
‘Why were you so nasty with him?’ Richard
asked confused.
‘Because he needs to go and sleep, not sit here
like a wallflower. And that’s exactly what he would do.’
She smiled sweetly at him. ‘If you are uncomfortable in
a room alone with me, please feel free to leave.’
‘I would never be uncomfortable alone in a room
with you.’ He murmured and she looked up sharply,
‘and I hope that you will feel the same and that last
nights little
faux pas
won’t make you afraid of me.’
She concentrated on her breakfast as a footman
came in with fresh tea and waited for the door to close.
‘As a woman, I find it amazing that our fathers
never actually sit down and explain just how strong an
average man is. They don’t demonstrate how to prevent
a man from having his wicked way with us and when, as
a woman you are finally allowed to be alone with the
man who controls your life, you have absolutely no idea
how much he can hurt you.’ She looked evenly across
the table at him. ‘When I was ten years old, my brother
Robin, god rest his black heart, ripped my nightgown
from my body and pinned me naked to the bed. I had
absolutely no idea why he did it and probably still
wouldn’t if Millicent hadn’t told me all about sexual
intercourse.’ She sighed. ‘Charles arrived when I
screamed and almost beat Robin to death in front of my
eyes. So I knew Robin had done something decidedly
inappropriate. But his sheer physical strength appalled
me and he was only sixteen.’ He saw the unshed tears
shimmering in her green eyes. ‘It was the most
frightening event to ever happen to me and it made me
mistrustful of men. Especially domineering men, like
Robin. But last evening, when you asked me to dance
the waltz, instead of feeling fear as you put your hand
on my waist, I felt safe. Safer than even my father
makes me feel, so thank you.’
‘My pleasure, my Lady.’ Richard murmured.
‘When you grabbed my throat in the night, I
knew you weren’t really awake and that in your
nightmare I would be a French soldier. As you tried to
throttle me I realised that to struggle would only make
matters worse, so I relaxed and stroked your face,
because a Frenchman would never do that to you, he
would be too busy trying to stick you with his sword!’
‘That’s what woke me, I think.’ Richard said as he
stared at the tablecloth. He lifted his hand and stroked
his cheek. ‘That touch and feeling your hand slide across
my cheek is something I’ll never forget. To see you
under my hand with your eyes rolled up into your skull
was terrifying.’ He looked up suddenly and engaged her
in a direct gaze. ‘I could have killed you. Next time I
might, so if I’m asleep and moaning, be somewhere
else.’
‘What were you dreaming about?’ she asked
evenly. He told her essentially the same as Thomas.
‘How come you don’t know who stabbed you?’
She asked innocently.
‘It was pitch black!’ he said defensively. ‘No
moon and total cloud cover. I couldn’t see my hand in
front of my face. I’m amazed more of us weren’t killed.’
‘So it’s possible that you stabbed Charles and he
stabbed you?’ she ventured.
He looked at her with something akin to pain in
his eyes. ‘Yes. I didn’t though, as I was using a sword,
not a knife!’ He said at last. ‘We discussed it the
following morning and it would appear we all felt the
same. I could have killed British soldiers.’
‘Who were equally trying to kill you.’ she said
pointedly. ‘I should think this kind of thing happens a
lot, especially during a night action. Didn’t anyone set a
light?’
‘No. We had orders not to light any carcasses.’
He said firmly,
‘What’s a carcass? Is it a dead animal?’ Kitty
asked inquisitively.
‘No. A carcass is made up of wood and straw,
doused in lamp oil or something equally volatile and set
on fire before you throw it off the battlements of a
castle!’ Richard said. ‘They are really quite a devastating
weapon on a glacis or in a ditch filled with milling
soldiers.’ Richard was surprised that Kitty had only
eaten toast. ‘Aren’t you going to eat any more?’
‘No, I’m quite satisfied, thank you.’ she said as
she poured more tea. ‘To change the subject, what do
you think about the punch bowl last night?’
Something in her tone of voice warned him to be
nonchalant, as he’d told her father, she was nobody’s
fool. ‘I would think the bowl should have been on a
sturdier table.’ He said noncommittally.
‘You’re a military man. Is it possible to cause that
kind of incident?’ She asked without a tremor in her
voice, even though there was a tremor in her heart. She
was under no illusion that somebody didn’t like her.
‘What, do you mean make the table leg collapse
at a specific moment?’ he asked in amazement. She
simply nodded.
‘No. I don’t think so. An explosive charge
wouldn’t be used because you would have to light the
fuse. You couldn’t just saw through the leg and just
hope.’ He shook his head and stared at the linen again.
‘No. It’s not that you couldn’t make a small charge, it’s
that a precise and instantaneous detonation isn’t
possible. Not unless you are willing to sacrifice yourself.’
He cleared his throat. ‘How is your throat?’ he asked
softly.
‘My throat is a bit sore.’ She said and touched it.
‘Would you like to inspect it again, just to make sure.’
She lifted her chin provocatively and Richard gasped.
The urge to dive around the table and clasp her in his
arms was almost overwhelming. ‘I’m sorry.’ She said
suddenly. ‘I mix with too many married women and
their teasing manners are rubbing off on me.’ She stood
up. ‘I shall endeavour to behave myself when you are
around.’ She smiled and went to the door, but before
she opened it she said. ‘Unfortunately you bring out the
worst in me.’
As she turned the door knob he asked ‘Is that a
good or a bad thing?’
‘It’s whatever you want it to be.’ She murmured,
jerked the door open and practically ran out of it.