As he descended the stair, Mr. McOwen caught sight of the Duke and Mr. McAhmladhson standing at the large window at the end of hall where the Duke’s rooms, the Duchess’s rooms, and the guest chambers were located. The Duke and steward were peering surreptitiously through a slightly opened crack in the draperies.
“Now will you believe me?” Mr. McAhmladhson was saying.
“I do not wish, did not wish to think that it was so,” the Duke replied.
He turned away from the window and caught sight of his hound master. “Mr. McOwen! Giving the young ratters a bit of a workout?”
“I am, Your Grace. They had excellent luck this morning.” Mr. McOwen held out the wiggling bag.
“What will you do with them, Murchadh?” the Duke asked. Then, in a quieter voice he added, “You can stop ‘your gracing’ me for now. No one is about.”
“About that other matter,” Mr. McAhmladhson put in, “Did you see aught?”
The hound master shrugged. “The housekeeper and that new abigail came up to look at the linens, so I didn’t get a chance. What kind of abigail sees to linens?”
Mr. McAhmladhson laughed. “One who is new to service and wants to make a good impression. I have her pegged for becoming a housekeeper one day, if none of the other servants do her in for showing them up.”
“Don’t joke about that, Ahmlad,” the Duke said darkly. “Not after yesterday.”
“I am sorry, Jonathan,” said Mr. McAhmladhson, who had apparently also been invited to drop the formal address. “It was in poor taste. But you know how servants can become if they believe one of their own is showing them up.”
“I could resent that,” said Murchadh McOwen. “but we have greater matters to consider. Did you two see anything?”
“Sadly, yes,” the Duke said tiredly. “I didn’t want to believe it, but she has definitely lost her groom and is certainly meeting someone.”
“Unfortunately, it was difficult to tell who it might be,” said Mr. McAhmladhson. “He had his collar pulled up, his hat pulled low and a scarf wrapped around his lower face.”
“Clearly someone who does not wish to be recognized,” Mr. McOwen said. “I’ll take the hunting hounds down later and see if they can pick up a scent.”
“Meanwhile,” Mr. McAhmladhson began.
“Yes, yes,” the Duke waved one hand dismissively. “Send for young Mr. Cory, by all means. He and young David Hammonds can put together the petition. We’ll get the Parson to sign it. I’d ask the nun’s priest who visits the Gentle Sisters, but that would raise questions about papistry which I have no desire to address.”
“Quite so, Your Grace,” Mr. McOwen agreed. “Best all should be done discretely.”
Just then the housekeeper, Miss Sedgewick, came bustling up the servants stair and hurried over to them. She curtsied. “Your Grace, I had thought to go to Mr. Hammonds, but since you are here there is a matter of some importance.”
The Duke turned to her, his expression gentle and restrained. “How might we help you, Miss Sedgewick? Has the butter gone sour? Shall we have a meatless meal tonight?”
“No, no, sadly nothing so menial. I would not come to you for that. But, Your Grace, you might want to hear this in private.” She looked meaningfully at Mr. McAhmladhson and Mr. McOwen.”
“Miss Sedgewick, you had no compunction about scolding us all roundly for getting into the mince pies or distracting the spit boy so that the roast burned when we were younger. No matter what scrape I am in, you can share it with these two.”
Miss Sedgewick looked a bit flustered. It was hardly fair of the Duke, thought Mr. McOwen, to remind the good woman of the days when they had been three wild lads getting into mischief together and she had scolded all three roundly without compunction.
“Your Grace,” she said determinedly, “It is a matter of some delicacy.”
“Then let us all go to my study where we can discuss the matter quietly rather than stand about in the hall.”
The study was located at the opposite end of the wide hallway, tucked in between the Duke’s bedchambers and the library. Mr. McAhmladhson acted the doorman for all of them, holding it open until they were all inside.
“Close the door, Mr. McAhmladhson,” said the Duke. “Now then, Miss Sedgewick, tell me what is troubling you.”
“Oh, Your Grace, I scarcely know how to begin. But after Mr. McOwen passed by the big window by the linen press, I went back downstairs. I’d not been down more than a candle mark or two, when Miss Singer came to me with a disturbing observation. She said she’d seen the Duchess go behind the big willow tree by the river sluice, and a man followed in after.”
“Did you tell her not to discuss it?”
“I did, Your Grace. She’s not one to spread gossip. She asked to speak to me in private, and did not mention it in front of Gran’ther Tim, who has brought the flowers for the house.”
