“Why?!” the Duchess cried, collapsing to the floor where she sobbed pitifully. “Why are you doing this to me? What have I done to merit such a treatment as this, to be forced from my home while my brother is not even here to look me in the face!”
“I know not His Grace’s personal sentiments, madam,” Mrs. Bancroft said calmly, “but I do know that the Duke will be marrying rather soon.” She pulled a dainty gold watch on a chain from her pocket and looked at it. “If he hasn’t already, that is.”
“What?” the Duchess shrieked, leaping to her feet and grabbing Mrs. Bancroft’s shirt waist in her clenched fists. “He would never! Besides, I have it on good authority that his engagement was called off!”
“My, but many strange things can happen when one is laid up in the bed and unable to attend to them,” the housekeeper said with a smile, gently plucking the woman’s fists from her shirt front. “If only you’d been well enough to come down, then perhaps you could have prevented it.”
She smiled at the older woman, watching as she slowly sank to the floor and dissolved into a pool of sobs. Mrs. Bancroft marveled for a moment at the complete lack of feeling she felt toward the woman. Not that she would have carried any affection or sympathy for the Duchess, but the housekeeper had originally thought that this moment would have been one worth savoring. Now that the time was upon them to finally be rid of this plague upon the Duke’s house, she was surprised to find she only felt mild relief instead of gleeful vengeance.
“Quickly now, everyone! We have work to do!” she said, stepping over the Duchess before clapping her hands together sharply and returning to her duties of overseeing the great removal.
Chapter 28
Marjorie waited patiently in the downstairs drawing room, admiring the small touches that clearly made this the Earl’s residence. As she would have expected, portraits of horses adorned many of the walls and alcoves. Unlike other households of this station, though, there was also a beautifully rendered portrait of a man and wife. She recognized the seated woman as the Earl’s mother, Lady Lanercost, but she was taken aback by how much the man who stood behind the chair resembled a much-older version of the Earl himself.
“Look, Harriet. See how his parents smile together,” Marjorie said quietly, nodding towards the prominent painting.
“Smiles can be created out of nothing by a true artist, sister,” Harriet said in a way that was wise beyond her years.
“But you mustn’t let yourself think so,” Marjorie chided sweetly. “I know you must not remember it, but there was a time when this portrait could very well have been our own mother and father.”
“I dare not believe that the man we call our father could have the capacity to love someone that way,” Harriet replied before turning away from the portrait and crossing the room to look out the window.
It pained Marjorie to hear such a jaded sentiment from someone who only a week ago would have gawked like a child at this finery. More than any other consequence of her recent schemes, she would always feel the sting of having stripped Harriet of her wonder in the world.
Thankfully, the door opened and distracted Marjorie from this melancholy. The Earl, who appeared duly shaken by the ladies’ arrival, greeted them warmly but with some confusion.
“Good morning, My Lord,” Marjorie began as she and Harriet both curtseyed formally. “I apologize for arriving unannounced and at such an early hour, but the news I bring could not wait any longer.”
“But how? Where are you staying? And my goodness, are you still not well?” he asked in a rush, crossing the room to get a better look at Marjorie. “You still seem so weak, and there’s no color to you!”
“I assure you, I am on the mend, thank you,” she added, “but there is a far more pressing matter than my health at the moment. May we sit and discuss my father’s actions of late?”
“How silly of me! Of course! Here, take your seats. I’ll ring for someone to bring you breakfast, I assume you have not yet eaten due to the early hour.”
Not long after, Marjorie and Harriet put aside their plates and smiled gratefully at the housekeeper who took their dishes away on a small tea cart. Evan waited expectantly but politely for them to have finished before peppering them with inquiries.
“My Lord, it has not escaped my notice that our father is intent on seeing you ruined,” Marjorie began, wasting no time with insinuations. Evan smiled appreciatively at her directness.
“I’m afraid that I also find that to be true, My Lady,” he replied, addressing her formally now that Marjorie was no longer dressed as a young horse rider in his presence.
“I know not why he has sought this course of action, but I assure you that my sister and I are prepared to dispute any allegations he may have brought against you. We are both very well-appointed in what we saw. Harriet personally witnessed a man—one whom she could identify in court if he were brought in—stealing my own horse, Valiant. As you know, I, too, have witness testimony of how our horses came to be housed in your stables. We will not sit quietly by the wayside and allow our father machinations bring you to a disastrous end.”
Now that she’d spoken the fateful words against her own father, Marjorie felt both a great sense of relief and a feeling of emptiness. Even admitting to another member of the peerage that she would publicly speak out against her father meant that she had no prospects within his family anymore. Her father would be under no obligation to see her well-matched—not that he’d lifted a finger to provide her with a dowry anyway—and he could rightfully declare that not a penny of his would belong to her husband.
Evan knew this well, too, judging by the look of grave concern he wore. “My Lady, you cannot know how grateful I am that you are willing to plead my cause. I hope that your sacrifice will not be necessary, though. Our mutual friend, the Duke of Fenworth, has come forward with a witness who can attest that I had naught to do with the theft of any animals belonging to Lord Mortham.”
Marjorie and Harriet exchanged a frightened glance, and for her part, the long-suffering Harriet almost succumbed once again to a case of nerves.
“How would the Duke know that, My Lord? If I may ask?” Marjorie continued, dreading what she knew the answer would be.
Evan looked hesitant, pausing before answering to consider the ramifications. Finally, he admitted, “The Duke has informed me that a young lady was kidnapped by the thief…” Harriet’s hand shot out and she gripped Marjorie’s arm tightly. “…and that in exchange for protecting her prospects, he will also make a sworn statement on my behalf.”
Marjorie thought over the Earl’s words, while beside her, Harriet began to tremble. This was perhaps a way that justice would be done but without requiring them to contradict their own father’s testimony!
In the end, Marjorie shook her head. She knew what was right and allowing another person to suffer when she need only speak up would haunt her for the rest of her life.
“My Lord… had the Duke told you the name of this witness?” she began, dreading the response.
