Duchess by Chance(22)

Daniel knew his friend’s words were true, yet that did not make him happy about the fact that she had not notified him. He was her husband, and she was his responsibility whether he liked it or not. He should not have had to rely on his butler to alert him of Gilbert Huxley’s visit.

“In truth, I may need your help,” Daniel said.

“How so?”

Daniel looked at his horse’s ears and then viewed the streets before him. Lord, this was hard. “I don’t know if trouble awaits me but if it does, I would be pleased to have you at hand.”

Simon nodded but remained silent, sensing Daniel had not finished.

“And in truth, my wife may be more comfortable with you around.”

Simon stared at him. “What?”

“You can converse like a woman,” Daniel growled.

“I don’t believe that was a compliment.”#p#分页标题#e#

“It wasn’t.”

Simon mulled on that for a minute. “So you’re having trouble communicating with your wife? You, the silver tongued duke who woos woman as easily as the rest of us breathe?”

“It’s different with a wife, Kelkirk, especially one wed under duress. The words don’t seem to come as easily as they would in a ballroom.”

“Or bedroom.”

Giving his friend a foul look, Daniel continued. “I want her to return with me to London and hope that having you there will put her at ease and give us a chance to grow comfortable with each other.” Daniel pushed aside the memory of how he had held her in a darkened room and how they had both spoken without reserve then. He knew that in the light of day things would be different between them.

“I shall, of course, be at your service, your Grace. My silken conversational skills and ready wit will be on hand, should you require them.”

Daniel growled something rude and ended the conversation by nudging his boots in the side of his mount so that it sprang forward into a gallop.

They stopped for the night and were up again at dawn the following day to continue the journey, arriving at Stratton as the sun was sinking behind the hills.

“It is a vision to gladden the most hardened heart,” Simon said as they rode up the long driveway. Stratton was at its most picturesque bathed in golden light.

It was a beautiful sight and one Daniel liked more now his father was not waiting for him inside.

After stabling their mounts, Daniel, followed by Simon, walked to the house. It loomed before him as it always had, large and austere, but this time it would be his duchess greeting him.

“Your Grace, we were not expecting you,” Luton said, hurrying forward as Daniel and Simon entered the house.

“It was a last minute decision, Luton.”

“For my part, I have missed you, Luton,” Simon said, shrugging out of his overcoat and handing it to the butler.

“Where can I find the duchess?” Daniel said, ignoring his friend.

“The duchess is from home, your Grace.”

Daniel stopped in the act of removing his gloves and stared at his butler.

“What? Where is she?”

“Visiting with Miss Belmont, your Grace.”

Stunned that she wasn’t here where he had left her, Daniel simply stood there for several seconds, gaping at his butler.

“And when do you believe she will return?” Simon asked when Daniel remained silent.

“We are expecting her soon, my lord.”

“Excellent. We shall take a tray in the study, Luton, and if Mrs. Stimpel has baked any of that excellent plum cake, I shall not be offended if you place a slice or two upon it,” Simon added.

“I shall see to it at once, my Lord.”

“What the hell is she thinking?” Daniel snapped. “To leave the protection of Stratton on her own!”

“Doesn’t the Belmont estate border yours?”

“That is not the point.”

Following Daniel as he stalked to the stairs, Simon said, “For my part, I have only met Miss Belmont briefly. However, I did not think her a woman with nefarious intentions.”

Opening the door to his study, Daniel stomped inside and headed straight toward the fireplace, where he dropped to his haunches and lit it. “Claire does not have a nefarious bone in her body, you idiot, but with the threat of Huxley still looming, I hardly think it a wise move to leave Stratton alone.”

Simon found the brandy and poured two measures.

“How do you know she has gone alone? She could have taken an army of servants with her.”#p#分页标题#e#

Rising, Daniel took the glass Simon handed him and then fell into the nearest chair.

“She should be here, not cavorting around the bloody countryside.”

“What are you annoyed about, Daniel? Should your wife have spent her days at Stratton seeing or visiting no one? That hardly seems fair or indeed, worthy of you.”