chair, for it was raining lightly outside and she did not want her dress soiled by entering a hackney carriage from the muddy street.
The footman wondered whether he should ask her where she was going, for it was odd that miss did not have her maid with her, but felt such a question might be considered impertinent.
When two Irish chairmen entered the hall carrying the sedan chair on its long poles, the footman listened to see if he could hear where Miss Kendall was going, but she told the chairmen she would give them directions once they were outside.
She was borne at a great rate through the rainy streets as her bearers ran along the pavements shouting, ‘Make way!’ and showing every sign of being prepared to knock anyone who did not heed their warning into the kennel.
They carried their burden straight into the main hall of the duke’s town house in Cavendish Square. Self-conscious under the eyes of the duke’s stern butler and a row of liveried footmen, Maria paid off the chairmen and presented her card.
She was led into a library and told to wait. Above the library fireplace was a portrait of the duke’s father. He had a look of surprise on his painted face as if wondering what such a common interloper as Maria Kendall was doing calling on his son.
Then the door to the library was held open again by the butler and the Duke of Berham walked in.
4
I have misus’d the king’s press damnably.
William Shakespeare
Here was not the faded aristocrat of Maria’s recent imaginings but a handsome, virile man. His thick fair hair was cut in the Brutus crop and his coat of biscuit-coloured superfine was moulded to his powerful shoulders.
He made Maria a low bow, insolent in its court depth and elaboration. ‘Miss Kendall,’ he said. ‘I am indeed honoured. What brings you here?’
He felt sure he knew what had brought her. She had come to apologize for her lies, which had forced Amy Tribble to act as Captain Jack Freemantle.
Maria did not answer immediately. She was gazing at him searchingly. She knew now that whatever had prompted the duke to insert that announcement in the newspapers, it was not passion.
‘May I sit down, your grace?’ she asked after a long silence.
He ushered her into a chair and then sat down opposite her.
‘I was shocked to see the announcement of our forthcoming marriage in the papers this morning,’ said Maria. The duke went very still.
‘I have not seen the papers yet,’ he said. ‘You are come early. If there is such an announcement, be assured that mad Amy Tribble put it there. I shall consult my lawyers.’ He rang the bell. When the butler answered, he asked him to send Mr Jessey immediately.
‘My secretary shall send another notice, publicly stating I have been the victim of a wicked trick,’ said the duke icily.
Maria sat frozen with dismay. Was this how Amy had planned to get revenge?
Mr Jessey entered. ‘There is an announcement in the newspapers this morning,’ began the duke, ‘to the effect that I am to wed Miss Kendall.’
‘I hope I had all the facts correct,’ said Mr Jessey earnestly. ‘I wished to consult you on the matter, but her grace said you did not wish to be troubled with it.’
‘Her grace? My
mother
? Surely you must be mistaken.’
‘No, your grace, I was instructed to place that announcement in all the newspapers.’
‘Where is her grace?’
‘She has gone to stay with Lady Humphrey at Cheltenham,’ said Mr Jessey. ‘Did her grace not tell you of this?’
The duke shook his head in bewilderment. Then he said, ‘That will be all, Mr Jessey. But do not leave the house. I may need you shortly.’
When the secretary had left, the duke said savagely, ‘All women ought to be locked up when they reach the age of forty-five. First Amy Tribble challenges me to a duel, and now my own mother has set out to make me a laughing-stock.’
‘A duel?’ asked Maria. ‘What duel? Is that why Miss Amy is wounded?’
‘So you do not
The footman wondered whether he should ask her where she was going, for it was odd that miss did not have her maid with her, but felt such a question might be considered impertinent.
When two Irish chairmen entered the hall carrying the sedan chair on its long poles, the footman listened to see if he could hear where Miss Kendall was going, but she told the chairmen she would give them directions once they were outside.
She was borne at a great rate through the rainy streets as her bearers ran along the pavements shouting, ‘Make way!’ and showing every sign of being prepared to knock anyone who did not heed their warning into the kennel.
They carried their burden straight into the main hall of the duke’s town house in Cavendish Square. Self-conscious under the eyes of the duke’s stern butler and a row of liveried footmen, Maria paid off the chairmen and presented her card.
She was led into a library and told to wait. Above the library fireplace was a portrait of the duke’s father. He had a look of surprise on his painted face as if wondering what such a common interloper as Maria Kendall was doing calling on his son.
Then the door to the library was held open again by the butler and the Duke of Berham walked in.
4
I have misus’d the king’s press damnably.
William Shakespeare
Here was not the faded aristocrat of Maria’s recent imaginings but a handsome, virile man. His thick fair hair was cut in the Brutus crop and his coat of biscuit-coloured superfine was moulded to his powerful shoulders.
He made Maria a low bow, insolent in its court depth and elaboration. ‘Miss Kendall,’ he said. ‘I am indeed honoured. What brings you here?’
He felt sure he knew what had brought her. She had come to apologize for her lies, which had forced Amy Tribble to act as Captain Jack Freemantle.
Maria did not answer immediately. She was gazing at him searchingly. She knew now that whatever had prompted the duke to insert that announcement in the newspapers, it was not passion.
‘May I sit down, your grace?’ she asked after a long silence.
He ushered her into a chair and then sat down opposite her.
‘I was shocked to see the announcement of our forthcoming marriage in the papers this morning,’ said Maria. The duke went very still.
‘I have not seen the papers yet,’ he said. ‘You are come early. If there is such an announcement, be assured that mad Amy Tribble put it there. I shall consult my lawyers.’ He rang the bell. When the butler answered, he asked him to send Mr Jessey immediately.
‘My secretary shall send another notice, publicly stating I have been the victim of a wicked trick,’ said the duke icily.
Maria sat frozen with dismay. Was this how Amy had planned to get revenge?
Mr Jessey entered. ‘There is an announcement in the newspapers this morning,’ began the duke, ‘to the effect that I am to wed Miss Kendall.’
‘I hope I had all the facts correct,’ said Mr Jessey earnestly. ‘I wished to consult you on the matter, but her grace said you did not wish to be troubled with it.’
‘Her grace? My
mother
? Surely you must be mistaken.’
‘No, your grace, I was instructed to place that announcement in all the newspapers.’
‘Where is her grace?’
‘She has gone to stay with Lady Humphrey at Cheltenham,’ said Mr Jessey. ‘Did her grace not tell you of this?’
The duke shook his head in bewilderment. Then he said, ‘That will be all, Mr Jessey. But do not leave the house. I may need you shortly.’
When the secretary had left, the duke said savagely, ‘All women ought to be locked up when they reach the age of forty-five. First Amy Tribble challenges me to a duel, and now my own mother has set out to make me a laughing-stock.’
‘A duel?’ asked Maria. ‘What duel? Is that why Miss Amy is wounded?’
‘So you do not
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