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Authors: Heather Boyd
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have no guests staying at the abbey.”
Here was the gamble. Was she as innocent as she seemed? There was no way to be completely sure, unless you were like Oliver and could make a rapid calculation. He had to take the chance and trust her with the truth. “The old duke, your father-in-law, knew what became of them.”
“Really,” she squeaked. “How extraordinary. But I promise you I knew nothing of their existence, or yours, before yesterday. What did he say of them?”
Acid curled in Leopold’s stomach as he recalled the old duke’s words. He had turned the phrases over and over in his mind, searching for clues to their location. He had found none. “That they would be well cared for if I did as he requested, no matter how distasteful the task he demanded, or the risks I faced in my business dealings away from England. All he cared about was his own needs, and that of the duchy. I had to protect my family in any way I could. I did as he asked, even avoided England when he demanded I stay away. Now he’s dead, I want to find my family. I will not rest until I discover their fate.”
The duchess’ skin blazed a fiery red. “Of course you want them back. How can I help?”
He had not expected that kind of response. From the start, he’d assumed the duchess would be a cold woman. How indignant she seemed right now on his behalf.
Leopold sat forward, praying her expression remained that way after he made his next request. “Perhaps you might allow me to see some of the duke’s papers. He may have left clues as to their whereabouts in a journal perhaps.”
A frown line appeared on her brow. She bit her lip as she considered his request. Asking for this, to invade the sanctity of the ducal domain, was a risk. But if the duchess had no knowledge of his family then his only hope was to find a reference written down somewhere in the old duke’s papers. And perhaps in her husband’s papers, too. He doubted the details about Oliver, Rosemary, and Tobias would be in an obvious place.
The duchess sat in silence for a long time and Leopold feared she would refuse. But then her gaze refocused on him. “The old duke was not an avid diarist, so it may be difficult to find any information you seek quickly. Perhaps a room by room search would be best. If we start in his former bedchamber, which has stood untouched since his death, we might have some luck.”
Leopold sat back, stunned. “We, Your Grace?”
The duchess stood. “Of course, I am going to do everything I can to help you find my son’s cousins. It is positively scandalous that the duke has removed them. Come this way.”
She had bustled to the door before Leopold realized she meant to start the search now. He glanced at the sleeping child, so small and innocent and defenseless. A wave of protectiveness swamped him. At least the boy was free of the old duke’s evil. He would grow up safe and secure and happy. The duchess’ obvious love proved that.
Her Grace directed a maid to stay with her son and then gestured for Leopold to follow her out of the room. “The apartment is largely unchanged. Aside from closing it up when the duke died, I’ve not been there since. Perhaps he kept the information closest to him. He spent the last year of his life giving orders and writing his correspondence from his bed.”
“If you think that the best place to start then I am grateful.”
As they headed for the main staircase, the butler rounded the corner and approached. “Excuse me, Your Grace,” Wilcox said. “You have a gentleman caller.” Given that Wilcox’s lips twisted over the word gentleman, Leopold’s curiosity increased. Wilcox pushed a silver salver toward the duchess. It held a single calling card. Discreetly, Leopold inched closer and scanned it over her shoulder. Lord Shaw . Leopold revolted at the notion of that man calling on the duchess, too, but he held his tongue while the duchess decided what to do about the interruption.
She pushed
Here was the gamble. Was she as innocent as she seemed? There was no way to be completely sure, unless you were like Oliver and could make a rapid calculation. He had to take the chance and trust her with the truth. “The old duke, your father-in-law, knew what became of them.”
“Really,” she squeaked. “How extraordinary. But I promise you I knew nothing of their existence, or yours, before yesterday. What did he say of them?”
Acid curled in Leopold’s stomach as he recalled the old duke’s words. He had turned the phrases over and over in his mind, searching for clues to their location. He had found none. “That they would be well cared for if I did as he requested, no matter how distasteful the task he demanded, or the risks I faced in my business dealings away from England. All he cared about was his own needs, and that of the duchy. I had to protect my family in any way I could. I did as he asked, even avoided England when he demanded I stay away. Now he’s dead, I want to find my family. I will not rest until I discover their fate.”
The duchess’ skin blazed a fiery red. “Of course you want them back. How can I help?”
He had not expected that kind of response. From the start, he’d assumed the duchess would be a cold woman. How indignant she seemed right now on his behalf.
Leopold sat forward, praying her expression remained that way after he made his next request. “Perhaps you might allow me to see some of the duke’s papers. He may have left clues as to their whereabouts in a journal perhaps.”
A frown line appeared on her brow. She bit her lip as she considered his request. Asking for this, to invade the sanctity of the ducal domain, was a risk. But if the duchess had no knowledge of his family then his only hope was to find a reference written down somewhere in the old duke’s papers. And perhaps in her husband’s papers, too. He doubted the details about Oliver, Rosemary, and Tobias would be in an obvious place.
The duchess sat in silence for a long time and Leopold feared she would refuse. But then her gaze refocused on him. “The old duke was not an avid diarist, so it may be difficult to find any information you seek quickly. Perhaps a room by room search would be best. If we start in his former bedchamber, which has stood untouched since his death, we might have some luck.”
Leopold sat back, stunned. “We, Your Grace?”
The duchess stood. “Of course, I am going to do everything I can to help you find my son’s cousins. It is positively scandalous that the duke has removed them. Come this way.”
She had bustled to the door before Leopold realized she meant to start the search now. He glanced at the sleeping child, so small and innocent and defenseless. A wave of protectiveness swamped him. At least the boy was free of the old duke’s evil. He would grow up safe and secure and happy. The duchess’ obvious love proved that.
Her Grace directed a maid to stay with her son and then gestured for Leopold to follow her out of the room. “The apartment is largely unchanged. Aside from closing it up when the duke died, I’ve not been there since. Perhaps he kept the information closest to him. He spent the last year of his life giving orders and writing his correspondence from his bed.”
“If you think that the best place to start then I am grateful.”
As they headed for the main staircase, the butler rounded the corner and approached. “Excuse me, Your Grace,” Wilcox said. “You have a gentleman caller.” Given that Wilcox’s lips twisted over the word gentleman, Leopold’s curiosity increased. Wilcox pushed a silver salver toward the duchess. It held a single calling card. Discreetly, Leopold inched closer and scanned it over her shoulder. Lord Shaw . Leopold revolted at the notion of that man calling on the duchess, too, but he held his tongue while the duchess decided what to do about the interruption.
She pushed
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