“Well…it seems you’ve gotten yourself into quite the predicament.” Betty said with a sigh once her tale had wound down.
“Don’t I know it,” Louisa slumped down on her stool.
“All hope is not lost however.” Betty patted her on the arm.
“What do you mean? Do you have an idea of how we can escape this predicament?”
“Well, you said that your father’s brother is the Duke’s steward?”
“Uh, yes he is.”
“Well then, why don’t you ask him to speak on your behalf? His employer might listen to him.”
Louisa bit her lip. “Perhaps…but why would he intervene for us? We are not particularly close.”
“But he is your blood. You cannot dismiss the importance of that.”
Louisa nodded. “I suppose it’s worth a try.”
“Yes, it is. Meanwhile I shall try to think about other ways to earn a living if this does not work.”
Louisa reached out and squeezed Betty’s hand. “You’re a good friend, Betty. I do appreciate it.”
“It’s nothing. I would do anything for you, you know that don’t you?”
“I do. And I would do the same for you.”
“I know it, dear. Now let us retire for the evening. Everything will be better in the morning.”
Louisa got to her feet. “But I have to go home. Father will be waiting for me.”
“Oh, no, no, no, Louisa. I cannot let you go out into the dark on your own. You’ll stay the night.”
“No, I cannot. My father–”
“Will be just fine. He knows where you are doesn’t he?”
“I-I didn’t leave a note.”
“Well then, if he’s worried, this is the first place he’ll look. I shall not send you out to the mercy of thieves and murderers just so that your father is not worried for one night.”
Louisa smiled. “Well…when you put it like that…”
“I do. Now come, let us go to bed. As soon as the sun rises, you may go home. I shall even send you on your way with some of my delicious honey cakes.”
“Thank you, Betty. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“Oh,” she waved a dismissive hand, “I expect you’d manage.”
* * *
Americus woke early the next morning and frowned, wondering why he could not hear Louisa or the housekeeper bustling about. They generally managed to get up before him, and someone usually brought a bucket of hot water to his chambers by the time he awoke.
He struggled out of bed and shuffled out of the door, heading toward the kitchen to see what the delay was. To his surprise, the hearth was cold, and there was no sign of either his daughter or his housekeeper.
A knock on the door drew his attention and he realized that that was the sound that had woken him. He crossed over to open it and found the housekeeper on the other side. Her eyebrows arched when she saw him. Louisa usually was the one who let her in.
“Adalyne, good morning.” He said stepping aside.
She came in with a smile of greeting on her face. “And where is Louisa this morning? Feeling under the weather?” she asked.
Good question. Americus looking around before turning back to Adalyne. “Would you mind dreadfully going to see about her?” he asked.
She nodded and immediately headed down the hall to Louisa’s room. Americus waited anxiously for her to return. He jumped when the door behind him opened and Louisa came in.
He whirled around and gaped at her. “Where did you come from?”
Louisa pointed behind her. “I…spent the night at Betty’s house because it was too late to come home.” She held up her hand which was holding a package, “She sent me home with some honey cakes.”
“Oh,” Americus could not help how his eyes brightened, “that was nice of her.”
Louisa placed the cakes on the table and crossed over to pick up the flint and steel so as to light the fire. “She also gave me some advice.”
“Oh, yes?” Americus asked his head already in the bag.
“Yes. She says we should ask Uncle Gilbert to speak with the Duke and persuade him to give us another chance.”
“U-uncle Gilbert you say?”
Louisa turned to face him. “Yes. I mean he can vouch for us.” She gave him a pleading glance even as he favored her with a skeptical look. “It’s worth a try at least?”
Americus sighed. “I suppose.”
He did not want to involve his brother in this. While he loved his brother, they were often at odds and Americus would rather not owe him any favors. Still…as Louisa said, it was worth a try.
* * *
Gilbert Notley knocked on the Dowager Duchess’ door and waited. As soon as she bade him enter, he smiled opening the door a crack. “You wanted to see me, Your Grace?”
“Yes indeed, Notley. Do come in.”
He walked into her sitting room, cursing his brother for a fool. Why could he not have just done the painting himself? He was too indulgent of that girl…his daughter, and now they were all tarred with the same brush.
“I wanted to speak to you about the other Mr. Notley, your brother, and the girl.” She began with no preamble, “Why do you suppose that they perpetuated this fraud against the Duke? Is he not as renowned as I have heard?”
“Your Grace, I do assure you that Americus Notley’s reputation is well-earned. Why he and his daughter did this is beyond my ken, but I feel sure they have a good reason.”
“A good reason such as…?”
“Well…I cannot say myself as I am not privy to their reasoning. Perhaps it would behoove you to summon him here and interrogate him.”
The Dowager Duchess sighed. “What I have seen of the painting is really quite good.”
“Indeed Your Grace? And what of the Duke? Does he think so as well?”
She sighed again, “He does not share his thoughts with me. However, it is said that he was impressed with the work before he knew of this…chicanery.”
“Well then? What is the problem apart from the fact that his daughter helped him with some of the work?”
The Dowager frowned. “I cannot have it said that my son’s portrait was painted by a woman. Imagine the scandal.”
“Well, you can stipulate that nobody can know about that.”
The Dowager looked thoughtful before nodding her head slowly. “That is an idea. Can you have them meet me this afternoon at three?”
“I can do that, Your Grace.” Gilbert bowed formally before backing out of her sitting room. He sighed tiredly before collecting his coat and heading toward the mews.
“I shall need a horse, please.”
* * *
Louisa peered out of the open door as she heard hooves approaching.
“Who is it?” her father inquired.
“It’s…Uncle Gilbert.” Louisa’s voice reflected her surprise.
“What?” Americus got to his feet and came to peer out of the door as well, “What is he doing here?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
The steward alighted from his horse and tied it to a pole before approaching the house. He smiled at Louisa and nodded before turning to his brother with a nod. “Americus.”
“Gilbert.” His brother nodded back.
“I bring word from, Her Grace, The Dowager Duchess of Munboro, Eleanor Harper.”
Louisa and her father both stared at him in some surprise.
“Well? What does she say?” Louisa asked after a pregnant pause.
“She has summoned you to her presence, this afternoon at three. And if you wish to keep your commission you had better come prepared to convince her that she is going to get the best portrait in the country.”
Louisa made a tiny sound as she did a little skip, “Ooh, thank you, Uncle Gilbert.”
He shrugged. “I did nothing but listen.” He shared a long glance with his brother. “I shall see you both this afternoon.”
He turned and walked back to his h
orse.
Louisa turned to her father. “Did you hear that? She wants to see us!”
Americus nodded. “I heard. But we cannot take anything for granted. We do not know what she wants to see us about. For all you know, she means to turn us over to a lawman.”
Louisa laughed. “But we’ve done nothing wrong; more importantly, she would not want the scandal that would bring.”
“You are very likely correct. Nevertheless, we better have a good defense as to why we went behind their backs.”
“I strongly feel that the truth will suffice,” Louisa said dryly.
“Let us hope so.”
* * *
Americus and Louisa showed up clearly dressed in all their finery and the Dowager was gratified that they had at least made the effort. She was feeling a little…better today and simply wanted to get to the bottom of this…fiasco before Jeremy decided to use it as an excuse to abscond again. Even as the Duke, it was within his rights to take off for parts unknown, and leave the estate in the capable hands of the steward.
She had been without him for five long years and now her husband was dead. She did not think that she could stand another five years of estrangement. Besides, she had noticed how he looked at the girl; while she was entirely unsuitable for him, her presence might act as a lure to keep him around for just a bit longer.
And if indeed that was her work, the girl could paint.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace.” Americus bowed and his daughter curtsied. The Dowager nodded regally and looked out of the window. All she had to do was maintain her silence and she would get everything she wanted.
“I…” the father stepped forward tentatively while the daughter rubbed her hands anxiously.
“I would like to apologize for…er, misleading you. That was not our intention.”
He hesitated and the Dowager favored him with a glance before looking back outside.
“I am not well,” he held out his hands so she could see how they shook, “and my daughter and I need this commission to live. That said, we would never have sought to pull the wool over your eyes if we were not sure that the quality of her work equals, or indeed surpasses my own.”
“Not true, Father,” the daughter whispered. “I am able to mimic him satisfactorily though. Enough that nobody would know the difference.”
The Dowager lifted an inner eyebrow in surprise – not at her modesty for that was to be expected from a woman, but at her confidence. She really thought she could mimic her father’s art satisfactorily.
“Why don’t we do this?” the girl stepped forward, head held up, “We shall do the painting, and if you are not satisfied, then you will not have to pay us. Is that not a good deal?”
Chapter 10
Flouting Convention
Louisa’s heart was pounding hard as they waited for the Dowager’s decision. She wasn’t even sure whether the Duke would be amenable to their plan even if his mother agreed. They just had to hope that this would work.
The Dowager finally looked over at them; first at her father and then her. She straightened her spine, and put on as pleasant an expression as she could manage.
The Dowager exhaled sharply. “You make a good argument. I shall speak with my son and if he is agreeable, I will send a message to you.”
Louisa slowly curtsied, feeling quite hopeless. Her father bowed and then gestured for her to take her leave. They walked out together, feeling despondent and without hope.
“Do you think that–” Louisa began to say.
“How did it go?” her uncle interrupted. He had been lurking just down the hall and startled them when he appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
“Oh, Gilbert,” Americus said with a slight jump, “didn’t see you there.”
“I apologize. I did not mean to startle you.”
“Well, she said she would discuss things with her son and see if he is agreeable to continue our arrangement.”
Gilbert sighed, clapping his brother on the shoulder. “Not to worry. His Grace is a gentleman. He would not turn down his mother unless he has a very good reason. And really, there is no good reason.”
“Being painted by a woman might be a sufficient excuse for dismissal,” Louisa pointed out.
“And with any other Duke, I would agree with you, but His Grace is a seafarer. From what I understand, he was a mere step above a pirate. He is not so taken up with convention.”
Louisa’s eyes brightened at that. “Really? He was practically a pirate?”
Gilbert gave her a look. “That is not what I said. I simply meant that he has seen a rough life in his five years away and is less likely than your average duke to stand on ceremony.”
“Well then, let us hope you are right. Is there anything we can do to persuade him?” Louisa was very eager to paint His Grace for completely new reasons. She wanted to know more about the sea and the dangers therein. Remembering the Duke’s scars, she suddenly had a different picture of how he might have come to have them. Perhaps he was in a fight with actual pirates! Perhaps they asked him to walk the plank and he was attacked by sharks!
The possibilities were endless.
Not only did she want to hear his stories but her fingers itched with new ideas on how to depict the Duke in order to better bring out his personality.
Her mind swirled with blues and blacks, dark greens and grays. She had only seen the sea but once, and she needed more information but she was sure she could do him justice.
Uncle Gilbert escorted them to the service entrance. He turned to face them as he held the door open. “Don’t worry. I shall notify you as soon as I have news.”
Americus nodded. “Thank you, Gilbert.”
“You’re welcome.”
They walked away slowly, both silent and deep in thought.
“I think we have a chance.” Louisa said at last.
Americus nodded noncommittally but did not say a word. Louisa sighed as she linked her arm through his, and prayed that things went well.
* * *
Jeremy stood at his window and watched the girl and her father walking down his courtyard toward the wrought-iron gates that marked the entry to Munboro Manor. They looked disheartened and discouraged. His brow furrowed, wondering what they could possibly have to be upset about. He was the aggrieved party here.
He turned and walked out of the room, in search of the steward. If anyone would know why they were here, it would be him. He bumped into Gilbert at the bottom of the stairs as he seemed to be heading to his mother’s sitting room.
“Notley. Did I just see your brother and niece leaving?”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Gilbert bowed formally before straightening up to look Jeremy in the eye.
“And what did they want?”
“Well sir, Her Grace had summoned them for a meeting.”
Jeremy frowned but did not ask any more questions. He instead stepped past Gilbert and strode down the corridor to his mother’s sitting room. Knocking softly, he waited for her to bid him enter before opening the door.
She looked up and her face brightened when she saw him. Something like guilt twisted his gut. He somehow felt that he continually let her down. “Mother.”
“Jeremy, do come in, sit down. I wish to speak with you about something.”
Jeremy did as he was asked. “Is it about the painter and his daughter?”
“Well…yes it is. They were just here to plead their case.”
Jeremy sighed. “And you want me to give them another chance?”
The Dowager stayed silent until he looked up at her. “They are relying on the income to get through the winter. Not everyone has unlimited resources you know.”
Jeremy felt a bit shamefaced. He did know that as a matter of fact.
“The painter has an unsteady hand. That is why the daughter took over. You liked her work, did you not?”
Jeremy raised his eyes to regard his mother with surprise. “You cannot seriously be condoning what they did. And you
are prepared to have me painted by a woman?”
“Of course not. The painting will be an Americus Notley work. How it comes about is between the Notleys. As long as we get the result, we need not concern ourselves with anything else.”
Tempting The Ruined Duke (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 8
