The Duke's Dilemma

by Fenella J Miller

  Hester was beginning to enjoy this conversation and was feeling more alive and stimulated than she had for months. There were footsteps approaching across the sitting room. She frowned knowing they were both in disgrace.

  ‘Your grace, you are de trop. Miss Frobisher is not receiving. Kindly remove yourself at once.’

  She watched her cousin leap to his feet and bow deeply to her outraged companion. He didn’t glance her way, and without uttering a further word, vanished from the room leaving her feeling sadly flat.

  ‘My dear, whatever were you thinking of? Waverley should not be in here; you’re scarcely decent. You should have sent him packing and he should have had more sense than to stay.’

  ‘Please don’t be cross, Birdie. He’s my cousin after all, and although we’re only distantly connected did you see how alike we are? He could be my brother, couldn’t he?’

  Birdie snorted inelegantly. ‘That’s as maybe, miss, but he isn’t your brother and has no right to take liberties as though he was. Now, I have excellent news for you. A girl has been found who Tom thinks will make an ideal abigail for you, a Polly Makepeace. He says she’s quietly spoken and intelligent. When she arrives, if I agree with his assessment, I shall appoint her. Tom said he passed her on the lane some time ago so I can’t think what’s keeping her.’

  Hester was delighted, if she had a maid to attend her she could sit in the parlour and entertain her cousin and would be suitably chaperoned even when Birdie was busy elsewhere.

  ‘That’s good news. Because you sent my cousin away I’ve yet to discover what he knows about Aunt Agatha. I don’t suppose you heard what it was?’

  ‘No, I’m afraid I didn’t. However, Bill is about to return to Draycot with our carriage; he thinks he will be home by mid-afternoon and can return with Jane and what we require tomorrow morning.’

  ‘That’s excellent, Birdie. When you were in the study did you find any clues as to why my aunt should have disappeared so suddenly?’

  Birdie shook her head. ‘Of course I didn’t, my dear. I was hardly going to poke about amongst things that are no concern of mine. It’s barely acceptable for you and the duke to examine Miss Culley’s private papers, but it would be the outside of enough for someone like me to touch them.’

  Hester changed the subject. ‘This girl, how is it she’s available at such short notice?’

  ‘It’s very odd; it appears her mistress collapsed and died on the way back from market yesterday. The girl was working locally, you know, and Tom says gossip in the town seems to point to what’s going on up here as being to blame for the poor lady’s death.’

  ‘I hardly see how that could be the cause of this lady’s fatal apoplexy.’ Hester shuddered; the longer she was here the more she believed something sinister was waiting to announce itself. It must be her injury making her fanciful; after all she was renowned for her common sense.

  ‘Perhaps the lady was of a volatile nature and the thought of what happened frightened her to death?’ It seemed highly unlikely such a thing could happen but others were less pragmatic than she.

  ‘There’s murmuring about witchcraft and ghosts. Maybe the girl felt she had no choice but to leave her employment before she found herself accused of being responsible for her mistresses untimely end.’

  The sound of movement in the dressing room made Hester pause. ‘I think that might be her, Birdie. Call her in at once; if she’s a local girl she might well be able to help me with my investigations.’

  Her friend crossed the room, her footsteps silent on the carpet. She could tell from Birdie’s rigid stance that she disapproved of any reference to investigations. She was talking to someone in the dressing room.

  Hester felt perfectly well and was intending to ask this new maid, Polly, to help her get dressed as soon as Birdie went off again to organize matters downstairs.

  She couldn’t see the dressing room from the bed and her head was still too sore to risk turning, so she would have to contain her impatience until the girl appeared.

  ‘My dear, that wasn’t Polly, it was Meg bringing you up some hot water. There’s concern downstairs that something untoward might have happened to the other girl. It would seem that when the rest of the new staff walked up the drive earlier they saw no sign of her.’

  ‘But didn’t you say Tom passed her on the road?’

  ‘He did. He’s going out with his grace and his man to scour the grounds. There’s a short cut through the wood and they think that’s the way she must have come. Don’t look so worried, my dear, I expect the girl’s twisted her ankle and is sitting at the side of the path as we speak waiting for someone to rescue her.’

  ‘Where’s Jet? He should go with them. If Polly’s lost or hurt he’ll find her. Will you please go down and tell Tom to take him?’ Hester knew she shouldn’t order her dear friend in such a way but for some reason she believed the girl’s life might depend on her hound being included in the search.

  Chapter Six

  Ralph waited outside in the turning circle for his makeshift army to ready itself. He was astride Thunder and Clark and James were mounted. bin and the foot soldiers were not ready to leave. He had selected the four fittest of the roughly dressed men who had come from town and issued them with stout cudgels.

  He spotted the arrival of Miss Bird in the melee and guided his mount towards her, leaning down from his saddle in order to speak to her.

  ‘Miss Bird, is something wrong? Can I be assistance?’

  ‘Your grace, Miss Frobisher suggests you take her hound, Jet, with you. If this young girl is injured or lost in the woods he’s the one to find her.’

  ‘Excellent notion, ma’am. I made the acquaintance of the animal yesterday but didn’t realize he belonged to Miss Frobisher.’ He straightened, turning to shout across to Robin who had just emerged from the stable block leading his horse. ‘Robin, find that dog. Miss Bird suggests we take him with us, he was around here earlier.’

  Tom overheard and shouted Jet’s name; the massive animal appeared at his side, tongue lolling, head to one side, waiting for instructions. Ralph was beginning to warm to the animal. He glanced round his group and nodded; they weren’t many, but were sufficient to scare off any intruders in the wood. He raised his arm and led the group towards the rear of the house, to the path that led directly to the gates. When he’d questioned the other new arrivals it had confirmed his fears.

  This girl should have arrived at the Hall over an hour ago. He hoped she had merely suffered a mishap and was sitting crying on the pathway waiting to be found. If she had hurt herself, surely those who had walked past on the drive would have heard her shouting?

  ‘Tom, you lead with the dog. I’ll follow directly behind with Robin; we’re both armed and can protect your back if needs be.’

  ‘Very well, your grace. Jet will hear anything long before we do. If the lass is in the wood, this fellow will lead us to her.’

  Ralph knew he really meant, if the girl was still living. For God’s sake! Why should they all be imagining the worst? It was damn unsettling to be in the middle of something dangerous and not know who his enemy was.

  They cantered into the wood with the men on foot jogging behind. Soon they were forced to slow and progress in single file; he listened, but could hear no sound of crying. The wood was quiet, too quiet, the birds had fallen silent too.

  ‘Tom, send the dog off. We’ll dismount and lead the horses.’ He watched the massive animal lope off nose to the ground. The path widened slightly and he stooped to examine a slight disturbance.

  ‘I’ve found footprints here, at least two sets; they stopped then returned at speed. I don’t like the look of this, Robin, these are fresh and made by boots, well repaired ones at that.’

  He reached into his belt and withdrew his pistol then holding the reins in one hand, his pistol in the other, he walked forward. They moved quietly, only the occasional clink of a bit or the snort of a horse audible in the gloom. He raised his pistol indi
cating that the men behind him halt. He tethered his horse, intending to continue without the hindrance of their mounts.

  He heard the others do the same. Half crouching in the shadows cast by the overhanging branches, he led them on. Ralph was certain they weren’t alone in the woods, somewhere just ahead evil stalked.

  They all heard the screams. Ralph broke into a run. The girl must be in fear for her life. Tom, who was in front of him, veered off the path, crashing through the undergrowth, taking the direct route, using the shrieks to guide him.

  Tom shouted back. ‘The dog’s ahead, like a bullet he was, he’ll be there before us and if he doesn’t stop the bastards, nothing will.’

  Ralph didn’t answer, using his breath to fuel his feet. The others were close behind; he prayed they would not be too late. Suddenly the air was torn by a bloodcurdling roar, followed by a second scream this time of agony, not fear. From that moment it was impossible to distinguish the growls and snarls of the dog from the screams of the man he was savaging.

  After cocking his pistol, he pushed his sleeves back leaving his hands free. With a final surge he burst into a scene resembling a gladiatorial arena. There was a one man lying under a holly tree, the dog crouched over him, jaws dripping, throat rumbling in a steady snarl. There was no sign of the girl; she was no longer screaming and he feared she had been taken by the missing man.

  A faint cry in the branches above his head alerted him. Balanced precariously at the top of the tree was a gray shape; he could just distinguish a pale face staring down at him.

  ‘Polly? You’re safe now, sweetheart. I’ll be up to fetch you soon; hold on a while longer.

  There are things to be sorted out down here’

  He looked at the gruesome mess that had once been the face of a man. He didn’t want the girl to see this, not after everything else she had endured. He spoke sharply to Jet. ‘Enough, Jet, leave.’

  To the amazement of those standing rigid round the body, the dog relaxed, wagging his tail, backing away from the cadaver as his long pink tongue cleaned his bloodstained jowls. The animal padded over to push his head against Ralph’s leg seeking approval. He reached down and pulled one of the silky ears.

  ‘Good dog, you’ve done well. Perhaps a little too well.’

  He’d seen too many bodies during his life as a soldier to find this one particularly upsetting. His only regret was the man had kicked the bucket before he could be asked why he was trying to kidnap a servant girl.

  ‘Robin, get this object out of sight, empty the pockets then get one of the men to bury it somewhere in the woods.’

  ‘Yes, your grace. What about the other one? Do you want us to go after him?’

  ‘Yes; take two men with you and the dog. He can’t have got far. Jet will soon find him.’

  He tossed his pistol to James and then removed his riding cape and shrugged out of his topcoat. The cold of the wind bit through his cotton shirt sleeves. The girl must be freezing up there. ‘I’m going to fetch her down. One of you bring the horses, she’ll be unable to walk back. She’s been cowering up there for over an hour.’

  ‘Shall I go up for you, your grace? I’m used to climbing trees.’

  ‘Thank you, James, I’ll finish the job myself.’ His long arms had no difficulty finding a grip and within moments he was beside the shivering girl. ‘Don’t try and talk, you can tell me what happened later.’ The girl, scarcely more than a child really, nodded, and attempted a smile.

  He braced himself, then nodded reassuringly. ‘Place your arms round my neck, sweetheart, I’ll take you down as easy as winking.’ He saw her doubt and knew she was too scared to move of her own volition.

  ‘Look at the size of me, I could carry three of you dangling from my neck and still climb up and down this tree with no difficulty. I don’t know about you, but I’m in need of some refreshment after all this activity.’ As he was speaking he gently prised the girl’s fingers away from the tree and pulled her close until her legs were dangling around his waist and her arms securely locked about his neck.

  ‘Make the most of this, Polly, you’ll not get carried in the arms of an aristocrat many times more in your life.’ He felt her relax into him, and slipped his left arm about her waist. ‘Right, here we go.’

  It wasn’t quite as easy as he’d pretended and he was obliged to take the full weight of himself and his burden on one outstretched arm on two occasions before he eventually reached the lower branches. Then willing hands reached up to remove the girl and he jumped the last six feet. His boots squelched unpleasantly in the reddened dirt under the tree.

  James appeared with the horses. ‘Here, hand me my things, once I’m dressed we can get back.’

  The girl cradled in Tom’s arms spoke for the first time. ‘Excuse me, sir, it was my bag falling from the tree that alerted the men and it has all my possessions inside. Is it still here or has the other one taken it away with him?’

  ‘I’ll get the men to look for it; don’t worry about it now. If it’s lost, then I’ll see that everything is replaced for you. It’s more important to get you out of the cold.’

  He didn’t offer to take the girl up in front of him, leaving it to Tom who seemed quite content to keep the plucky girl in his care. He left the mundane tasks to others. Without waiting for Robin’s return with the second man he mounted and set off. When Polly recovered would be soon enough to ask her questions. He shivered. It was damn cold, cold enough for snow.

  *

  The man in the doorway clutching his cap was shaking. Bertram had no time for such weakness. ‘So, not only did you fail to bring that girl back as instructed, your partner has been mauled to death by a wolf? I’m waiting for an answer, damn you. Am I surrounded by incompetents? I set you both a simple task, to bring back a maidservant called Polly Makepeace and you can’t even do that.’

  He turned his back on his minion and heard the man shuffle into the icy hall and return to the warmth of the kitchen. Bertram unclenched his fists and breathed in deeply trying to control his rage. One of his retainers told him he had overheard the under groom saying he had a sweetheart living in Little Neddingfield and he’d been desperate to get hold of the girl ever since.

  He’d done his planning so meticulously; knew Miss Culley went abroad frequently and took her staff with her. The only two who remained behind were the elderly housekeeper and cook who were dispatched to reside in a small house in Bath that Miss Culley owned.

  His lips curved in the pretence of a smile. The old ladies had been dispatched all right but not to the place they expected. They were both so old; it had been more than time for them to stop cluttering up the world with their presence.

  But the girl had now slipped through his fingers and he needed to be sure she wouldn’t blab to the major about Miss Culley’s connection to France. He wanted this man to believe that the rumours were true and that the supernatural had spirited away his relatives and all her retainers.

  He stared out of the window watching the trees moving restlessly in the icy wind. The idiot who is acting as cook had said it was likely to snow; so much the better as the major would be trapped and unable to send out for reinforcements. Bertram had spent his remaining funds on renting this old house and employing a dozen and a half ex-soldiers, those not too fussy how they earned their pay.

  A slight prickle of unease flickered through him; when he’d decided there would be ghosts at Neddingfield Hall and had initiated the talk about strange sightings and disappearances he had known it to be false. His men were able to vanish at will into the underground cellar his father had described to him, leaving no evidence of their passage behind them. But the man who had just returned after his failed attempt to capture the one weak link in his scheme had been terrified, convinced that the very hound of hell had emerged from nowhere to kill his partner in the most frightful way.

  He shrugged; no matter, if his men were frightened so much the better: scared men fought harder in his experience. It would add cred
ence to his story that the Hall was haunted and the locals villages wouldn’t dare venture in to the woods to see what was happening. The Major was going to lose all his new staff very soon as well.

  Demonic laughter echoed around the shabby room and the rough man outside the door flinched away and scurried back to his snug billet in the bowels of the house; the message he carried was never delivered.

  *

  Hester insisted on getting dressed after washing. The physician had advised she stay in bed for three days but hadn’t said it essential. ‘The Hall sounds more like it should now there are people moving around and the fires are lit and there are candles everywhere. ‘

  ‘Well, my dear, I didn’t come here expecting to take on the role of housekeeper, but there’s no one else to do the job so I hope you’ll excuse me if I cannot be with you all the time.’

  ‘Birdie, you must do whatever’s necessary to ensure the smooth running of the household. I’m thankful Tom managed to find a cook for what was served this morning was all but inedible.’

  Her friend chuckled. ‘I’ve been assured there will be fresh vegetable soup, newly baked bread and apple pie and cheese ready soon. Now, my dear, if you’re comfortably settled in front of the fire I shall take my leave. Meg’s in your chamber, ring that handbell beside you and she’ll come to assist you. ‘

  Hester smiled; as long as she got her lunch when it was ready there was nothing else she required. Her head ached, her eyes were a trifle blurred so she would stretch out in front of the log fire and try and think of a reason for what was happening. She was dozing comfortably when heavy footsteps approached her parlour.

  She swung her feet to the floor, removing her lap-rug and checking her hair was still tied tidily at the back of her neck. Her head was too sore to put it up in its usual arrangement. She reached out and rang the bell. If the duke was coming to visit she wouldn’t make the same mistake; this time she would be chaperoned. The knock on the door sounded as the maid appeared from the bedchamber.