A Pure Lady for the Broken Duke

by Hanna Hamilton

  “I have a sad tale to tell,” he said.

  George’s face blanched. “Has something happened to Helena?”

  “No, no. Nothing like that. Did not mean to give you a fright about her. No, it is my problem. And only I am to blame.” He turned to Thomas. “Your Grace it concerns you… us… and I need your advice and help.”

  “Then I believe you might wish for some fortification. Might I offer you a scotch? I believe that is your drink, is it not?”

  “Would not refuse,” he said.

  Thomas went to pour the drinks. “George, for you as well?”

  George laughed. “A bit early for me, but why not. Sounds as though we might all need some fortification.”

  Thomas served the drinks and remained standing as the others sat.

  “Now then,” Thomas said, “What is it you have to tell us?”

  “Well, first of all, your uncle has been arrested for smuggling—using my ships. And therein lies the tale of my woes.”

  Both Thomas and George were stunned by this announcement.

  Ralph then laid out the story of his collusion with Wilcox, under the pressure of blackmail, to smuggle rum from the West Indies to avoid the high government taxes.

  “And where is my uncle now?” Thomas asked.

  “I believe he is still in Gloucester, but waiting transport to London for indictment and eventually trial.”

  George asked, “And why did you turn him in if he was blackmailing you? Certainly, he will now reveal your involvement with selling arms to Napoleon.”

  Ralph bowed his head. “Most likely. And I am certain I shall pay the price, but I could not, in good conscience, allow those brigands to get away with their villainy.”

  Thomas said, “This is going to devastate my Grandmother. Even though Wilcox had a checkered past, he was still her son.”

  “Do you think this will affect our business in any way?” George asked. “Might your uncle’s reputation taint ours?”

  “Unlikely. We have been aboveboard in all our dealings and will continue to do so.” Then Thomas smiled slightly. “However, it might taint our family’s reputation in the Lady Alderman’s eyes.”

  “I am sorry, Thomas,” George said. “But does that matter to you after what you told me earlier?”

  “We shall see.” He then turned to Ralph. “Lord Comerford, is there any way I can help you in your situation?”

  “You would do that?” Ralph asked incredulously.

  “Of course, why should I not? A fellow peer, and father of a dear friend, is in need. Is that not what we do for each other?”

  “Might you be able to speak to your uncle? Perhaps he could be persuaded to not tell the authorities about my unfortunate activities in France.”

  “That seems unlikely, Ralph. I am certain if he wanted to turn against you, he would have done so by now. He is not a charitable person and he will do anything in his power to save himself if he can by involving you.”

  “Then I am lost,” Ralph said, hanging his head in despair.

  “But there might be other ways I could help you.”

  “I am going to need the very best London solicitor. I am afraid my knowledge of such chaps is limited. Might you be able to help me find one?”

  “I know the very best. I shall write to him immediately. And let me ask, have you been contacted by any law enforcement yet?”

  “Not yet. However, as I was the one who informed on Wilcox and his cohort, it should not be long before Wilcox, during his interrogation, will return the favor by informing on me. It is only a matter of time.”

  “Then I suggest you contact my solicitor immediately so that you and he can be prepared for whatever consequences may develop.”

  Again, Ralph seemed contrite. “I have misjudged you, Thomas. Helena has always been right about you. I hope you can forgive me. Thank you, Your Grace.”

  Thomas wrote out the information about his solicitor and handed it to Ralph. I shall write my friend immediately and let me know if there is anything more I can do for you or your family.”

  Ralph bowed and said before he left, “You are a true gentleman, Your Grace, and my family shall be forever indebted to you for your gracious help.” He then turned to George, “And Mr. Edgerton, I will be proud to have you as a son-in-law. Good day, gentlemen.”

  Aunt Rosemary sat with Helena and George in her sitting room as Helena finished reciting the saga of her father’s disgrace.

  “Had you any idea of this collusion with the French?” Helena asked her aunt.

  “None. But the old goat had more sass than I ever expected. Just imagine…”

  “But is not treason a hanging offense?” Helena asked, nearly at the edge of tears.

  “It might be,” George answered. “But I expect it will depend on the circumstances and how deeply he was involved. He told us he had no idea his ships were being used to transport illegal arms to France. And Thomas has directed your father to the very best solicitor in these matters. I feel certain your father will be well defended.”

  “And what about our wedding?” Helena asked, now actually crying. “How can we possibly move forward until this matter gets resolved?”

  George stood and went to put his arms around Helena. “Your father has not been accused yet, my dear. Let us put everything on hold and not make any firm decisions, one way or the other until we know the full extent of these matters. Who knows… it may come to nothing.”

  Helena looked up at him, gratefully, as she dried her eyes. “Whatever would I do without you, my dear?”

  “Fortunately, you do not have to. I am right here by your side.”

  Rosemary pushed herself up to a standing position and said, “Well, we are family. My dears, you let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Money, comfort, banging on some judge’s door in the middle of the night. And my Sebastian knew a lot of folks who could be useful. Just give me the nod, and you will see the holy terror I can become.”

  Chapter 34

  It was a glorious, brisk autumn day soon after the snowstorm. George and Thomas were standing on a ridge overlooking the work on the racetrack and also watching Barnstable leading Robert out on Siren, the eldest and best-trained horse. Barnstable rode one of the Duke’s personal horses beside the young lad as they trotted gently across a field.

  “Easy on the reins,” Barnstable said. “You are pulling too tight. Ease up on the bit.”

  The boy complied.

  “How is the saddle? Does it need adjusting?”

  “Not certain, sir. Seems to be fine, but do not know enough to know,” he said with a laugh.

  “I think the stirrups need tightening. I know it pushes you forward in the saddle. But that is the point, and you will get used to it eventually. You need to build those leg muscles.”

  “And if I grow more?” Robert asked.

  “Let us hope not too much. Need you short and lean.”

  “But I can do nothin’ ‘bout that Mr. Barnstable.”

  “P’rhaps not. But if I knock you on the head enough, might stunt your growth.” And with that Barnstable spurred ahead and left the lad to figure out how to get his horse to follow after.

  “Track is looking good,” Thomas said to George up on the ridge. “Foreman said the fencing should be finished in the next week or two.”

  “Hope we can get it all done before winter sets in.”

  “Has Helena said anything further about Comerford’s troubles?” Thomas asked.

  George scratched his chin. “There has not been a single word. No one has shown up with any charges or writs, or anything that might indicate that he is in trouble.”

  “How strange.”

  George turned to gauge Thomas’s reaction to his next question. “What would you say if we went to visit Ralph? Find out what exactly is happening, and if the occasion should arise, ask him if he might still be interested in investing with us? After all, he has forgiven us and is allowing the marriage. He is most grateful for what yo
u have offered to do for him.”

  Thomas looked uncertain. “Oh, George, I am not certain this is the appropriate time to do that. After all, he must be under a great deal of uncertainty and stress.”

  “But we have no one else who has expressed any interest at all in our project and we do need to raise the rest of the investment.”

  “We might go over to see how he is doing. I have no problem with that. But as for asking him to invest again, I will only consider that after we have spoken to him a while. But let me be the one to decide if we should ask him or not. I do not want you rushing in and blurting out something inappropriate. Will you agree to that?”

  George gave a sharp nod. “I will.”

  Thomas looked up from his desk as there was a knock at his study door.

  “Come in,” he called out.

  Prunella peeked around the door and asked, “Am I disturbing you? Might I come in?”

  “Of course, please,” he said standing at her entrance. “Is it teatime already?”

  “I have no idea. I was just wandering around the lovely house and stumbled across this room I had not seen before. I hope you do not mind?”

  “Not at all.”

  “What a lovely room, and what an abundance of light. It must be a very pleasant place to work.”

  “I enjoy it.”

  “And this is where you do your work for our investment?”

  “It is.” He was not quite certain what she was doing here, but he was content to let her roam the room if she so wished.

  She examined some of the portraits. “And are all of these paintings of your family?”

  “Some of them are. Some are portraits that were commissioned of notables of the time. My family has a history of supporting certain artists—as does yours.” Thomas came from around the desk to give her more of his attention.

  Prunella went up to a wall and looked closely at the fabric in which the wall was covered. She ran her finger along a seam.

  “How long has it been since some of these rooms were redecorated? The house is rather out of fashion, is it not? And while the house is clean, it seems to me that there has not been a lot of upkeep.”

  Thomas dared not answer in case he might disgrace himself in front of a guest.

  Then Prunella turned to him with a large smile and said, “I would be more than happy to take over the management of redecorating—unless, of course, you wished to live full time in London. Then it would not matter. Pemberton might do for the occasional weekend, but as it is now…”

  Thomas interrupted her, “Miss Prunella, you need not concern yourself with these matters, as you will not have the opportunity to exercise your re-decorative talents.”

  “Then you wish us to live in London, then?” she asked brightly.

  “No. What I mean is—you are making an assumption that is not based in reality.”

  “I beg your pardon. I do not understand.”

  “I mean, Lady Alderman, you are assuming that we are to be married. And I know my memory slips from time to time, but I do not remember asking you to marry me.”

  A blank expression crossed Prunella’s face—but only briefly. “Oh, but your attentions… your invitation to visit Pemberton… is that not an explicit proposal of sorts?”

  “You delude yourself, Lady Alderman. I have no intention of marrying you now, next month, nor indeed, ever.”

  She was stunned into silence. “But…”

  “I am most grateful that you chose to invest in our business, and we promise to do everything in our power to increase the value of your investment, but do not think, for one moment, that our connection will ever go beyond that.”

  “Thomas… how can you be so rude?”

  “Ever since you arrived you have demeaned Pemberton, belittled our traditions and showed disdain for my family. I really do not see what possible interest you would have in marrying into this family.”

  “But my forty thousand… I thought…”

  Thomas nodded several times as he gathered his thoughts. “Lady Alderman, I am certain there are many gentlemen who would jump at the opportunity to marry you. However, I am not one of them.”

  “But your title. I thought I was to be a duchess,” she said tearing up and pulling out her handkerchief to dab at her eyes.

  “Alas, Prunella, it is not to be so.”

  Thomas and George were shown to Ralph’s study where he was seated by the fire, lighting his pipe.

  “Gentlemen, an unexpected surprise. Welcome. And to what do I owe the pleasure?”

  Thomas stepped forward. “We have not heard what has happened with your troubles. Helena says no authorities have come to whisk you away.”

  Ralph shook his head. “And that is the absolute truth. No one has contacted me. I went to London to visit with your solicitor, and he knew of no charges and said that, as far as he knew, I was to be given a commendation for turning those rascals in to the tax and rev people.”

  “Did he say if Wilcox had been taken to London?”

  “He has. But that was all he knew, besides the fact that he was being held at Marshalsea Prison.”

  “Curious,” Thomas said, removing his gloves. “What can my uncle be up to?”

  George stepped forward, “Perhaps your uncle has said nothing about his involvement in France.”

  Ralph shrugged. “I have no idea. All I know is, at this moment, there have been no consequences.”

  George stepped forward. “Father… I may call you that, may I not? As Helena and I are soon to be united.”

  “If you wish.”

  Thomas thought he knew what George was about to do, and he restrained him by the arm and shook his head. George took Thomas aside and whispered, “It will be fine. It looks as though there will be no charges. We can ask him.”

  “George, we agreed,” Thomas said, cautioning him.

  “Gentlemen, why the whispering?” Ralph asked, getting out of his chair and lighting his pipe. “There is no need for secrets between us.”

  “Thomas…” George tried nudging his friend forward.

  “Out with it, gentlemen. What is it you want to say?”

  George could restrain himself no longer, and he turned to Ralph and said, “Sir, now that there has been a reconciliation between us, we were wondering if you might reconsider your decision about investing with us in our project. We have raised all but a small amount, and we are well on our way to success. We wanted to give you an opportunity to become a part of this if you are still interested.”

  “Hmm,” Ralph said, as he puffed on his pipe and seemed to be considering. “I have to say, I am not out of the woods yet. Until this whole matter is settled, I have no idea what could happen. Perhaps your uncle has talked to the authorities, but they have not acted yet? I think it would be unwise of me to commit sums of money I might later need for my defense.”

  “I could not agree with you more,” Thomas said, giving George a sour look for speaking. “But I need to go to London shortly, and I had thought to visit my uncle—wherever he might be. Let me find out what, if anything, he has said. And I will let you know.”

  Ralph seemed to like that and said, “Very well. However, it seems unlikely to me, knowing your uncle, that he would not have spoken to someone about my involvement in France.

  Thomas replied, “I would like to put your mind at ease and will try and get a definitive answer for you.”

  Ralph suddenly smiled strangely and asked, “And is there any chance you might reconsider marrying Helena?”

  George’s face froze, and he looked at Thomas.

  “Absolutely none, Ralph. You forget your daughter is already engaged to my dear friend, George.”

  George looked greatly relieved.

  “No harm in asking,” Ralph said with a wink.

  Thomas had just returned to Pemberton after the meeting with Lord Comerford. George had remained behind to discuss with Helena what was to be done about putting a hold on their marriage plans. Thomas no soon
er got his outer coat off than Grandmamma appeared at his study door.

  “Thomas, what is going on?” she asked in an abrasive tone.

  “How do you mean?” he asked, trying to get his bearings after an uncertain morning.

  “Your Prunella just announced to me that they are to leave first thing tomorrow morning. I asked her why and she said, in a very nasty tone, that you must be the one to explain.”