by Abby Ayles
“Your Grace, I am leaving now,” she said.
The Duke looked up at her with sadness in his eyes.
“Yes, that is alright, Mrs. Tyndale. I do hope you have a refreshing time with your friend. Please give her my best,” he said.
Then, unexpectedly, the Duke stood. He eyed Thea with interest and walked towards her before grasping her hands in his own.
“Please know, wife, that I should very much like to see you back soon. Know that you will not be forgotten in your absence. When you return,” he continued, “I do hope that we might sit together and discuss all that has passed between us.”
Thea was completely taken aback at this gesture. She felt her hands relax a little in the Duke’s and she swallowed hard, trying to find the words that needed to be said.
“Just go knowing that I am aware of my failure as your husband thus far. And know that upon your return, I have every intention of making things right,” he committed.
Thea nodded silently, feeling a sting in her eyes like emotion. She wanted to respond, wanted to tell the Duke that she was grateful for him and how he had defended her to his friend. She wanted to tell him that she had been trying to be a better wife.
But she could not tell him all of that just now. She could not find the words. In some ways, she thought it was better this way. She needed time to gather her thoughts.
Still, there was a strange tug on her heart telling her not to run. Telling her to remain, to accept the apology, to allow the Duke of Sandon to tell her everything he felt. But she couldn’t do that.
“Th-thank you,” she replied quietly, turning away and heading back out the door. She needed to get away from him. And quickly.
Soon she made her way to the coach and got in as quickly as she could. When she glanced out the window, she saw that the Duke was watching her through his own. Something had come over him.
It had to be shame for having treated her so poorly. Thea couldn’t imagine him feeling anything else about her. But seeing his face through the two panes of glass, her own and his, she longed to return to him, to hear him out, and to let him explain everything. She longed to beg him for the care she desired.
The coach lurched forward and Thea was shaken from those wishes. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself. She didn’t need anything more. Just a few days away before they confronted one another.
Thea slept through the majority of the trip and when she arrived at Margaret’s house, she woke from the stopping of the coach. The road was bumpy here and it seemed the horse did not enjoy it.
As she climbed out, the door to Margaret’s home burst open and Mrs. Davidson came rushing out.
“Oh! Thea dear! I mean, of course, Your Grace!” Mrs. Davidson said exuberantly with her arms outstretched to embrace Thea.
She laughed as she was enveloped by the woman. Margaret soon followed and echoed the gesture, happy to see her friend once more.
“My goodness, do I feel loved!” she laughed.
“You ought to. You know, sometimes I think my mother loves you more than she loves me. Could it be that you’ve managed to snag a wealthy husband?” Margaret laughed.
Mrs. Davidson didn’t appreciate the comment but welcomed Thea in while the coachman brought in her bags.
For a little while, they sat and shared civilities, while drinking tea. Thea knew she would have to go visit her family that evening as well, but for now she just enjoyed being away from either of her houses. Delia was really the only one at home she cared to spend much time with.
The majority of her family was less than understanding of her predicament but Delia at least was willing to be compassionate when it suited her.
“Right, mother. Thank you for your time, but I should very much like for Thea to come to my room for a bit so we can spend time just the two of us,” Margaret said politely.
“Oh, of course, dear! Thea, my darling, I mean Your Grace, if you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask. My goodness, can you believe that I am hosting a duchess in my very own home?” she asked, delighted.
Thea’s smile faltered a bit, realizing that Mrs. Davidson’s joy of hosting her had little to do with the Thea she had been. It was entirely about the duchess she was now and the fact that she had new bragging rights with the neighbors. Apparently the woman hadn’t considered the very fact that some of those neighbors were Thea’s own family.
“So, do tell me. How has it been?” Margaret asked, cautiously, once they were alone in her room.
It was a small room, but she had it to herself. Thea had always shared with her sisters, but Margaret’s family had more money than the Caulfields and it did show in areas like this.
“It has been…quite a challenge to be honest,” Thea confessed.
“Tell me more about all that happened, Thea. I can’t understand why you seem so conflicted. I mean with what he did to you, I understand the anger, but there is something changed in you,” Margaret noted.
“Yes, I suppose there is,” Thea replied. She sighed deeply and waited until Margaret was more settled.
“So, you know that he had set up the little trap for me. But what you aren’t aware of is what I heard last evening. It was quite a surprise I must say,” Thea confessed.
“Oh? What happened? How is it that I don’t know this?” Margaret asked.
“You don’t know because you left hardly before I did,” Thea replied, stating the obvious.
“Right, so what about it?” she prodded.
“Well, you know my husband obviously has some very wealthy friends. And men of position like his own,” Thea began. “There is one that I believe to have been the man I heard at the house last evening. I know that he and the Duke are on very friendly terms so I can only assume that it must have been him.
“But anyway, I overheard he and my husband arguing about me. And when I say that they were arguing, you must understand that it was in regards to my virtue. And of course the other man was saying how he had been right all along. It sounded as though he had put the suggestion in the Duke’s head that I was this wayward woman,” Thea said, causing Margaret to gasp.
“Yes, I know. It was a very nasty business. But then I heard the Duke defend me. And when I say he defended me, I mean to the very point that he practically sent his friend out the door. Oh, Margaret, I hardly knew what to do,” Thea said.
“Then what did you do?” Margaret asked, breathlessly.
“I hid. I didn’t have any other ideas at the time so I simply stayed hidden until the man had gone. I never did get a look at his face, but I am quite certain he is the Duke of Arborshire. I just don’t care much for being around that man as it is, you know?” Thea continued, feeling quite overwhelmed.
“Oh, Thea, I can hardly imagine all of this. Do you really think that the horrible Duke had tried to convince your husband that you were a lost woman?” Margaret asked.
“Indeed, I believe so,” Thea replied.
“Then what will you do?” she asked.
“I don’t know what I can do now. After all, I am so angry with him. But he has gone to great lengths to defend me and to care for me. I mean, he defended me to his mother, to his friend. He believed my reputation once I showed him the evidence and honestly, he was so jealous when he thought I had fallen in love with another man.
“Margaret, I know it sounds positively mad, but I think the Duke might actually care for me. He told his friend as much, but do you think it could be possible? Why would a man of his position care about a woman like me?” Thea asked.
“A woman like you? Thea, you have to realize something. First of all, not all men are horrible enough to detest you merely for being poor. But beyond that, you have to remember that you are no longer poor. You are a duchess now,” Margaret pointed out.
“Only because he made me one, Margaret,” Thea retorted.
“Yes, and why would he go to such great lengths? You think he married you only because your father manipulated the situation? Clearly there was m
ore to it than that. Evidently, the Duke actually found himself intrigued by you. Intrigued enough that he decided to marry you,” she said as if Thea were a fool for not recognizing it earlier.
“Margaret, I simply can’t believe that he cares for me,” Thea said with an incredulous laugh.
“That isn’t true, Thea, and you know it. Just a moment ago, you were the one who suggested it to me. Only once I had confirmed did you change your mind again and decide to deny it,” Margaret stated.
Thea was stuck in her logic. It was true. She knew that she believed it but hated herself for being willing to. It seemed like nonsense and if she believed it then what did that make her?
Could she ever love the Duke back?
Thea considered all the things that had passed between herself and the Duke. He was not the sort of man she wanted to spend her life with. At least, he hadn’t been before. But some of that felt like it was changing.
She would be happy spending her life with someone who was quick to defend her, quick to speak up on her behalf. She appreciated that to be sure. And the Duke had proven his willingness to do so on multiple occasions.
Thea looked at Margaret who recognized the wheels turning in her mind.
“So you do think he cares for you?” she asked.
Thea smiled and refused to reply for a moment, but finally answered.
“Yes, yes I think he truly does.”
“And what does that make you think of him?” Margaret asked.
“It makes me wish I could feel the same,” Thea replied.
“Can’t you?”
“I don’t know just yet. I shall tell you once I’ve figured it out,” she laughed.
“Please don’t take too long. I cannot tell you how much I want to see you happy,” Margaret said.
“And I want to be happy. I truly do. If the Duke can make me happy, it will take a bit of convincing, but I would gladly accept,” Thea replied, heaving a sigh.
She wondered to herself if it would be possible. Could she really ever accept that?
Chapter 28
“Another point to the Duke of Sandon!” the Marquess of Kensburg. The five other men shouted their huzzahs in support of the Duke as they fought in the playroom.
The Duke set down his foil and took off the mask he always wore when fencing. He patted his competitor on the back. Weston Channingford, Earl of Shrewbury smiled back, despite looking terribly annoyed at his defeat.
The Duke of Sandon was happy to be fencing and using this time with friends to distract himself, while Thea was off and away with her friend and to see her family. He was still aching from the fact that she had gone and left him in order to spend time with them.
He hoped she might return sooner than the days she had claimed she would be gone. He didn’t know if she intended to return at all. But he would hold out hope for the best.
The next round of men stood and fought one another with the Duke and his friends placing wagers. Lord Kensburg was swift, light on his feet. He would be a real difficult match. But the Duke of Richmont was strong and had force behind his jabs that clearly helped him maintain the upland of causing fear in his opponents.
They cheered until finally Lord Kensburg took his victory and money was passed round.
“Never bet on strength, always go with speed,” the Duke of Sandon said as two other men handed him money.
“Sometimes I wonder why I place bets with any of you,” the Earl of Shrewbury declared.
“Lord Shrewbury, we are all gentlemen of adequate means. Why should we not enjoy just a small amount of risk within them?” the Duke of Richmont replied through his heavy breathing.
“Because I took my risk on you and you lost,” replied Lord Shrewbury, causing a round of hysterics among the men.
The laughter was a delight to the Duke of Sandon who needed such a distraction. Being among his own friends was doing him well.
“Speaking of risks, we have heard about these great new investments being made by our good friend here,” Lord Kensburg said, resting a hand on the Duke’s shoulder.
“Yes, tell us, Your Grace. Have you seen great returns on your investment yet?” Lord Shrewbury asked.
“Indeed, I have. I think you would all be wise to get involved with such trade opportunities. You see, it is very easy to call it an investment, but it is, in fact, a business partially owned by myself. It is not merely putting my money to its name, I have put in my efforts to track it,” he explained.
“It still sounds like great returns for very little work to me,” laughed Lord Kensburg.
“I suppose you’re not too far off,” the Duke laughed in reply.
The butler for the Duke of Richmont poured a glass of brandy for each of the men. The Duke’s estate was quite grand, but the Duke of Sandon knew that his was still superior. Part of him was bothered that he noticed it so easily as that.
“Tell us more about all of this. Who is your man on the inside?” Lord Kensburg asked.
The Duke could see that Lord Kensburg was deeply interested. Some of the men were merely humoring them, but a few showed they wanted in.
“Well, I have a gentleman by the name of Mr. Cotswold. He seems like a scummy man from the start, as I’ve warned others, but he comes to show you with time that he is, indeed, an expert in his craft.
“I have seen a great number of men grow wealthy through their work with him,” the Duke added.
“A great number of men? I’ve heard you turned your new father-in-law to it. You’re even introducing tramps to the system, are you?” Lord Shrewbury laughed.
The Duke turned to him with a stern look on his face. The room quieted. There was no reason for the man to be so crass as to call the father of his wife a tramp.
“You believe my new extended family to be of the tramp variety, do you, Lord Shrewbury?” he challenged.
“It was only a joke. No need to get angry,” Lord Shrewbury replied. When the room stayed quiet, he laughed in embarrassment.
“Oh come on, no one thought it was funny?” he asked, trying to defend himself.
“I think it was very rude and small minded,” replied Lord Kensburg.
Lord Shrewbury was outnumbered in his estimation of what might be appropriate and how far he could push the Duke of Sandon.
“Well, Your Grace, my apologies,” he said, although it seemed to be rather disingenuous.
“Sit down and remain quiet,” Lord Kensburg instructed.
He was the oldest among the men and commanded the most respect. While all observed that Lord Shrewbury was unaccustomed to being ordered about, even he would do what he was told by the great Lord Kensburg.
“Anyways, please continue, Your Grace,” Lord Kensburg instructed.
“Yes. Well, Mr. Cotswold is a fine man to do business with and I am grateful to have struck up with him,” he said, having nothing more than that to add.
“That is good to know. I should very much like to meet with him,” Lord Kensburg said decidedly.
“I believe I have his card, I shall be sure to get it to you,” the Duke promised.
The men decided to move on to another round of drinks. The Duke of Sandon wanted to fence more, but it seemed the majority of the men were too tired out by this point and had little interest in continuing the games.
After a time, while they had been discussing books and literature, Lord Shrewbury made his way quietly to the Duke of Sandon. He was searching for one book recommendation that might be on the shelves that lined the walls of the sports room.
“Will you forgive me for what I’ve said before?” Lord Shrewbury asked.
“I can. But I would much prefer it if you ceased to allow yourself to believe such things about your fellow man. You must understand that there is nothing about my new family that makes them tramps,” he said, defending them.
“I understand, but you yourself must admit that they are rather poor. And it is unlike men of our stature to marry among people like that,” Lord Shrewbury replied call
ously.
“Did you come here to apologize or to continue your insult?” the Duke asked, turning to the man and staring at him, eye level.
Lord Shrewbury inhaled and held his head high.
“I simply cannot understand it. No one can. Just because they are not so vocal as I does not mean they do not think the very same thing,” he told the Duke.
“And what else? Lord Shrewbury, please tell me what else had you so disappointed in my marriage that it distracts you from simply focusing on your own?” the Duke asked.
“I do wonder why you were willing to marry a woman who so evidently has no interest in you. I mean, there is truly nothing about you that she cares for. Most of us are in loveless marriages, but at least our wives like our money. Yours doesn’t even have a desire for that,” Lord Shrewbury reminded him.
