The Theft of a Dukedom (17 page)

Richard frowned and Kitty smiled. ‘There is no
river to the south that he would be able to fish in, so it
had to be the gun wrapped in something.’ She
explained.
‘He would have had his horses stashed at Bowes
and even now is well on his way to London.’ Charles
murmured his gaze intent on the fire. ‘Even if he takes
his time, and believes he’s got plenty of time, he’ll still
be in London half a day before us.’
‘It would have taken him hours to walk to
Bowes.’ Kitty mused, ‘and the terrain is not easy. He
would have to pass over Deepdale. Of course, he might
have them at Grassholme which is a lot closer.’
Charles shook his head. ‘No, if he’d had his
horses that close, somebody else would have seen him.’
‘We can be in London by tomorrow teatime.’
Richard said firmly. ‘You know you’re being conservative
with the timings. We both know horses can travel fairly
fast when pushed.’ He looked at Charles. ‘Have you got
any weapons?’
‘There’s Kitty’s epee, my sabre and fathers
duelling pistols.’ Charles said and looked at the ceiling in
thought. ‘There could be a couple of muskets about, but
I wouldn’t trust my life to them.’
Chivers arrived just then. ‘You’re bag is packed
Your Grace.’ He said to Charles and stood quite still,
waiting with a cloak over his arm and a hat in his hands.
‘I’ll be out in the hall in a moment. Chivers, will
you check on a horse, please?’ Charles said and stood,
walked to Louise and pulled her to her feet. He escorted
her down the dining room and they stood by the garden
windows.
‘I don’t want you to go.’ Louise whispered, the
tears shimmering in her eyes.
Charles engulfed her in his embrace. ‘I have to,
before Robin ruins us all.’
‘I could be with child!’ she gasped. ‘And if you
get killed what will happen to us?’
‘My love.’ He whispered with his lips against her
temple. ‘Be positive. Robin hasn’t spent the last four
years in a war. I have. I have no doubt I will succeed.’ He
took her mouth in a searing kiss, making her turn to
putty in his arms. ‘Stay here and be safe.’ He pushed her
away and strode purposefully out of the room.
‘Charles!?’ Kitty shouted after him and ran out
into the hall. ‘Charles! You should wait for me to change
and I’ll come with you.’
‘No.’ He said simply and swished the cloak about
his shoulders. ‘Richard will be all the help I will need.
You would be a danger and a lever and I can’t allow
that.’ He said as he settled the bicorn hat on his head
and pulled his gloves on. He kissed her on the cheek.
‘Stay here and be safe, Kitty. Richard and I will be back
before you know it.’ And he strode out of the door.
Kitty stood in the hall with her mouth open,
shocked that he’d gone.
‘Lady Amelia? Are you alright?’ Chivers asked.
‘Yes, I’m fine.’ She abruptly spun on her heel.
‘Tell Mary to lay out my riding clothes and pack some
necessities,’ and went back into the dining room.
Richard was making his excuses to Victoria. ‘I
really need to see Kitty before I go.’ He turned as she
came back into the room. ‘Ah! Kitty.’ He murmured and
cupped her elbow in his palm. ‘Come with me my love.’
And he took her back out into the hall. ‘Deacon? Can
you get my valet to pack the essentials and I’ll need a
fast coach with fast horses.’ Deacon bustled off without
a word and Richard pulled Kitty into his arms. ‘I love
you.’ he murmured and kissed her gently, ‘and I would
love to spend every night for the next fifty years lying
beside you, but Charles is my friend and I owe him my
life. I cannot fail him now.’
‘I understand.’ She whispered hoarsely, ‘but
don’t expect me to stand on the step and wave you off!’
she gasped as the tears started to roll and Richard
kissed her deeply. Kitty struggled out of his embrace.
‘Be careful. I don’t want to lose you.’ She
whispered and ran for the stairs like an athlete.
Once in her room, Kitty threw off the morning
dress and petticoat, hurriedly donned the shirt and tried
to tie the cravat. She threw on the britches, the skirt
and jacket that Mary had prepared, snatched up the
small case with her essential items in and a cloak. She
ran down the service stairs to the stables and was just in
time to see George Martin, the head coachman,
climbing onto the driving seat.
‘Oh! George. I’m just in time.’ She blurted and he
took her case and stowed it. ‘Make sure you set off
immediately Lord Richard gets in the door. He’ll try to
force me to stay behind and I’m not having it.’
‘Yes, My Lady.’
‘And we must fly, George, we have to beat my
brother to London.’
‘I understand, Countess.’ He said and held out
his hand for her. She climbed in the carriage and tried to
hide in the corner of the seat. George closed the door
and climbed up onto the drivers seat next to the
footman, flicked his whip and the four horses trotted
forward. She tried to press herself in the corner of the
coach, away from the diffused light of the lamps either
side of the impressive entrance to the hall.
Richard skipped down the steps and the
footman held the door. ‘To London only stopping for
horses.’ He said firmly and stepped in the coach. As per
her instruction, the footman slammed the door before
Richard was even seated and as he looked at the
shadowy shape in the corner, George cracked the whip,
the carriage jerked forward and Richard topple against
the seat. ‘What the devil?’ he blurted in shock as the
lamp light fell across Kitty’s face. ‘I told you to stay
here.’ He said his face flushed in anger.
‘Not on your life!’ Kitty murmured, ‘and it very
well may be.’ Richard gained the seat opposite.
‘I’ve a good mind to stop the coach and tip you
out on the side of the drive!’ Richard argued.
‘You can try, but I gave George orders not to
stop for anything.’ She smiled sweetly. ‘So unless you
wish to throw me out of a fast moving carriage, you’re
stuck with me!’
‘Kitty, this is going to be very dangerous.’ He
pleaded.
‘I know.’ She said firmly. ‘I’m probably more
aware than you just how dangerous my brother is. I
cannot let either of you do this alone.’
They both swayed in the seat as the carriage
turned onto the road and suddenly they could hear
George urging the horses on and cracking the whip.
‘This is going to be a very uncomfortable
journey.’ Richard muttered.
‘Sleep is the way to combat it!’ Kitty said firmly.
‘You should lie down.’ And she curled up on the seat,
and was asleep before the coach reached Barnard
Castle.

Richard opened his eyes and pulled his watch
from his pocket.
Fifteen minutes past seven.
He
thought.
I wonder where we are.
He yawned and looked
across at Kitty sleeping with her thumb in her mouth
again.
So innocent.
He clambered to his feet, opened
the window and leaned out into the fresh slipstream.
‘George!’ he shouted and the coachman looked over
the side of the carriage. ‘Where are we?’ Richard asked.

‘Just passing Newark-On-Trent, my Lord.’ George
shouted down and smiled.
‘Can we eat at the next stop?’ Richard asked and
George just nodded.
‘We missed the Yorkshire Dales.’ Kitty said as she
stretched and yawned. ‘Good morning.’ She said coyly.
‘Did I hear you mention food?’
‘Yes. George says we can eat at the next stop.’
Richard said softly. ‘You do realise that Charles is going
to have my hide!?’
‘Charles tends to forget I’m a better swordsman
than him.’ Kitty said firmly. ‘I know how devious Robin is
and I can best him.’ She was keeping her attention on
the scenery flying past the window. ‘Has it occurred to
you that Robin has help?’
‘No.’ Richard said and frowned. ‘What do you
mean help?’
Kitty looked at him and shook her head in
exasperation. ‘Robin must have help otherwise
somebody in London would have commented on seeing
him.’ She explained and smiled wickedly. ‘Tell me, my
love. Could you hit a Lady?’
‘Of course not! I’m a gentleman.’ Richard
exploded
‘My point exactly!’ she said knowingly. ‘Robin is
counting on your gentlemanly conduct, while he isn’t
restricted by such limitations.’ She laughed coarsely.
‘Robin wouldn’t think twice about slapping a lady about
if it suited his purpose. It was one of the hard lessons I
learned when I was ten.’ Kitty turned her face back to
the window. ‘It’s something Charles probably doesn’t
realise and I know I haven’t told him everything that
happened that night.’
‘What happened that Charles doesn’t know
about?’ Richard asked hollowly.
Kitty kept her face turned away to hide the
horror in her eyes, but Richard could hear it in her voice.
‘Robin came to my room on the pretext of a game. After
he had engaged my attention in the rules, he slapped
me across the face before he yanked back the bed
covers and pulled me out of bed by my night gown.’ She
took a shuddering breath. ‘I was only ten years old and
his strength frightened me. As I opened my mouth to
scream, his fist landed on the end of my nose, making
me dazed and I don’t really remember what happened
after that, except I was naked on the bed when Charles
came through the door like a strong wind and Robin was
flying across the room into my dressing table.’ She
sighed and looked down at her hands. ‘I think the
terrifying thing about the whole incident was the total
lack of emotion in Robin’s eyes. It was as if I wasn’t
there, he looked right through me.’
‘What does Robin look like?’ Richard asked
softly.
‘Have you seen the painting in the informal
drawing room at Grosvenor Square?’
‘The woman over the fireplace?’
‘That’s the one. That is my mother and that is
what Robin looks like. He’s not as tall as Daddy and
Charles, but he’s stocky and has mothers light coloured
hair. I’m sort of between the two, mousy, Charles has
Daddy’s hair, but Robin is almost blond, but not quite
and his eyes are dark hazel and almost lifeless at times.’
‘Why do you think he has help?’ He asked
perplexed. ‘Specifically female help.’
‘I would expect the new Duchess to be installed
at Grosvenor Square when we arrive and she’s going to
be very put out.’
‘Do you have a suspect?’ and Richard’s face went
blank as he tried to take in what Kitty had surmised.
‘Yes, but I’m not prepared to reveal my
suspicions just yet.’
‘Just a minute! You said Duchess?’
‘Yes, that’s correct. Robin’s wife!’
‘But Robin isn’t married, is he?’
‘I would think his accomplice has insisted upon it
and as she’s as selfish as he is, it would have been a
prerequisite of her assistance.’ Kitty smiled
triumphantly. ‘It’s the only logical explanation for the
incidents all season. Robin was banished from the
residences and disinherited in February. Father
summoned Charles home in March and I had my first
ball the first week of March, when I received a chestful
of jelly. But the incidents only took place in a ballroom.
If it was a soirée, or a house party, nothing happened.
Robin could only camouflage himself in a crowded
ballroom, but in order to start his campaign of terror, he
needed an accomplice. And it has to be a woman;
otherwise the incident with the chamber pot couldn’t
have happened. So Robin’s cohort is a woman, probably
a titled lady who is thinking that she’s a duchess this
morning. I wouldn’t be surprised to find her lounging in
my father’s bed!’ she finished vitriolically. ‘And when I
get my hands around her throat, she’ll wish she hadn’t
listened to Robin’s proposal!’
‘I still don’t understand why Robin murdered
your father.’ Richard said with a shake of his head.
‘For the money, Silly.’ Kitty said and smiled
softly. ‘He was more likely to wait for my father to die in
a more natural way, like an accident, falling from his
horse or something like that. But Robin’s partner in
crime has insisted on the title now! And she is not a lady
to brook disappointment.’
‘You sound as if you know her really well.’
‘I do. At one time she was considered a best
friend,’ Kitty shook her head. ‘One of the Frilly Five, as
my father used to call us. But she did something
unforgivable.’ Richard raised his eyebrows in query. ‘It
was Millicent’s wedding day and “the duchess”, I’ll call
her that for now, was an attendant. Now Benjamin
Carter is a Marquis, like Charles and he will inherit the
Dukedom of Cumberland from his father, the incumbent
Duke.’ She looked at him squarely in the face, ‘the
duchess tried very hard to tempt the Marquis of Carlisle
into an indiscretion.’
‘The devil she did! Did Carlisle fall for it?’ Richard
asked, despite himself he was fascinated by this
revelation.
‘Not quite, but almost. Poor Benjamin suddenly
found himself alone in the Library with “the duchess”
and he was lucky that Millicent knew her so well. I saw
her follow Benjamin into the library and alerted
Millicent. We stood outside the door and listened to
Benjamin desperately try to extricate himself from a
difficult predicament. She blatantly harangued him for
sex and when he wouldn’t give in, she threatened to
tear her clothes and accuse him of raping her. Millicent
pushed me through the door, making him jump, but she
looked daggers at me, all I did was tell him Millicent was
looking for him and he scuttled out so fast you’d have
thought a demon was on his tail.’
‘What did “the duchess” say?’
‘Nothing, but I gave her a piece of my mind and I
think Millicent cut her dead and asked her to leave the
festivities. We haven’t spoken as such since.’ Kitty was
quiet for a moment. ‘That’s why she said it like that!’
she gasped and looked at Richard in triumph.
‘Said what?’ Richard asked.
‘I saw her at the ball they day before I met you.
When I was dowsed in claret. I saw her and she said “I
see you’ve had another little accident!” It was so
vitriolic that Charles asked me what was wrong with
her, but I managed to fob him off, now I think she knew
why I was sitting with a wine stain on my dress.’
‘Surely if Robin was at the ball you, your father
or Charles would have recognised him.’ Richard
ventured, thoughtfully.
‘Not necessarily. I once saw my father in his
robes for the House and he was wearing a white
powdered wig under his coronet. I didn’t recognise him
at all and screamed that there was a strange man in the
house. My mother laughed fit to burst and Robin called
me an idiot, but only after father had said “It’s me
Kitty!” did I recognise him. It wouldn’t take much for
Robin to change his appearance sufficiently to go
unnoticed.’ She sighed. ‘A white wig, a cushion under
his waistcoat, even some makeup, “the duchess” would
help him with that and he may have put on or lost some
weight since February.’
They felt the coach slow and heard George
calling to the horses. The carriage pulled up with a jerk
outside a coaching house and Richard opened the door
and jumped down. ‘Come along, my love. We can eat
something and stretch our legs.’ Kitty stepped out
beside him and pulled her skirt around her legs and the
cloak around her shoulders.
Once inside the Inn, the innkeeper set a feast of
bacon and eggs before them and they tucked in like
starving waifs. George stood at the bar and ate a bacon
sandwich, chatting with the innkeeper.
‘We’ll be in London by this afternoon, so long as
we don’t have some form of disaster.’ Richard
murmured as he filled his mouth with crisp bacon and
savoured the salty taste.
‘My Lady?’ George said softly and Kitty looked
up at her father’s favourite coachman.
‘Yes, George?’
‘The innkeeper told me that Robin Stafford
passed through here at daybreak and his brother
Charles was an hour behind him.’ George said softly. ‘I
thought he was dead?’ he asked plaintively.
‘We thought so too, George.’ She pushed a chair
out. ‘Have a seat and I’ll explain what my heartless
brother has done now.’
Richard listened to it all again as he finished his
food and was surprised that Kitty ate quite well for a
change.
‘Excuse me for saying so, Your Ladyship, but I
liked the Duke, we had some fun when we were young
and I’m going to miss him.’
Kitty laid her hand on his forearm. ‘I think we
will all miss him, George.’ She patted his arm. ‘How is
the coach fairing?’ She asked pertly.
‘I’ve got the lads greasing the axles Countess and
I checked all the tack at the last stop and replaced a
harness. So, touch wood,’ he stroked his fingers over
the table top, ‘we shouldn’t have a problem.’
‘That’s fine.’ Kitty said and drained her tankard.
‘Shall we make a move then?’ George nodded and left
with alacrity.
Richard helped Kitty into the coach and they got
settled quickly, within five minutes they were moving
again. Richard was quiet until after they’d left Great
Gonerby, just outside Grantham, behind them.
‘Charles is going to have my gizzard for this.’ He
muttered as the coach slowed for the inn at Great
Casterton, just outside Stamford.
‘He might have mine too, but I would rather face
Charles’s wrath, than know that I let you both walk into
a danger you weren’t prepared for and didn’t see.’ She
reached across the coach and stroked her hand over his
stubbly chin. ‘I would rather be here with you and face
the danger, than stay safe at Mickleton knowing that
you both could be stabbed in the back by that little
rapacious harlot!’
The carriage jerked to a standstill and Richard
stepped out to relieve himself in the pot room of the
Coach House. He sauntered across the yard on his way
back to the coach when he heard somebody call him.
‘Richard?’ a familiar voice shouted. ‘Damn me, it
is you!’
Richard turned to see his eldest brother, the
new Earl of Rutland striding out of the tap room.
‘Robert!’ Richard extended his hand and waited
for his brother to join him. They shook hands.
‘What the devil are you doing at Stamford?’
Robert asked his young sibling. ‘I thought you were up
in Durham?’
Richard smiled. ‘Let me introduce you to my
betrothed.’ He said and Robert spluttered into laughter.
‘Married? You? That’ll be the day!’
Richard opened the carriage door. ‘Lady Amelia
Stafford, meet my brother, Lord Robert Dunsmore, the
Earl of Rutland.’ He looked at his brother’s dumbstruck
expression and said to him. ‘Robbie, meet my future
wife, Kitty.’ Robert took Kitty’s hand and bowed over it
and she acknowledged with a nod.
‘You’re going the wrong way.’ Robert said
caustically. ‘Scotland is in the other direction.’
‘I have her father’s approval!’ Richard said
indignantly and made Kitty inhale sharply. ‘Well I did
before he was murdered yesterday.’ He said and
frowned.
‘Thomas Stafford was murdered?’ Robert
blurted in shock and Richard walked him across the yard
to relate the events from the previous day.
‘You should tell Charles to relax.’ Robert said
firmly. ‘There is absolutely no way for Robin Stafford to
take his father’s seat in the house of Lords without the
written proof that he hasn’t been disinherited.’ He
sighed. ‘If I know anything about it, I know this. When
our father died I had to produce his will, a sworn
affidavit that I am a legitimate child of the marriage and
a sworn statement from David that he wasn’t going to
contest the accession.’ He patted Richard on the
forearm. ‘The Lord Chancellor will already have all the
documents he needs to tell Robin Stafford where to go!’
He laughed coarsely. ‘The Duke will already have
furnished Eldon with a copy of his will and his
instructions for the title to go to Charles, so he
shouldn’t worry.’ Robert climbed into his carriage. ‘If
Robin’s being sought by the Runners for the killing of
the Duke of Albany, he won’t be at large for long.’ He
settled himself on the seat. ‘Shall I give your regards to
Isabelle?’
‘If you would.’ Richard said with a smile and
closed the door of the carriage.
‘Don’t forget to send me an invite to the
wedding otherwise Isabelle will never forgive you!’ and
he tapped on the roof with his stick. Richard watched
his brother’s carriage pull away and then Kitty called
him.
‘Richard, the carriage is ready!’ He turned
abruptly and strode back to her carriage and jumped
inside.