Preview and Cover reveal – Worthy of her Love – Chapter 3

Happy Thursday!! We’re on Chapter 3 today and you finally get to see the cover which is after the chapter!  If you have not read Chapter 1 or Chapter 2 make sure you click on the links to catch up!

This is the fourth book in the Montford Cousins series with the last being Georgiana’s story as an honorary Montford cousin 😉 Release of Worthy of her Love is May 21st!

Today, we learn more about Henry! I’ll leave you to it!

Chapter 3

Upon his return, Henry saw the girls situated in the nursery with a maid before hastening back to his study. The girls were safe and home where they belonged but what the devil had transpired to leave them thus? He could not rest until he knew exactly what had occurred to leave them alone and vulnerable in the middle of Hyde Park. If Miss Montford had not happened upon them—well…he shuddered. Any sort of ill could have befallen them.

“Was that letter I gave you dispatched to the Bow Street Runners?” Taft gave a jolt at the snapped question, but at this moment, Henry could not care if he frightened his butler. By God, he would have answers!

“Yes, Your Grace! After your departure, we also sent for Lord Charles. We thought he would be of use.”

Henry gave a curt nod. Charles would most certainly be of use. His brother possessed an excellent memory and could be relied upon to keep this jumble of facts in some order. “A magnificent idea, Taft. Thank you.”

For the first time since he had returned from Brooks’s, his butler gave a hint of a smile. “I am pleased to be of aid, Your Grace.”

When Henry entered his study, his youngest brother sat at the desk with a piece of paper before him and a pen in hand. Most would likely bristle at the presumption of a younger brother sitting at the master’s desk, but from his first memories, Charles had always been Henry’s most trusted confidant.

“Good, you have returned. Were the girls well?” asked Charles as he lifted his gaze.

“Yes, they are unharmed and other than the fright they experienced at finding themselves alone and chilled to the bone in Hyde Park, they are no worse for wear. Thankfully, the Earl of Richmond’s granddaughter happened upon them and saw them to her grandfather’s home. I hesitate to think of what may have occurred had she not.”

“The lady showed a great deal of compassion.”

Henry dropped into one of the chairs across from his desk. How was he so wearied before nightfall—before dinner even? “And intelligent not to tarry in the park. Her maid and footman advised her to return home without delay, and she heeded their counsel.”

His brother blew out a breath. “As for what occurred, with Taft’s help, I have put together what we know. I do need to add whatever you learnt when you retrieved the girls, but I do believe we are prepared for when one of the investigators arrives.”

“I thank you for that.”

“The servants, including some of the grooms from the stables, are scouring the park for any trace of Miss Fletcher and your footmen.”

Henry propped his elbows on his knees and cradled his head in his hands. “I have had little time to consider why this occurred, but what if—”

“What if Simon orchestrated this?”

His head popped up. “You have considered…?

“Of course, I have,” said Charles. “Simon has never made a secret of his desire to be duke. His ambition knows no bounds, despite the fact that he is lazy and would run the properties tied to the dukedom into ruin.”

“My will is worded in such a way that he will only receive what is tied to the dukedom. The rest is to be held in trust for Emme and Jules. You are named their guardian. If anything happens to me, I have entrusted you to ensure they receive what they are due and to protect their interests. Simon will fight the will, I am certain of it, but my solicitor assures me he can do naught about yours and my daughters’ portions.”

His brother sighed and sat back in the chair. “You mentioned once I would be guardian—I believe after Marina’s death—but I am honoured you believe me capable of raising your daughters. I would never let you down.”

“Which is why I selected you. I know you love the girls as much as I do.”

“I know you hate when I mention it, but you do require a son.”

Henry scrubbed his face and groaned. “Yes, I know, but I have had little time to consider the matter since Father died and I became duke. Father forced my hand when it came to proposing to Marina, and I shall not make that mistake again. I shall wed a lady of my choosing this time.”

“How will you decide?” asked Charles. “Simon attends a large number of the balls and routs. If you seek to find a bride through those means, he could scheme a lady of his acquaintance into your company. We know he has done so before.”

“Your Grace! Your Grace!”

He and Charles rose and rushed to the hall as Taft nearly skidded to a halt before them.

“Good God, what is it, man?”

“Miss Fletcher has been found. The grooms just brought her ’round to the servants’ entrance.”

“Is she well?” Henry started for the passage to the kitchen. He was not about to sit and wait. He would discover what he could, and he would do so now!

“She has been beaten badly but awake.”

Charles followed him to the kitchens where Miss Fletcher had been set in a chair by the fire. He paused at the sight of her. Good Lord! Her face was bloody and bruised.

“Oh, Your Grace! The girls!” She choked out a sob. “The girls! I do not know what became of them! Are they well?”

“They are safe and in the nursery. Do you know what happened?”

His housekeeper stepped up to the governess and began dabbing gently at Miss Fletcher’s cheek with a damp cloth. The pungent odour of brandy filled the air as the lady winced.

“One moment, the girls were watching the swans on the Serpentine, and the next, someone seized me from behind—lifted me off the ground with a hand over my mouth so I could not scream. I would have told the children to run, but his palm was so tight, I could not make a sound.”

Miss Fletcher was not a tall woman, but the man would have to be a decent size to lift her so. “What of Adam and John? Do you know what became of them?”

She shook her head. “When the arms released me, I found he had carried me into a wooded part of the park. I meant to fight if I could, but a hard blow to my face put me on the ground. I swear, Your Grace, I tried to get away, but after he struck me twice more, I knew no more until one of the grooms awakened me with salts in the mews.”

Charles’s mouth was drawn in a straight line. “They would need at least three men to subdue two footmen and Miss Fletcher, but why did they not take the girls at the same time?”

After shrugging, Henry ran his fingers through his hair. “Maybe they did not have enough men? They removed my servants, then returned for the girls, but either they were not there, or Miss Montford and her servants were.”

“If so, they were woefully inept. They had already removed your servants. Why not do the same to Miss Montford and her companions?”

“I do not know.”

“Thank God Lady Emmeline and Lady Juliana are safe,” said Miss Fletcher. She lifted a hand to carefully wipe her cheek and Henry’s stomach turned. The woman’s knuckles were bruised and swollen. She must have fought with all she had in an effort to escape and return to his daughters.

“Mrs. Tanner, pray, send for the apothecary to see to Miss Fletcher. That bruising will require willow bark or laudanum for the pain. She also injured her hands while fighting back.”

“Good God,” said Charles under his breath. His brother had turned white as he stared at Miss Fletcher’s battered hands.

“Your Grace!” When they turned, Taft stood at the entrance to the kitchen. “An investigator is here.”

“See Miss Fletcher to her room. She is to receive whatever care she requires.” She could have been the only reason his daughters were upstairs safe and sound.

“Yes, Your Grace,” said Mrs. Tanner.

He waved to his brother. “Come. I want whoever is responsible for this found. You will be far more reliable when it comes to recounting what has occurred than me. I fear my ire is too great to do the facts justice.”

~*~

Charles poured two glasses of brandy and passed Henry one before sitting on the couch in front of the fire. The investigator had spent hours interviewing the servants, his daughters, as well as Miss Fletcher about what had happened in Hyde Park. Before departing, he had said he would be stopping at Richmond House to speak to Miss Montford and her servants as well.

Now that the search for the responsible party had begun, he should feel a sense of relief. At least, he would assume so. Instead, the unforgiving tightness of his stomach would not relent, and the throbbing of his head persisted. Brandy might not help, but what if the strong liquor helped relax what had remained tense since his arrival home this morning? That seemed like days ago now.

A deep, bracing inhale was of little aid. If Simon had even one pinkie finger involved in this scheme, he would ruin him. His younger brother was popular among those who enjoyed a lively party. Due to his lavish parties and his questionable reputation with the ladies, Simon’s character was well known, but not as a criminal or one who exhibited such avarice. None would believe him capable of harming two little girls. They did not know him as Charles and Henry did.

Hell, their father did not truly know him either! After all, it was his father’s friendship with William Pitt the Younger and Lord North that had given Simon his title[1]. The late duke could not bear for his favourite to go through life untitled. What a farce!

“Do you know where Simon is?” Henry took a gulp of his brandy. The strong bite of the liquor would do him good.

“I know he is in town. He is surely living at Bathwick House.”

That much, Henry was certain of. Simon, the Earl of Bath as he had been titled, had spent a prodigious amount of money renovating Bathwick House into an overdone monstrosity. Charles often compared the expense and the lavishness to Prinny’s Pavilion in Brighton, although on a smaller scale of course. While Simon had an inheritance from their father to aid in his plans, he certainly spent his last sixpence on the endeavour. How Simon had not found himself forced to retrench, Henry knew not.

His brother rubbed a hand up and down one thigh. Charles always did that when he was ill at ease. “What will you do?”

Henry shrugged and shook his head. “I cannot do much unless I have proof. In the meantime, I must find men to protect the girls when they leave this house. I shall not make them prisoners.”

“The investigator gave you a name, did he not?”

“He did. I shall make an enquiry on the morrow.” Henry winced. “I do wish we had some word of Adam and John. Their disappearance makes them seem part of the scheme.”

Charles propped an elbow on the back of the couch. “I do not believe Adam would be complicit. You forget the physician you sent to treat his mother as well as giving her a place in the kitchen at Clitheroe. He will be loyal. In addition, his sister is also the maid you left with the girls when they returned if you have forgotten the relation. I believe he would defend Emmeline and Juliana to the death. He has never, in my presence, spoken poorly of you—quite the opposite in fact.”

After pinching the bridge of his nose rather firmly, Henry growled. “Yes, you are correct of course. In the moment of my return, I had actually entrusted Lettie with the girls because she was Adam’s sister. This is all frustrating as hell, and I am spitting out whatever comes to mind in an effort to find answers. If this is Simon, he would never commit the act himself. How am I supposed to protect my daughters when I do not know who I am protecting them from?”

“What do you know of John? I know he is relatively new to the household.”

He dropped his head onto the back of the sofa. “I remember he started last year. We would have to ask Mrs. Tanner of how she came to hire him. He once mentioned he was from Shropshire, but I do not recall him making mention of his family.”

Charles took a sip of his drink. “I suppose we shall have to wait to determine if he was a part of it. We do need to keep watch to ensure the servants are all loyal. If you are suspicious of anyone, it would be best to have Mrs. Tanner keep an eye on them now rather than waiting until later. In the meantime, I doubt Simon will come to the house.

“You also need to distance the dukedom as far as you can from Simon. The further he is relegated from the Albemarle title and fortune, the better. I am of the hope he will abandon his pursuit altogether.”

“Yes, you mentioned earlier my need of an heir. You have mentioned it many times in the past year.” He was sick to death of the reminders.

“Well, then why do you not act? You should be seeking a wife instead of hiding away as you are. Do you have any plans for the season?”

After pressing the heel of his hand to his temple in a futile attempt to stop the pounding within, he shook his head. “I do not wish to attend balls and endure the mamas vying for my attention, yet if I do not, my title and all that accompanies it is Simon’s when I die.” He wished to marry for more than connexion and fortunes this time.

“Or his son’s.”

“Simon has to marry and sire his own heir for that to happen. I could hope you marry and sire a son instead.”

His brother’s shoulders jumped as he released a slight bark. “I have yet to find a lady who finds me tolerable.”

Henry scoffed and dropped his head back once again. The throbbing in his temples had not relented. “Pray, do not pretend the ladies do not like you. I have witnessed every evidence to the contrary, and as much as you prefer to feign ignorance of your good looks, you know quite well you were blessed in that regard.”

“As were you, Brother.”

“Regardless, I can do nothing until after Friday.”

Charles’s eyebrows drew together a hair. “Why is that?”

“I have invited the Earl of Richmond and his family to the opera. I would be a rude host indeed if I invited them then attempted to make the acquaintance of eligible ladies while they watched.”

“You do make a point.” He wagged a finger. “What of the granddaughter you mentioned? Could she be a possibility? The Richmond earldom is an old and prestigious title. They are also known for their dedication to family and upstanding character; their rescue and return of Jules and Emme are proof of their goodness. An alliance between their family and ours could be beneficial.”

With a lift of is eyebrows, Henry faced his brother. “You make an interesting suggestion. The Montfords also align themselves with families who are known for similar traits. One granddaughter is wed to Darcy of Pemberley and the other married the heir to the Greene Baronetcy. It is no secret the current baronet has made his holdings solvent after inheriting from his father who was as dissolute as they come. Father may have managed to build upon the wealth of the dukedom, yet he did us no favours with our family’s reputation.”

“Yes, but would the Earl of Richmond hold that against you?” Charles’s chin hitched back some. “Or are you seeking excuses because you would rather kiss your horse than his granddaughter?”

“What? No! I had not the opportunity to speak to her for long, but she is a handsome lady and was exceptional with the girls. Jules was asleep in her arms when we entered the room.” Her head had been resting against Miss Montford’s breasts—the breasts he inadvertently brushed with this hand. His cheeks warmed, and he cleared his throat. “I had not considered…”

Charles downed the last of his brandy. “Perhaps you should speak to her more when they accompany you to the opera. If she suits, the courtship would not be as torturous as seeking a lady from that endless litany of balls and routs you mentioned.” He did have a point.

“I suppose you are right.”

“I know I am right.”

With a turn of his head, Henry caught his brother’s gaze. “And what if I make her a target for some scheme of Simon’s?”

“We are not certain this was Simon.”

“Yet, you mean.”

Charles grimaced. “Sometimes I wish he had never been born.”

As much as their father had adored Simon, their brother had used most of his machinations to remain their father’s favourite. Simon taking his place at Bathwick after their father died had been a day to remember. Henry and Charles had opened a bottle of Port and put themselves in their cups celebrating their brother’s removal.

“I know. I suppose now all we can do is wait and see.” Ugh! He despised waiting.

[1] Nearly 400 titles were created during the reign of George III. William Pitt the Younger and Lord North were the most liberal at bestowing peerage dignities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_British_peerage

And the cover!

Some interesting theories have been thrown out! What do you think happened?