Beautiful Innocence by Beryl Matthews

Author:Beryl Matthews
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison and Busby
Published: 2023-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Two days had passed, and Hester knew the man kept checking to make sure she was still at the hotel and smiled to herself. Since talking with the hotel owners, a weight had been lifted from her. She had hated deceiving them, but now everything was in the open and that was a huge relief. It had also helped her to see that she wasn’t alone any more. Apart from her family, there were other people working to find the truth and make sure she was safe from further attacks.

‘Hester,’ Mr Colridge came into the small room she used as an office. ‘The Duke of Renton is in reception asking to see you.’

‘That didn’t take long, did it. I had better go and see what this is all about.’

‘We will be nearby to see he behaves himself.’

‘If he doesn’t, then I will use my defensive skills on him,’ she joked, making light of the visit although, to be truthful, she had been apprehensive ever since she’d found out he was searching for her.

She was smiling as she walked into reception.

‘You wish to see me, Your Grace?’ she asked politely.

‘I believe my wife paid you a visit.’

‘She did.’

‘Why?’

‘It was to express her concern for the way I had been treated, and to warn me that you and your son were planning to blacken my name.’

A flash of anger showed but was quickly controlled. ‘Anything else?’

‘She told me she was leaving to make a new life for herself.’

‘Did she say where she was going?’

‘No.’

‘I want you to come with me to the police station and make an official statement to that fact.’

‘I am not going anywhere with you unless you tell me why my meeting with your wife is of any interest to the police.’

‘That is none of your business.’

‘Then there is nothing more to say. Goodbye.’ She turned and began to walk away.

‘Wait! All right, I will explain.’ He waited until she was standing in front of him again. ‘A friend of my wife’s told the police that she is missing, and they have started an investigation. She stormed out the evening we dined with your father. My coachman said he took her to a hotel near London Bridge Station and left her there. When we enquired, they said one of their own drivers had taken her to your address the next day, then on to the station to catch a train. They didn’t know her destination. I need you to make a statement of your conversation with her.’

He must be very worried, or he would never have lowered himself to come here and ask this favour of her. ‘What good will that do?’

‘It will at least show she left of her own accord and did not suffer harm by my hands which, I suspect, they are doing their best to prove.’

‘I see.’

‘I know I am asking a lot of you, but I believe a statement from you will carry weight considering the circumstances between us. You are within your rights to refuse, but I have come personally in the hope of persuading you to do this.

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