Lord Augustus (Sons of the Marquess Book 3) by Mary Kingswood

Author:Mary Kingswood [Kingswood, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sutors Publishing
Published: 2018-01-16T06:00:00+00:00

16: Churlswade

Gus’s burst of excitement subsided at once. “No, it is impossible,” he said firmly. “Ned cannot be the heir, and the marriage cannot be legal, for why would the duke be looking for a wife himself in such a case? No, we must be mistaken on that point. Perhaps he promised to marry her, but was called away to the Peninsula in a hurry? There would have been no time to call the banns, or to obtain a special licence from London.”

“But a common licence is much easier to obtain,” Merton said. “A man in a hurry might achieve his object and be married within a day, I should imagine. Even here in the depths of Northumberland, there must be a bishop within a few hours’ ride. And I cannot believe that Lord Edward would leave a lady possibly carrying the heir to a dukedom without ensuring that the marriage was legal. He could not depend on returning soon enough to ensure the child’s legitimacy. The risk would be too great. There is another possibility… but no, that cannot be.”

“What do you mean?”

“No, no, I am mistaken, I am sure.”

He looked so uncomfortable, and that was so uncharacteristic of the man, that Gus was alarmed. “You had better tell me at once what is in your mind, Merton,” he said grimly. “Do not make me choke it out of you.”

“Only this,” he said, spreading his hands helplessly. “One possible explanation is that Ned is not Lord Edward’s son at all, but Mrs Walsh is claiming he is to obtain shelter from the duke.”

“She is lying, you mean,” he said coldly, getting to his feet and kicking the log again, which disintegrated under his boot. With a huff of annoyance, he pulled another log from the basket and hurled it at the fire, which collapsed almost to embers under the onslaught.

Was it possible? How well did he know Mrs Walsh anyway? All he knew of her was what she had told him herself, and his own observations. Could he have been deceived in her?

“My instinct is to believe her,” he said slowly, considering this new idea. “She appears to be so artless and sincere, it would be a cynical man indeed who would look for deceit. And yet… I know nothing of her. We have no common acquaintance, she has no kin, no one who could vouch for her honesty. Her history may be entirely fabricated for all I know. It is not a strong foundation for marriage, is it? I could not possibly marry her, knowing so little of her. I do not even know her name!” he said, horrified. “She calls herself Mrs Edward Walsh, but there is no Edward Walsh that I have found. Who then is she?”

“Then your task is clear,” Merton said. “You must go to this town where she lived and see what may be found out.”

~~~~~

Gus made no attempt to sleep that night, for he was quite certain that it would elude him.

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