The Duke's Predicament by Fenella J Miller

Author:Fenella J Miller
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2020-08-31T18:00:00+00:00

Hannah was disappointed that her brief intimacy with her grace had ended in this way. What she didn’t say was that she actually had no intention of hiding away somewhere, but intended to travel immediately to Spain and find him. They could be married by the company padre and she was confident there would be no need for banns to be called in such circumstances.

She expected at any moment to have his grace stride in and try and dissuade her from leaving but she’d completed her packing with the help of her new maid undisturbed. She wrote a polite letter of thanks to both of them, wrote another to Beth saying goodbye, and was ready to depart.

Ellie had been pleased to be offered the opportunity to accompany her so she wouldn’t be entirely alone on her journey. She wasn’t sure the girl would be quite so happy when she discovered where they were actually going.

She exited through the side door not wishing to draw attention to her departure. To her surprise and delight John, Patrick’s valet, was waiting to hand her into the carriage.

‘Her grace said I was to come with you, miss, and I’m happy to do so. Do you wish me to travel on the box?’

‘No, come inside with us.’ The coachman waited to be told in which direction to go and she said to head for Colchester.

She bit her lip as they drove through the gates of Radley Manor for the last time. If she hadn’t gone to Patrick on his final night none of this would be happening but she still didn’t regret her impulsive decision.

‘Now, I’ve something to tell both of you. I intend to go to Spain and find my betrothed so we can be married immediately. He wouldn’t take me with him but I refuse to wait at home when I don’t know how long he might be away. If you don’t wish to accompany me abroad then I’ll give you coins for your journey back to Radley when we arrive in Colchester.’

Instead of answering John dipped into his pocket and tossed over a heavy purse. ‘Her grace didn’t say so in so many words, miss, but I got her drift. She said to give you this with her love and blessing.’

Ellie nodded vigorously. ‘I’ve always wanted to see the world, I’ll keep you looking neat as a pin wherever we are, Miss Westley.’

*

Patrick soon had the recalcitrant troops in order and marched them more or less in time onto the ship and saw them stowed below. He barked his orders at the unfortunate corporals and was confident they were sufficiently in awe of him not to cause any further trouble.

Lieutenant Digby wouldn’t succeed in his chosen career unless he toughened up. On the journey he would endeavour to instil some much-needed wisdom into the young man. The new troops would have had some rudimentary training before embarkation, but a junior officer had none at all and had to learn on the job.

They were fortunate that the journey was accomplished in relative comfort.

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