What the Duke Wants by Amy Quinton

Author:Amy Quinton [Quinton, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781622101849
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Published: 2015-01-26T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

A Posting Inn on the way to London…

Later that afternoon…

Stonebridge swirled his drink as he warmed his feet by the fire. He was in a private parlor at a posting inn en route to London. His long legs were stretched out before him and resting on the bars of the iron fender. He was only stopping for a short rest and food while his coachmen exchanged the tired carriage horses for fresh stock.

He was travelling to his London residence, having exhausted his interviews and his search of Stonebridge Park. And he was trying hard not to think of Grace and Cliff traveling to Oxford and then on to London together…quite unsuccessfully. Frustrating that.

He set down his glass in defeat and picked up the book he had started. He refused to allow his thoughts to go there. Again. He needed something to do, something to engage his mind.

He had just reread the same paragraph for the fifth time, and he still didn’t know what it said, when someone knocked on the parlor door. He placed his mark in the book and called out, “Enter.”

A messenger, clearly road-weary and dusty, burst into the room. “Your Grace, I have a message for you from Lord Dansbury.”

He was relieved for the distraction and wasted no time accepting the missive. He tore it open:

Ambrose,

Store and residence closed and swept. Property to be auctioned Friday next via Mr. Edward Banks, Esq; Oxford. Our mutual friend is distraught.

Found key to unknown Lockbox in L. Off to L to retrieve contents. Miss R to follow with Aunt H.

Cliff

He stared off into space and remained that way for an awkward minute before he acknowledged the waiting footman.

“That will be all, thank you.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

He tossed the missive into the fire, his thoughts awhirl. This was an unexpected maneuver for Swindon: not surprising, per se, just bold. He knew his next logical move was to make for London with all due haste, but Oxford wasn’t too terribly far away. Especially on horseback, was it?

Yes. It was. Particularly since he was needed in London. The contents of this lockbox could well hold the key to solving everything. He repeated that mantra over and over again in his mind as he sought out his valet, Bryans, outside.

“Bryans, gather everyone and send them on ahead to London.”

“Very good, Your Grace. But where are you going?”

“I am going to Oxford. Follow when you can. I’ll take rooms at the Oxford Arms.”

Aaah…To hell with logic.

* * * *

Oxford…

The next morning…

Grace walked along High Street and peered into every shop front along the way. Not that she needed to buy anything, mind, and she was certainly staying away from the end where her father’s shop had been. No, the window shopping was all a ploy, really, to distract herself from herself—or her chaotic thoughts at any rate. It wasn’t working. She looked in the storefront windows and tried to focus on the items on display, but they didn’t really register in her mind. Other thoughts obsessed her.

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