Duke of Renown (Dukes of Distinction Book 1) by Alexa Aston

Author:Alexa Aston [Aston, Alexa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2021-02-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Sir William returned to Falmouth to retrieve a couple of men, worried that Francis would give them trouble and wanting to have extra support. The magistrate also noted that he wished to call on his counterpart in Devon and bring him to Windowmere when they confronted Francis. Though the crimes had been committed in Sir William’s jurisdiction, he thought it best to inform the local magistrate of the crimes Francis had been accused of and explain that he would be taken back to Cornwall.

Andrew changed clothes, shedding those he’d worn for over two weeks, and instructing Martin to burn them. In a way, he hated to see his so-called smuggler’s clothes gone. They were how Phoebe knew him, not in his superfine coat and buckskin breeches that he now donned. He asked for his carriage to be readied and learned Francis had taken it to Windowmere. It stuck in Andrew’s craw that the blackguard had claimed the ducal coach and the title and how he now tried to take everything away from the true Duke of Windham.

“Saddle Mercury for me,” he ordered, not willing to wait on Rankin and his men. He also instructed the housekeeper to care for the cat he’d brought home, telling her he would send for Caesar once things were more settled.

It would take a good day to reach Windowmere from Moreland Hall. It was almost three o’clock in the afternoon now and he’d have to stop for the night on the road. It didn’t matter. The sooner he reached home, the sooner he could end the fraud being perpetrated upon his family.

As the leagues went by, his thoughts continually returned to Phoebe. How distressed she would be, learning of her beloved sister’s illness. He hoped she reached London in time and was able to nurse Letty back to health as well as she’d nursed him. Phoebe had never spoken of any other family. She would be devastated if she lost her sister.

He also thought of ways to find her. The leasing agent would have the contract she’d signed. Hopefully, somewhere on the document it would list her former residence or next of kin. If it didn’t, the task of finding her in a city the size of London would prove to be monumental. It didn’t matter, though. He would find her. No matter where she was. He might even use the Bow Street Runners to do so, amazed at Francis’ gall of calling them in to look for the very man he had murdered.

Andrew arrived late at an inn and took the only room available. He ate in the tavern downstairs, a thick chowder and roasted chicken leg, along with half a loaf of dark bread and a tankard of ale. When he finished, he visited the stables again, checking on Mercury. The horse had held up well, despite the fact he’d been pushed hard by his rider. By getting to rest overnight, he should be able to ride the mount all the way to Windowmere in the morning.

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