Page 31 of The Virgin Who Humbled Lord Haslemere
“How do you do, Mrs. Bury? My name is Georgiana Harley, and this gentleman is Lord Haslemere. I wonder if we might have a quick word with you in private.”
Before Georgiana even finished speaking Mrs. Bury had opened her mouth to refuse, but when she heard Lord Haslemere’s name she went still, a strange expression on her face. “The Earl of Haslemere? Brother to the Duchessof Kenilworth?”
Lord Haslemere exchanged a puzzled glance with Georgiana, then gave the housekeeper a brief nod. “Yes, Mrs. Bury. The same.”
She stared at him, then turned abruptly on her heel. “Aye. I suppose we’d best have a word, at that. This way, my lord, Miss Harley.”
She led them down the hall to a drawing room. It was beautifully appointed, the furnishings fine, but the grate was cold, and the drapes had been pulled tightly closed against the morning light. “We’re in a bit of a frenzy this morning, I’m afraid. I haven’t much time, but I’ll do what I can for you. Please do have a seat.”
Mrs. Bury gestured to a plush settee done up in extravagant yellow silk. Georgiana perched on the edge, and Lord Haslemere took a seat beside her. “As Miss Harley said, we’re sorry to trouble you,” he began. “But we’ve come on a matter of some importance—”
“I know why you’ve come, my lord.” Mrs. Bury sank down on a chair opposite the settee with the air of one who was weary to her bones. “You’re here because of that nonsense about the duchess and Lord Draven.”
Georgiana, who hadn’t expected such frankness, was taken aback. “You believe it to be nonsense, then? The rumor that Lord Draven and the duchess are…well, thatthey’ve been—”
“Adulterous sinners? Iknowit to be nonsense, Miss Harley. I’ve been Lord Draven’s housekeeper since he inherited the title, and I was his father’s housekeeper for fifteen years before that. His father was a decent, God-fearing gentleman, and so is his son, thecurrent earl.”
Georgiana studied Mrs. Bury for any signs of deception, but the woman’s gaze was steady, and she spoke with utter conviction, as if she hadn’t a shadow of doubt. “You, ah…you seem quite certain, Mrs. Bury.”
“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. It’s nothing but a vicious rumor meant to hurt his lordship and the duchess.” Mrs. Bury turned a sharp eye on Lord Haslemere. “I suppose you’ve come to pry into the business, and take Lord Draven to task. Well, you should be ashamed of yourself for asking, my lord. Lord Draven is a gentleman, and the duchess a respectable lady. They both deserve better.”
Lord Haslemere held up his hands. “I didn’t come here to accuse Lord Draven of anything, Mrs. Bury. I merely wish to speak to him. Surely, you can understand why I might be concernedfor my sister?”
Mrs. Bury’s green eyes remained as hard as stone. “And I’m sureyoucan understand my concern for my employer, my lord. I won’t sit here and allow his good name to be maligned. Not while I still have breath left in my body, leastways.”
Georgiana cleared her throat. Her next question wasn’t likely to endear them to Mrs. Bury, but it was one that must be asked. “The gossips claim the duchess was seen leaving this very townhouse, unaccompanied, at night. Did you ever happen to see her here at odd hours, or here alone with Lord Draven?”
“Well, I…I can’t say I never did see her, because lying is a despicable sin, but it was once or twice only, and the two of them as innocent of any wrongdoing as two babies. Why, they never left Lord Draven’s study!”
Georgiana thought the sins Mrs. Bury was referring to might be committed as easily in a study as a bedchamber, but she kept that opinion to herself. There was no sense in further offending the housekeeper. Mrs. Bury had already given them something useful. The Duchess of Kenilworthhadbeen here in Lord Draven’s townhouse, aloneand at night.
That part of therumor was true.
“But you see what comes of such ugly, wicked rumors, Miss Harley.” Mrs. Bury rose to her feet, her face flushed with emotion. “Someone must have believed them to be true, and now look what’s happened to hispoor lordship!”
Georgiana glanced from the tightly drawn drapes to Mrs. Bury’s grim face, and a cold prickle of dread started at the base of her spine. “Has, ah…has something happened to Lord Draven, Mrs. Bury?”
“You mean you don’t know?” All the anger seemed to drain from Mrs. Bury then, and she half sat, half collapsed onto the chair. “Lord Draven was set upon by a half-dozen villains several nights ago, and beaten to within an inch of his life. It’s a miracle he’s still alive.”
“Several nights ago?” Georgiana’s voice emerged in a faint whisper as all the breath fled her lungs.“When exactly?”
“Three nights ago.” Mrs. Bury let outa broken sigh.
Three nights ago? That meant…
Lord Draven had been attacked the same night the Duchess of Kenilworth came to the Clifford School. If it was a coincidence, it was a strange one. “We didn’t know,” Georgiana managed, herhead spinning.
At least,shehadn’t. She glanced at Lord Haslemere and saw the same shock she felt reflected on his face.
“Poor Lord Draven was left for dead.” Mrs. Bury shot an accusing glare at Lord Haslemere. “Mark my words, my lord. Whoever’s responsible for such a wicked, wicked act will be called upon to explain themselves to their Maker sooner or later, no matter how high they might think themselves.”
Lord Haslemere went very still. “Are you saying, Mrs. Bury,” he asked quietly. “You believeI’mresponsible for the attack on Lord Draven?”
“Well, someone did it, didn’t they? The way I see it, there are only two people in London bound to defend the duchess’s honor. One of them is her husband—an honorable man with a spotless character—and the other?” Mrs. Bury forgot her place entirely then, and pointed a shaking finger at Lord Haslemere. “The other’s her rakehell brother. Which of the two do you suppose is the most likely to have donesuch a thing?”
Georgiana stared at Mrs. Bury. Lord Haslemere was a rakehell, to be sure, but amurderer? “I beg your pardon, Mrs. Bury, but it’s terribly unjust of you to accuse his lordship of sucha heinous act.”
Mrs. Bury’s face went tight. “Mayhap it is, but I know this much. The Duke of Kenilworth never had a hand in it. He and Lord Draven went to school together, and you’ve never seen two boys who were closer friends than they were. I can’t tell you how many times the duke has visited at Draven House. All of London might believe what they like about Lord Draven and the duchess, but His Graceknows better.”
