Page 91 of A Misguided Devotion

After helping Kitty inside, William mounted the box seat next to his man. Within the hour, they passed over the bridge across the harbour which led into town, and the Golden Lion came into sight.

“Stop here, Keating, and we’ll walk the rest of the way. Take the carriage to the Duke’s mews, and I’ll send word when we’re ready to return to Portland.”

With Kitty on his arm, William strode down St Mary Street and stopped outside the church.

“There’s no time for this now. We should go straight to Mrs Jenkin’s house,” she said, pulling him forward, but he held his ground.

“Yes, there is. Mr Jenkin will not notice if his mother arrives a few minutes later.”

“I think we should leave it. I’m not sure I want to know.”

For a moment, William hesitated. Was he making a mistake forcing Kitty to find out the truth about her father’s birth?

“Sometimes we must be brave to face up to who we are. I’ll be right there beside you—whatever we learn. Coming?”

She nodded, and they entered the church building.

What was the worst they could discover? That her father was illegitimate? No matter what the baptismal record told them, they would deal with it together.

Chapter 26

Kitty clung to William’s arm. She was not sure she was ready for this. Would it hurt all over again to discover that Mrs Barrington had been telling the truth that her father had been conceived out of wedlock?

A man greeted them as they entered the building. “Lord Droxford, I believe,” he said with a bow.

“Have we met?” asked William, removing his hat and dipping his head in acknowledgement.

“No—but I am familiar with your sisters and parents, and the family likeness is pronounced. My name is Barnes, and I’m the curate here at St Mary’s. A friend of mine, Mr Rowson, works for the Duchess and informed me some weeks ago of your father’s elevation to the peerage and more recently, that you were in the vicinity. Would you be so kind as to introduce me to your companion?”

William brought her forward, and she dipped into a curtsey. “Miss Lacey.”

“What can I do for you? Are you wanting to have the banns read?”

Heat shot into Kitty’s cheeks at the man’s assumption, and she didn’t know where to look.

“Ah, my apologies. I have assumed wrongly. Let’s start again. How may I help you?”

“I wish we were employed on such a pleasant task, but alas, we only need to examine the records. Miss Lacey has recently come to live on Portland and understands that her father was born here, in Weymouth. We would like to see his baptismal record, if you please.”

Mr Barnes led them into a small room with a table and several chairs and bid them be seated while he fetched the church register.

He returned with a substantial book, which he laid down in front of them. “This should be the one we need. Baptisms on the left, and burials on the right. What year was he baptised?”

That was a good question. “I’m not certain. I was born in 1790, so let’s start in 1770 and work backward.”

“What was your father called?”

Another excellent question. “I know this sounds ridiculous, but I’m not sure. Not Lacey. At least, I don’t think so. That was my grandmother’s maiden name. I…um…was persuaded to adopt it recently when I was informed my grandfather was not, in fact, my papa’s sire.”

“I see. Your father was a child of an earlier marriage,” said Mr Barnes.

“I hope so. I’ve been told my grandmother was carrying another man’s baby when she met my grandfather. She claimed to be a widow, but his family believed otherwise.”

“Married or not, do you know what name she used if it wasn’t Lacey?”

Kitty’s shoulders sagged. “No.” Mrs Barrington could have told her, but she’d been so taken aback with the woman’s revelations she hadn’t thought to ask. “Oh dear. I fear we’re wasting your time. The only thing I have to go on is their Christian names. My father was Edward, like my brother, and his mother was called Catherine.”

“Don’t despair. We may yet find what you’re looking for,” said Mr Barnes, unperturbed by her lack of information. “Perhaps we’re starting in the wrong place. What do you know about your grandmother’s second marriage? If your father was baptised around the same time, there’s a good chance that wedding occurred here too.”