Red brick covered in ivy with chipped white window frames revealed how long this house had been neglected. According to Roman, it had been used by his great-uncle to house a hidden mistress. Mary had no idea, and neither of them had any inclination to tell her about her father-in-law’s indiscretions.
Sunlight dappled through the trees and the stillness of the countryside was only occasionally disturbed by the odd rustle in the trees or a bird swooping past. Despite being a mere half an hour from Bath, it seemed as though they were in the middle of nowhere. Clem could not help but wonder how it must have felt to be a mistress hidden away all alone here.
“I cannot say. It’s Roman’s business.” Clem ignored her sister’s intense look.
“It’s Roman now, is it? What happened to loathing him for all eternity for what he did to our brother?”
“I’m not certain he was really involved,” Clem murmured.
“He’s why we are practically banned from London!”
Shaking her head, Clem looked to Lily. “You cannot blame him for our brother’s actions. Nor for Papa throwing up on Lady Beaumont’s shoes—”
“Well, that was the bad fish.”
“And stealing the Prince Regent’s dog?”
Lily rolled her eyes. “We all know that was an accident. He wouldn’t have followed us into our carriage if he was a better-behaved dog.”
“He was lovely, though,” Clem said wistfully.
Lily sighed. “He really was.”
“Anyway, my point is, we cannot blame Roman for any of the other things that had us turned into outcasts.” Clem stopped at the front gate of the cottage and tussled with the rusted bolt keeping it shut. “Besides, you never cared for London.”
“Well, no but they have the best horse races there, and Bath is quiet outside of the Season.”
“Maybe one day we shall be accepted back.” The bolt finally gave way and Clem shoved the gate open, wincing as it creaked on its hinges. She followed an uneven stone path to the front door and peered in through murky glass to see nothing but shadows.
“Do we even have a key?”
Clem glanced over her shoulder. “Unfortunately, no. Roman wasn’t even aware this house existed until recently and Duke could find no more information about it from the deeds.
“Oh, so that’s why you visited Sir Marmaduke? Violet reckoned you might be attracted to the man.”
Clem snorted. “He’s wonderful to talk to but such a rake.”
“Such a rake,” Lily agreed.
“Anyway, I asked him for the address and I’m not certain why, but he gave it to me.” She shook her head as she recalled Duke’s strange smile after he’d almost caught her and Roman together. She’d rather anticipated having to argue for the information considering it was technically nothing to do with her. “But here we are.”
“I can knock the door down if I need to, I reckon.”
Eyeing her sister with a raised brow, Clem shook her head. Lily was an excellent horsewoman and sportsperson in general, and about the most physically strong woman she knew, but even knocking a wooden door down was beyond her strength.
“Let’s just see...” Clem twisted the knob and the door opened with a groan of protest. “No need for any displays of strength.”
“Shame.”
“Now all we need to do...” Clem batted a cobweb from the entrance way as she stepped into the gloomy hallway. Though neglected, elegant furnishings remained inside the cottage, and she spied several paintings hanging perfectly on peeling wallpaper. A shiver threaded through her.
“…is find this letter,” Lily finished for her. “Let’s see if there’s a study. All men need studies even if they are here to...you knowwith their mistresses.”
“Men are strange creatures.
“Agreed. I’ll go left.” Lily darted off before Clem could argue with her.
She would have preferred they remained together. The shadowy recesses made her skin crawl. She went right rather than admit to her sister the building gave her the jitters and headed into a parlor room that then led into a well-furnished kitchen.