Violet made a vague sound of agreement. She couldn’t picture Duke with some sort of meek, mild debutante at his side. He needed someone who could push him, maybe even argue with him on occasion.
Ivy gave her a nudge and Violet blinked.
“The housekeeper was asking how we knew Marmaduke,” her sister murmured.
Violet dragged her gaze from the painting. “We, um, reside in Bath most of the year.” She caught her sister’s frown, but Violet couldn’t quite fathom how to explain their presence here when Duke’s father was meant to be staying with them this very Christmas without giving anything away.
“Funnily enough, Sir William just left for Bath.” The housekeeper smiled. “You only missed him by three days.”
“Oh what a coincidence,” Violet said, ignoring her sister’s eye roll. “Tell me, will you receive word from Sir William that he has arrived safely?”
“Well, no.” The woman peered at Violet down her nose, the warmth in her expression swiftly gone. “Why do you ask, my lady?”
“I was, um—” Violet threw a panicked look her sister’s way.
“The roads are a little muddy,” Ivy said swiftly. “Our carriage was nearly stuck many times. We were just hoping nothing like that had happened to Sir William”
The housekeeper’s face softened. “Oh goodness no. Sir William’s driver returned yesterday morning, having deposited him at his son’s house.” She smiled. “I enjoy having them here at Christmas, but all of the servants shall appreciate a quieter one I should imagine. Not that my master or his son are any trouble, you understand. They are so quiet and easy to look after.”
Violet tried to imagine Duke being quiet—maybe strolling through the estate lands or sitting by the fire with a whisky in hand and struggled. The man practically vibrated with energy which was precisely why he made such an excellent dance partner. Few men could keep up with her. It seemed she did not know everything about him after all.
“Let me show you the rest of the house then you may take a stroll through the gardens if you wish. It’s frightfully cold, though, so do not linger long.”
The desire to ask more burned on Violet’s tongue. They had their answer as to where Duke’s father was last seen but there was little more information that could be gained from the housekeeper. Unless one counted what she might have to say about Duke. As close as they were, there were a few things they never talked of—one of them being Duke’s family. This woman would know all surely.
Violet shook her head to herself. Now was not the time to be pondering Duke and his past...nor his present. They needed to figure out what had happened to Duke’s father and with any luck, find out where he was being held.
Duke was many things and if one did not know him, one would think him a man of few morals. Violet knew differently. He couldn’t, in good conscience, defend a criminal. And with Duke’s skills as a lawyer, Doyle could well get away with murder. No wonder Doyle’s son wanted Duke to help.
They finished the tour of the house, and the housekeeper left them to stroll about the gardens. They followed a path around the perfectly symmetrical flower beds lined with tiny, maze-like hedges. In the center of it all stood a stone fountain of impressive size. When they walked slightly too close, freezing drops of water splattered upon Violet’s coat so they moved farther away.
“I feel like we should have asked her more,” said Ivy. “Or even told her of the situation.”
“Duke did not want me even investigating this. He all but banned me.”
“Yet you came anyway.”
“Well, I could hardly sit idle and, need I remind you, we all agreed to do this.” Violet looped her arm through Ivy’s and tugged her close. “You are as much a party to this as me now.”
“I’m taking no blame for this when we return home.”
“Duke won’t notice I’m gone.”
Violet caught Ivy’s smirk from the corner of her eye.
“Oh he will notice, of that I am certain. The man notices you wherever you go.”
“Well, we’re good friends. We enjoy spending time together.” Violet kept her gaze on the path ahead carving a straight line back toward the house.
“Oh yes. Good friends. Funny how none of my good friends look at me the way Duke looks at you.”
Violet’s cheeks warmed despite her best efforts. Why did her silly body have to betray her? There was no reason to feel warm and fuzzy about Duke and how he may or may not look at her. Especially not now. There were far more important things to worry about.
“We should speak with the driver,” Violet declared. “It seems sensible to find out if he saw anything do you not think?”
Her sister sighed, though Violet wasn’t certain why she sounded frustrated.
“Yes,” Ivy agreed. “Very sensible indeed.”