"You are very cheerful this morning," Gills accused Maddox, as he reached for the toast rack.
Maddox had been staring into his cup, seeing the lovely Miss Kilbrierry—no... Emily—rather than his morning coffee. What a kiss that had been! And soon... With some effort, he straightened his lips.
"It was a pleasant evening yesterday. Didn't you think so?"
"Apart from the nasty widow." Gills agreed. "Did you enjoy your drink with the baron and his lovely daughter?"
And the walk in the garden afterwards... Maddox caught back another fatuous smile.
"Quite. I heard you telling Julia about Vanderberg's offer," he said, to change the subject. "Does this mean you are going to take the job?"
"One has to have something to do to fill the days, does one not? And Vanderberg is a capital fellow."
Maddox stifled a chuckle. "I see."
"My lord," came from the doorway, "you have a visitor, two visitors, in fact. Lord Stocke and Lord Piero D'Alvieri." The butler who came with the house handed over their calling cards on a silver tray.
"That was fast," Maddox muttered. "You might as well stay here, Gills. Whatever they have to say involves you, too."
"You can't keep me away, Mad." Gills took a seat in an armchair.
"Lord Joseph Gildeforte!" Stocke said when he walked in the room, even before he greeted his brother. "That answers that question. Can we assume you have Lady Athol Soddenfeld with you?"
"You could assume it," Gills said, "but you'd be wrong."
"We know where she is, in any case, and it is good to see you, too, brother." Maddox said. With a nod toward Piero, he said, "And you, Lord Piero. Do you come as emissary from the duke?"
"Indeed. I am to bring Lady Athol back to England to her family."
"She will not go," Gills said, offering around cups for coffee while Maddox gave directions to the butler.
"She might go," Maddox amended, once the servant was on his way to bring back pastries and fresh coffee and tea. "She is concerned, as we all are, about what's happened with Lord Athol."
"Aye," Stocke said, but not until the butler had cleared the doorway and shut the door. "Rightly concerned, but she's got the full weight of her family behind her. No one who knows her believes her at fault. But if she doesn't come back while the duke manages things, she'll never be able to come back again. She'll be a fugitive. He can buy her some time, but not forever."
Piero added, "With no offense intended, Gills, the same goes for you. Both of you need to answer questions, but both of you have the full force of the Wellbridges, and all of their barristers, behind you."
Gills objected on Julia's behalf. "Her family certainly wasn't behind her a few months ago."
Piero had an answer. "That was the work of the old duke and duchess. The new Wellbridge and his bride do not wish to maintain that grudge. The duke is anxious Lady Athol be returned to them unharmed, so she might take her place in the family again. No one wishes harm to Lady Athol."
"She goes by Julia here. Julia Marloughe," Gills corrected. "She won't thank you for calling out her title or her former husband's name. And she's set a path for herself. She is not going to return with you willingly."
"Then she will return with me unwillingly," Piero said flatly. "For she will be in the presence of the Duke of Wellbridge in as expedient a manner as possible, if she must be bound hand and foot to do it."
"Wait a moment," Maddox said. "You haven't that sort of control over Lady Julia's life, no matter who you might represent. She must have the choice whether to return or not. I'm quite convinced of it." Piero just stared, agreeing to nothing.
Stocke spoke up. "No one will be abducting Lady Athol—Lady, er, Julia. We simply must speak with her, as we are speaking with you: as quickly as possible. You really both must return. Maddox, you may stay or go, but I must think there will be questions about how they removed from England. Your testimony might be needed."
"This is quite inconvenient," Maddox complained. "I've just agreed to several more events with Miss Kilbrierry, and I had decided to stay here for the summer. Lady Julia has just taken a job, and Gills is on the verge of it."
"What?" Piero exclaimed. "Lady Julia has taken a job? Doing what?"
"Lady's companion to a famed violinist. It is quite a prestigious position, as these things go."
Stocke's eyes goggled. "Lady Athol Soddenfeld is working as a lady's companion. And Lord Joseph? You are about to take a position? Have you turned American? What are your career plans, pray tell?"
"It's nothing. No decisions have been made. Let us return to the subject of our legal situation."
"I'm afraid we do not know much," Stocke said, "as the crowd of us at Toadstone Hall split up to advance your cause separately. Gills, your brother and Lady Julia's father went to London to understand the legal options and engage what legal help you need. Your brother said to assure you he would release your trust upon his arrival. I am to provide you funds for your immediate needs and travel. The same for Lady Julia at the expense of the Wellbridges."
"There are many people working on your behalf in England," said Piero. "I expect letters may find us here shortly with more information, but our mandate is to bring you home without delay."
"I'm afraid there will be a delay, gentlemen," Maddox explained without apology. "We all have plans in the works here in New York for a time. We can blame it on bad weather or my intransigence or anything else you like, but it will be at least a few weeks before we can leave New York, if not longer. For my part, I have commitments through the end of the month."
"I do not think Lady Julia will agree to leave at all," Gills repeated. "I do not believe she ever intends to return to England. I do not think the threat of banishment will get you the result you want."
"Would you suggest an alternative, Lord Joseph?" Stocke asked.
"I would suggest," Maddox pronounced, "you leave Lady Julia alone. She is happy where she is and has found a real sense of purpose. It is quite admirable, really. Supply her with funds of her own, so she needn't work unless she wishes it, but let her find her way in America as Julia Marloughe. It is the kindest thing you can do. You know she is beyond ruined in England, even if she were smart enough to accept Gills' proposal, which she does not seem to be—oh, Gills, my apologies."
Stocke and Piero both seemed knocked speechless by that piece of news.
Gills shrugged. "She a stubborn thing. I wish she'd let me help her more."
"Lady Julia is quite admirably rising to meet the circumstance in which she finds herself. I am not sure I would be doing as well, and there is no question in my mind, Gills, you have given her as much help as anyone can." Maddox punctuated his thought with a sharp nod. "No one can say you haven't given your all to Lady Julia."
"Not quite all, no."
"This is quite extraordinary," Stocke said. "To think, Lady Athol Soddenfled with a smitten suitor. Extraordinary."
Gills sat up straighter. "I'll not hear you malign her."
"Wouldn't think of it, old man. Shame she wouldn't take your name. Would solve a lot of problems, that. When you are back in England, I imagine the duke and duchess will set her straight."
"There will be none of that. Set her straight, indeed. Lady Julia knows her mind and she's entitled to choose the man she will marry, whether or not he is me. She is entitled to choose everything about her life, and I will be the first to ensure it. To that end, I shall not tell you how to find her—" with a glance at Maddox he added, "—nor will Maddox—until we are convinced you mean her no harm."
***
It took Piero no more than three hours to find Julia's residence, after leaving Stocke at the hotel with instructions to write everyone concerned and let them know the state of things. This was, in part, because his first stop had been the office of a Wakefield private investigator based in New York. He had a letter of introduction from the man's eldest brother and the founder of the entire firm.
It had taken Geoffrey Wakefield an hour to discover Julia's hotel, which she had abandoned, and another hour to find her boardinghouse, where he left Piero to introduce himself, so he could continue investigating.
But Piero found himself stymied by a small red-haired woman and a mountain of a man guarding the stairs.
"No gen'l'min upstairs, Sir," the giant growled when Piero tried to find his way to room six.
"Mrs. Marloughe is not at home, Sir. If you'd like to leave a card..."
If Piero left a card, there was a chance she'd run, if Lord Joseph was right. He recalled the charm that had shattered the defenses of countless women before he had fallen in love and married the Duke of Wellbridge's sister. "Mrs. O'Neal, you misunderstand my intent. I merely need a word with Mrs. Marloughe in private. I am a happily married man, emissary of her cousin, the Duke of Wellbridge."
If anything, the small woman gained size at that piece of information. "In private, is it, with a married man? There will be no funny business in my parlor, duke or no, and that's the only place you'll be allowed. With a chaperone and the door open, if you please; this is a respectable house. And in any case, Mrs. Marloughe is not at home."
"Can you tell me when I might find her here?"
"Can't tell you anything about Mrs. Marloughe, Sir. If you'd like to leave a card?"
Piero bowed his way out without leaving a card. Clearly, he'd taken the wrong tack. He should have had Wakefield trace her place of employment first. Companion to a famed musician, who would, perforce, be a woman. It shouldn't be difficult at all to identify a famed female violinist in New York. Wakefield probably already had. If Piero were lucky, she would have a performance scheduled this very evening and he could find his way backstage. If worse came to worst, tomorrow morning before dawn, he would establish himself within sight of the boardinghouse, waiting until he saw her coming or going.