Duchess Material

Chapter Thirty

Three weeks later

London, England

T his really has been a remarkable success, Your Grace,” Mrs. Richardson said as she scanned the busy front hall of the Richardson School for Young Ladies. “I can’t thank you enough.”

It had been Will’s idea to host an open house to welcome the neighborhood to see the school’s new building—along with its new name. Though it had been a bit of a trial convincing the headmistress that the school she had founded should bear her name, she finally relented and today wore the honor with pride.

“And as I said before,” he replied. “There is no need. I’m just happy to make myself useful.”

Mrs. Richardson huffed a laugh and patted his arm. “Oh, don’t worry. We will find plenty for you and your soon-to-be-duchess to do,” she said, giving Phoebe a conspiratorial smile.

“We certainly will.” Phoebe nodded.

“I suppose I should make another round,” Mrs. Richardson said as something caught her attention. “I see some new arrivals. I’ll be back.”

The headmistress then hurried off to greet the newcomers. They had been at the school for hours and Will had lost count of the number of times excited young girls ran up to Phoebe to say hello. It warmed Will’s heart to see the joy spark in her face each time—and he would do everything in his power to keep it there.

Phoebe pressed her shoulder against his arm and stifled a yawn. “Goodness. I don’t know where she finds the energy.”

Will’s cheeks were beginning to ache from smiling politely and his shoulders were stiff from standing with perfect posture but he was perfectly happy by Phoebe’s side.

“Well, for one thing I don’t suspect Mrs. Richardson was keeping a man up all night,” he said dryly.

“Oh, hush.” Phoebe playfully batted his arm. “I don’t recall hearing any complaints from you.”

Will grinned. “And you never shall. Just say the word and we will leave.”

He was ready to whisk Phoebe home in his carriage and sneak her into his bedroom once more. Since their engagement, they had managed to spend several nights a week together. But with Phoebe resuming her teaching duties very soon, Will knew their opportunities for that would grow few and far between until they married in December. Until then, he was eager to take what he could get of his future bride.

“All right, but let’s stay a little longer,” she said.

Just as the crowd was beginning to thin out, a familiar face appeared before them.

Maude Clarke.

Will almost didn’t recognize her, as she was dressed in a modest gray gown and straw hat. He knew from Phoebe that she was working in the ladies’ section of one of the big department stores, but Will hadn’t seen her in person since the night at Fleur.

“Miss Clarke!” Phoebe cried out. “What a lovely surprise.” But her face fell as she took in the woman’s sober expression. “Is everything all right?”

“I’m looking for your sister. I must speak to her. It’s urgent.”

“She’s over there,” Phoebe said and pointed to where Alex had been caught in a conversation with the new drama teacher and not even trying to hide her look of bordom. She then drew closer and lowered her voice. “What is it, Maude?”

“I’ve just learned about the true owner of Fleur. As we suspected, the earl was used to lure prosperous gentlemen to join.”

As Phoebe’s eyes sparked with interest, Will crossed his arms. “Well, who is it?”

Would they never be done with this blasted business?

Fairbanks had absconded to the Continent not long after their meeting in Parliament. Rumors had swirled regarding nefarious debt collectors, but Alex claimed to still be receiving payments from his solicitor.

If he’s left London, it hasn’t been on my account.

Maude cast a glance around the room. “Have either of you heard of the Nun?” Will exchanged a blank look with Phoebe and Maude let out a restless sigh. “Of course not,” she muttered. “When I was a girl, he was the most powerful man in the neighborhood. Had his hands in every business imaginable. And if you crossed him, you were lucky to end up dead. Then one day he simply vanished. Some said he left for America, others said he returned to his hometown of Dublin. Most swore he was rotting at the bottom of the Thames.”

Phoebe swallowed. “So he’s a criminal, then.”

Maude gave her a mirthless smile. “That’s one way to describe him, yes. And now he’s back—that’s the rumor at least. I’ve heard that he was the money behind Fleur, as well as some other ventures the earl was involved in. But they all fell apart when your sister bought up his debts and the earl failed to pass his bill.”

Will’s sore shoulders tightened. “That’s why Fairbanks fled. To get away from him.”

“It won’t work though,” Maude said in an ominous tone that sent shivers down Phoebe’s back. “I’m told that if the Nun wants something—or some one —he finds a way. Your sister needs to be very careful. Thanks to her actions, she will have gotten his attention now, for better or worse.”

Phoebe inhaled sharply and Will placed a steadying palm at the small of her back.

Maude’s gaze then caught on someone behind them. “Oh, thank God.”

Will glanced back and found Inspector Holland heading for them.

“Detective Inspector!” Phoebe greeted him with a cheery smile that couldn’t quite hide the tension around her eyes. “How nice of you to come.”

He gave a short bow. “My pleasure. Congratulations on the opening of the new school, and your engagement.”

Phoebe’s smile grew as she looked up at Will and leaned closer to him. “Thank you so much.”

“Miss Clarke,” the inspector said with a nod.

“Come with me,” Maude replied without preamble. “I need to tell you something.” She then hooked her arm through his and steered him toward Alex.

Phoebe watched them with a furrowed brow. “Do you think Alex is really in danger from this man?”

Will shrugged. “I’ll look into it. But what I want to know is why a fearsome London criminal is called the Nun.”

“It does sound odd. Perhaps he’s very religious?”

“Or very chaste.”

They exchanged a look and began to laugh. Phoebe then brought a hand to her mouth and the tension returned to her face. “Oh, but there isn’t anything funny about this.”

“Don’t worry, my dear. Alex is quite fearsome herself. And she has good people around her, including a very powerful and important duke,” he said with a wink.

Phoebe smiled at that and leaned against him again, but just as he pulled her a little closer someone interrupted: “Goodness, you two do realize we’re in public.”

Will and Phoebe both turned to find Freddie beside them, but her gaze was fixed firmly to Holland’s retreating back. “Oh, is that that handsome inspector?” Will didn’t much like the look of interest in her eyes. “How nice of him to come. I think I’ll just say hello.”

“Freddie,” Phoebe cautioned, but her sister was already striding toward the unsuspecting chap.

“What does she mean to do with him? Ericson’s ring shopping as we speak.”

“I’m not sure Freddie even knows,” Phoebe said on a sigh. “She’s just muddling through, like the rest of us.”

“But you aren’t muddling anymore, are you?”

She looked up at him with that fetching smile that never failed to make his heart soar. “Not in the least. There is nowhere I’d wish to be than right here with you.”

“Not even the carriage?” he murmured suggestively.

“Well, perhaps the place could be a little more private,” she allowed.

He held out his arm. “That is easily arranged.”

“All right,” Phoebe said as she took it. “Lead the way, Your Grace.”

Will let out a harumph. “You’ll pay for that, Atkinson.”

She then flashed him a cheeky grin. “Promise?”

“Only for you, my love.” Will chuckled as he led her toward the exit. “Only for you.”