Free Lady Sabrina’s Secret by Jeannie Machin Page B

and all was quiet for a moment before a footman emerged and ran down across Crescent Fields to take the shortest route into the town. Where was he going? Had he been sent to bring the duke from his mistress’s house in North Parade?
    Deborah lingered by the window and at last heard another carriage approaching. It drove past at speed and drew up behind Sir James’s vehicle. The duke alighted and hurried into the house. Another age seemed to pass, and then the house door was opened once more, and Sir James and the doctor emerged. They paused on the doorstep to shake hands with the duke, and by their manner Deborah could tell that all appeared to be well. The doctor hurried home again, and after exchanging a few further wordswith the duke, Sir James returned to his vehicle and drove away. Deborah saw the duke gesture to his waiting coachman , evidently dismissing him, and as that vehicle also drove slowly away, turning at the end of the crescent to make its way toward the mews, the duke retreated inside the house and closed the door. It seemed he was not returning to Kate’s arms tonight. Soon after that the lights of the house were extinguished, and Deborah knew that nothing more would happen. Reassured that nothing was seriously wrong with Lady Sabrina, Deborah at last felt able to retire to her bed, where she fell immediately into a deep sleep.
    She slept late the following morning, and the sun was high in the sky when at last Amy came to awaken her with a welcome cup of Mrs McNeil’s favorite China tea. She was soon joined by Mrs McNeil herself, who sat in a sunny chair by the window and looked out approvingly over the spring scene in Crescent Fields as she too enjoyed her morning tea. Such weather enticed many people out for a stroll, for it was very much the thing to be seen walking in Crescent Fields, where the daffodils nodded in the light breeze, and where this morning a military band was practicing in readiness for a display in a few days’ time.
    Mrs McNeil’s attention was soon drawn away from what was happening outside as she learned of the night’s events after she herself had retired. She turned in the chair and lowered her cup, the folds of her shell-pink woolen wrap parting to reveal the frills on her nightgown as she sat forward intently.
    â€˜The duke was sent for, you say?’
    â€˜Well, a running footman set off down Crescent Fields,and within half an hour or so the duke’s carriage drove back apace.’
    â€˜But you think Lady Sabrina isn’t in any danger?’
    â€˜Not judging by the atmosphere when Sir James and the doctor left. I think she was just taken a little unwell at Prior Park.’
    Mrs McNeil looked at her for a moment, and then returned her attention to what was happening outside. ‘He drove off a short while ago, did you know?’ she inquired.
    â€˜No, nor do I care.’
    â€˜He cuts quite a dash in that curricle; indeed I don’t think I’ve seen a better hand with the ribbons.’
    Deborah didn’t respond. She cordially hoped the curricle would overturn and deposit His Grace of Gretton in something unmentionable, something steaming, smelly, and extremely abundant!
    Mrs McNeil was sipping her cup once more, and suddenly she lowered it with a clatter. ‘Why, I do believe that Lady Sabrina has just left the house! Yes, it is her, and she’s taking her dog for a walk in the fields!’
    Deborah set her own cup aside and hurried to the window. A young woman in a bluebell-colored cloak with a fur-trimmed hem and hood was crossing toward one of the gates in the iron railings bounding the grassy slope, and a white poodle on a silver lead trotted at her heels. The spring breeze was playful as it breathed over the exposed hillside, and it caught her hood and tugged it momentarily back from her head. In the seconds before she pulled it back into place once more, Deborah saw a sweet heart-shaped face and bright golden