rumor making the rounds, involving you and Trahern,' the duke said to his wife.
'What sort of rumor?' she asked. She was beginning to look angry. Not guilty. Not fearful.
He told her everything John Stuart had told him, watching her closely as he spoke for the least little sign of culpability. There was none.
Instead, Aurora grew pale with shock. A wave of disgust overcame her countenance, and then her anger burst forth. 'How dare anyone assume that some masked strumpet in a rose and gold gown was me!'
'Where is the gown?' her husband asked.
'Manners! Fetch Martha here at once,' Aurora called to the butler, and when her maid stood before her, she asked, 'Where is the gown I wore last night, Martha?'
'Why, in the wardrobe, my lady. Remember, I give it to Sally to put away,' Martha replied.
'Fetch it, please,' Aurora said.
The three of them ascended the stairs to Aurora's apartments. Martha hurried into the dressing room to seek out the requested garment. She returned some minutes later, a puzzled look upon her face. 'I can't find it, my lady. It ain't where it should be, and it ain't anywheres else. I give it to Sally with clear instructions. She was to brush the gown and put it in the wardrobe.'
'Fetch Sally,' the duke said.
'I will skin the wench if she is behind this,' Aurora said furiously. 'She was Cally's maid, and I kept her on because of it, but I have never really liked her. She is too sly by far.'
The duke nodded. 'Manners has spoken to me about her on more than one occasion. She's too pert.'
Martha returned with Sally. 'I ain't told her nothing,' the older servant said.
'Where is the rose and gold gown I wore last night, Sally?' Aurora asked the servant.
'Why, it's in the wardrobe, m'lady,' came the too-quick reply.
'It is not,' Aurora said.
'Well, then, I ain't got no idea where it might be,' Sally retorted, but not once did she look directly at her mistress.
'To whom did you give the gown, Sally? And do not lie to me, girl,' the duke said sternly. 'The truth now!'
Sally shifted on her feet nervously, eyes lowered. 'I don't know what you mean, your grace,' she said.
'You're lying,' Valerian Hawkesworth said, and he grasped the maid hard upon her upper arm.
'Owwwww!' Sally struggled to break his grip. 'Yer hurting me, yer grace! Let me go!'
'Not until I learn the truth of this matter,' he said harshly. 'Now, once again, girl. What did you do with the gown?' He gave her a shake, glaring angrily into her face.
Sally began to cry. 'Yer ladyship! Are you going to let him treat me like this? And after all the time I been with your family? Ain't you got no gratitude?'
'If I had my way, Sally,' Aurora said in a hard voice, 'you'd be beaten until you couldn't walk! You are a bold baggage, and you have, for whatever reason, stolen my gown. I want to know why, and if you do not tell me, I shall have you trussed up like a pig ready for market and tossed in the river!'
'Ohhhh, yer lordship, you wouldn't let her do that, would you?' Sally wailed. 'That would be murder!'
'You are her grace's servant, girl, and hers to do with as she pleases,' the duke answered. 'Besides, who would look for you? What is one bad servant more or less to London?'
'Have the footmen bind her,' Aurora spoke.
'Owwwww! I'll tell!
'Very well,' the duke replied, releasing his hold on her arm. 'Speak, girl.'
'It was Lord Trahern! I give him the gown! But he promised to return it, he did, the liar!' Sally sobbed. 'You wasn't to know, my lady. He said he wanted it to play a joke on someone, and that he would bring it right back, but he didn't.'
'When did Trahern ask you, Sally?' Aurora queried her.
'A few days ago I went to the chemist to get you yer soap, my lady. He come upon me in the street, and tells me he is taking you to a special party on Tuesday night, but that he doesn't think you'll like it so you'll probably come home early. Then he says he wants the gown you wear that evening to play a jest, and says he'll bring it right back. I waited for him all night downstairs by the kitchen entrance, but he never come. I was going to ask him when he came calling on yer ladyship again. I didn't think you would notice the gown gone 'cause you really didn't like it so's you wouldn't be looking for it anytime real soon. How did you find out so quick?' She sniffled, wiping her runny nose with her arm.
'Lord Trahern has indeed played a jest, Sally, but it is a rather wicked one that threatens to destroy my good name,' Aurora told the sniveling maid. 'If, however, you repeat your story to a certain person, then I shall not dismiss you from my service, but you will no longer serve me personally in your present capacity. If you do not cooperate with me, then you will go out on the street this very night in naught but the clothing you are wearing, and no reference as well.'
'I'll do whatever you want me to, your ladyship,' Sally said. 'I really didn't mean to cause no trouble, but Lord Trahern promised me half a crown when he returned the gown. I ain't likely to see that much money all at one time again. I didn't think a gentleman would cheat a poor servant,' she finished piteously.
'Leave us,' Aurora ordered the servant. 'Martha, go with her and remain with her until I need you.'
'Yes, my lady,' Martha said. She was openly puzzled by all the proceedings, and looked quizzically at her mistress.
'I will explain shortly,' Aurora said, catching her look.
Martha nodded, and escorted the chastened Sally from the room, giving her a slap as they went.
'So we now have the answer to how your gown returned to the Brimstone Club,' the duke said.
'What do we do next?' Aurora asked her husband.
'Bute is discreetly interviewing the participants in last night's proceedings. We need to know at what hour the events took place. Manners and the other servants know at what time you returned home, and at what time you left with Trahern earlier. Why, I wonder, has he perpetrated such a hoax? I shall have to call him out.'
'Please don't, Valerian!' she begged him. 'So far this scandal has not spread or become open. Trahern has appeared for all the world to see as our friend, and even, in some eyes, our sponsor. If you force him to a duel, it will all come out. There are many who would believe me guilty of this shameless behavior because they enjoy thinking ill of others. They would claim our servants lied to protect us, to protect their places in our household. We would never be believed. But if we can keep this from going any further, then our good name will be saved. Please, I beg of you, do not allow your anger to overrule your good sense, and challenge Trahern.'
'Very well,' the duke promised his wife, 'but I cannot bear the thought of him getting away scot-free with such a hoax.'
