“You wouldn’t say that in the winter,” laughed Elvina.
“I think I mentioned that as well,” smiled Ivy.
The conversation turned general, with Ivy and the Duke conversing easily, acceptably, over the morning meal. It was a relief in many ways, since she was able to relax and enjoy the light discussion of various matters.
Elvina contributed her mite, now and again, but pleaded letters to write and left after she’d finished her breakfast.
The friendly exchanges ended with the arrival of a footman who dipped his head correctly to Lady Siddington.
“Your pardon, my Lady. An urgent message has arrived for his Grace.” A note lay sealed on the silver platter in his hands.
Lady Siddington nodded. “Then his Grace must have it immediately.”
With a puzzled frown, the Duke took the note with a murmur of thanks. “Excuse me for a moment…” He turned in his chair a little and broke the seal, reading the missive.
Ivy noticed his expression change, shift into hard lines. It was what she’d come to privately refer to as his “public” face; cold and devoid of emotions.
“Colly, is everything all right?” A thought flashed through her mind, stopping her heart for a moment. “It’s not Prudence, is it?”
He lifted his head and looked at her, his gaze icy. “No, no, thank God. This isn’t about Prudence.”
“But it would appear to be bad news…”
He nodded. “It is. Grave news. And I have to admit I’m uncertain as to how to proceed.” He folded the note and put it on the table beside the plate. Then he turned to Lady Siddington.
“My Lady, I believe you might be in a position to guide me at this time. A situation has arisen in London that I find most distressing and I have to confess I’m unsure of how to go forward…”
“Of course, sir. How can we help?”
He paused, looking around at the serious faces turned to him. Then he sighed as his gaze rested on Ivy. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such trust and kindness, but I thank you for it.”
“Tell us, Colly.”
“Very well.” He picked up the note again. “I have received notification that London is now buzzing with the rumour that a sizable portion of my fortune has been pledged to the rebels who are apparently gathering in the north.”
“What?” Ivy’s jaw dropped. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Of course it is,” he shot back. “Utterly outrageous.”
“But you cannot deny it because…” prompted Lady Siddington, her eyes fixed on the Duke’s face.
“Because I have, in the recent past, been quite vocal in my condemnation of what’s happening to the workers up there.” He shook his head. “I cannot abide the thought of starving children.”
“No feeling gentleman should,” said Lady Siddington quietly. “But I have to assume that your comments are now being twisted into a weapon to be used against you.”
“You have no holdings up there, Colly. You told me that, yesterday.” Ivy added her mite.
“And I was correct. I do not have any direct holdings. But some of the estate finances may well be tied up in some of the businesses. Mines, mills, whatever.” He looked at Ivy. “You must be aware that my estate is a large one and I cannot keep track of all the investments. I trust my man of business, Ivy. But even he may be unaware of the end of the line on some of the financial dealings.”
She frowned. “How can he not know?”
“It’s not surprising, my dear,” answered her grandmother. “Lord Such and Such forms a consortium of investors and the financial pool is split diversely between various ventures. If it’s successful, then it begins to earn a reputation as sound, and more and more investors are lured into putting money into it. At some point it become a very large fund, and few of those holding shares in it know what is actually involved.”
“Exactly, Ma’am.” Colly agreed. “I couldn’t have put it better myself.”
“Well, I found out the hard way,” she sighed. “An uncle of your grandfather’s, Ivy. He was in one of these funds. Turned out the majority of the profits were coming from a very famous brothel.”
Ivy couldn’t help a gasp of laughter. “Oh no.”
“Had a devil of a time living it down, too,” her grandmother chuckled. “But that’s neither here nor there.” She turned back to the Duke. “So this rumour is causing a bit of an uproar, I would assume…”
He nodded. “In the worst of ways.” He turned his gaze back to Ivy. “This is more than a mere scandalous murmur. This could very easily destroy the name of Maidenbrooke.”
“Surely not,” she countered. “A rumour? An unproven rumour?”
“I’m afraid his Grace is right, my dear,” answered Lady Siddington with a worried look. “When politics are involved, and especially in such a tense situation as this, such matters transcend society’s views and can wander into territory awfully near treason.”
“What?” Ivy’s muted cry of shock caught in her throat.
The Duke nodded, his expression sombre. “That is true. I shall have to return to London, of course.” He gazed at Ivy. “And this means that I cannot marry you, Ivy. We must formally end our engagement.”
She blinked, then found a wave of hot anger spreading through her. “Nonsense. Utter and complete nonsense. Of course we shall wed.”
*~~*~~*
The discussion continued unabated between them for some time, as the Duke tried to explain the unpleasant ramifications of the situation to his fiancée.
Finally, Lady Siddington tapped her teacup with her teaspoon.
Everyone paused and looked at her.
“I’ve listened to everything you’ve both had to say and you both have raised valid points. I have reached a conclusion, and it is
