“So he should be willing to sell?”
“I don’t know. Others have asked about him, but no one has heard from him since it was discovered what he was doing.”
“Then he’s probably ready to get rid of it.” After being a sojourner for so long, needing a home wasn’t something Garrett could explain. He had stayed in inns as grand as the Holcott-Fortney, run-down taverns with rooms only big enough for a makeshift bed, and slings in the bottom of a ship. Now he wanted his own home. He wanted his first house to be the one his father could never have dreamed of owning, because of the life his father chose to live at the mercy of his wealthy relatives.
“I want the house on Poppinbrook Street,” Garrett said again.
“All right. I can ask around the clubs about the man and see if anyone has heard from him, if you want to buy it and live there.”
“I don’t want to live there,” Garrett said. “I want to tear it down.” It wasn’t something he could rationalize and he didn’t try to. Perhaps it was that in doing so he would also demolish the old guard rule that a man couldn’t be a gentleman and a tradesman. It was time for him to move beyond the past. He was committed to removing every board of it and replacing it with a house that reflected the man he was today.
Garrett nodded. “Yes. See what you can find out.”
Wiley rested his forearm on the horn of his saddle. “I’ll keep you posted.”
Garrett knew Wiley had questions but he kept them to himself. “What do you know about Lady Kitson Fairbright?”
“As much as anyone, I guess. Why are you asking?”
Garrett’s horse snorted and shuddered beneath him. He nudged the mare to start walking again. “I met her here in the park.”
“Hmm.” Wiley brushed his hair again and moved his horse alongside Garrett’s. “I didn’t know she was back in London. I haven’t seen the duke at White’s or heard about him being in Town. Usually everyone is on their best behavior when the Duke of Sprogsfield’s around.”
Garrett wasn’t interested in the duke. “What do you know about Lady Kitson?” he asked again.
Wiley looked away and seemed to ponder what Garrett asked. They passed a lady and gentleman walking and acknowledged them by lifting their hats off in greeting.
“I probably don’t know much more than you, since you saw her. She’s lovely, widowed, and has a son. She and two of her friends are benefactors of a girl’s school in St. James.”
“What else?” Garrett asked, eager to hear something about the intriguing lady that he didn’t already know.
“She’s fond of animals.” Wiley chuckled. “Why don’t you just come out and ask me if she’s available to pursue?”
Fair enough. “Is she?”
“Not from what I understand.”
Garrett’s stomach squeezed and his hands tightened on the reins. “She has a lover?”
“I haven’t heard about one if she does.”
“Then what the devil would make you say she’s unavailable?” Garrett asked, feeling a sudden rise of impatience to know all he could about Lady Kitson.
“Because she brushes off every man who’s tried to openly court her or have a secret affair with her. I’ve heard the talk. Believe me, men have tried. I mean—why wouldn’t they? She beautiful, young, and from what I understand has quite a substantial amount of property in her own right.”
“What are the rumors as to why she rejects all offers?”
Wiley shrugged. “It’s anyone’s guess. Some say it’s because the duke controls her life and forbids it.”
That comment made Garret’s stomach twist. He didn’t like the idea of anyone forbidding Lady Kitson to do anything. And he’d wager a gold coin she wouldn’t like it, either. She wanted to hide something—probably from the duke. Garrett was more determined than ever to find out what it was and to help her.
“Everyone knows how devoted the duke is about all his family following the strict dictates of Society,” Wiley continued. “He’s disowned more than one nephew for not living up to the high standard he expects. But I think most agree Lady Kitson is involved with only one male and that’s her son.”
“What about her marriage? Was she happy?”
“As far as I know.” Wiley shrugged again and gave Garrett a sideways glance. “How am I to know? I wasn’t a close friend to her husband. I only know that her uncle wanted her to marry a man twice her age, but she eloped with Lord Kitson instead.”
Nudging his horse to move, Garrett smiled at Wiley’s comment. He could see Lady Kitson having the courage to elope with the youngest son of a duke. And he could also see the duke being extremely upset about that.
“Can you get me an invitation to Lady Hallbury’s party Saturday afternoon?”
“Did Lady Kitson just happen to mention she’d be there?”
“No. Someone else did.”
Wiley laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Chapter 7
“Thank you for going slow,” Julia called up to the driver before stepping into the coach.
She was a fusspot when it came to how animals were treated. If it were in her power to see it done, she wanted them given the same care and provisions all people should receive. Pulling a carriage all day was tiring for horses, so she always insisted the driver take his time—even if she was running late for an appointment or an event.
Julia settled her skirts around her as the coach took off with a lurch and a rattle. She looked over at Brina and smiled. “Thank you for coming by for me.”
“It was the least I could do after I said you’d be joining me for Lady Hallbury’s party when you didn’t even know about it. Besides, I always want you to be my companion when you’re in Town. It gives me an opportunity to be away from Mama for a while.”
“I know, and I am looking forward to the party,” Julia said earnestly. “It’s just that the past three days have been difficult.”
“I know you were searching for the duke’s documents. I take your comment to mean it hasn’t gone well and you haven’t found them.” Brina leaned forward. “But please tell me you didn’t get caught.”
“No. I’ve been very careful. It’s frustrating I haven’t found the incriminating deed to the property so I can prove the duke owned the Eubury-Broadwell Gaming House.” Julia sighed quietly. “I’ve managed to thoroughly search one section of the duke’s book room walls, and the flooring—except for the space under his desk, which is impossible for me to get to.”
“What about his private chambers?”
“Not yet, and I still have hope I’ll find a hidden space behind the books on a high shelf and won’t have to go into them. It would be difficult. Mrs. Desford never leaves the house. Mr. Leeds takes care of all her errands outside the house. For now I’m still opening each book and looking at the wall behind it. It’s time-consuming as some of the books are quite large and difficult to move and there are so many.”
“Oh, Julia, you must let me help you search the house,” Brina insisted. “You can invite me over for dinner and I’ll come up with a reason to stay late.”