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Shadows of the Duke

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Synopsis

Chapter 1 - chapter 1

JAMES FULTON, THE Duke of Lennox was annoyed. He

called for his valet to arrive precisely thirty minutes prior

to midnight, yet the door remained open and there was

no sight of the man. He could of course remove his

clothing himself, but it begged the question as to why he

still employed a valet in the first place? His cravat itched

against his throat and with an annoyed scowl, his nimble

fingers loosened the material allowing him air to breathe.

For the twentieth time today, he wondered why he had

bothered to attend Lady Albermay's soirée anyways. It

was the same scene repeatedly and it got quite

exhausting. The same chits were vying for his attention,

their mamas pushing them towards him like lambs to the

slaughter. The wallflowers giggled and blushed at his

presence and the men did their best to hide their distain

and jealousy.

It unsurprisingly made for a less than enjoyable time. He

had only gone because there was only so much

entertainment for a duke in an empty manor. However,

with the terrible mood he was now in reminded him of his

foolishness.

A glass of brandy would be nice about now if any of his

servants listened to his summons. What did he pay them

for if not to wait on him hand and foot? Still scowling,

James stepped outside his chambers, surprised to see

the upper floor of the Chalcott manor eerily silent. There

were no chamber maids skirting around as they usually

did at this hour. The only sounds present were from the

sheets of rain hitting the glass windows at alarming

speeds.

Frowning, James walked down the first flight of stairs.

There was nobody there either. The front entrance, where

his butler always remained was empty. He employed a

sufficient number of servants, yet it seemed that no one

was presently conducting their duties. What could be

more pressing than their duties?

He stood in the entryway for a moment, before he faintly

heard sounds from the servant quarter's below. Curiosity

getting the better of him, he followed the noise. He

certainly did not make it a routine to visit his staff here,

yet he could hear them bustling about. In quick brisk

steps, he arrived to see several of his servants in his

housekeeper's room. They were all crowding around

something, but with his obscured view he could not see

what it was.

Leaning against the outer frame of the door, he was able

to remain relatively hidden. The servants were so busy in

whatever they were doing that they did not notice the

presence of their master.

"Get me another rag."

He knew that voice, it was his housekeeper, Mrs. Shire. A

maid went to follow her orders when she happened upon

James and gasped loudly.

"Your Grace," she sunk into a deep curtsy.

Her voice was loud enough that the rest of the servants in

the room froze for a moment before they all followed in

suit. Realizing that it did him no good to stand in the

corner, he stepped into the dimly lit room and his gaze

met that of his valet's.

"You were to tend to me," he took out his pocket watch

and flipped it open to see the time, "seventeen minutes

ago."

His valet paled, "Apologies Your Grace, I lost track of

time. I can tend to you now."

James gestured to his half-done cravat, "Hutton, does it

look like I still require your assistance?"

Hutton wisely kept his mouth shut. The rest of the

servants waited for his next tongue lashing, but it never

came. "Mrs. Shire," he addressed his housekeeper, "do tell

me what all this fuss is about."

His housekeeper moved to the side allowing James to

get a view of whatever they were crowding around.

As he walked closer to the cot, he drew in a sharp breath.

"Where did you find her?"

It was Martin, his butler who answered. "Near the stables,

Your Grace."

James nodded; his eyes still trained upon the young

woman on the cot. Her eyes were closed, mud and dirt

caking her hair. Her clothes were drenched and torn in

places making the scraps and cuts more visible. He did

not know what happened to her and how she'd found his

isolated estate, but he knew that if she died now, it would

be under his watch—thanks to his foolish servants who'd

taken in the stray.

"Hutton," his valet stood straighter at the sound of his

name. "Wake up one of the groomsmen and ride

alongside him to the village. Summon whatever

apothecary is residing there."

Hutton bowed before taking his leave, his valet did not

question being sent out in the rain. If they created the

mess, they were going to be responsible for cleaning it up

as well. A physician would have been better to tend to the

woman however he knew at this hour, it would be

impossible to find one. He would send out a missive for

one later—once he knew the woman would survive the

night.

"Mrs. Shire, what do you think is wrong with her?"

His housekeeper met his gaze, and the words were

solemn. "She's been on the road for quite sometime

based on the scrapes. I am not sure if the infection has

spread but she has a high fever as well—probably from

being out in the rain too long."

James nodded, "Keep changing the cloth on her forehead

until the apothecary arrives."

He seated himself on a chair and looked around the

room. Most of the servants had fled but a few chamber

maids remained as Mrs. Shire directed them. His gaze

met that of his butler and because of years training,

seconds later Martin was in front of him.

"Get me a glass of brandy, will you?"

His butler nodded, "Very well, Your Grace."

James settled into the chair getting as comfortable as he

could, it looked as though it was going to be a long night.

***

The noise was the first thing that woke him up from the

light slumber. Rubbing his eyes, he looked towards the

door to see Hutton and another male behind him. Both

were drenched, presumably from the rain. James stood

up as Hutton made the introduction.

"Your Grace, this is Mr. Ballard, he is a physician."

Splendid. If the physician had arrived in place of an

apothecary, it would save him time tomorrow. James

cocked an eyebrow, "I didn't expect a physician to reside

in a small village of Dulverton."

Ballard shrugged out of his coat and gave James a tight

smile. "Fortunately enough, I was visiting my sister when

your valet happened upon me."

James gestured towards the cot where Mrs. Shrine and

his other servants had stepped a respectable distance

away. Ballard walked towards the woman before he

glanced at the crowd, "May I please have some space?"

James tilted his head towards the door and the servants

all fled, leaving only him and the doctor. James watched

as the man poked and prodded the woman.

He cleaned the cuts that were visible with some solution

he'd brought before wrapping them tightly in a cloth.

"Will she ever wake up?"

"It is too early to say, Your Grace. The fever is high but

because she is unconscious, I cannot give her any

medication."

James snorted, "Is there anything you can do?"

Ballard shook his head. "Medicine can perform a great

number of miracles, but it has it's limitations. In this

instance, it is up to the body to heal itself."

"So, we just wait to see if she dies?"

The physician shot him a sympathetic glance, "You

cannot control everything in this world, Your Grace."

James ignored him and stormed out of the room. It had

been a waste of his time to call the man, it was clear he

had no knowledge of medicine. His butler, Martin stood

dutifully right outside the room. "Summon another

physician, I do not care if they have to be dragged from

their beds, make sure they come here in haste."

"Very well Your Grace, what should I do about the other

physician?" He gestured towards the room.

"Pay him twenty-shillings and let him be on his way."

The weather was terrible, and it was cruel of James to

send the man out in the rain, but it was clear that he was

a fraud. If there was one trait, he hated more than

anything—it was liars. Not waiting to see if his orders

were being followed, James retired to his bed chambers.

He needed a cool head and rest for when the next

physician would arrive.

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