The Fraudulent Duchess | ONC 2022

Chapter Nine | The Generous Sum

     I did not speak to the Duke of Bedford for another week after our tea. This time it was not due to his foul mood, he seemed to be extremely busy. In fact, after our tea, he had not returned to the Winton Estate once. He sent no word about any future dinners or parties, so I had no idea what was going on. Even Lord Winton seemed baffled about the absence of his friend.
"Perhaps he abandoned the plan," I guessed one evening as I helped Lady Gwendoline get ready for dinner.
"I doubt that," she replied. "Cecil needs to save the estate, and his plan saves the estate. Besides, if he had a new way to get an enormous sum of money without you, then we would know. Or he would tell Ernest at the very least. And he has not."
"How can you be so certain?"
"Because Ernest keeps complaining about how Cecil has not visited in days, and he has not received word from him. He plans to head to the Bedford Estate tomorrow to see him."
I nodded as I continued to fix Lady Gwendoline's hair. She had gone for a ride earlier that day, but then it started to rain, so her hair was in knots when she returned. Even after a bath, it seemed impossible to tame it.
"It is a lost cause," Lady Gwendoline groaned, tugging at a strand of her hair. "Someday, I want to chop it all off."
"That seems like an unwise plan," I warned. "Besides, your hair is beautiful. Perhaps not right now, but in general."
"Short hair would be much easier to tame. Yet another reason why men are luckier than women. Men can have short hair, spend no time brushing it, and look handsome. If I were to enter a ballroom with short hair, people would assume that I am a boy, or mad. Or both."
"I can fix it; do not worry. And next time, consider wearing a hat when you ride."
"I did have a hat. But when I started galloping, it flew off."
"I thought that Lord Winton did not allow you to gallop."
"He only told me that I could not race. But since I abandoned my groom, it was not a race. I merely ran away from him...and I was not on side-saddle. But do not tell my brother that! I gave the groom a decent amount of money to keep him quiet."
I laughed. It was quite funny how much Lady Gwendoline hated to do anything properly.

There was a knock on the door and Lord Winton poked his head in.
"What happened to your hair?" He demanded, looking at his sister.
"I just had a bath," Lady Gwendoline replied. "I got caught in the rain during my ride earlier today."
"What happened to your hat?"
"I forgot to wear it."
"Well, remember it next time."
"Good advice, thanks."
Lord Winton rolled his eyes, then turned his attention to me, "Cecil is here. He wants to speak with you in the library."
"Cecil's alive?!" Lady Gwendoline exclaimed.
"Do not be so dramatic, Gwen. Yes, he is alive. And he wishes to speak with Susan in the library."
"Would you mind telling him that I shall be there once I finish with Lady Gwendoline's hair?" I requested.
"No, you go. I shall deal with it," Lady Gwendoline assured.
"Are you positive?"
"Yes, go. Speak to Cecil."
"All right, thank you. Do not do anything rash."
"I will not chop it off today."
"What do you mean you will not chop it off today?" Lord Winton cried. "Why would you ever chop it off?"
I bobbed a quick curtsy and slipped out of the room as the siblings bickered about short versus long hair.

I went downstairs and entered the library to find the Duke of Bedford pacing. His brow was furrowed, and he seemed deep in thought.
"Good evening," I greeted.
"Ah, Susan," he smiled, looking up. "Good evening. I am sorry for arriving unannounced."
"That is quite all right. I hope that everything is well with you. We have not seen you much over the past week."
"It has been a busy week. I had a lot of thinking to do."
I nodded, "Well, what can I do for you?"
The Duke seemed nervous, which was an odd emotion for me to see on him. He normally displayed such confidence, that seeing his lack of it was strange.
"Is everything all right?" I inquired.
"Yes, everything is fine," the Duke nodded. "In fact, for you, everything is more than all right. You got your sum."
"What?"
"A messenger came to my house two days ago with a note from my aunt, saying that she had an important matter to discuss with you. I went to her house yesterday and claimed that you were feeling unwell, so you could not go. So, she handed me this envelope."
The Duke extracted an envelope from his breast pocket and held it out for me. I crossed the library floor and took it from his hand. I felt rather nervous as I tore open the envelope to find the following message: