Aldridge entered the room, took in the scene with a single glance, and ordered the three hefty men who crowded after him into action. Matilda didn’t recognize them. Their sober clothing suggested they were upper servants, but their burly physiques spoke of some more vigorous profession. In moments, the duke was struggling under a pile of all three.
“Laudanum,” Aldridge instructed. Matilda couldn’t see details through the melee, but he must have been obeyed, because the duke suddenly went limp. Aldridge ignored the men who were now untangling themselves and standing, and reached out a hand to help Lord Hamner to his feet. “My thanks.” Several swift strides brought him to his mother’s side. He crouched, reaching out a hand to gently skim the bruise that was rapidly purpling the side of her face.
“I beg your pardon, Mama. He should never have been able to evade his watchers.” He narrowed his eyes at the men, who were now lifting the duke between them and carrying him towards the door. “I shall find out what happened and it shan’t happen again.” One of the men met his gaze. “My lord—”
“Later, Stebbings,” Aldridge growled, and the men left, shutting the door behind them.
The duchess patted his shoulder, soothing him as she would a frightened child. “I am a little bruised, my son, and nothing worse.” She met Matilda’s eyes, a question in them.
“I am well, Aunt Eleanor.” Her voice was a little husky. She cleared her throat, hiding a wince at the pain from her bruising. “You intervened before any harm was done.”
The duchess made to get up, and with Aldridge on one side of her and Lord Hamner on the other, she managed to rise. They supported her to the nearest sofa, and Matilda and Lady Hamner followed. The duchess was insisting she was perfectly well.
“I will just rest for a few minutes, and I will be perfectly ready for the meeting of the Society.”
Matilda murmured to Aldridge, “She was knocked out for a moment, Aldridge.”
“Mama, I want a doctor to examine you,” Aldridge told the duchess. “That was quite a bang on your head.”
“I want no fuss,” Aunt Eleanor insisted. She looked thoughtfully at Lord Hamner, and then at Lady Hamner, who had made her a cup of tea and was bringing it to her.
“I had a fall,” she declared. “Most clumsy of me.”
“Yes, Eleanor,” Lady Hamner agreed. “Hamner and I will say nothing to the contrary, you can be sure. I assume your servants will keep silent?”
Aunt Eleanor put out a hand to draw the other lady down beside her. “Aldridge’s men will not speak of this, Clara, and I know I can trust you and your son. Lord Hamner, we owe you a debt for your intervention.”
The edge to Aldridge’s voice, and the restless flexing of one hand, were the only indications of his distress. “The men will explain how His Grace came to be here, alone, and in a condition to attack my mother and my sister. But yes, they will be silent, though it won’t be necessary for much longer. I have also spoken to the footman you sent for me, Matilda. He will not betray us.”
Hamner was as tense as Aldridge. “And how will you make sure that your father is not again enabled to attack Miss— to attack the ladies? The man was trying to—”
Aldridge interrupted; his tone arctic. “Thank you, Hamner. I am aware, but we do not need to further distress the ladies.”
“Do not be concerned, Hamner,” Aunt Eleanor said. “As soon as the hearing is over, His Grace will be confined at Haverford Castle.”
“Mama!” Aldridge protested.
“Calm yourself, my dear.” The duchess was back to her usual dignified self. “Clara is my friend, and Hamner is… a fine gentleman, and has been friend to us all, especially today. After what they have witnessed, and what poor Matilda has been through, they deserve to know that we are taking measures to have His Grace declared incompetent. We do not want the matter discussed until the result is decided, Clara.”
Aldridge sighed. “I had the duke brought from Haverford Castle to be present at the hearing. The deterioration in his mind is obvious to anyone who speaks with him, so it can only help. Today was the last day of presenting evidence, and he will return to the castle as soon as the roads are passable. Nor do I expect them to linger over the decision.”
“If it helps,” Hamner offered, “I would be willing to testify about what I observed.”
The duchess sipped her tea, as if discussions of competence hearings were perfectly normally drawing room conversations. Aldridge answered Hamner, but his voice seemed to come from a long way away. Matilda’s heart raced as if she were still under attack, her skin felt clammy and there seemed too little air in the room. She did not realize she was swaying until Hamner was there, his solid presence anchoring her to the room. He helped her to a chair.
“You are safe,” he assured her. “Just sit here and take a deep breath. Here. My mother has made you a cup of tea: a little bit of cream and one teaspoon of sugar, just how you like it.”
