“Thank you. I’ll be in the dining room.”
Before settling in the dining room, Audrey sent Beckwith out to pick up the latest scandal sheet. She hated to spend their limited coin on it, but she had to know if the gossip was unfavorable. If that was the case, there was no way she’d even think about having a Season. It would be a disaster, and she wouldn’t subject Lord Fletcher to any ridicule. He’d been overly kind to them and didn’t deserve theton’sdisdain. There was no way she’d repay his kindness by the fact that he might receive the cut direct from snooty lords or ladies. No one should have to endure that viciousness, especially not someone she was beginning to like more than she should.
She was sitting at the dining table, enjoying her tea, when Beckwith returned.
“Here you are, Miss Parker,” he said, holding out the paper.
“Thank you, Beckwith.”
“Is there something amiss? You seem unsettled this morning.”
Beckwith had always been perceptive, and she wasn’t surprised he’d noticed her uneasiness this morning.
“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”
“Will there be anything else?”
“No. You may go. Mrs. Culbert will have breakfast ready soon.”
She watched the butler linger a moment longer before he left the room. Servants knew everything, usually before anyone else. Had he heard gossip already about Lord Fletcher? It wouldn’t surprise her if he had. She smoothed out the paper and looked through the pages for anything related to her or the baron. She cringed when she finally saw it. It was worse than she’d thought possible.
A chance encounter with the new Lord F. in Hyde Park yesterday has yielded some interesting news. Not only is he an American, but it didn’t take much digging to find out he also works as a journalist. How distasteful. Were there no closer relatives found to inherit the Fletcher title? How odd that the line of succession didn’t lead to an Englishman.
Audrey wanted to scream at the injustice of the gossip. Even though she knew how the aristocracy felt about working, it seemed particularly cruel to suggest that he’d somehow usurped an Englishman for the title. Why would anyone think that? It was beyond the pale.
Tears of frustration rolled down her cheeks. Before she had a chance to wipe them away and compose herself, Grace walked into the room.
She took one look at Audrey and rushed to her side. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
“Oh, Grace, it’s all so unfair,” she said, handing the paper to her sister. “Look what they wrote about Lord Fletcher.”
Grace’s eyes widened when she read the passage. “Oh dear, this isn’t good. What can we do?”
“I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do about it. This gossip will be on everyone’s lips until a new scandal takes their attention away from the baron.”
“What if Lord Fletcher gives up working at his business and merely collects any profit to be had? Then there would be no scandal. It would be a sound investment, as many other lords have,” Grace said.
“I sincerely doubt that Lord Fletcher would do that. He takes great pride in the business he’s worked so hard at and would not simply give it up because the aristocracy disapproves of a working man.”
“If he wants to be accepted by theton,he’ll have to give up being a working journalist.”
“True, but I’m not even sure he plans to stay in England. And this smearing of his good name could be the catalyst that sends him back to New York.”
“That would be a shame,” Grace said. “I know he likes you, and I have a feeling that you like him too.”
Audrey didn’t want to admit that she was beginning to like the baron very much. She’d never been attracted to any man thus far in her life, but Lord Fletcher had a way about him that was very appealing. He was everything she’d hoped for in a husband.
Husband?
Why on earth would she think Lord Fletcher would ever consider courting and marrying her, a penniless baron’s daughter? He was their guardian, nothing more. “It doesn’t matter how I feel. It will be up to Lord Fletcher to decide what’s best for him, and we’ll have to live with his decision.”
“But he’s our guardian. Surely he wouldn’t think of abandoning us so soon.”
“Dear sister, could you blame him if he did?”
“No, I suppose not,” Grace said. “I do like him and hope there’s some way to convince him to stay.”
“So do I,” Audrey whispered as Grace poured herself a cup of tea. “I need to see Mrs. Beaumont today. It’s more important than ever that I continue to earn as much coin as possible.”
