Stuie spit on the ground. “Not likely, my lord.”
Rupert eyed the other man, who’d turned his head. “You’re a long way from Mount Street.”
“Bloody hell,” the would-be thief mumbled. “I would have to run into you ag’in.”
In the daylight, he was able to see the tattered remains of a uniform. “What unit?”
“Fifty-second foot.” The former soldier made a gesture with his hand. “Both of us. Ain’t been able to find work since we got back from Waterloo.”
“What did you do before you enlisted?” Rupert watched the men carefully. One never knew when someone might stupidly attempt to attack him. “Something tells me you weren’t thieves.”
“Nah, raised on farms, we were,” the other man said. “No place for us there now.”
“Don’t know where ta go but here.”
Rupert took out his card case and a pencil. He wrote an address on the back. “Go see this man. If anyone can find you work, he can. As long as you don’t mind leaving London, that is.”
The former soldier took the card. “Thank ye.”
“Where’d you send them?” Stuie asked as the men walked off.
“Fenniman.”
“Ain’t he the one that found you your last tenant after old Jerry died?”
“He is.” And if need be, Rupert would find a place for them. He needed to have his secretary scout around for more land for sale.
“You think they’ll go?”
“They headed in the right direction.” Rupert climbed into the phaeton. “All I can do is try.”
“Got your flowers?”
“Yes. I only hope the lady likes them.”
“She the same one you been sendin’ flowers to?”
Rupert raised a brow. “You’re full of questions today.”
His tiger shrugged and scrambled on to the back. “People are wondering if we’re going to see changes.”
By the time he got back to Mayfair, the morning had advanced sufficiently to allow him to stop in Mount Street. When he pulled up in front of the house, Stuie got down, taking charge of the horses.
The door opened as Rupert reached the top step.
“Welcome, my lord. The ladies are in the drawing room. It is Lady Telford’s at home day.”
Giggling came from behind a door, and he paused in the act of taking off his hat. “How many ladies are here?”
“It’s early yet; only about seven.”
There was no way in hell he’d enter that room. He’d made the mistake once at his mother’s at home. Clearing his throat, he indicated the flowers. “I’d like to leave these for Lady Beresford. Do you have a piece of paper I could write a note on?”
Rupert could swear he saw the slightest twitch of the butler’s lips. “Indeed, my lord.”
A few minutes later, he strode out of the house, but not before another carriage drove up.Damn and blast it. Lady Banks and her daughter. Before they could hail him, he drove off.
The last thing he wanted was to jeopardize the support Lord Banks was giving Rupert in the Lords.
