Mrs. Sorley glanced at Dom and raised her brows.
Clearly, he was supposed to make the inquiry. “Ah, did Cook live with you?”
The boy shook his head, munching on his sweet. “No. She used to bring us food. Mama said Cook was her most favorite person after Papa and me.”
Papa? Had his parents been married? Dom ran a hand through his hair. Where was the scoundrel now?
* * *
Lord Fotherby was swinging his new gold-headed cane in time with the tassels on his boots as he strolled down the pedestrian walk of the Park when a lady called out.
“Lord Fotherby, how delightful to run into you again.”
“Lady Manners.” He bowed and lifted his hat. “The pleasure is all mine, I am sure.”
She signaled to the footman to drop back. “Such sad news.”
What the devil was she talking about? Did someone die? He would not wish her to think he was not up on all thecrim cons. “Indeed. It took us all by surprise.”
The lady’s eyes rounded. “You as well? I would have thought he would confide inyouof all people. Although he is very reserved.”
Fotherby blinked. Who the devil was it she was talking about? Perhaps if she just kept up the conversation, he’d get an inkling. “No, no. He does, as you say, keep his own counsel.”
Lady Manners nodded sadly. “He must be very embarrassed to have to marry so far beneath him.”
Understanding crept into the recesses of his mind. He wasn’t as bright as most of his friends, but he was well up to snuff. She must be talking about Merton and was obviously upset. “I daresay. Though I expect he’ll make the best of it. Nothing else to do after all.”
“Well.” She blew out a breath that lifted one of the curls on her forehead. “I, for one, am in despair. The sly minx trapping him like that. He was to have married my cousin, Miss Turley. you know.”
Trapped?Fotherby didn’t like Miss Stern, but he never thought she’d do anything scurrilous. Still, Merton was a marquis. No wonder he had not wanted to discuss his betrothal. Not that he really had a choice. It had been all around Town before the announcement was in theMorning Post.A fellow was out of luck at this stage of the game. In fact, he should not have given Merton a hard time about it. “Bad business that, but what can one do?”
He’d meant his question to be rhetorical, but a gleam came in to Lady Manners’s eyes and she took his arm, leaning in confidingly.
“Perhaps, if I had a gentleman to assist me, I could discover a way to stop the marriage from happening.”
“I don’t take your meaning. Merton would never call it off. He values his reputation too much. And the chit is residing with his cousin.”
She fluttered her lashes, as if she had a speck in her eye. “But what if Miss Stern failed to appear at the wedding?”
Fotherby tried to take a step back, but Lady Manners latched on tightly to his arm. “Merton would not take well to being made a fool of.”
“Precisely my point. He wouldn’t give her another chance.”
Fotherby wasn’t at all sure he wanted to be a part of Lady Manners’s plans. If it got out, he’d never hear the end of it from his mother. “I won’t be involved in anything criminal.”
“Not anything truly illegal, but if we were to ensure she was . . . elsewhere for a day or so . . .”
Lavvie petted Fotherby’s arm in a soothing way. If she had known he was so hen-witted, she’d have picked someone else to assist her, but she had to help Elizabeth. If she couldn’t marry for love, at least Lavvie could ensure her cousin married a man who’d be good to her. Unlike Manners, who never failed to blame her for everything.
The arm she held tightened as he sputtered, “See here, no matter what she did, I’ll have no part in ruining Miss Stern.”
The man was being more stubborn than she expected. If there was anyone else Lavvie could use, she would. Unfortunately, Merton did not have a large circle of friends, and Fotherby was the only one with a house near Richmond. Just far enough away to keep Miss Stern from being able to make her way back to London and close enough that no one would notice Fotherby’s absence.
She swallowed her exasperation. “No, no, indeed. That would never do. We shall put it about that she went home. I’ve heard Lady Stern is unable to travel. What could be more natural than for the girl to realize that she is not prepared for the position as Merton’s wife and run away to her mama?” When Fotherby didn’t respond, Lavvie continued in her most coaxing tone. “We shall only keep Miss Stern for a day or so, then return her to the bosom of her family unharmed, and Merton will be free to select a suitable bride.”
Fotherby glanced at her with his brows drawn together. “Your cousin, Miss Turley, for example?”
“Why, yes, if he still wishes to ask her.”
