The woman appeared ashamed, but she said, “In truth, my lord, it has been months since I have had an egg. We rarely had them at the school where I taught, and I have had none since I came to London.”
Benjamin felt as if someone had kicked him in the rear for being an arse. “You will have them here, that is, if you wish them.”
Tears claimed her eyes. “Coddled, Mr. Patterson,” she managed. “And dry toast.”
“There are several spreads on the table, miss.” Patterson’s eyes also indicated the man had been moved by the lady’s honesty.
“I have made arrangements for Mr. Brunswick to escort you to your boarding house. If I send him in the gig, will that be big enough for your belongings?”
“A small trunk and a valise will be all I have. Perhaps a cloth bag with scraps Mr. Sustar always permits me to take home for household use,” she admitted. “And where will you be today, my lord?”
“I must finish my search of the grounds at the Lyon’s Den,” he explained. “During the day, I generally oversee some of my business interests. I am confident Lord Duncan will wish to learn what he might of your sister either today or tomorrow, depending upon his duties at the Home Office. Everything has been quite hectic with the assassination of the Prime Minister.”
“For what are you searching on the grounds at the Lyon’s Den?” she asked.
“The Prime Minister was shot in May, but someone shot Duncan in mid-March as we were leaving the Lyon’s Den. The fellow walked right between us, and none of us knew what was happening until it was too late. Titan found the shooter’s coat. That was why we were at the Lyon’s Den when you first took the acquaintance of my brothers and Mr. Hartley. The coat had a missing button. If we can find it on the grounds of the Lyon’s Den, it will prove the person’s disguise was thrown away, and he blended in with those exiting the Den after the gunfire. It is important to all of us that we discover this person, but I feel it deeply, for I told Lord Beaufort to ignore the man. I thought he was drunk, but he was not. Duncan is fortunate that the bullet only tore away some of his muscle and bone. Otherwise, we would all be grieving his loss.”
She reached out to squeeze the back of Benjamin’s hand, and though he wished to interlock their fingers, he did not move—simply enjoyed the feel of her skin against his. “How very terrible for your family.”
“A Mr. Rheem performed the surgery, but I stayed with Duncan at the Lyon’s Den for over a week, for it was too dangerous to move him. I always wanted to be a surgeon like Rheem, but I only spent two years in Edinburgh in my studies, though I am efficient when there is a need of me,” he said with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
“How very fascinating,” she remarked. “I am confident Lord Duncan was pleased to see you at his side when he awoke from his recovery. How very remarkable you are, my lord.” She withdrew her hand, and Benjamin felt bereft of her heat. “And what of Parliament? It is awful to say I do not know exactly how our government works. I know something of the acts passed and so forth, and I know you, as a lord, are not elected, but I do not know much of the logistics. When do you attend, for example?”
Patterson returned with a plate of toast and eggs and set it proudly before her.
“Parliament customarily breaks in mid-July, for London can become as warm as medicinal hot springs by that time, and both the Lords and the Commons are filled with men who must attend to their estates. These next few weeks will be quite hectic. We generally sit later in the day for debates and some arguments over this and that. Afterwards, thehaut tonwill continue their debates at a variety of entertainments or at their gentleman’s club or musicales and the like.”
“But not their arguments?” she asked with a smile.
“In truth, I cannot say with any authority regarding the entertainments,” he admitted. “I am known to enjoy conversations with my brothers or Duncan, but I was never expected to inherit. In fact, all of Lord Duncan’s sons took an odd path to their inheritance. My uncle, the previous Earl Thompson, was killed, as was my father. If not for Duncan, my father’s family line would have known extinction. His lordship’s patronage protected me until I could claim the earldom.”
She again reached a hand to him and gently removed his fingers from the fist they had formed. He always took the idea of his father’s unnecessary death hard. “I am exceedingly glad there are men willing to stand against evil.”
It was Benjamin’s turn to know sentimentality. “Duncan also secured my mother’s safety and comfort until I was old enough to tend to her personally. I owe him my loyalty.”
They were quiet for several minutes as she ate, and he studied the delicate movements of her hands, while he pretended to read the paper.
Eventually, she finished, sat back in her chair, and sighed, which made him want to smile, but he resisted. Benjamin truly wished to stay and show her the attached house, but he did not volunteer. “I know you have a busy day also, so I will leave you to it. If there is anything you require that you do not find already in the furnished rooms, let Mrs. Gabriel know, and we will see if it can be procured. Such is one of the advantages of having four brothers and a father whohave houses in Town. There are always extra pieces of furniture in the attic.”
“Do any of your brothers have children?” she asked.
“No. Orson and Lady Emma married less than a month prior. It was a grand affair,” he said with a smile. Benjamin stood then. He wished to spend the day with her, but he knew doing so would frighten her and make her think he would control her life. “I will see you at supper, if not before then. It will take several days to clean and stock the kitchen in your new house, but Mrs. Gabriel will show you the one door we share in common. You and Mrs. Sullivan may make use of the kitchen below until all this is settled. Naturally, I would be thrilled to have you share meals with me. It would be nice not to dine alone, but I suppose you are accustomed to eating in private. Whichever works best for you, Miss Whitchurch.”
“Thank you, my lord, for permitting me to make the decision. For now, I would be quite honored to share meals with you. I fear I am not much of a cook, and it is good to hear a voice not my own.”
“The second houseon the right-hand side of the road,” Victoria instructed as the footman eased the gig to the curb. “I shan’t be long,” she told the man as they came to a stop.
The man put a light hand on her arm. “His lordship presented me with specific instructions, Miss Whitchurch, to escort you inside. Lord Thompson wanted assurances you were not harassed.” The man grinned. “It seems some people find an earl’s livery intimidating.”
“But what of the horse?” she questioned.
His grin widened. “Watch this.” He put his fingers to his mouth and let out a loud whistle. Two small boys came running.
“We watch yer horse, mister?” they chorused.
“Yes, but do not walk him unless the lady and I are inside for more than twenty minutes. Do either of you have a watch?” Mr. Brunswick asked as he set the reins and climbed down, though he obviously knew the answer before asking the question.
“No, sir, but there be one on the corner before the local magistrate’s office,” the taller of the boys responded with a lift of his shoulders in pride.
