They sat in silence as they waited for the lord’s arrival. There were several times when Lady Redfield attempted to rise and flee the house, but his aunt would not allow either of the ladies to go.
Lord Easton finally strolled in, looking as cheerful as ever. “Ah, ladies,” he said, “it looks like quite the party.”
Lady Easton ignored that comment. Rather, she said, “You failed to mention a few details about that dinner, Easton. You failed to mention dancing on tables and a scavenger hunt in the dark.”
Lord Easton looked quizzically at his wife. “Whatever are you talking about?”
“Oh, I know, I have heard. Everybody has heard,” Lady Easton said. “Caroline was dancing on a table and I cannot fathom how she came to be so and why you would not stop her. And then, hiding in the dark where anything might have happened? Her reputation is in shreds, as is our own.”
“I have not the faintest idea of what you are talking about,” Lord Easton said. “There was no dancing and no scavenger hunt. There was a dinner, and then Mrs. Jordan acted out scenes while we guessed at what they were. The scenes were not at all scandalous, a baker who’d used too much yeast was typical. That is the sum total of the evening.”
“But then why…” Lady Easton trailed off, but it was not necessary to finish her thought anyway. All in the room knew what she meant. If it were not true, why would somebody create such an outrageous story?
“I can guess what happened,” Richard said, “Some ridiculous young dandy who attended the evening tried to impress his friends with a wild story, having no care that Miss Upton must be tainted by the tale.”
“If it is so, that is very unfortunate,” Lord Easton said.
“Not unfortunate, Uncle,” Richard said. “It is all very predictable when one chooses to associate with the likes of Alvanley and his friends.”
“They are not bad people,” Lord Easton said, “really, they are not.”
“Not for you, to be sure,” Richard said.
“Well, it’s water under the bridge now,” Lord Easton said, “I’ll tell you what, I’m on my way to see the Regent. I’ll find out who put the tale about, he won’t like it one bit on account of Mrs. Fitzherbert. I’m certain he will quash any more talk about it.”
“Mrs. Fitzherbert was there too?” Lady Easton asked incredulously.
“Oh, yes, didn’t I say?” Lord Easton said. “She lives right next door, by the by. Anyway, I best be off if the thing is to be put aside quickly.”
With that, Lord Easton strolled from the room not appearing any more shaken than when he’d come into it.
“Do you see what I mean?” Lady Easton said, staring at the door her lord had just made his exit through. “Who is he? I no longer know who he is. Mrs. Fitzherbert is our neighbor? Does he think she might call on us? Or worse, did he tell herwewould call onher?”
Lady Redfield nodded sympathetically. “I believe, Clara, that when some gentlemen reach a certain age, they encounter a…rough patch. Did you know that one time, my baron dyed his hair black as night. It was ever so alarming, as if there was a stranger in the house. I shrieked once, encountering him in a corridor. I suspect he only gave it up because it kept staining his neckcloths.”
Nobody had any comment about the departed baron’s experiments on his hair.
“I think what is needed,” Lady Featherstone said, “is some practical action. We must take steps.”
Richard thought Lady Featherstone was right, but what steps? What on earth could they do to salvage Miss Upton’s reputation? She had, as it turned out, been falsely accused and he felt a moment’s pang of guilt over so easily believing the story. Further, though he had said it was bound to happen when associating with the likes of Alvanley, Miss Uptonhadbeen escorted by his uncle. She should not have been there, but he could not in good conscience say that it was her fault for being there.
“We need all the ladies here,” Lady Easton said. “Lady Mendleton, Lady Heathway, and especially, the duchess—they must come to us immediately. The three of us will write letters to them, stating that fact in the strongest terms. And Cecilia, when I say strong, I mean strong. Do not write your usual letter of vague hints couched in compliments. You must be straightforward and forceful. We do not make a request, we make a demand.”
Lady Redfield’s brows knitted together and Richard was certain the lady had never been forceful in her life. No doubt her effort would end entirely incomprehensible.
“I’ll help you set the right tone,” Lady Featherstone said to Lady Redfield.
Lady Redfield nodded enthusiastically over that idea.
Richard thought it was as good a plan as any other. For himself, his only plan was to bide his time until he could box off some of his anger and frustration at the exhibition on the morrow. He might pummel a gentleman into nonexistence if he were to discover the inventor of the story while he was in his current state.
He was determined to do well at the exhibition. That meant he must be well-rested and in control of his body and his mind. He could not allow the near-constant disaster that was Miss Caroline Upton to occupy his thoughts and distract him.
*
Caroline had thoughtto go down for tea and had got as far as the landing before turning back around. Lady Redfield and Lady Featherstone had blown into the house with some urgency and speeded toward the drawing room.
Their arrival would not have been anything to put her off, but the manner of the two ladies had seemed less than genial. Lady Featherstone had practically thrown her pelisse at the footman and marched in with her bonnet slipping sideways and still on her head. Lady Redfield had flown after her in fluttery nervous steps like a chick after a hen.
