Caroline rose and shook out her skirt. “Lady Easton may very well send me packing when she discovers all. I can at least ensure that there is nothing further to discover beyond what there already is.”
Bemmy nodded sadly. “You poor fancy types got so many rules to follow. I do pity you, I really do.”
Caroline thought it was not every maid who would pity the people she served, but then Bemmy was an original. She glanced at the clock and said, “I must go down now. Tonight of all nights, I cannot be late.”
Bemmy fussed with Caroline’s hair for a last adjustment and said, “Now, keep your head up and don’t look like you’re a criminal on your way to a hanging. We was just up to some spirited fun, not a murder.”
Caroline nodded, though she did not feel much better than a criminal on the way to a hanging.
Chapter Thirteen
Richard had handilywon the exhibition and he supposed he ought to be pleased about it. The Prince had certainly been pleased. The people who had laid bets in his favor were pleased. His uncle was almost giddy. For himself, he found it hard to be pleased when he saw what sort of battered state he was in.
He’d got out of the cold bath the footmen had filled up and glanced in the glass as they handed him towels. Both of the boys had slipped away from Bramley’s clutches late in the day and had witnessed the final match of the exhibition between him and Alvanley.
As they chattered on about this stance or that tactic, Richard examined himself. His left eye was swollen and looked a different size than his right, and the whole was pink and purple. It would only grow darker as the days wore on before it finally began to fade.
He supposed Landon bragged about it just now. That delinquent had lost his match, and if anyone had a right to brag besides himself it was Alvanley, who had given him a far harder time. But Landon was the only fighter to leave a mark on him.
And why did Landon get the opportunity to leave a mark on him? Miss Caroline Upton, that was why.
The sun had made a sudden appearance and he’d shaded his eyes and glanced up to see if it would stay out for long. Had there been no clouds ready to drift over it again, he’d have had to maneuver Landon around so that the sun was inhiseyes.
But it had not been clouds that had taken his attention. It had been Miss Upton and her maid at a window in The Ship Inn. He might not have been certain it was her, dressed as she was, had her maid not been standing beside her.
She had attempted a disguise to attend the exhibition. That really had been bad enough, but when he returned to the house he discovered that she had been in town with Lady Redfield and then disappeared, that poor lady exhausting herself in search of her charge.
Miss Upton, herself, had been commended for doing the same, searching everywhere for Lady Redfield. Instead, she’d been at the exhibition!
What was wrong with her? Did she feel driven to flout every convention? And then, to use Lady Redfield so poorly!
He’d been further informed that most of the people who were meant to dine in the house this evening had sent their last-minute regrets. Of course, Miss Upton had been the cause of that too. To be fair, he knew that the gossip that had gone round was not true and her attendance at Alvanley’s dinner was not her fault, but rather his uncle’s. But he could not help thinking that wherever Miss Upton went, trouble was hard on her heels.
Why must she be as she was? When she was not causing trouble, she was…well, it did not matter what she was. It did not matter that she was lovely and so kind to his dog and so cheerful all the time. There were times when she almost made him cheerful too. But then she would go straight into trouble…
He really did not wish to go to this blasted dinner. Not with all that had gone on, not with the rather dull guest list, and not with a black eye.
Kingston came into the room and chased the footmen out of it. His valet had taken on a certain dignity caused by the results of the day. Richard supposed his knee man would regale the servants’ hall with everything that had transpired. Kingston did not know everything, though. Kingston did not know that one of the servants he would regale had been there too, accompanying Miss Upton.
His aunt did not yet know either and Richard was of two minds about telling her. Certainly, Lady Easton ought to know the truth. On the other hand, he did not think his aunt could manage one more upset presently. He sympathized, as he would be in the precise same situation if he’d not boxed out so much of his irritation.
He would likely tell his aunt at some point, but tonight was not the time.
Blast this dinner and blast that girl.
*
Caroline arrived tothe drawing room on time and found Lady Easton and Lord Bertridge already there. At the sight of them, she felt an enormous cloak of guilt settling round her. Lady Easton looked at her kindly, and the lady was so kind! As for Lord Bertridge, well, he likely knew that she had run off from Lady Redfield and attended the exhibition. Bemmy had been convinced he would not make it out, but the way he turned away from her just now…she was certain he knew.
As Lady Easton questioned her on whether she was quite recovered from searching the town earlier in the day, Caroline answered that she was very well. Though in truth, she was not at all well. Her thoughts whirled and it made her head ache. She had such a great urge to confess all, though she could hardly do it with guests poised to arrive. She must do it at some point, though.
Lady Easton would pack her up and send her home. She was sure of it. She’d caused far too much trouble and the lady must be exhausted by it. Caroline supposed Lord Easton might argue against it, as he did have a debt to settle with her father. Though, if Lady Easton did not wish her here, she’d rather not stay.
And, oh, her father. What could she say to her father about her conduct? Baron Dunn expected all his children to be rational and kind. She had been neither. She’d been unthinking, flighty, and unkind.
Lord Easton sauntered in a full four minutes late, but he could not be properly reprimanded by his wife as guests had begun to arrive in the front hall.
Caroline breathed in deep. Whatever was to be the consequences of her actions, for now she must hold up her end at dinner. Lady Easton had already been traumatized over having so many guests cancel, it was imperative that she end the night feeling the dinner had been a success after all.
