Of course he should have instantly known who the lady was. In his haste to get to Lady Isabel, he’d somehow forgotten that Lady Bertridge had said Lord Lymington’s parents were not just in Town but also staying with the duchess. That was what had drove him to set off so precipitously in the first place. It must be her, the Duchess of Hastings. Though, he could not imagine how the lady had ever heard ofhim.
Harry bowed and said, “I am Mr. Harry Vance. And you are the Duchess of Hastings, I presume. Now, I really must insist on speaking to Lady Isabel.”
The duchess was rather red in the face. She said, “Not if I can help it.”
The other duchess said, “What does it matter now? I will not allow my son to connect himself with such a lady. She has been positively disgraceful.”
Harry bristled. He could not know what had gone on to set these two harridans off in such a fashion, but he would not have Lady Isabel insulted. “There is nothing, and never will be anything, disgraceful about Lady Isabel Beaufort,” he said. “I do not care who you are or what sort of standing you have by way of rank. I would not accept such talk from the queen herself.”
The Duchess of Hastings, who had been on the verge of standing, fell back onto the sofa. It was apparent to Harry that nobody had crossed her in quite a while. If ever. It was the fundamental problem with a duchess—nobody ever told them a truth they did not wish to hear.
The Duchess of Stanbury, Harry could see well enough, was in a bit of a quandary. She did not like him, she was furious at his arrival. But then, it appeared she could only agree with his sentiments as she also very clearly disliked the Duchess of Hastings and that lady’s opinions.
Carlson staggered into the room. Holding on to the doorframe, he said, “Your Grace, Lord Lymington and a Miss Thompson have arrived.”
Harry suppressed a smile. He could not fathom why Miss Thompson was soon to be escorted into the duchess’ drawing room by Lymington, but the circumstance could only be in his favor.
“Who is Miss Thompson?” the Duchess of Hastings asked.
Lymington came in with the lady on his arm and said, “Sheis, mother. This lady, right here, is Miss Thompson.”
Miss Thompson curtsied and said, “Your Grace.”
“But I mean, why?” the Duchess of Hastings asked. “Why have you brought this girl here?”
“Oh!” Lord Lymington said, laughing. “I see. Yes, well we are engaged. Not a half hour ago. We wished to tell you straightaway. At least, Miss Thompson, Olivia, said we ought not keep it a secret, thoughIwondered.”
Harry was both amused and delighted. Miss Thompson had obviously taken her fate into her own hands.
The Duchess of Stanbury turned to the Duchess of Hastings and said, rather victoriously, “Who is disgracefulnow?”
“Who?” Lord Lymington asked pleasantly, as if he’d walked into the middle of an amusing parlor game.
“Percy,” his mother said, “I demand you explain yourself at once. You were meant to be proposing to Lady Isabel this very night!”
“Iknow,” Lord Lymington said. “Funny, that.”
The Duchess of Hastings looked rather dumbfounded by her son’s less than illuminating explanation and Harry presumed it was an expression she was often afflicted with.
Miss Thompson stepped forward and said, “Perhaps I should explain.”
“Please do, Miss…whoever you are,” the Duchess of Hastings said with cool condescension.
Miss Thompson opened her reticule and said, “I am Miss Olivia Thompson, daughter of Viscount Merdon. I received two notes from Lady Isabel shortly before departing for the Willistons’ rout. One was addressed to me and one I was directed to pass along to Percy.”
“He is Lord Lymington outside of the family,” his mother said.
Miss Thompson eyed the lady, and it was obvious to Harry that she was not at all cowed by her. As frigid as ice, she said, “Would you be interested in the contents of these two communications, ma’am?”
“I know I was!” Lord Lymington said.
“Please read us the letters, Miss Thompson,” the Duchess of Stanbury said, fanning herself on the sofa.
Miss Thompson unfolded the first note and read it aloud:
Miss Thompson—
Though we do not know each other so well that a communication of this sort is at all appropriate, I find I must dare it anyway.
