Whatever that woman and her wax were up to, he was glad it was not to go on in this house.
As his thoughts meandered, he was suddenly hit by a wave of…well, he did not know what. Never had anything so deadly assaulted his senses. It was at once the odors of rotting fruit, old fish, foul water, and sulfur springs all mixed together. His eyes watered.
“What…is that…thedog?” he asked Mrs. Huffson.
Mrs. Huffson had raised her handkerchief to her nose. “Aye, I am afraid so. ’Tis not uncommon in animals that have been starved for a time and then find themselves in the midst of plentiful food.”
“It cannot remain in the house in that condition!” he said, leaping up to open the door that led to the garden.
“Now, do not fret over it, Mr. Tattleton,” Mrs. Huffson said through her handkerchief. “Her stomach will settle and right itself soon enough.”
He flung the door open and breathed deep the fresh cool air. He turned and regarded the wretched creature as she stretched out on the carpet, completely oblivious to the suffering she had caused.
As the crisp breeze blew through the room, Mrs. Huffson lowered her handkerchief and said, “Aye, that’s better. Now, Mr. Tattleton, there is all sorts of talk from the maids that Lady Rosalind already fancies herself in love.”
Tattleton cautiously closed the door, though he would not be surprised if he were forced to race to get it open it again at any moment. “That is entirely true,” he said, returning to the table and taking a gulp of brandy.
“Who is the fellow?” Mrs. Huffson said. “None of the maids seem to know who he is.”
“That is because Lady Rosalind herself does not know who he is,” Tattleton said. “She is counting on the fates to bring him forth.”
“The fates?”
Tattleton nodded sadly. Lady Rosalind had a great confidence in the fates, whoever they were.
“Well now, that’s a very fine muddle,” Mrs. Huffson said.
Tattleton was afraid it was more than a muddle. Who was this fellow? Would it ever be discovered? What if the fates fell down on the job and did not bring him forth? Or what if they did and he was not up to snuff?
As Tattleton considered those questions, he suddenly peered closer at the dog. He did not know how much that mongrel had managed to eat in the past hours, but however much it had been, it seemed to be roiling in its stomach. Tattleton was certain its intestines were moving of their own accord and he was becoming fearful of another explosion.
“Is something wrong with that dog?” he asked, cautiously getting up and hurrying to the door before another eruption occurred.
Mrs. Huffson turned to look at the creature, who had now rolled on its back with its legs in the air.
“No, not a bit of it,” Mrs. Huffson said. “Bess is just having a stretch. She’s showing us her stomach, which signals she feels safe here.”
Tattleton was not so sure Bessoughtto feel safe here. Not if she were intent on carrying on like a veritable Mount Vesuvius.
“She’ll be all right until morning and Charlie said he’d take her into the garden first thing,” Mrs. Huffson said.
Tattleton could only hope Mrs. Huffson was correct. And hope that poor Charlie was not suddenly overcome with fumes when he did so. He did not wish to discover that fine young boy splayed on the floor, eyes wide, with a blank expression on his features, having been assaulted unawares.
Tattleton did not know how this season would unfold, exactly. But they already had a lady above stairs who did not know the identity of the gentleman she was in love with and a dog who could fell a full-grown man in a matter of seconds.
And he’d thought last season was a trial.
Chapter Three
As Rosalind preparedto enter the vaunted halls of Almack’s, her flutter of nerves made her think of how Beatrice must have felt, treading this same path last year.
Rosalind had been at home with her sisters, all of them lamenting that they must be left behind and wondering at the fun Beatrice must be having.
She’d not once in that moment thought of Beatrice being struck with nerves.
Beatrice must have been though. Rosalind was herself struck with nerves and everybody knew how bold and courageous she was.
Miss Mayton squeezed her hand after they’d handed in their tickets. The earl and Darden led the way to the ballroom.
