*
Tattleton paced hisquarters. Atop having a pile of dogs in his servants’ hall and the whole place taking on the smell of wet fur, there was a mystery going on under his nose.
What were the ladies up to? What did they want with Shrimps?
First, they had insisted that Shrimps come to see all those dogs that had sprung out so suddenly from the wretched cur. Then they’d gone down and sat with the boy. Why?
As if that were not mystery enough, not an hour ago he’d heard the carriage arriving, opened the front doors, and what did he find?
All four ladies on the servants’ stairs with Shrimps, looking as if they were having some sort of confidential conversation!
Seeing his look of confusion over the scene, Lady Rosalind had informed him that Shrimps was out taking the air and they’d all agreed he looked tired and told him to sit on the steps and rest.
Was he to be taken as a fool? Was he expected to believe such a thing?
Then, he’d brought tea into the drawing room and heard the tail end of a conversation. As usual these days, they were discussing the duke. Now they had added in something about a pickpocket.
What was the connection between all of these things?
Tattleton sat down heavily. He was no Bow Street Runner and had not the first idea where to begin to unravel whatever was happening.
All he knew was that they were probably heading toward disaster by way of a duke, a boy, and now a pickpocket.
While he waited for the blow, whatever it was to be, to fall upon the house, there were nine dogs below stairs to think about.
They were contained now, but it would not be too long before they were up on their feet and chewing every leg of furniture in the servants’ hall.
*
Balthazar had madehis way into the park. Lady Crinkleton’s charity picnic was on offer and he must turn up.
He really did not see why. The point of the thing was to raise money for orphans. He was happy to give her plenty of money and did not entirely understand why the picnic must take place at all.
If he were to guess, he supposed Lady Crinkleton enjoyed the accolades that could only be felt in person, with a crowd. And then he supposed she was always very happy to introduce the prince so that he might drone on for a half hour about how heartily he supported Lady Crinkleton’s work.
The queen financed Lady Crinkleton’s work more than anybody did, but that royal lady had somehow been clever enough to avoid making an appearance. He guessed it amused her to force her son away from his entertainments for an afternoon of charity work in her stead.
All of the inconvenience of it might be overlooked if the lady bothered to supply any sort of decent refreshment. Alas, Lady Crinkleton liked to make her point about the plight of orphans with dreadful offerings. Lemonade would be the only drink and it would be of such a dreadful quality as to make Almack’s own insufferable lemonade appear the nectar of the Gods.
He steered his horse to the area that would house parked carriages of all sorts, and then paid a groom twice what he looked for, with strict instructions that his horse must be watered and kept in shade. It was a hot day and there was no reason Hades should also suffer on Lady Crinkleton’s behalf.
Despite his careful arrangements, Hades looked entirely disgusted with his current circumstances.
As he approached the gathering, Lady Rosalind’s party was immediately apparent. They were quite the crowd, coming all together. Not only was Lady Rosalind with her sisters and Miss Mayton, but the earl, Darden, Van Doren and Lady Van Doren were in attendance too.
Miss Mayton scanned the landscape like a hawk making lazy circles over a field. She spotted him and her attention grew sharper.
She waved. It was no delicate and subtle signal, but a full outstretched arm, as she was wont to do.
He nodded in her direction and told himself not to laugh.
Whatever long and boring speeches Lady Crinkleton had planned for them all, perhaps the Benningtons would alleviate the doldrums of it.
He made his way over.
After everybody was sufficiently greeted, Lady Juliet said, “Your Grace, if you have not been to the refreshments table yet, I do not advise it. It is all very dreadful.”
“Ah, yes,” he said, “Lady Crinkleton makes a point that orphans do not have the luxury of anything good, so neither should we.”
