“That would be very good,” Viola said. “We already have him believing in the lovesick baron, after all. No need to go inventing somebody else.”
“Yes, and we have painted the baron as being very rash. He might do anything, who can say what a rash man might do?” Cordelia said.
“But what rash thing could he do?” Rosalind asked. “What could be more rash than a duel?”
“A duel would have only been dangerous tohim,” Juliet pointed out. “We need to think of something that would be dangerous toyou. He could not ignore it if he loves you and he must love you.”
“Hmm. What if…” Viola said, trailing off.
“What if what?” Rosalind said, leaning forward.
“Well, what if the duke was to think the lovesick baron had stolen you off and intended to take you to Gretna Green?”
“That would be marvelous!” Juliet said.
“Yes, it would be,” Rosalind said. “Though I do not know how we would arrange such a ruse.”
“It is a very good thought, though,” Miss Mayton said.
“We just must think of how it could be done,” Cordelia said. “This is a matter of love, and so there is always a way.”
Rosalind sat back. It would give her a very definitive answer, whatever that answer was to be. If Conbatten were to imagine that she’d been carried off by the lovesick baron and didnotfollow her…then she would know that he did not give a toss that she was on her way to a marriage over the anvil.
How was it to be done, though?
“We’d better go up while we ponder it,” Viola said. “We have to get Aunt’s sideburns off before dinner, else I do not see how she is to eat under that veil.”
Chapter Sixteen
Balthazar, having afirm idea of the token he wished to bestow on Lady Rosalind, had sent out inquiries in all directions. Mr. Rundell of Rundell and Bridge had written back describing a ring that was precisely what he looked for. A large red ruby symbolizing a red rose, surrounded by gold in an intricate pattern of Thyme. Passionate love and courage, in the language of flowers. It was precisely what he wished to say. It was precisely what Lady Rosalind would need to hear.
Hamill had arrived to his house unexpectedly, just as he was about to set off to the jewelers. He had told his friend of his errand and they had set off together.
As the carriage trundled its way to Ludgate Hill, Hamill said, “Well? Who is this lady that has conquered you and sends you running for jewelry?”
Balthazar gazed out the window at the passing scenery. “I’ll keep that to myself until I am assured that I have conqueredher.”
“Gad, you think you might be turned down?”
“I think I cannot take an acceptance for granted.”
“You really went to see the queen about it, and she was amenable?”
“I did and she was.”
“Interesting,” Hamill said. “I do not, as of yet, have a lady in mind for myself. But, it is well to know the queen would likely sanction it.”
“You are only just twenty,” Balthazar said, “far too young to consider such a step. Wait until you are twenty-five and have burned off some of your alarming energy. When you find you are no longer racing out of your house at dawn, off on a series of physical pursuits, you may have settled enough to consider a marriage.”
“Why do you say so? Do you say a lady would not prefer my mode of going on?”
“I suspect not, it is exhausting just to hear about, never mind witness. Don’t you ever pause and read a book?”
“Bah, I hate books. My sister is always spouting off about something she read. There is some Wordsworth fellow she is enamored with and we never hear the end of it.”
“He is a poet, very well known,” Balthazar said drily. “Now, I know you did not come to me simply to ride along to the jewelers and tell me of your disdain for books,” Balthazar said. “What news?”
“Crosby writes that the boy Jimmy has finally been prevailed upon to give up where he was living in the Rats’ Castle. We have the location of the room, we know there were five boys living there, including the one that got away. That was Shrimps, you remember, the one that now resides in Van Doren’s household. And, we’ve got a description of the leader of that room. He is the eldest and largest of them all and his name is Barney Mudbetter. He can be recognized by a brown birthmark on his cheek.”
