Mondrian could not care less. That was, until it came to his attention that a boy had been born.
If that boy still lived,hewas the heir to the Dedmont barony.
If Mondrian himself could not be baron, he could at least ransom the real one. He could extract a pile of money and then slip away. He could be off to America, where anybody with money could live as a gentleman and where his accent would be held in high regard, rather than scrutinized and sniffed at.
Now, he was rather sure he’d found the boy. He went by the name of Shrimps, no doubt to hide his real identity.
He could not fathom why the boy did not claim the title, but then, that was not his problem. If this Shrimps really was the boy he sought, he had to irrefutably prove it, and then demand a fortune for his return.
He’d been gathering evidence ever since and he was very close.
Chapter Seventeen
Beatrice had beenas good as her word and sent Shrimps over in the morning. Once apprised of his arrival, Rosalind, Miss Mayton, and her sisters had hurried down to the servants’ hall.
There, they’d found Shrimps fairly cowering under Tattleton’s stare and seeming as if he did not know what he was doing there.
“Tattleton,” Rosalind said, “you may go about your duties. We will stay with Shrimps.”
“I do not mind staying, my lady,” Tattleton said.
“Oh, we cannot keep you,” Rosalind said.
“And I am very sorry to say it, Tattleton,” Juliet said, “but the pups do not play as much when you are watching. I believe they might be intimidated by your presence.”
“That is very true,” Viola said. “They do not know you are the kindest most wonderful butler living.”
“They only see your imposing looks, Tattleton,” Cordelia confirmed.
Their poor butler looked at once discomposed and flattered. He turned on his heel and climbed the stairs.
Viola tiptoed to the door to confirm he’d gone up, and then quietly shut it.
“How do you do this morning, Shrimps?” Rosalind said.
Shrimps bowed. “My lady, I am a little shaken. I do not believe Mr. Tattleton wished me to be here.”
“Oh, never mind Tattleton. He is our butler, all the really good ones have moods,” Cordelia said.
“Do they?” Shrimps whispered.
“Were you not pleased that we wished you to see the pups, Shrimps?” Juliet asked.
Shrimps appeared to think this over. Finally, he said, “They’re grand, I’m sure. It was only that I was rather nervous that you’d want…another pickpocket.”
“Goodness, no,” Rosalind said, in what she hoped was a friendly and encouraging tone. “We are quite done with that idea.”
Shrimps appeared very relieved to hear it.
“This time,” Rosalind went on, “we only require a coach and coachman to drive us not so very far to Lady Bloomington’s house and then drive down the street while a duke runs after it, and then leap off and run away.”
This seemed to stagger Shrimps and he collapsed into a chair.
“It is not nearly as complicated as it might at first sound,” Cordelia said.
Rosalind nodded and proceeded to acquaint him with the plan. The coach would seem to be Lady Hightower’s. She and Miss Mayton must simply get in and get away before Tattleton looked too closely. Then, on to Lady Bloomington’s masque and slowly driving round until the duke was spotted. Then Miss Mayton would get out and wave to him and tell him what had happened. A rash baron was stealing Rosalind away to Gretna Green.
The coach sets off, the duke sets off, the hired men run away, and the duke declares his undying passion.
