Lady Hightower nodded. “Back in 1788, a story began going round that Miss Felicia Broadbent had accepted Lord Hynesley, and then broke it off with him when she received a better offer from Lord Jacinda. Hynesley was a new-minted baron, you see, and Jacinda was an earl. There was no truth to it—Hynesley had tried it out with Miss Broadbent and got nowhere. But, he was desperate for Miss Broadbent’s dowry and sought to ruin her engagement to Jacinda. I suppose he thought a shamed woman would have nowhere to turn but to him.”
Lady Hightower sighed. “It is so often the case that a new-minted title comes with less than the necessary funds, causing the new-minted gentleman to become desperate.”
“Was she forced to it?” Viola asked. “Did Lord Jacinda fail to stand by her?”
Lady Hightower laughed. “She was not forced to it and of course Lord Jacinda stood by her. There was not the least chance that he would not. Never have I seen a man so smitten. Therein lay the problem though. He did as I am afraid your Lord Baderston will do—challenged anybody who even looked wrong at his lady-love. Duels were lined up for every day of the week.”
“Gosh,” Juliet said, “was he killed, then?”
“No, not in the end,” Lady Hightower said, “but it was a close thing. They live in Yorkshire now, happily married by all reports, but never coming to Town.”
“But how was disaster avoided?” Viola asked, thinking she might employ whatever Miss Broadbent had done. She wished for just the same outcome—she and Lord Baderston going to live quietly in Dorset.
“Not in any wayyoumight employ,” Lady Hightower said. “Miss Broadbent was a very rash young lady. She paid a man to act as coachman, stole her father’s carriage, and turned up to Lord Jacinda’s residence early on the morning the first duel was scheduled for. She informed him that his challenger had been killed in a carriage accident, which was not at all true, and then she urged him to take her to Gretna Green. He wrote out letters informing the rest of his would-be challengers on when they might expect his return to London, but fortunately they all gave it up after hearing of the couple’s romantic departure from Town.”
Viola and her sisters all glanced at one another.
Miss Mayton nodded and said, “So it all worked out in the end. Things often do. I have not been so lucky, but I’ve noticed that other people generally are.”
“Have you?” Lady Hightower asked, looking skeptical.
“But what canIdo?” Viola asked Lady Hightower. “I do not wish for Lord Baderston to engage himself in a duel, but how can I intervene?”
While she asked it, her mind was furiously racing ahead of her. What if she and Lord Baderstonwereto set off for Gretna Green? After all, she was already accused of doing it once. Why not actually do it?
It was not a thing she’d ever thought she would consider—her father would not like it. But she did understand why Miss Broadbent had taken such a drastic measure. Miss Broadbent had been desperate to remove Lord Jacinda from danger and Viola was beginning to feel equally desperate to remove Lord Baderston from the same.
She’d seen how quickly he’d reacted at the theater. How long would it be before some gentleman demanded satisfaction?
“All that comes to mind at this moment,” Lady Hightower said, “is to tamp down the talk. If Lord Baderston pays a call on you, please cajole him into swearing he will not get himself into anymore fisticuffs.”
Viola had nodded, but considering what she’d witnessed at the theater, she did not believe Lord Baderston would heed the warning. He might well promise, but in the heat of the moment…
Lady Hightower rose. “I will leave you now, and I will do my bit, as will Conbatten.”
Viola, her sisters, and Miss Mayton rose as well and curtsied deeply, while Viola rang the bell for Tattleton.
Viola said, “I thank you, Lady Hightower, for your consideration. I realize you had no need to so kindly call on us.”
“Nonsense,” Lady Hightower said. “Your family is now connected to Conbatten, and so you have now become my concern. In any case, I cannot be entirely opposed to a group of sisters who have so bravely rescued a parrot from the clutches of Mr. Ladle.”
Tattleton hurried into the room.
Lady Hightower said, “Mr. Tattleton, I take my leave if you would be so good as to escort me to my carriage. I trust you will forge on as dignified as I see you now, regardless of any unpleasantness that has come upon the house. These things do pass, you know. I have taken an interest in this matter, so you can be assured of it.”
Tattleton appeared delighted with Lady Hightower. As for Viola, her thoughts ran in one direction only—and that was north to Scotland.
Should she do it? It did not feel right, but when weighed against the idea that Lord Baderston might find himself on a green some morning, it sounded more than right.
What did she care for theton’spenchant for talking? She only cared for Lord Baderston.
Chapter Sixteen
Conbatten had comeand gone and Roland had been glad to get him out of the house. First, the duke had looked at his two swollen eyes and shook his head as if he were disappointed in them. Then he’d posed paying a visit to Lord Setterdown’s father, in the hopes that his father might pressure Setterdown into accepting an apology and dropping the idea of a duel.
The duke pointed out that they were both only sons with no younger for the title to fall to and it was irresponsible to allow an estate to drift to a cousin over such a small matter. Then he’d pointed out that he did not understand how Roland was to be a very good shot when he looked like he couldn’t see a thing.
The duke was not far wrong regarding his eyesight at this very moment in time. Roland had only managed to not trip over furniture in his drawing room because he knew where it all was. But certainly, the swelling would have gone down by morning.
