They all nodded gravely at this idea, though Lady Marchfield did not seem to see the sentiment in it.
“We were hoping we could have a look at Mr. Stratton’s wounds,” Winsome said, “but Felicity said no because they are under his clothes. We’ve never seen a man’s back, under his clothes.”
“I should say not!” Lady Marchfield exclaimed. She whipped out her fan and took to creating a windstorm on her face.
“We cannot be sure he will come,” Valor said. “Papa only pretended to Mr. Stratton that it was already arranged, and now we have to see if he was drugged up enough to believe it.”
“What?”
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Felicity could not tell which, a second set of carriage wheels was heard stopping.
“Oh Papa!” Patience said, “Mr. Stratton believed you!”
“I am very believable, my girl,” the duke said jovially.
“Really?” Lady Marchfield asked, staring at her brother. “I find you rather unbelievable.”
The duke snorted. Mr. Stratton was led in.
Chapter Ten
“Mr. Percy Stratton,Your Grace,” Thomas said with aplomb, leading that gentleman into the duke’s drawing room.
Valor clapped for Thomas. The young footman had so little experience announcing visitors that he had been regularly practicing in the great hall, with Valor as his willing audience.
Though Mr. Stratton had so recently faced down a tiger and been wounded for his trouble, he was looking very well. His dusky hair looked a shade darker in the candlelight of the drawing room and his dark blue eyes were lively and full of fun. His neckcloth was superb—it was painstakingly complicated and yet full of elegant simplicity.
“Your Grace, Lady Marchfield, Lady Felicity,” he said, accompanying it with an elegant bow.
“There he is, still alive, well done,” the duke said. “I’d slap you on the back in congratulations, but I am not a monster.”
Mr. Stratton looked momentarily perplexed, until Valor said, “Oh, because of the wounds. Papa does not want to hit your wounds. Well done, Papa.”
“Very considerate, Your Grace,” Mr. Stratton said.
“We are told we cannot see the wounds,” Serenity said, “because they are under your clothes.”
“Serenity!” Lady Marchfield hissed.
“It’s true, though,” Serenity said.
“It really is, Aunt. I heard it myself,” Valor said nodding.
“You might as well be introduced to this pile of disappointments, Stratton,” the duke said. “That’s Grace—don’t let her hit you with a roll! Patience and Serenity—twins, though you wouldn’t know it to look at them. That arrival was quite the surprise, I can tell you. There’s Verity—don’t believe a word she says.”
“Papa!” Verity exclaimed.
“It’s true,” Winsome said.
“That’s Winsome, always trying to catch a person out,” the duke said.
“That’strue!” Verity said with a small smile toward Winsome.
“And there’s the youngest, Valor. Afraid of her own shadow, though she might grow out of it,” the duke concluded.
Valor shrugged, as if to say she had no particular plans in that direction.
“Now,” the duke said, “if I can track down that butler Lady Misery here went and hired for me, we can go through.”
