“Heavens no, that would be rather dangerous. No, the lady demanded nine pounds in payment, and so my father delivered it in pence and threw it all over her front hall, much to her butler’s distress.”
Percy burst out laughing. It was marvelous. Only the duke could get away with such a maneuver.
“And then he threw a padlock through her drawing room window.”
Now he was laughing harder. Really, if all thetonwould go on as the duke did, London would be a highly amusing destination.
Lady Felicity began to laugh too. “Gracious, I hope Lady Albright is not here!”
“Because your father—”
“Yes, who knows what—”
“What he’d say to the lady,” Percy said, tamping down his laughter. “Whatever it is, she will not like it.”
“I am sure she will not.”
“I will try to be nearby, I shan’t like to miss it.”
“Mr. Stratton, what a terrible thought.”
“Is it?”
“No, not really.”
They had reached the cloakroom and Percy helped her from her pelisse and handed it to the footman. The footman in turn handed over Lady Felicity’s dance card.
“If I may, Lady Felicity?” Percy asked.
She nodded her acquiescence and he put himself down for the dance before Lady Llewellyn’s supper.
Just then, Lord Rustmont approached. “Lady Felicity, I am pleased to see you looking well.”
“Maybe you should be pleased to see the lady lookingalive,” Percy said drily.
Rustmont reddened, as well he should.
“If I might put my name down, Lady Felicity. I would be grateful for the opportunity to speak of the extenuating circumstances of that unfortunate evening,” Lord Rustmont said.
“Very well,” Lady Felicity said.
Percy could not read her tone, but it was not the tone of original enthusiasm she’d had for Rustmont. The fool ought to have known better—leave a lady to fight a tiger on her own and it was not likely to fan any flames of affection.
Rustmont penciled his name in for the first. He handed Lady Felicity’s card back to her.
Percy leveled a stare at him. “Well? Was there anything else?”
“Careful, Stratton,” Rustmont said, looking a combination of surprised and annoyed.
“Careful of my person, do you say? I ought to heed it, I suppose. You have become rather the expert of being careful of your person. By the by, you should probably avoid the duke—you know how a father can be about a daughter left to fend for herself when wild animals are involved. Downright devilish.”
Percy was amused to see Rustmont clenching his jaw. He was certain the almighty Corinthian would like to give him a set down. But what was the fellow to say? He’d run from the tiger, just like everybody else.
Rustmont delivered a curt bow. “Lady Felicity,” he said, and then turned and strode away.
“You were very naughty there,” Lady Felicity said to Percy.
“Yes. Yes, I was.”
