The duke had ended with, “I think I’ve finally pushed that harridan over the edge. Hopefully her lord will pack her off to the seaside to rest and recover whatever of her faculties she’s got left.”
The duke was further delighted to hear that Lady Albright’s butler had made a weak attempt to return the coins that was handily foiled by his housekeeper. They left him in the breakfast room, musing over whether he ought to carry out his threat of delivering a cartload of bricks.
In the drawing room, they all picked up their sewing, including Mrs. Right, who made repairs to Mrs. Wendover’s torn ear under Valor’s concerned gaze.
“Spill it, Felicity,” Patience said. “We are dying to know everything.”
“What Patience says is true,” Serenity said. “Usually, it is only she who is toe-tapping, but we all are eager to know.”
“Shhh,” Valor whispered. “Mrs. Wendover is having an operation.”
Mrs. Right put in a last stitch and tied it off, cutting the thread. “Mrs. Wendover has come through it and is now resting. She shan’t mind it if we talk.”
Valor took her beloved rabbit and peered down at her. “It’s true, she says yes.”
“There is so much to think about, my mind is in rather a jumble,” Felicity admitted.
“As one would expect,” Verity said, nodding knowingly.
“What do you know about it?” Winsome asked her sister.
“More than you, apparently,” Verity said with a sniff.
“Do tell us, Felicity,” Grace said.
“All right, well, Mr. Stratton was rather forceful with Lord Rustmont when he approached me to put his name down on my card.”
“Did he clobber him right in the face?” Valor asked, cradling her ragged rabbit.
“Heavens, no,” Felicity said laughing. “Lord Rustmont said he was glad to see me looking well and Mr. Stratton said he must mean he was glad to see me looking alive.”
Mrs. Right snorted. “There is a piece of wit for you. I always do like a good wit.”
“Lord Rustmont did not have much to say to it, though he did claim he wished to explain his part in the events of that evening in Lady Albright’s garden.”
“Did he explain himself?” Winsome asked suspiciously. “I cannot imagine how he could.”
“He might have, though,” Verity said.
“He tried, but it was not very satisfactory,” Felicity said.
“Have you gone off him?” Grace asked.
“I rather think I have,” Felicity said. “It was not just that he was not very heroic about the tiger. Papa says he thinks Lord Rustmont’s household will be deadly dull.”
“Deadly dull!” Serenity cried, as if deadly dull was akin to the plague. Which Felicity supposed it was.
Really, that must be all her sisters’ opinion. None of them would tolerate deadly dull.
“It sounds safe,” Valor said to Mrs. Wendover. “We like safe, cozy places, don’t we?”
Well, except for Valor. She was prone to nightmares and so safety was much on her mind. Deadly dull would not put her off.
“And then,” Felicity went on, “I asked Lord Rustmont a few questions regarding how a wife might be treated and did not care for his answers.”
“That’s it for him, then,” Mrs. Right said.
“Did Mr. Stratton take you into supper?” Grace asked.
