Marcus always found himself biting back his words, as he could not tell the old gentleman what he really thought. It was trying in the extreme to hear his father named dignified and distinguished. Marcus felt a great wish to inquire how dignified and distinguished it was to throw a plate at one’s wife. Or shout until the roof shook. Or threaten to cut off the lady’s funds and lock her in the attics for good measure.
“Guess what the Duke of Pelham did?” Radler said, suddenly laughing. “Somebody brought up the time that he’d set Lady Vanderwake’s curtains afire and he decided it would be amusing to reenact the whole thing. I do believe he was well-oiled with claret. He did such a good job of it that he set Lady Jellerbey’s curtains afire.”
Marcus stared at Radner.
“Lord Wexner put the fire out fast enough so I suppose the lady’s curtains were really more singed than burned. In any case, with the excitement of Lady Alice’s departure, I do not suppose anybody will remember it.”
Marcus thought that unlikely. He also thought it was more evidence that a connection to the duke’s family ought to be avoided. That sort of indecorous behavior was not at all what he’d said he wished for. However, he also knew well enough that he would not avoid Lady Patience and her father. He had pushed his caution to one side and apparently he was not going to let it back in. Not even over curtains set afire for no good reason.
It was a risk. It might turn out precisely as he feared, precisely everything he’d been determined to avoid. He did not think so, though. Something inside him told him to would not.
In any case, Lady Patience Nicolet was worth the risk.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mrs. Right waited until the library doors were closed and then crept silently down the hall to stop in front of them.
Lady Marchfield had arrived to see Mr. Grimsby. She said it was an interview of a private nature and she did not wish for them to be disturbed. Mrs. Right could well guess why she’d come.
She leaned her ear against the door.
“Well Mr. Grimsby, I must say I am impressed. You have seemed to have taken this household in hand and brought some order to it.”
“I have been a stern taskmaster, my lady,” Mr. Grimsby said.
Mrs. Right slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh.
“I am a lady of my word, Mr. Grimsby,” Lady Marchfield went on. “I promised you a payment of fifty pounds if you were still here at this time and I have brought it.”
“Very kind, my lady.”
Mrs. Right heard the shuffling of paper and slipped down the hall and around a corner.
Very soon, the door opened. “I will see myself out, Mr. Grimsby—carry on as you have done so far!”
Lady Marchfield strode down the hall and Mrs. Right imagined she felt mighty victorious at that moment. It would not last though.
After the lady departed, Mrs. Right hustled down the corridor and approached Mr. Grimsby. He held a handful of notes.
“You’ve done it, Mr. Grimsby, you’ve got the money for your haberdashery.”
“I am free!” Mr. Grimsby cried.
“Shall I help you pack?”
“Very kind, Mrs. Right. Very kind, indeed.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The duke’s house was in an uproar and everyone ran this way and that to find their pelisses, though if they would just stay still the footmen would bring them. Of course, Mrs. Wendover was a more elusive item, as one never knew where Nelson had deposited that stuffed rabbit.
Mrs. Wendover had eventually been located under a table in the kitchens and the family had piled into the duke’s carriages.
They were on their way to Viscount Denderby’s house. Felicity had delivered her and Mr. Stratton’s baby the previous night.
There had been some talk of perhaps Felicity not wishing for visitors so soon, but then Valor had rightly pointed out that she would not have sent the note if she did not. After all, their sister would know that as soon as they had word they would be on their way.
Felicity and Mr. Stratton were staying at the house without the company of Mr. Stratton’s viscount. That was thought well all round, as the gentleman was forever shouting about something.
