Verity laughed. “I imagine they did care a whit. I just do not know how much more than a whit Lord Wembly will care.”
“You have to find out, though. Else, what are you to do? You’d be a positive wreck if you were always trying to hide it and afraid of when he would notice it.”
Verity nodded. “I have to tell him. Tonight, if possible. I will see him at Lady Jellerbey’s candlelight picnic and try to find a moment for it. I only hope it does not ruin everything.”
“Think of this, though,” Winsome said. “What trouble to him would it be? He’s rich as Croesus, at least that’s according to Papa. He could hire a secretary to read to you and do all your writing for you. You’ll get lots of letters after you’re married—that’s what Felicity says, anyway.”
Verity nodded. “Well, I’ve decided. All I can do is go forward and wear my best dress.”
*
Henry was atonce worried and just the smallest bit frustrated. After Lady Rareton’s card party, Lady Pegatha had fallen ill. She’d retired early, with the company of her maid to attend her.
He’d thought she’d be right as rain in the morning, but in fact she was a deal worse. Henry had sent for her physician. Doctor Ramsey’s conclusion was that she’d eaten something that had been spoiled. Once he’d been apprised of where his patient had been the previous evening, he had no doubt of it. He’d already been on several visits because of it.
Everybody knew that Lady Rareton was inordinately proud of her French chef, and that fellow’s signature was his special mayonnaise. The doctor viewed uncooked eggs as the stupidest thing he’d ever heard of and said it was bound to cause illnesses. Or as he termed it: “One might as well roll the dice at Hazard and then be surprised that one’s pockets have become lighter.”
Lady Pegatha had eaten several small toast points with salmon, dill, and mayonnaise. Henry had avoided them himself as he found mayonnaise revolting. Why anybody would wish to spread it on anything eluded him. Fortunately, his dislike of the stuff had spared him the misery his aunt was currently enduring.
The really worrying part was the doctor had told him privately that a lady of his aunt’s age might find the condition much more serious than a younger person would. She would weaken before it was all over and if she could not keep anything down of the fluid variety, it could become very dangerous.
The smallest frustration in all of it was that he would not attend Lady Jellerby’s candlelight picnic and would not see Lady Verity. He knew very well that it was low of him to feel it and likely a terrible comment on his character. But then, he supposed he could feel two things at once—worry for hisaunt and frustration at missing a chance with Lady Verity. The important thing was what he did about it, and of course Aunt Pegs had need of him, so here would stay.
The doctor had given him a list of symptoms and Lady Pegatha’s maid was to alert him immediately if any of them surfaced, especially fever, excessive weakness, or confusion. Doctor Ramsey explained that in the usual case of things he would stay on at the house, but as Lady Rareton had spread her poisonous mayonnaise far and wide, he was certain he would get called out to other houses.
Henry had the stables standing by in case he needed to ride for the doctor. Though what he was supposed to do if the doctor had been called away, he did not know.
Meggy, Lady Pegatha’s maid, knocked softly on the drawing room doors and entered. She delivered him a quick curtsy. “I believe I bring good news, Lord Wembly. The dose of laudanum Doctor Ramsey gave to my lady seems to have done some good. Her stomach does not pain her as much and she was able to take some sips of water. She’s resting now, which she did not do at all last night.”
That was excellent news. Henry felt himself let out a breath that he supposed he did not know he’d been holding in. “Thank you, Meggy. I’ve made arrangements with Jane to take over for you at eleven so you can get some sleep.”
Not surprisingly, Meggy frowned. Jane was a kitchen maid and the lady’s maid would have little faith in her abilities to care for her mistress.
“You will not do Lady Pegatha any good at all if you can barely see straight for lack of sleep,” he pointed out. “Jane will wake you if anything changes.”
“Yes, my lord,” Meggy said begrudgingly. She left and Henry leaned back and sipped his port. It sounded as if Aunt Pegs wascoming out of the danger. It was a great relief, and he realized he depended upon her more than he’d ever really examined.
All those months and years with his attention fully focused on his Royal Society inquiries, she’d been his lifeline to the human race. They exchanged letters, she visited him from time to time, and she was always available to lend an ear.
She would be all right, though. He allowed his thoughts to drift elsewhere, and no surprise they drifted in Lady Verity’s direction. Certainly, his disappointment at not seeing her this evening was just another indication of his regard.
However, he would look on the bright side of things. Lady Darlington’s masque was right around the corner. Lady Pegatha ought to be recovered enough by then that it would be safe to leave her in Meggy’s care for an evening.
*
As they enteredLady Jellerbey’s house, the duke said to Verity, “I do not know what’s got you so jumpy, but whatever it is, do not fret so much. Girls your age always think the world is ending and it never is.”
Verity nodded. Of course, her father was very perceptive and would have noticed her nervousness. He could not know why, though. Perhaps the world was not ending, but it would feel like it if things did not go her way. If Lord Wembly was put off by her mentioning she could not read…she was not sure what she would do. Go home to the Dales, probably, head hung in shame.
Lady Jellerby greeted them at the door. “Your Grace,” she said, “have you again come to set my curtains alight while demonstrating how you once set Lady Vanderwake’s curtains alight?”
The duke laughed heartily, as he always did when someone mentioned his two encounters with flaming curtains. “I’ve swornoff it, Lady Jellerbey. One cannot keep doing the same thing over and over—it lacks originality.”
“Nobody would ever accuse you of being unoriginal. Now, if I remember rightly, this will be Lady Verity. You look very charming, my dear, and my house is chock full of young gentlemen looking to encounter charming ladies.”
As Verity blushed, because it really was embarrassing, the duke said, “I believe we may have reached a point where the attention of one particular gentleman is what’s wanted. Is Wembly banging around somewhere?”
“Ah, I see!” Lady Jellerbey said. “I have not seen him yet, but I understand he brings Lady Pegatha.”
