Chapter Seventeen
Henry had escortedLady Pegatha to Lady Darlington’s masque. They arrived in good time, very much on the early side of things, actually. He ignored the frowns from the footmen who had to bring them glasses of wine before they felt ready to do so. It was, after all, the time-honored tradition of footmen to advertise any sort of opinion that ought not be said aloud with a deep frown.
He really did not care how much they wished to frown. Henry would be on the scene when Lady Verity arrived, approach her at once, and hopefully secure his aim.
The room had begun to fill but there was still no sign of her. At least, he did not think she had arrived. Some of the ladies were costumed so completely that it was difficult to know who they were.
“My advice,” Lady Pegatha said, “keep your eyes open for the duke. He is in the habit of wearing a domino that is decorated with flames at the hem. Does he reference his prior activities in setting curtains afire? Or perhaps he jokes that his vicar goes to the devil? Who knows.”
“Lady Pegatha, Lord Wembly.”
Henry turned to find Lady Lilith, or a dairy maid, as she was dressed at the moment. “Lady Lilith.”
“Charming costume,” Lady Pegatha said.
“Lord Wembly,” Lady Lilith said, all but ignoring his aunt’s compliment, “I must say that I am appalled at these ridiculousprints that are going round. What sort of person spends their days getting up to such tomfoolery?”
“I’ve no idea,” Henry said.
“I only wondered…” Lady Lilith said, trailing off.
Of course, Henry well knew that he was given a moment to press her on what she had wondered. He was not inclined to it, though.
“Wondered what, Lady Lilith?” Lady Pegatha said. “We do not prefer guessing games.”
Lady Lilith appeared flustered. “Well, it is just that I think, who would have the daring to do such a thing? Who would not fear any sort of recrimination? Who has made a habit of flouting society’s rules and opinions?”
“Who?” Lady Pegatha asked, beginning to look annoyed.
“The Duke of Pelham?” Lady Lilith said. “It just occurred to me that he might be put out about seeing his daughter mocked in a print and decided to…answer it.”
Henry did not know if the duke was at the bottom of all these prints. He certainly might be, which added a complication. He’d put all his thoughts toward Lady Verity. But what if the duke would never sanction the match? After all, he was only a baron, and an irritated duke might not deign to overlook it.
The duke was an interesting personality. Henry got the idea that he really was not at all concerned with society’s approval or disapproval. He would not have given a thought to the right or wrong of it if he’d decided to revenge himself upon Henry through a series of prints.
Now that he thought of it, he’d heard some stories of the older sisters’ suitors running afoul of the duke. Stratton had a pile of chains dropped at his door. And then there was something about Stanford’s house being infested with case moths, though Henry could not imagine how the duke could have been involved in it. The joke at the time that went roundThe Royal Society was court a Nicolet at your peril. He’d not thought much of it.
Perhaps he should have?
The hum of a room filling up with people talking suddenly faded to silence. Henry turned to discover what had caused it.
Then he saw what had caused it. Queen Charlotte had arrived…with the duke and Lady Verity.
The queen was dressed in a very regal gold gown draped in the ancient Greek style, the duke in his domino with flames round the hem. Lady Verity was magnificent. A gown of white feathers, a swan, it could not have suited any lady better.
Why did she come with the queen, though?
“Oh dear,” Lady Pegatha said quietly.
He turned to her. “What do you mean? What is oh dear?”
“I have not before heard that the queen and Lady Verity are fast friends. Therefore, a point of some sort is being made. I will imagine the point is the queen throws her considerable favor on the side of Lady Verity and against whoever made that print of her.”
Lady Lilith gasped. Henry was not sure why. If the queen had decided to back Lady Verity, certainly that must be a very good development.
“What’s thrown you off, Lady Lilith?” Lady Pegatha said.
“Oh! It is just, well, one would hope…” Lady Lilith trailed off.
