“Oh, I did think, are you not a beaver?”
“Gracious no, I am an American Pioneer, that’s what I’m told anyway. I’m forging my way across the desolate plains in a beaver coat. I no doubt shot the pelts myself and stitched them all together round a campfire, for what reason I cannot say, but that’s Americans for you. Now where is St. John? He comes as a medieval king, but I’ve not seen him.”
None of the sisters answered where Lord St. John could be, as none of them wished to see him, least of all Winsome.
“You must chin up, Lady Winsome. This talkcanbe defeated,” the dowager said. “Simply retire from view for a good amount of time and then when you return it will all be forgotten. St. John is just the ticket.”
What on earth was the dowager attempting to say? Did she mean that she believed the rumors going round? And worse, did she say that Winsome ought to accept Lord St. John’s suit?
A feeling came over Winsome upon hearing such ideas. She had enough. She simply had enough of this nonsense.
“Your Grace,” she said, “nothing would induce me to engage myself to the ‘ticket’ you mention. I believe Lord St. John is at the bottomof all these rumors and I believe he’s done it for personal gain.”
The dowager staggered back and Serenity caught her to stop her from tipping over. “Lady Winsome, you are surely mistaken. St. John would never invent tales about a lady.”
“I think it is you who are mistaken,” Winsome said with some determination. “May I inquire why Lord Manderbey did not escort you here?”
The dowager waved her hands. “He had some idea of having words with St. John. I presume they have worked it out between them, they are family after all.”
The duke had returned and handed the dowager her glass.
“Papa,” Winsome said, “the duchess thinks I ought to hook my carriage to Lord St. John’s horses so I might be out of society’s view for a few years.”
The duke peered at the dowager as if she were deranged, which Winsome very much thought she was. “Duchess, I would not sanction such a match, even if my daughter wished it, which she certainly does not.”
“You do not think it a wise arrangement?” the dowager asked, looking exceedingly perplexed.
“Nothing more unwise, in my view.”
The dowager appeared pensive. “Gracious, I was certain you’d be for it.”
“No offense to any of your relations, but I do not care for the fellow,” the duke said.
Just then, the fellow in question, dressed as a preposterously ornate king of old, approached. Lord St. John greeted them all in his jovial manner, though there was not much that was jovial coming back to him.
Winsome felt she was about to lose all control of her temper. Lord Manderbey had gone to see this fool—where was he? Had St. John invented some new tale that kept him away?
“Papa,” she said, “perhaps you might take the duchess to our aunt? I am sure Her Grace would like to hear more about the tableau she witnessed at our dinner.”
Her father would be as well aware as she was that Lady Marchfield was not in the ballroom. At least, not yet. Even if she were, what the dowager witnessed was not a tableau of any sort—it was her aunt’s launching of Mr. Wicket as the new butler. However, the duke was nothing if not perceptive and took up the hint.
“Quite right,” he said, holding out his arm. “Duchess?”
The dowager was not left with a choice, though Winsome was certain she would have preferred to stay.
“There was a tableau?” Lord St. John asked. “I hadn’t heard about it. Now Lady Winsome I was hoping we might have a moment alone to speak? It is of some urgency, as I have been given the ambassadorship to Portugal. Time is of the essence.”
The man was persistent and absurd. Winsome stared at him but did not answer.
Seeing he was not to get a response, Lord St. John hurried on. “What I say is, considering the circumstances, a match would be beneficial to both of us…considering.”
Considering. Considering this rogue had put her in her current position to begin. Considering he was a conniving liar. Considering he had put her happiness at risk and she might even now be in danger of losing it.
Winsome said, “What did you say to Lord Manderbey when he came to see you today?”
Lord St. John glanced around him as if Lord Manderbey might be lurking nearby.
“Today? Who said he came to me today?” Lord St. John asked.
