She suppressed a sigh. That was the problem with gentlemen—you never really knew. She supposed if he did not hide the idea then he could not be roguish. Having problems of the money variety was no shame and could happen for no end of reasons.
But if he did hide it from the wider world, specifically from any ladies he might encounter, well thatwouldmake him a rogue. If he hid it, the cause was likely gambling and the reason would probably be to secure a large dowry before anybody knew he had need of it. She’d seen it a dozen times in her novels. She’d even heard of it once in real life.
The problem with that was the lady would not be loved, she would just be necessary. And she also supposed the why of it mattered too. If it were something like gambling, where he threw it all away, that was something to know about a person. That person was careless and would likely be careless of a wife.
How was she to find it out? If she asked him, would he admit to being in financial straits? Or would he fail to mention that he was dunned? Could she ask him? How did one bring up such a thing?
Winsome reminded herself that it was unlikely she would have the opportunity to have that conversation. Then she remembered something else that might make the question moot.
“Lord Landry, I suppose Lord Manderbey is married by now?”
“Is he?” the lord said with surprise. “I had not even heard of anengagement.”
“Oh, perhaps I am mistaken,” Winsome said, feeling very pleased with his response. She should not feel as pleased as she did, as a very large question had been posed. She felt she should be very on her guard with Lord Manderbey, even though he was unlikely to give her a second look. She had really felt hehadgiven her a second look at Verity’s wedding breakfast, but her rational mind reminded her that he was likely only being kind to a younger sister.
The servants of the inn, and the innkeeper himself, filed into the room. Winsome presumed it must be nine o’clock.
The duke rose, and Lord Landry followed suit. “Hand over heart,” the duke said.
Everyone did as directed, though Valor was heaving in silent laughter into Sir Galahad’s fur.
In a very grave tone, her father said, “He sailed the oceans for king and queen; He kept sailing until he was no longer seen. At the Sandwich Islands he met with a lance; He should have turned back when he had the chance. Oh Bering Sea blocking the way with ice, sending him back to Sandwich was not very nice.”
Good heavens, he’d even added to it. There had been no mention of the Bering Sea until now.
Lord Landry nodded. “God bless Captain Cook. Very moving, Your Grace. Very moving, indeed.”
“Was it?” the duke asked. “Hah! I made the whole thing up! The whole thing, even the Captain Cook Day! I don’t know how everybody falls for it—he was not even killed with a lance.”
Lord Landry sank down into his seat. The innkeeper turned on his heel and stalked out. One of the waiters unceremoniously dropped a tray onto a sideboard with a crash and followed the innkeeper out the door. The rest of them just shook their heads. Later, when the duke wished for port to be brought in, he had to go out and find somebody. Winsome suspected this was yet another inn that would bar the doors against the Nicolets.
