She longed for him to say he would not like it. She wished for him to say he’d given it up and was planning to take up rare book collecting.
He seemed pensive about it. “I would like to get back to harrowing the French, it seems a duty, you know. But I must think carefully on how and where to do it. I would not like to put Lord Ledderbey in danger.”
“In danger? Lord Ledderbey? I had not known he went out with you on the boat. Is that safe? He is an older gentleman.”
Lord Tramondeley laughed. “He does not go out with me, that is for me and my valet alone. However, I have been warned that the French are looking for my house and it is not clear if they wish to destroy my boat or me. I would not like Lord Ledderbey to be a casualty when he has been so kind to me.”
Valor felt almost frozen upon hearing that information. She had thought the danger was sailing out into the dark. She had never contemplated the idea that people staying safely on land would be in danger too.
“What are you to do, then? You cannot go back there.”
“Not for now. But there would be other places I could base myself. I just do not know what to do with Lord Ledderbey—he’s very fond of his home, but it is not safe for the time being.”
Valor was not forced to answer as it was their time to take a turn. That was well, as she did not have an answer. She’d hoped that Lord Tramondeley would think better of putting his life in danger in such a bizarre manner. But he had not. He was thinking about where else he might base the operation.
They went on in silence from then on and Valor found herself very shaken. She realized that all thought of Lord Tramondeley was to be dismissed. Even if she were to put her bravest face on, she could not possibly sleep at night if there was always the lingering idea of the doors being broken down by the French. It was impossible. She would be positively terrorized.
She also realized that perhaps she had been thinking about him more than she ought. She discovered herself let down that she should not think of him further.
*
Damiano kept asmile on his face, but he was not in the best of spirits. He’d come to London imagining he might have his choice of duke’sdaughters, as there were just now three of them available. As Lady Tallifer had predicted, Lady Elizabeth had just engaged herself. Another was not at all what he was looking for. Lady Letitia was a most unpleasant lady. Why did she talk so loudly, as if everybody in her vicinity required an ear trumpet that they’d forgotten at home? Why did she ask prying questions and then answer them herself?
He’d been quite offended when she’d inquired into his mother’s jewelry collection and then proceeded to speculate on its quality and that the next marchessa would inherit it all. She was already talking about his mother’s death! He was not sure he could bear Lady Letitia’s company for years on end.
That left Lady Valor, which he was perfectly agreeable to, but he sensed there was something between her and Lord Tramondeley. It would make perfect sense; he was the duke’s heir. She really was the only tolerable possibility though. His father would approve of her, while the marquis would not know what to make of Lady Letitia. Or worse, he might become entirely fed up with that loud lady and order poison for her drink. The marquis had got impatient, intolerant, and reckless in his late years and Damiano already had his hands full trying to keep Monsieur Bernard alive.
His sisters would positively despise Lady Letitia, though those girls with their noses up in the air would likely be more satisfied with Lady Valor. They would still look down on her, but without the viciousness they would bestow on Lady Letitia.
Now, he led Lady Valor into this supper the duke had made some sort of joke about. He imagined the food was very bad, but then it was England and all the food was very bad. He did not suppose he’d notice a further drop in quality. Over his shoulder, he heard Tramondeley call out to Lady Valor.
“We can join you,” the lord said.
“I would positively refuse to share Tramondeley’s company,” Lady Letitia said, “but as it’s the count, I must make an exception. What sayyou, Lady Valor? Are we to be surrounded by handsome gentlemen?”
Lady Valor, to her credit, did not answer this tasteless question. Why was Tramondeley pushing in? It might be that he found Lady Letitia as tiresome as he did. Or it might be that he was particularly interested in Lady Valor. Or it might be both.
Whatever he was, Damiano was not interested in his company though there was no polite way to get rid of him.
They entered the supper room and he’d hoped there would not be four chairs together, forcing a necessary parting.
That was not to be.
“Right there,” Tramondeley said, “to the right. We can all sit together.”
“You see how masterful he is, Lady Valor,” Lady Letitia said.
“Indeed,” Lady Valor said softly.
They were seated with the two ladies between them. It was just as well that Tramondeley was not beside him as he did not have an interest in talking to that fellow. It was not as well that Tramondeley leaned forward to avoid being captured entirely by Lady Letitia.
A footman approached and asked them if they cared for lemonade or tea.
Damiano stared at the young man uncomprehendingly. “I would prefer to hear the wine list,” he said.
This set Lady Letitia into a roaring and unpleasant laughter. “Wine? Do you hear him? Count, there is no wine here!”
What could she mean? Why on earth would there be no wine? “What is available, then?” he asked the young man, presuming he would be forced to put up with a sherry.
