Page 86 of Holding Onto Love

Crispin stood up and brought the Post to her. “I’m sorry, Mother. Let me explain.” He opened it. “This is the Marquess of Hilyer. You know. The old goat who tried to purchase a young girl with his title.”

She pushed it away. “Don’t be vulgar.”

The earl started. “Good God.”

They all turned to him. He looked up from the news.

“A ship caught fire in the Pool last night.”

“Is that so unusual?” Crispin asked.

“The whole thing burned and sank.” Father rubbed his brow. “Fortunately, it slipped its mooring and floated away from the rest or the whole lot of them could have burned.”

“I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often.” Crispin shook his head. “The Pool is far too congested.”

“What kind of boat?” Jasper asked, a disturbing thought creeping into his brain.

“A merchant ship of some kind. One of Culpepper’s.” The earl snorted. “He can afford to lose a few.”

Jasper glanced at Crispin, who did not return the look.

“Two charred crewmen floated up this morning,” the earl continued. “Unrecognizable.”

Mother cleared her throat and said, “Iversley.”

“Well, Beatrice, I’m only reporting what happened. The boys are old enough. I’m sure Crispin has seen similar horrors.”

“Unrecognizable?” Jasper asked.

“A shame,” Crispin said. “But I suppose it could have been worse.” Then he returned to the davenport, dropped the Post onto it, and began buttoning his waistcoat. “Jasp, can you go change into something less…less? More appropriate for Tattersalls?” He picked up his jacket. “I’ll fetch Vanessa.”

“Crispin!” Mother slammed the embroidery into her lap.

Crispin rolled his eyes. Then he whispered loudly and made broad hand gestures. “While you change your clothes, I will, you know, remove the person from the Rose Room.”

Father squelched a laugh. Jasper didn’t think Crispin’s tack was particularly helpful. Nevertheless, he stage-whispered back. “I’ll meet you at the front door.”

*

It was Crispin who came to her in the Rose Room.

“Jasper will meet us out front.”

“Is he avoiding me?” she asked sourly, lifting her wrap from a chair near the door.

“Should he be?”

“What happened?”

“Nothing untoward. Freddy went quite alone to Trafalgar. I imagine he had the blunt in his purse. He wandered about for a good two hours before giving up.”

Vanessa’s eyes watered. “Oh, Freddy.” Then she tilted her head to study Crispin. “How do you know?”

“I had someone keep watch on him. It isn’t the safest place for a wealthy boy on his own at that time of night.”

She swallowed hard. “Thank you. Where did he go afterward?”

Crispin did not look at her. “Back to where he’d come from. But he’d been gone long enough. I imagine he went home from there.” Then he did look at her. His expression was stern except for a small quiver on one side of his lips. “He wasn’t followed after that. My resources are not unlimited.”