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“Why, of course I forgive you,” replied Lady Yarborough in a saccharine tone. “I know you meant no disrespect. Your words were borne of a tender heart—a most commendable attribute in a young lady.” A heavy sigh. “Would that my own circumstances had allowed me to remain so sheltered and idealistic. But alas, my naïveté was extinguished long before its time.”
Sorin’s mother cleared her throat loudly. “In my opinion, it is a mark of her exemplary upbringing that she has retained such charming ingenuousness, especially when one considers the degradation of society these days. Would you not agree, Lady Yarborough?”
Sorin muffled a laugh.
“Er, yes. Quite so,” said Lady Yarborough after a moment.
“Then, as we all seem to be in happy agreement, may I assume the aforementioned ‘misunderstanding’ has been resolved?” continued his mother.
“Of course,” said Lady Yarborough in a strained voice. “Yes, of course it has. It was really nothing to begin with.”
“Excellent!” his mother interrupted, though the other woman was clearly not finished. “Then I shall go and find my son so that we may depart.”
Grimacing, Sorin sank a little deeper into his seat and hoped to escape notice.
“Eavesdropping, are we? Shame on you.”
The quiet voice at his ear made him jump, and Sorin bit back a curse. “Damn it all, Charles!” he hissed. “Don’t sneak up on a body so!”
“Judging by the stiffness of Lady Yarborough’s spine, it must have been well worth hearing,” whispered his friend, who was smiling from ear to ear. “Come, their backs are turned. Stand, and we’ll act as though you’ve just come in with me.”
Too grateful to turn down the offer, Sorin did as he was told.
“You must tell me everything when we have a private moment,” murmured Charles. “Not that I’m avid for gossip, but for once I’d like to know what my wife does before she tells me only the bits she deems important.”
“It’ll be my pleasure,” Sorin answered, doing his best to appear nonchalant as his mother approached them.
“Lord Ashford,” she said with a brisk nod of greeting. “How perfect your timing is. Might I borrow my son for a moment?”
“Of course, madam.”
Sorin mouthed the word “traitor” at him as he turned, earning in response a wicked and completely unrepentant grin. Before his mother could speak, however, a nearby disturbance drew their attention.
“What do you mean I owe you a crown?” growled Yarborough angrily, his demeanor menacing as he addressed the owner of the establishment. “I thought we had an understanding.”
Very politely, but also very firmly, the innkeeper clarified. “My lord, you and your lady mother had the use of two of my best rooms last night. The cost of meals was included in the price, which is half a crown apiece. The others in your party have already settled their accounts.”
Yarborough’s face and neck grew mottled. “I bring you business of the highest order—a duke and a bloody earl—and this is how you repay my kindness? I could have advised them to go by way of Chilmark rather than stopping here!”
“And your recommendation is greatly appreciated, my lord. But at no time did I ever agree to let my rooms free of charge.” Arms folded, the innkeeper stood before him, waiting.
“Gentlemen, is there a problem?” Sorin asked, stepping in.
Yarborough, who looked ready to murder, blinked in surprise at his intrusion. “Not at all. Just taking care of a bit of private business. I’ll be along in a moment.”
“After rendering payment in full,” said the innkeeper quickly, holding out his hand toward Yarborough. “Which I’ll be having now, my lord, if you please.”
An impatient sigh burst from Yarborough. “You are inconveniencing not only me, but the other members of my party with this boorish persistence!” he hissed to the innkeeper. “We’ll discuss it when I return from London.”
“Take your time, please,” Sorin interjected loudly. “I’m in no hurry to remount. In fact, I’ll wait with you while you settle your bill.”
Jaw clenched, Yarborough snatched his purse from his belt and began to count out coins into the happy proprietor’s hand. When he’d slapped the last one into the waiting palm, the innkeeper smiled broadly and bid him good day and safe journey. He did not, notably, encourage Yarborough to come back on his return trip, as he had Sorin earlier that morning.
Clearly, Yarborough had not expected to have to pay for lodgings. Either he was a stingy blackguard bent on getting something for nothing or he had money trouble. Neither was good, but if parting with a mere crown was painful…
The extravagant clothing, the new London address, cozying up to the Ashfords—suddenly, it all made sense. “When in doubt, brazen it out,” the old saying went. He’d be willing to bet a thousand pounds that the Yarboroughs had spent every penny on this trip in an effort to fool and catch a rich heiress.
And that rich heiress was undoubtedly Eleanor.
