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‘Because the situation was partly my fault. It’s complicated. Suffice to say, I went along with a scheme of Ralph’s that I shouldn’t have and it was my responsibility to put things right.’
‘And this Miss Fortini is just an acquaintance?’
‘Yes. There’s really nothing more to it.’
‘Pity.’ His grandfather stopped to rest on his cane. ‘I would have applauded your good taste if there had been.’
‘Hector!’ his grandmother scolded. ‘Good taste or not, she is a shopkeeper and Samuel might be an earl in another two months. If you’re suggesting that he conduct some kind of dalliance then I shall have no qualms about denouncing both of you in public, too. As for anything more serious, she’s entirely unsuitable.’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t say entirely.’ The Baron sounded unperturbed. ‘Not when you consider who her mother is.’
‘Who’s her mother?’ Samuel and his grandmother spoke at the same time.
‘Oh, you know, the Duke of Messingham’s youngest daughter, the one who ran off with a footman.’ He scratched his head with his cane. ‘It must be twenty-five years ago now. An Italian fellow, as I recall. It caused quite a scandal at the time.’
‘You mean Elizabeth?’ The Baroness looked confounded. ‘Hector, do you mean to tell me that she’s been living in Bath all this time and running a biscuit shop?’
‘Aye, that’s right, Elizabeth, that was her name. I say, you were quite close with the old Duc
hess once upon a time, weren’t you?’
‘Yes, although I thought she acted stupidly about the whole thing and I told her so. Of course she took umbrage, but I said my piece. There was no need to denounce the girl and cut her off completely. I’m sure she and that pig-headed husband of hers came to regret it, but of course, the rest of society took its cue from them.’
‘Wait.’ Samuel put a staying hand up. ‘Are you telling me that Miss Annabelle Fortini is the granddaughter of the Duke of Messingham?’
‘Oh, yes.’ His grandfather nodded serenely. ‘The former Duke, anyway. The new one’s her uncle, I suppose, but there’s no doubting the relationship. She has all those glorious curls just like her grandmother had. Her mother still has them, too, I expect, though I’ve only caught glimpses of her in the upstairs window.’
‘And did it never occur to you to mention any of this before?’ The Baroness sounded exasperated.
‘Come to think of it, I did mean to say something once, but it must have slipped my mind. Then I probably thought I’d already told you.’
‘Honestly, Hector! Where is this shop? I must go there and visit at once.’
‘Why?’ Samuel felt an ominous sense of dread.
‘Because I want to see Elizabeth, of course. I remember her quite well, as it happens. She was a pretty young thing. Not bad on horseback at all and—’
‘Grandmother,’ he interrupted, trying to be tactful. ‘After twenty-five years of being ostracised by society, don’t you think it might be a bit of a shock if you just march in there, demanding to see her?’
‘I can’t see why.’
‘Well...’ Miss Fortini’s disparaging comments about the aristocracy flitted through his mind. No wonder she’d been so emphatic ‘...it might be that she doesn’t want anything to do with society any more.’
‘Don’t be preposterous!’
‘It’s possible.’ Not to mention that if he saw Miss Fortini again then she’d probably want to thank him for what had just happened with Henrietta and his conscience wouldn’t be able to stand it. Then he’d have to explain exactly why he couldn’t stand it and he really didn’t want to do that. Far better for their acquaintance to end with a tender moment against a pillar than for it to be ruined with the truth.
‘Harumph.’ His grandmother clucked her tongue. ‘Well, in that case go and invite her for tea tomorrow. Both of them, the mother and daughter.’
‘I’m not sure...’
‘Samuel.’ His grandmother’s expression turned to granite. ‘I did a favour for you. And Miss Fortini as it turns out. Now it’s your turn to do one for me.’
He grimaced, throwing a pleading look towards his grandfather, who shrugged and dropped his eyes to the pavement. ‘Oh, very well.’
‘Good. Off you go, then.’
‘Now?’
