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Tibbs reappeared at a run. “Oh, I say, well done, old man! Is Miss Fletcher unharmed?”
“Oh yes, thank you,” Rosie said between sobs. “But he would kiss me even though I said I did not want to, and he would not stop.”
“The scoundrel!” Tibbs said.
“Is he… he is not…dead?”she whispered.
Tibbs bent over the prostrate body for a moment. “Just unconscious. He will be as right as a trivet in no time,” he said cheerfully.
Hatts appeared, too, and the pair bent over Somerwell, slapping his face gently to bring him round.
Miss Whittleton had been calm throughout. What a splendid woman she was! She was alert enough to take thought for the danger in which they now stood. “There are people everywhere, and we may be discovered at any moment. Miss Fletcher, dry your eyes and let us get you away from here.”
She proffered a handkerchief, which Rosie took, but said, “But what about Mr Somerwell? We cannot just leave him here, unconscious.”
Excellent points, Will could not deny. If Rosie were discovered beside Somerwell’s inanimate form, there would be a scandal which could sink all her hopes, but Somerwell could not simply be left unattended.
Will took immediate charge. “Tibbs, Hatts, can you get the fellow home, do you think? Rosie, come now, dry your eyes, and put a smile on your face. Quickly now, back to the main path.”
Miss Whittleton took Rosie’s arm and led her gently away from the scene, while Will walked on the other side of her. Rosie may have been an innocent, but she understood the importance of appearing as if nothing of moment had occurred, and by the time they reached the main path, she looked almost as calm as usual.
Oddly, almost the first person they encountered was Lord Albury, alone this time. He smiled when he saw them.
“Miss Fletcher, Miss Whittleton, I am glad that you are well protected this evening and keeping to the main paths, for some of the patrons tonight are rather undisciplined. I would offer my escort, but I can see that Fletcher is taking good care of you.”
“Another gentleman never goes amiss,” Miss Whittleton said.
“Then may I offer you my arm, Miss Whittleton?”
“I believe you would be of a better height for Miss Fletcher, my lord,” she said. “Being so tall myself, I find Mr Fletcher’s arm is the perfect height for my comfort.”
And so it was arranged, and within a short time, Lord Albury’s gentle conversation had restored all Rosie’s spirits.
Will walked behind them, with Miss Whittleton on his arm. “I am sorry you had to witness that moment of violence, ma’am,” he said with unaccustomed seriousness. “I would not have had you exposed to such a sight for the world.”
“Think nothing of it, sir. You only did what any brother would do. I wish I had a big brother who would protect me from such importunings.”
“My fists are always at your disposal, should you ever find yourself suffering unwanted importunings,” he said genially. “I must thank you for your calm good sense and quick thinking, not least in putting Rosie in the way of Lord Albury’s company. Stepmother will be delighted to hear of it.”
“I have to confess to a twinge of envy regarding your sister,” Miss Whittleton said. “As pretty as she can stare, and with a fortune to her name — she can take her pick of suitors. Lord Albury is so eligible, and perhaps he can be brought up to scratch, who knows? If not, any number of others swarm around her. Whereas I—”
“You must have admirers, Miss Whittleton,” Will said. “They may not hurl themselves at your feet, but they exist, undoubtedly.”
“If they exist, they keep themselves well hidden,” she said, her face lighting with merriment. “Tucked behind pillars at balls, no doubt. Lurking behind hedges when I venture out of doors. But I do not repine, for look, I have found a gentleman who condescends to offer me his arm.”
Will laughed easily. “Oh, I am so very condescending, am I not, to take pity on a poor spinster, spurned by other men? You poor creature, how humiliating for you that you must depend on the likes of Will Fletcher for escort.”
“Not humiliating, no, for you dress so fashionably that my consequence must be improved by it. You are a graceful dancer, too, who makes my own performance look elegant, so you are always an acceptable partner.”
Was she flirting with him? He had never heard such levity from her before. Her gentle compliments were oddly pleasing.
“I am gratified that you see some merit in my person,” he murmured. “You accepted my offer of a drive in the park, too, so I deduce that you think me a tolerable whip.”
“You are correct, and you have other qualities of interest to a poor, spurned spinster such as I.”
“Do I indeed? And what may these qualities be?”
“Why, sir, you are heir to a very wealthy man, with a fine house in Hertfordshire. That is a powerful attraction, I assure you, to a spinster of five and twenty with no prospects.”
