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“We don’t,” his wife said firmly. “We’ve heard nothing but idle talk, and particularly from one person who we both know will make up a story if she has none to share. We should not cast aspersions on that man, darling. We’ve heard a rumor, we’ve no idea if it’s true and we’ll not say more.”
Beck winced. “Yes, but I—”
“I’m very sorry, Lady Aleksander, but that’s all we know,” Lady Iddesleigh said firmly.
“You didn’t give me a chance to speak,” Beck complained.
“You don’t need one, dearest.”
“Very well, my love, but allow me to at least opine the rumor is worth investigating. I could have Donovan inquire—”
“Oh no, no, thank you,” Lila said hastily. That was all she needed; Beck’s “governor” about town asking indelicate questions. “This is why I came to you first, Beck. You always know what is happening and I trust your discretion. I appreciate your frankness. As you can imagine, these matters require some finesse.” She smiled.
“I understand. And I am known for my discretion,” Beck said.
Lila nodded. She sipped her tea, her mind racing for a solution. “Does his lordship have, perhaps, a close friend who might know more?” She was fishing, but one never knew what someone might offer when a question was asked.
“Mr. Jonathan Ashley,” Lady Iddesleigh said. “He claims to be very well acquainted with Douglas.”
Beck gasped. “Blythe, darling,no.Of all people, not Ashley.”
“But they attended St. Andrew’s together!”
“Yes, and now they can hardly abide one another. They had a terrible quarrel some years ago and have never patched things up. Better to leave that one alone.”
Lila filed that name away.
“I don’t know of anyone else,” Lady Iddesleigh said. “Really, my love, it isn’t very good of us to speculate.” She turned a smile to Lila and shifted forward in her seat. “Tell us, what is the princess really like? I recall her sister being a beauty, and she was...well, honestly, I don’t remember.”
“She is a remarkable young woman,” Lila said. “She will be a wonderful queen.” She began to speak about Justine Ivanosen. But in her head she was already thinking of the work she had to do on William Douglas.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
WILLIAM’SLATESTTELEGRAPHto Robuchard was met with resistance on the part of Ewan MacDuff. William didn’t know how or when they’d crossed the boundary where his valet felt free to read his messages, but here they were.
He’d dashed off his report yesterday, making it short and very much to the point.
You must remove your matchmaker at once! She has shown herself to be incapable to the task! You will end with a reprobate as a prince consort if you do not heed my advice!
Ewan held the paper in his meaty hand, his lips silently sounding out the words as he read by squinting at the page.
“What is it?” William demanded.
“The telegraph, milord. They’ll no’ allow the markings.”
“The markings?”
He pointed a thick finger at the exclamation points. “The dispatch, he’ll no’ allow it.”
William folded his arms. “Thosemarkings,as you call them,are necessary to convey the depth of my feeling on this very important topic. Tellthatto dispatch.”
“Aye, milord.” He trundled off, and he and William both knew he would not have a word with dispatch and would remove the marks. William would have to hope that Robuchard could read the depth of his feeling in his words alone.
He was on his way to Prescott Hall today. He had arranged to share the Duke of Grafton’s box at the opera and was feeling rather proud of himself for having thought of it. The entrance for boxholders was different than the entrance for patrons on the floor, so the princess would not find herself in the midst of an unruly crowd of gawpers. She’d be above them, so to speak.
As William suspected he would be, Grafton was more than delighted to invite the princess to the opera. He had made a bold case for his son, the Earl of Euston, to attend as well, but William had argued against it. They had finally agreed that Lord and Lady Grafton would host William and the two royal princesses, and William could hardly wait to tell Justine what he’d done.
He arrived at Prescott Hall shortly after luncheon to deliver the invitation.
