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Katherine held up her quizzing glass, and Alastair knew she was hardly impressed.
Haversham bowed. “A pleasure, Lady Katherine! Many, many happy returns on your birthday. May I compliment you on a delightful soiree? I look forward to the performance of the chamber quartet.”
“Son-in-law?” she queried, and despite her poise, Alastair detected a hint of vexation. “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday, my lady, and my happiness is not lessened by the passage of a day,” Haversham answered, his silly grin reaching from ear to ear. “Lord Alastair, may I compliment you on your generosity for supplying the dowry for Miss Abbott? Will you be participating in the drafting of the marriage settlements as well?”
“Good God, why would I?” Alastair returned. “Miss Abbott is not my daughter.”
Mr. Haversham laughed as if he had been told a droll jest. “No, indeed! I merely thought, as you seem to be quite charitably supportive of your family, that you would extend your interests to all areas of concern. I certainly would not refuse you if and when you saw fit to intervene. Indeed, I should be honored by your involvement.”
“My involvement extends only so far as providing Mr. Abbott the funds he seeks. What he chooses to do with the monies, even if he should choose to wager it all on horseflesh, is his affair.”
Haversham’s brow furrowed as he contemplated what it was the Marquess might be implying.
“I shall be forever indebted to you for your munificence, my lord,” Mr. Abbott said.
The marquess expected the man knew better than to comment further or Alastair would be compelled to withdraw his donation. Millie was no dolt, and her intelligence had to come from one of her parents.
“Yes, yes!” Haversham nodded. “We are immensely indebted and exceedingly grateful for your kindness! I cannot give words to express how delighted I am that we shall all be family! Of course, the d’Aubigne name is an illustrious one, whereas I must claim a more humble background, but I think we shall deal well with each other. I should only be too happy to be of service, always, and your humble servant, etcetera.”
With a frown, Alastair looked to Abbott to have the sycophant removed.
“Come,” Abbott said to Haversham, “I think his lordship and Lady Katherine must have many other guests to greet.”
“It was an honor to finally make your acquaintance,” Haversham said with a final bow.
When they had left, Katherine turned to her nephew. “My goodness, how much did you promise Abbott?”
“A mere two thousand pounds,” Alastair replied. “I thought granting him the sum would spare me his attentions, but I worry that is not to be the case. You had best advise your brother-in-law or I shall rescind my offer.”
“I must say that this is perhaps the kindest display of benevolence I have ever seen you make. I am impressed. Perhaps there is hope for you yet.”
“Madam, I hope not.”
“It is a shame two thousand pounds could not attract better for Millie.” Her brow furrowed. “This is all so sudden. I wonder that she did not speak to me of this. I do not think he will suit Millie at all. Not at all. I am rather surprised that Abbott approves of this Haversham fellow. I think her mother and father worry that she will be doomed to spinsterhood if she does not marry soon. Still, I think they underestimate her qualities.”
Alastair suppressed a yawn and glanced once more at the clock.
“It was kind of you to take an interest in your cousin.”
Alastair felt the keen eye of his aunt surveying him. “If my giving Abbott two thousand pounds gives me the appearance of altruism or suggests that I give a damn what others are about, then I have made a grievous error. Ah, I see Mr. Priestly is here. He had asked me to invest in the purchase of a racehorse with him. Pray excuse me, madam.”
“You will be off soon, I gather?”
“You know me well.”
“I intend to travel to Bath within a sennight. I know the fashionable prefer Brighton or Weymouth these days, but the rooms at Bath are still in good shape. I should consider it a fine birthday present if you were to join me.”
Alastair suppressed a shudder at taking the waters at Bath. “Recall that I am to spend three days at Château Follet.”
“Of course. If I were years younger, I would certainly prefer Château Follet to Bath.”
“I had commissioned for your birthday a pianoforte from Vienna. I regret that its delivery has been delayed, but it will have a full six octaves.”
“I appreciate the grandeur of such a present, but you need not have. You would make me a happy woman if you granted me something far less impressive but much more meaningful. I would ask nothing more of you if you granted me this one wish.”
He raised his brows. “If it is in my power, madam.”
