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Ellie resisted the urge to laugh.
“As I’ve no notion what you wish to say, I cannot help you with that.”
He quirked a smile.
“Yes, well, I don’t suppose you’ve heard rumours of how our father died?”
“I’m afraid I know little of your family. This is my first season in London.” She lightly, briefly touched his coat sleeve. “I am sorry for your loss, though.”
“Thank you. It was several years ago now.” The line on his brow deepened. “He died of, ah, a certain illness one contracts through a specific form of immorality. Richard shows the same proclivities.”
“Too much drink?” Ellie guessed.
“No, but Richard certainly imbibes copiously.”
“Gambling?”
“Is debatably immoral, and certainly shouldn’t be engaged in with the excess Richard employs, but generally doesn’t cause a man to fall ill.”
“Immoral,” Ellie repeated, thinking. “A lack of churchgoing?”
“I cannot recall when last Richard attended a service, and undoubtedly doing so would help, but no, that is not the behaviour to which I refer.”
“Fisticuffs? Horse racing?” Ellie’s eyes went wide. “Duelling?”
“Yes, yes and certainly, but no.”
She shook her head. What did gentlemen do that was immoral and led to death? Was this something only a married woman would know? Should she pretend to understand and ask the Dowager later? What did married women know about that—
Ellie’s face heated.
“Oh. I see.”
Mr. Carmichael cleared his throat.
“Yes, well, I told you this was to be a delicate conversation.”
Indeed it was. Ellie’s cheeks felt on fire, but she couldn’t help asking, “You can die from doing that?”
“If you go about doing it with all sorts of people, indiscriminately, yes.”
He was correct, Marie certainly wouldn’t care for that. No woman would.
“And your father kept being… indiscriminate… after marrying?”
“He did, and I have every reason to believe Richard will be the same.”
Ellie brought her hands up to her cheeks, hoping fingers gone icy with tension would cool them. Mr. Carmichael watched her with unnerving intensity. Did he see through her ruse? Surely, even married as she was, Lizzy May would still blush at such a scandalous topic.
Endeavouring for an even tone, Ellie said, “Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I’ll do all in my power to keep Marie away from your brother.”
“I believe that would be for the best.”
“Mr. Carmichael,” the Dowager’s voice said from somewhere behind him. “Whatever have you said to the Duchess?”
Ellie looked around him to see the Dowager and Mrs. Carmichael approaching, both wearing intimidating frowns.
Mr. Carmichael turned to them and bowed.
