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Theo choked on her bread. “A clutchfist? My dear Becky. From whom have you heard such terms?”
Becky’s cheeks pinked. “I’m sorry, Theo, but I heard the general describe him as such just the other day.”
“Hmm. I cannot own that your uncle will be impressed to discover that you have learned such a term asclutchfistfrom us here at Stapleton.”
A cleared throat at the door drew her attention—and a rush of heat to her own cheeks.
“Learned it from you, did she?” Captain Balfour’s small smile arrowed straight to Theo’s heart.
“Oh, good morning, Captain,” Mama said. “Would you care to join us? I’m afraid we are without the general this morning. He had an attack of gout last night that kept him up far too late.”
“Thank you, but I had no wish to intrude. And despite my knocking on the door, it seemed your very proper butler had no wish to answer it. Then when I heard voices from this part of the house, I hoped your good natures would permit me to treat this as my own and venture inside, so I may speak with you.” He glanced around the room, offering a nod to each lady, and a murmured good morning, before accepting Mama’s repeated invitation to sit.
“Good morning, sir,” Theo responded. “May I offer you a cup of tea? Or perhaps you prefer coffee?”
“Thank you, I require nothing.”
“You are sure?”
“Well, perhaps a cup of coffee. I’ll confess the liquid Mrs. Drake served this morning was a little more bitter and watery than what I like, but such a thing I could not admit there. Apparently, she thinks herself to be in a kind of competition with your cook here and would hate for me to tell you otherwise.”
“Ah, yes.” Theo poured him a cup of coffee, then took care to note how he preferred his degree of milk. “She is not, perhaps, the most forgiving of ladies, so you were wise indeed.”
“Poor Mrs. Drake,” Mama said distractedly. “I remember once dear Mrs. Brigham here saying how Janet Adkins—she was an Adkins, then, my dears, before she married Ian Drake—never had quite forgiven her for stealing her sweetheart.”
Diverted, Theo asked, “Surely you don’t mean to say that Annie stole Robert from Janet?” Proper Robert and slapdash Janet? No wonder that hadn’t lasted.
“Oh no,” Mama said. “It was another man entirely. But that did not matter. The iron had entered poor Janet’s soul, and forgiveness was not something to entertain. Poor thing.”
“Such intrigues one does not expect when one visits the countryside,” murmured Captain Balfour.
“Ah, but the countryside can be quite full of interesting things if one cares to take the time to notice,” Theo countered.
“Indeed.” The captain tilted his head, eyes fixed on her, winsomeness dancing in his upturned lips.
Her chest fluttered, and she rushed to say, “And how did you sleep, sir? I trust the wind did not howl under the gutters and cause too many restless hours for you.”
His wry smile and quick glance at Becky told her all she needed to know.
“In that case, I hope you have not too many appointments today.”
“Thank you, but I am determined to see those who must be seen.”
“And admit your identity to them?”
He sighed. “I still cannot determine quite the best course of action regarding such. I hope I might persuade the reverend, the doctor, and the solicitor to secrecy until matters can be arranged for extracting Rebecca and returning to London, but I am not entirely sure that can be accomplished.”
“You need have no worry concerning the Mannering servants,” Theo assured. “Mrs. Drake might hold her grudges, but she can also hold her tongue, and just the thought that she is hosting such a hero is enough for her, and she won’t noise it abroad.”
“I hope so,” he admitted. “I truly have no wish for the kinds of entertainments Lady Bellingham spoke of yesterday.”
“Must we leave so soon?” Becky finally spoke. “Uncle, Itrulywould prefer to stay.”
“I’m sure you would,” he said, voice gentle, “but as I said yesterday, we must not trespass on the good natures of those who have been so kind to you already.”
“But what is to become of me?” Becky cried, with a sound suspiciously like a sob.
From the startled look the captain threw at Theo, she guessed he had come across few women given to emotional outbursts. Taking pity on him, she said to Becky, “Come now, Becky. Did we not agree just this morning that we should avoid borrowing trouble? Why not see this as an opportunity, rather than something torturous? I should dearly like to visit London and see the wonderful museums and famous places there. Perhaps we should cajole your uncle into describing some of those awe-inspiring sites.”
