Once seated, Matthew found himself across from Fortuity and Lord Carronbridge, with Lady Sarah to his right. Blessing sat at one end of the table, and Knightwood the other. Lady Roslynn’s place remained empty to Matthew’s left. He arched a brow at Knightwood. “Surely Cadwick would not be so unwise as to fail to feed the herd?”
“Feed the herd?” Carronbridge repeated before Knightwood could answer. “Have ye livestock, man? Here in town?”
Knightwood laughed. “A herd of felines. Mother’s cats are her pride and joy. I sometimes wonder if she loves them more than she loves Blessing and me.” He nodded at Matthew. “And if Cadwick values his life, Mother will find all the dishes and bowls full of kippers and cream.”
“Do ye like wee moggies?” Carronbridge asked Fortuity, leaning toward her with obvious admiration and an intent to charm her.
She eyed him with uncertainty. “I am not sure, my lord. What aremoggies?”
“Ah, forgive me,” he said with a chuckle. “Cats, my lady. We Scots call them moggies.”
“I do like them,” she said, with a smile that Matthew wished she would turn on him. “I particularly enjoy their antics.”
“And their purring is most soothing,” Blessing said, before turning to the Scot’s sister. “Dogs or kitties, Lady Sarah. Which do you prefer?”
“I love them all,” Lady Sarah said with an almost cowering twitch of her shoulder. “Animals are the best sort of friends.”
Lady Roslynn blew into the dining room and took her place. “Do forgive me. I discovered the outside bowls were quite empty and had to correct that immediately. Zeus was beside himself waiting for his dinner.”
“Is Cadwick still alive?” Matthew couldn’t resist asking.
“Temporarily,” she said with a curt dip of her chin, then she smiled at Blessing. “Forgive me, my dear. I did not mean to keep your guests waiting.”
“There is nothing to forgive, Mother Roslynn.” Blessing rang the bell beside her plate and a pair of footmen appeared, one bearing a tureen of soup and the other prepared to ladle it. “Cook prepared our favorite artichoke soup. I do hope you’ll enjoy it.”
Matthew noticed Carronbridge had scooted closer to Fortuity than he considered appropriate. Had Blessing gone blind? Was she not supposed to see that her sister behaved properly? Although, in Fortuity’s defense, it was Carronbridge who had arranged his chair closer to hers. But everyone smiled and chatted as if nothing was amiss.
“We will be in London another fortnight, Lady Fortuity,” Carronbridge said. “I would consider it an honor to call upon ye during that time. Would ye find that acceptable, my lady?”
Fortuity paused with a spoonful of soup partway to her lips. After stealing a glance around the table, she lowered it back to the bowl, drew her napkin up from her lap, and dabbed at the corners of her mouth. “That would be very nice, my lord. I look forward to seeing you again.”
“Is the soup not to your liking, Lord Ravenglass?” Blessing asked with pure wickedness gleaming in her eyes.
He was too bloody well angry to eat it, but couldn’t very well say that. “It is fine, my lady,” he forced through clenched teeth with a pointed glare at Fortuity and Carronbridge that Blessing needed to heed and do something about.
The infuriating woman simply smiled at him, then turned her attention to Lady Sarah. “Is there no way you can convince your brother to stay in London longer? The two of you are most welcome, and as spring approaches, there will be so many delightful gatherings.”
“But your confinement approaches as well, my lady,” Matthew told Lady Blessing with the slightest narrowing of his eyes. What was she trying to do? Marry Fortuity off to a bloody Scot?
“I would be most happy to provide introductions should you decide to stay longer,” Fortuity told Lady Sarah. “And the first would be to my sister, Grace. She loves animals too. In fact, her hounds have the run of our townhouse.”
Lady Sarah blushed and smiled broadly, seeming to relax for the first time the entire evening. “Thank ye for such warm hospitality, but I fear I am at the mercy of my brother and whatever he decides.”
Carronbridge laughed and lifted his glass. “If my wee sister wishes to stay longer, then we shall stay longer.” He touched thecrystal to Fortuity’s goblet, sending the clearesttingthrough the room. “I look forward to an extended visit.”
“As do I,” Fortuity said, then sipped her wine.
Bloody hell,Matthew thought. What the devil was he to do now?
Chapter Six
“Do my eyesdeceive me?” Grace whispered in Fortuity’s ear. “You are not in the shadows, furiously writing on your scraps of paper?”
“Lord Carronbridge keeps flushing me out. It’s as though I am a plump little pheasant just begging to be shot.” Fortuity forced a smile at the attentive Scot headed their way with yet another glass of lemonade. “Please stay close, Gracie. If I drink much more, I shall surely flood every chamber pot and bourdaloue in the ladies’ retiring room.”
“Then decline when he asks if you wish for more.”
“It is the only way I can be rid of him for longer than a matter of minutes.” Fortuity kept her fake smile fixed on the Scottish viscount as he drew ever nearer. “I have introduced him to every debutante whose name I can recall, yet he follows me like one of your devoted hounds.”
