‘Says the bacon-brained baggage who is currently standing inside a strange man’s bedchamber,’ the Reverend bristled. ‘If you ha…’
He stopped abruptly as another smaller face suddenly appeared at the window. Chastity jumped, giving a surprised yelp.
‘Who are you, and what are you doing in Papa’s bedchamber? Why are there two men in that tree?’
∞∞∞
‘Do you think Stanhope will offer for her?’
‘I’ve no idea. Nicholas clearly dislikes him, but given that the only other man to show any interest is Viscount Trebworthy…’ Grace sighed and shook her head.
‘You can’t possibly think to shackle her to such a dreadful individual,’ Hope declared, the horror in her voice echoing the feelings of all the sisters present.
‘Well, at least he isn’t a suspected murderer,’ retorted Grace.
‘Not yet, but I can’t see Chastity lasting very long if she’s forced to get close enough to kiss the revolting man.’ Temperance muttered, pulling a face.
Faith shuddered ‘Surely Nicholas won’t make her wed such an imbecile?’
‘Of course he won’t,’ declared Patience. ‘He’s never forced any of us along a path we didn’t wish to tread.’
There was a silence as the five women contemplated the hobble that their younger sister was in-every one of them thinking,there but for the grace of God…
The sisters were sitting in the family box at the newly rebuilt Theatre Royal in Covent Garden during the interval of Pygmalion. Their husbands had gone to obtain refreshment.
‘I seem to recall that Christian Stanhope was exceedingly handsome,’ commented Hope eventually.
‘That won’t count for much if he puts Chastity to bed with a deuced spade,’ commented Patience with her customary lack of tact.
‘I know very little about him,’ confessed Grace, ‘other than the fact that he unexpectedly inherited the Cottesmore title.’ She frowned before adding, ‘Nicholas is being frustratingly close-lipped, but the fact that he’s giving the Earl an audience at all, tells me he is not entirely convinced that Stanhope is a lost cause.’
‘Isn’t there anybody else who might be willing to take Chastity on?’ Temperance questioned. ‘I mean she’s certainly attracted a lot of interest since she arrived in London.’
‘And none of the conceited popinjays will touch her with a six-foot barge pole when the scandal breaks,’ Patience snorted.
Hope sighed. ‘You’re right, of course. They’re all so far up their own posteriors, I wouldn’t wish any of them on Chastity. She’s far too much of a romantic to be pushed into the arms of someone who would forever consider her beneath his touch. It would destroy her.’
‘Well, Stanhope certainly didn’t look like a conceited popinjay,’ declared Faith. ‘I watched him when he and Chastity were dancing. He looked to me like he didn’t give a tinker’s damn what anybody thought of him. And yes, he was exceptionally handsome. So providing he’s not actually a murderous goat who’s too free with his fists, I think Chastity could do a lot worse.’
‘What about the Queen,’ Hope asked. ‘Could her majesty be persuaded to overlook such a small indiscretion? With Charlotte’s backing, the spiteful gossips would be stopped in their tracks.’
‘I suspect the Queen has enough on her plate dealing with Prinny’s appalling treatment of her granddaughter,’ Grace countered.
Patience nodded her agreement. ‘I don’t think we can expect any outright support from Charlotte, but I’m fairly certain she would quell the nastier of the gossips should Chastity find a suitor.’
Before they could continue the conversation further, the bell rang for the second half.
‘We’ll simply have to wait until Nicholas has spoken to Lord Cottesmore,’ Grace concluded hurriedly before the men arrived back. ‘I’ll send each of you a message as soon as I’ve managed to prize the outcome out of my frustratingly reticent husband…’
Chapter Eight
Chastity stared in disbelief at the small girl standing next to her at the window, for once, completely speechless.
‘Are you Papa’s friend,’ she continued curiously. ‘I didn’t think Papa had any friends who are ladies. The scullery maid said she’d be his friend, but when I told Papa, he said…’ she paused and thought for a second. ‘He said it was very kind of her, but he had enough friends already. But I don’t think that’s true, because you’re the first I’ve seen. What’s your name? Mine’s Mercy, short for Mercedes.’
‘There’s no deuced time for formal introductions. In case it escaped your notice, we have an emergency here. Any second now, me and Percy are going to end up splattered all over your father’s front garden.’ As if in answer, the branch gave another warning creak. Percy gave a small moan which was answered by a mournful woof from below.
‘Have you got a dog?’ Mercy questioned excitedly, peering on her tiptoes out of the window. She clearly hadn’t grasped the urgency of the situation.
