‘Tare an’ hounds, I feel like I’ve been run over by a deuced coach and four.’ As their grandfather stomped in, Kit threw a smug look at his sisters earning him another kick.
‘You’ve travelled a long way, Grandfather, I’m not surprised you’re a little out of sorts,’ Mercy sympathised with a warning glare at her three arguing siblings. ‘How is Grandmother feeling this morning?’
‘She’s taken to her bed,’ the Reverend muttered, helping himself to some bacon. ‘When I last saw her, she was eating a soft-boiled egg. If we’re fortunate, she won’t get up before Tuesday,’
‘Do you think she’d like me to visit, Grandpapa?’ Kit asked solemnly. ‘I could read to her.’
‘I’m certain she’d be delighted,’ the clergyman responded with a small chuckle.
‘We’ll come with you, won’t we Ollie?’ Kate declared, pushing her chair away from the table.
Seconds later, they were gone. ‘That wasn’t very charitable of you, Grandfather,’ Mercy reprimanded him when her siblings were out of earshot.
Reverend Shackleford sighed and crossed himself. ‘You’re undoubtedly right, my girl, but I don’t believe even the Almighty would begrudge me a little amusement in return for putting up with Agnes for more than a quarter of a century. In truth, I’mfortunate to still be here the number of times the woman’s tried to poison me.’
‘Oh, I’m sure that’s not true,’ protested Mercy vehemently before adding, ‘not intentionally, anyway.’
‘So, tell me about this fellow Harding, then, the Reverend demanded, changing the subject as he tucked into his bacon. ‘I take it he didn’t get up to any mischief?’
‘Grandfather!’ Mercedes gasped. ‘I can assure you, the Viscount was at all times the perfect gentleman.’
‘Oh,the Viscount,’ is it now?’ Reverend Shackleford looked up and raised his eyebrows.
‘I’m simply using his correct title.’ Mercy gave a small, self-conscious cough and determinedly pushed back her chair. ‘I’ll take Flossy out to do her business whilst you finish your breakfast. Father wishes us to join him in his study.’
‘Do you think he wishes to talk aboutthe Viscount,’ the Reverend quizzed to her back. Mercy stiffened her back as she heard him chortle. He might be a man of the cloth, but he could be such a child at times.
***
As Mercy sat and listened to her father’s discourse on how he intended to manage her season without telling anyone or putting her at risk, she gave every indication that she was listening intently. Inside, however, she was simply biding her time until the opportunity arose for her to put forward her intricately devised plan. However, when the Earl finally paused for breath, and just as she was about to speak, her grandfather got in first.
‘There’s no cause for concern, my lord. It’s all sorted, I’ve been in touch with Percy…’
‘Already? Which part of,I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone,didn’t you comprehend, Augustus?’
The Reverend frowned, truly nonplussed. ‘Well, it wasn’t just anyone. It was Percy.’
Christian sighed and waved the clergyman to continue.
‘We will accompany you and Mercedes to London,’ the Reverend declared in the same tone he might have said, ‘I’ll give you the Crown Jewels.’ He paused and stared at his son-in-law expectantly.
‘Why?’ To be fair, the Earl’s response was relatively mild considering the sudden grip of panic that caused his stomach to roil most unpleasantly.
‘Why, to chaperone Mercy, of course,’ Reverend Shackleford retorted, wondering why the Earl looked as queer as Dick’s hatband. ‘I mean, who else is going to accompany her while she’s purchasing fripperies or out for an afternoon stroll? We’ll even accompany her to balls and whatnot. You’ll have no cause for worry, lad. Percy and I will simply blend into the shadows. We’ll…’ He stopped, suddenly realising his audience were staring at him in what might have seemed like horror to a less sensitive individual. But then, it was rather dark in here. He gave a satisfied nod before adding, ‘Naturally, Agnes will return to Blackmore.’
‘Well, we can be thankful for that small mercy at least,’ Christian muttered drily.
‘I’m certain such a jaunt will be entirely too much for you, Grandpapa,’ Mercy declared, her speech unaccountably shrill, ‘though I’m exceedingly humbled that you would be so kind as to offer your services, of course.’ She turned to her father, her voice taking on a desperate tone. ‘It will be entirely too strenuous, don’t you agree, Father?’
‘Unquestionably,’ the Earl commented between gritted teeth. The mere thought of having to keep an eye on his father-in-law as well as his daughter had him tempted to throw himself out of the window and be done with it.
The impervious clergyman waved their protests away, and Christian suddenly realised that the Reverend actuallywantedto accompany them to London. He wasn’t simply assuaging his guilt for allowing Mercy to run off on her own. Staring at his father-in-law’s heroically sincere face, the Earl opened his mouth to declare he might as well have Mercy delivered to Reinhardt on a silver platter, when fortunately, or unfortunately, his wife chose that moment to enter the room.
‘Am I interrupting something?’ she asked into the deafening silence.
‘Grandfather was offering to continue his services as a chaperone, but I told him it would be far too much for him,’ Mercy told her in a tone that left Chastity in no doubt as to her daughter’s opinion on the matter.
‘I’ll have Percy,’ the Reverend reminded her with a beatific smile. Naturally, the clergyman had omitted the part where he and Percy intended to root out Reinhardt and bring the blackguard to justice…
