“A baboon,” said Beth, inventing quickly, “is always indulgent of itsmate. It unfailingly helps the weak of its society, especially youngfemales, and never seeks to kill except in the extremes of self-defense.It is also,” she added pointedly, “totally monogamous.”
“Hmm. In any primitive environment, baboons would be extinct.”
“But this is London, the most civilized city in the world,” declaredBeth.
He raised a brow. “Remind me not to allow you out of the doorunescorted, my naive blue stocking. I have to go and make arrangements.”She could sense in him, as in herself, a simple disinclination to part,even for a moment.
“You must dress,” he said. “I’m not handling Clarissa alone, and I wantyou to meet Blanche.” He smiled. “I can’t imagine any other wife in theworld I could say that to.”
“Is that a compliment?” Beth queried.
“The greatest I can offer,” he replied, and his look was a caress.
Chapter Nineteen
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Hours later Beth and Clarissa crept down the servants’ staircase to theside door and out onto the street. Lucien had arranged to pick them upnearby.
The waiting time had not been pleasant. Lucien had returned to her roomonly briefly with instructions, and Beth knew it was not Clarissa’spresence which constrained him. He could not bear the sight of her face,already beginning to discolor. When she put on her outer clothes she chosea close-fitting bonnet which shadowed her cheek.
Soon he drew up in a hired coach and handed them in. “I thought it bestnot to involve the servants except Robin. He carried the message toBlanche, and he’s waiting at her house.”
“You sent a child out into the streets of London at this time ofnight?” Beth protested.
“He’s doubtless better equipped to survive there than I am,” said themarquess dryly and passed the journey telling them how he had first becomeacquainted with Robin Babson.
“There must be so many children like him,” mused Beth.
“No,” said the marquess firmly.
Beth flashed him her first deliberately appealing look. “A school,perhaps? To train them for a trade?”
He sighed, but his lips twitched. “Perhaps.”
She grinned in triumph, and he shook his head.
The coach drew up in front of a row of houses and the marquess handedthe ladies out and paid off the driver. As soon as the vehicle rolledaway, a slight figure slipped out of the shadows.
“All’s right, milord,” said Robin proudly. “The mort’s in andwaitin‘.”
“Well done. You go and wait in the kitchen then.” Lucien went forwardto apply the knocker. In a moment Blanche herself opened the door and letthem in.
It was a pleasant house, Beth thought, well-proportioned and furnishedwith taste. Not, as she had imagined, the home of a lady of easy virtue.Feeling stiff and awkward, she looked at the White Dove. Seen up close shewas as beautiful as on the stage. Her milky skin was touched with roses,her large eyes fringed by tawny lashes, and there was no sign of cosmeticsthat Beth could detect. Her plain white gown was the simplest of muslinstrimmed only with a little lace, and yet it seemed to enhance a longslender neck, full high breasts, and a very graceful carriage. The woman’slong silvery hair was gathered on her crown in a simple knot. Beth feltlike a mill pony next to a thoroughbred.
Worse, in a sense, was that Blanche looked both kind and intelligent.Mary Wollstonecraft might have railed against women who were trained fornothing but pleasing men, but what was one to say of a woman so gifted byGod who had apparently still retained the powers of her brain?
Having closed the door, Blanche showed her intelligence by standingback to allow Lucien to handle this unusual situation.
He turned. “Beth, may I present Blanche Hardcastle?” Instead of theformal words, it was an honest question.
“Of course,” said Beth and extended a hand to the woman. “I am verypleased to meet you, Mrs. Hardcastle, and very grateful.”
Blanche shook the hand firmly and smiled warmly, but as her eyes caughtthe discoloration on Beth’s face, they widened and she lookedincredulously at the marquess.
“And this is Clarissa Greystone,” he said quickly. “She is the one whoneeds your help.”
Clarissa was clearly at a loss. After a moment, she dropped a littlecurtsy.
