‘Did you fathom it – in the end?’ she asked, hardly daring to hope for such a lucky twist of fate.
Thomas eyeballed her furiously.
‘No, I did not!’ he bellowed. ‘And you have Sophie to thank for that foresight! If she hadn’t persuaded me that Fred would know exactly where you were, I’d have been forced to ask if the earl wouldn’t take your sister, instead, though the Lord knows if he’d have been minded! He could have his pick of any of the debutantes this season. Do you understand that? He’s an earl!’
A million uncharitable thoughts about double-crossing sisters hurtled through Phoebe’s head, while Thomas nodded abruptly at the viscount.
‘Apologies, Damerel, this is one of those damned domestic affairs that needn’t trouble you,’ Thomas snapped. Do stay the night, though. You can put me in a better temper while I consider how best to correct ignorant, ungrateful wards who haven’t the least clue about the world, or their good fortune in it!’
There was a moment’s silence as Phoebe dropped her gaze, certain the viscount had to be enjoying her dressing down immensely.
‘Alas, I thank you for the invitation, Fairfax, but I have more pressing engagements this evening,’ he returned in an oddly curt tone.
‘I’ll send the carriage for Tilly in a few days, just to lend the story a little more credence and stem servants’ gossip,’ the viscount continued. ‘You could say her aunt missed her, or some such thing?’
Thomas stood up and rounded the desk to shake the viscount’s hand.
‘Thank you for your assistance with this trouble, Damerel. I am damned indebted to you … damned indebted, indeed. I’ve a suitable retribution to consider now, but I shan’t forget it, you have my word on that.’
Phoebe looked up as the viscount nodded, and wondered briefly at a world that elevated a rake’s fictional story above her own dismal truth.
She watched as he made his way to the library door, before turning back.
‘I think, if I were in your situation, Fairfax, I might consider anot inconsiderableinjury retribution enough,’ he offered quietly. ‘It is also worth mentioning that, while the whole escapade was reprehensible, to say the least, Miss Fairfax’s courage, when faced with the Somerset Highwaymen, was something to behold indeed. Some may even have called it …heroic. Good day to you. Miss Fairfax.’
There was a strange silence as the door closed, and for a moment, neither Phoebe nor her brother moved. The last thing she expected was an appeal for clemency on her behalf, let alone the most curious compliment she’d ever received. An odd charge suffused her veins as she lowered her gaze. He was an insufferable snob, a dangerous rake, and a backhanded compliment at the eleventh hour changed nothing – yet she was perversely sorry to see him go.
‘You’re damned lucky you ran into such a decent fellow, Phoebe, or this could have ended very differently indeed!’
Thomas’s tone was caustic, yet she could tell even he was slightly mystified by the viscount’s parting comment.
‘Kindly remove yourself to your bedchamber and remain there until I send word that you may do otherwise. If you’re in need of a diversion, I suggest you distract yourself with your embroidery or the Bible!’
And for once in her life, Phoebe was most happy to oblige.
ChapterSix
Ten weeks and four shrinking walls until the wedding
‘Lord, Phoebs, you just never think things through!’ Sophie chuckled, rummaging through a drawer of stockings.
‘It’s one thing to try for London, but why you had to go drawing attention to yourself in such rambunctious style, I’ll never know. Ah, here it is!’
She pulled out her favourite pearl inlaid slide, and slid it neatly into her tumbling curls, before shaking them out àlamode.
Phoebe lay sprawled across her bed, watching her sister’s adept fingers, and knowing she too should try to be more content. But then Sophie didn’t have to live her whole life within ten, painfully short weeks.
‘Well, I think Phoebe wasexceptionallybrave when faced withexcessivedanger,’ Matilda pronounced, lunging forward with an old parasol, ‘and anyone would consider thatexceedingly?—’
‘Embarrassing?’ Josephine cut in from the corner of the room, her nose buried in a newly purchased novel entitled,Pride and Prejudice.
Matilda laughed, while Phoebe pulled a face.
‘Whatwereyou going to do once the director of the Covent Garden Theatre realised you were actually a girl, though?’ Sophie added, her pretty eyebrows darting northwards. ‘I mean, I think I would rather marry the crusty old earl, than live in a single room above a shop, counting my ha’pennies!’
‘Well, yes but that’s only because you don’t actuallyhaveto marry the crusty old earl,’ Phoebe returned crossly. ‘It’s different for you,’ she added, rolling over to eyeball the ceiling. ‘You’ve got time and choice on your side.’
Sophie started to frown.
