Raoul shrugged. “I have no notion.” He hoped he was giving the impression he did not care either. “The girl is staying with her, that’s all I know.”
“It can’t be all, old fellow. You were talking with her long enough. Must have found out something about her.”
Damnation! He summoned his habitual tone of boredom. “We cannot be said to have talked of very much at all. A desultory conversation at best.”
Nalderwood slapped the tablecloth. “You’re a dull dog, Lynchmere. Good grief, man! A ripe plum falls into your lap and you spurn it.”
Raoul winced inwardly. It was truer than the fellow knew. With what Guineaford had told him of Sprake, he could no longer doubt Maskery’s intention. But the assumption was convenient. He produced his most cynical sneer. “I am immune to my cousin’s wiles, Nalderwood. I chose not to gratify her with a show of interest.”
The other laughed. “Still trying to get you to church, is she? That’s females all over. Well, she’d hardly fob you off with the wrong sort of female, so this Miss Temple of hers must be respectable.”
Raoul said nothing, devoutly hoping her connection to Maskery would remain safely buried. Had it occurred to Angelica that she was perpetrating a fraud upon Society? God help her if the worst should come to light!
“How much was there, if you don’t object to my asking?”
Felicity gave her hostess the sum, still smarting from the loss. She had not intended at first to say anything about the vanished guineas, but two circumstances changed her mind. For one thing, Mrs Summerhayes was as shrewd as they come and would likely notice her abstraction and demand an explanation. For another, there was no point in concealment when the maid Peg had been present to see her dismay. It would be all over the house within hours, if not sooner. She had not dealt with young girls for years without learning it was futile to expect them to keep secrets. If she was any judge, Peg would be eager to relay the story of the jumbled clothes in her valise as well.
Wasting no time, Felicity put her hostess in possession of the facts over dinner, no longer paying lip service to Lord Lynchmere’s admonition to keep her situation undetected. What, in any event, were the servants to make of a guest who arrived with nothing and was handed a valise by the marquis upon the following day? It could not have escaped their knowledge either that Mrs Summerhayes had purchased clothes on her behalf.
“I dare say it is a paltry amount to you, ma’am, but it meant a great deal to me.”
Her hostess signed to the butler to remove the remains of the ragout and the roasted fowl, with their accompanying dishes of green beans, peas and a savoury omelette. “Also, Maunder, do, for heaven’s sake, refrain from passing on anything you have heard in this room.”
In the act of removing two silver dishes from the table, the butler bowed. “Your ladyship may rely upon my discretion. I sent Matthew out of the room the moment Miss Temple began to speak of the matter.”
Felicity sighed. “Of what use to do so when Peg already knows?”
“You may leave Peg to me, miss. She will not speak of it.”
As Maunder departed with a full tray, Mrs Summerhayes leaned in, lowering her voice. “She will, of course, but it can’t be helped. Maunder will see to it that none of the servants gossip outside of our own.”
“It makes no matter to me, ma’am. Though no doubt your cousin will object.”
Mrs Summerhayes waved this away. “Oh, we won’t regard Raoul. I have set him to put it about you are an acquaintance of mine, by the by.”
“Thank you, but I hope you may not be obliged to concoct excuses for me for long.”
“Not for the Town busybodies, in any event. However, we had best have something of your real background at our fingertips for the local gentry round about Barkham.”
Dismay swamped Felicity. “I beg you will not hold by that scheme, ma’am. I am determined to return to the academy forthwith, if you will be kind enough to lend me the necessary fare.”
“Certainly not.” Her hostess twinkled. “Don’t look so dismayed. Of course I will lend you whatever you need, but I hope you will think better of going back there.”
Felicity eyed her in some degree of dismay. “But why, ma’am? You cannot wish for such a scandal as is likely to break if the truth were to become known.”
“Oh, pish! How is anyone to find it out?”
“Very easily, I should think. Can you not see how my guardian’s actions show him to be utterly unscrupulous? There is no saying what he may do. I will not be the cause of bringing shame upon anyone, however unwitting.”
Mrs Summerhayes wagged a finger. “You need not be concerned for Raoul. It is about time he was shaken up a trifle. He is far too set in his ways.”
“I am not concerned for Raoul — I mean, for his wretched lordship!” Aware she was snapping, Felicity reined in her escaping temper. “I beg your pardon, ma’am, but he has an unhappy knack of rubbing me up the wrong way.”
Her hostess giggled like a girl. “I noticed. Highly delightful it is too. I wish you may drive him to distraction.”
A disturbing snake of suspicion crept through Felicity, but she paid it little heed, anxious to win her point. “Pray don’t think I am not grateful, Mrs Summerhayes, but —”
“I thought we had agreed on Angelica?”
