“By issuing this warning, is how I took it, but I grant you that does not altogether fit, now I have leisure to think of it.”
The fleeting thought he had been too angry at the notion she had deceived him to look closely at the rest passed through Felicity’s mind. But the puzzle held her attention. She became engulfed by an urgent wish to confront her guardian and demand an explanation.
“When did he write that? From where? Is it possible we can find him?”
Lord Lynchmere’s customary manner was back. His voice held all the usual blandness. “Impossible, I fear. I have not yet had an opportunity to tell you, but my secretary made the rounds of livery stables within the vicinity of the Black Swan. Maskery hired a chaise for that same night to take him to Harwich. By this time, I have no doubt he has crossed to Holland.”
“He wrote to you from Harwich?”
“It seems likely. There is no direction on the letter. It was delivered this morning.”
“Then he is out of reach.” Balked, Felicity found her temper rising again. “He might at least have said who is this trustee. What does he mean by leaving me with this horrid mystery? It is all of piece!”
“With his using you?” The marquis curled his lip. “I doubt he had any expectation you might see the letter. The warning is for me, man to man, to ensure my discretion in my dealings with you.”
Angelica leapt in. “Be quiet, Raoul! If you mean what I think you mean, you ought not to speak of such things before Felicity. Or me, come to that.”
Beyond understanding the implications of this, Felicity directed a look of enquiry at his lordship.
He met it with a lift of an eyebrow. “You favour candour, Miss Temple. A man may flaunt a kept mistress in public and display her to his friends. Angelica and her ilk will of course ignore the existence of such females.”
“Raoul! Not but what it is perfectly true.”
He paid no heed to his cousin’s intervention. “Or he may keep her close, visiting her at his leisure and ensuring his attentions are unknown to the world at large. It is this latter course Maskery is exhorting me to pursue.”
“What, after he deliberately threw her into the public eye at the Latimer party? Ridiculous.”
The burn of humiliation in Felicity’s bosom was accompanied by a most unwelcome sliver of a different sort of heat, engendered by the notion of what such discreet visits must entail. She was not so ignorant she did not understand the implications. The urge to fidget under that steady gaze was strong, but she suppressed it. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her humbled by the indignities her guardian had heaped upon her. She forced her tone to calm.
“I see. Well for you, sir, that you had no desire to make the choice.”
He made no reply to this. “I have instructed Jerram to make further enquiries at Maskery’s last known lodging. He has no other home. It is common knowledge he gambled away his inheritance long since, and sold off his estates.”
“But to what end, Raoul? If he has left the country, we must suppose his debts are too numerous to be met. He will be obliged to live abroad.”
“True. However, we may glean something if there is a valet or other servant who may testify as to his movements before he fetched Miss Temple.”
Felicity, still smarting, could not immediately see his reasoning. “What will you be at, sir?”
His brows flew up. “Don’t you wish to unravel this mystery?”
“Indeed I do, but I cannot trespass upon your time. Nor, under the circumstances, upon Angelica’s generosity.” She ignored that lady’s indignant protest. “To tell you the truth, I am only awaiting a letter from Mrs Jeavons and then I had it in mind to beg your cousin for a small loan so that I might travel back to Bath.”
“That you won’t!”
“But I must, Angelica. After that —” she gestured towards the letter still in her hostess’s hand — “it becomes imperative.”
“Nonsense! The man is gone. We need not regard anything he says. It is all to do with a different outcome than the one that has transpired. You are now an acquaintance of mine and I have taken you under my wing. There can be no difficulty.”
Felicity warmed with gratitude, but it would not do. “Yes, there can. You are very kind, Angelica, but I am a fraud. These hints from my guardian make it worse. Who knows what sort of secrets may emerge? It is far better for me to disappear.”
“Better for whom?” The question came from Lord Lynchmere, a half-smile softening his face. “Is it pride that makes you look a gift horse in the mouth? Do you want to be a drudge for the rest of your life?”
“Of course I don’t, but —”
“Then allow Angelica to support you for a space.”
Felicity gave a groan. “You don’t understand! I cannot bear to be a charge on anyone. You know perfectly well you would much prefer to wash your hands of this whole affair.”
