A flicker of a smile acknowledged a hit, but he did not rise to the bait. “Are we to presume you could not tell Rusper where Miss Temple had been taken?”
“No, my lord, for I didn’t know. That lord had mentioned some name or other, meaning his home, but I was so put about at the time I found I hadn’t asked him to put his address on the card he left with me.”
“He never took me to his home, Nanny. He took me to Bath and put me in Mrs Jeavons’ academy. I’ve been there ever since, first as a pupil and then as a teacher. Until Lord Maskery came to fetch me — oh, less than a week ago — I saw him only on one or two occasions in all that time.”
Nanny Kimble’s indignation was voluble and took some time to subside. Though it was balm to Felicity, she bore it with a touch of impatience, anxious to get down to the nitty-gritty of Mr Rusper’s involvement. Fortunately, it did not occur to Nanny to enquire into Lord Maskery’s reasons for fetching her from the academy, so upset was she by his failure to carry out the promises he’d made. As well, for Felicity dreaded to think how Mrs Kimble would react to his appalling scheme and subsequent abandonment.
At length, Raoul succeeded in redirecting the discussion to Mr Rusper. “Are we to assume this Rusper was acting for another, Mrs Kimble? He sounds to be a man of business.”
The old dame looked regretful. “I’ve no notion at all. He’s in the law, my lord, that’s all I know. I took it as he knew Mr Temple’s business for he came seeking our Flissie, and he was not best pleased as she’d been taken without a word vouchsafed to him.”
A streak of indignation burgeoned in Felicity’s breast. “What right had he to object? It is not as if he made the slightest effort on my behalf, either before or after Papa died.”
“Well, he did come for you, duck, and he was right determined to track down that lord, howeverinconvenient.” Behind the spectacles, Nanny’s eyes kindled again. “Which made me cross as crabs, I don’t mind telling you, duck. Inconvenient! And now you say he didn’t do nothing for you after all. Unless he never did track you down.”
But the vague confusion of identities was surfacing in Felicity’s mind. “I wonder if he did? Someone came when I was still in a state of numbness. I thought it must have been Lord Maskery, but I begin to wonder.”
“Not for long,” came in a brisk tone from Raoul. “Have you this fellow Rusper’s direction in Marlborough, Mrs Kimble?”
The bustle of the town forced Raoul’s attention off Felicity and onto his team as he threaded a path through the traffic, keeping an eye out for the Corn Exchange. The landlord of the Plough had been able to offer directions from there to the street where Mr Rusper’s business premises were situated. Leaving Felicity with Mrs Kimble, he had gone in search of Broome, with a promise to pick her up once the curricle was readied for departure.
Nevertheless, he had been held up for several minutes while Felicity dragged herself away from the elderly dame, and she had been distrait for the duration of the short trip to Marlborough. With his groom up behind, Raoul could not enquire too closely into what was holding her attention and a mild question produced no satisfactory answer.
“What is troubling you, Felicity?”
She had looked round, frowning as if she knew not what he said. “I beg your pardon, I was thinking.”
“So I apprehend. About what?”
Her gloved fingers flicked in an aimless fashion. “Oh, this and that. You know how it is.”
Raoul did not pursue it. Either she did not wish to speak of what was in her mind, or she could not do so in front of Broome. Yet he found himself concerned. Was she apprehensive about the coming meeting with Rusper? Assuming he was to be found. Or had Mrs Kimble divulged something to worry her?
It took some little time and several queries of passers-by to locate the right building, but at length his groom, who had jumped down from his perch to check at several doors of a line of yellowed buildings, returned with good news.
“This is the place, my lord. Leastways, there’s a brass plate for Rusper & Son.”
“Thank the Lord! Knock and ask for the fellow, Broome. There’s no point in getting down if he isn’t there.”
Evidently this caught Felicity’s attention, for she sat up, alert all at once, looking round. “You’ve found him?”
“It would seem so. Broome is finding out if he’s in.” She turned to look at him and he met her troubled gaze. He dropped his voice. “What is it?”
Her lip quivered. “The Beast, Raoul. I’m not sure I want to know about the Beast.”
“Understandable.” Although it was precisely what he did wish to know. “It can’t hurt you to know, and perhaps it may be advantageous.”
She did not look to be reassured. “I cannot think Papa would have wished me to make his acquaintance.”
“You can’t know that.” He laid his gloved hand on hers. “You have come this far, Felicity. Don’t fail now.”
A wavering smile came. “I’m so glad you came with me.”
He was conscious of gratification, and something more. Before he could identify it, Broome’s voice cut into the thought.
“It appears he is within, my lord. I gave the clerk your name and he’s gone off to inform Mr Rusper.”
Raoul took his hand from Felicity’s. “Excellent. Go to their heads. You’ll need to walk them, I expect.”
