She walked away and he let her, because he knew that Miss Evangeline Spencer was capable of anything, even dressing as a man and leaving the house to gamble in a place where, if anyone found out, she would be ruined and forced to leave London.
Chapter Twelve
His butler cameinto the dining parlor looking harried as Anthony, Jamie, and Toby sat down for their evening meal before heading to their club.
“What is it, Dibley?”
“Your aunts have arrived, my lord.”
“All of them?”
His butler nodded.
“Have three more places set,” Toby said, looking happy. “I wonder if they have further women to add to your prospective brides list?”
“Entertainment with our meal. How wonderful,” Jamie added.
Anthony sighed. “What I want to know,” he wondered after his butler had left, “is how they are always aware of my movements?”
Jamie looked down at his empty plate.
“What?” Anthony demanded.
“Nothing,” he said far too quickly.
“Oh, come on, Anthony, you are normally awake to everything. Surely you must see someone here is feeding them that information?” Toby said.
The thought that a member of his staff would do such a thing silenced him.
“Also, they are devilishly good at getting information out of us,” Toby added. “They are constantly and subtly pumping us for our movements. Ergo, they know where you are going.”
Anthony was busy running through his staff to ascertain who would betray him and came up with his housekeeper and cook. Dibley was far too loyal. He knew there were others, but those two were the most likely in his opinion.
Dibley reappeared in the doorway and announced his aunts, who all then sailed into the room like royalty.
“Aunts,” Anthony said rising and bracing himself for the onslaught of kisses and cheek pats. They had no respect for his reputation. “What has you here at such an hour and not preparing for your night’s entertainment?”
“We merely wished to discuss the list and how things are progressing,” Aunt Aggie said not meeting his eye.
“We will not stay, Dibley. This is merely a stop on the way to the Brambleberry soiree,” Aunt Petunia added.
“We should have let him know we were calling,” Aunt Lavinia said.
“Nonsense. He’s your nephew; you can call on him anytime,” Toby said kissing paper-thin cheeks.
“Exactly right,” Jamie added, following his friend and greeting the women.
“Such manners,” Aunt Lavinia said patting Toby’s cheek. “Anthony, you could learn much from these two.”
“It’s a wonder you two aren’t married,” Aunt Petunia added.
“It is a wonder,” Anthony drawled. “Perhaps you could write a list of prospective brides for them also?”
His friends shot him a glare.
“Focus on Anthony first,” Toby said. “After all, his need is greater. We must secure an heir, so the perfidious Nigel and his mother have no say in your futures.”
“We will be forced out of our home,” Aunt Petunia said as Anthony thought about how to seek retribution on his friends for encouraging his aunts. “To live in a one-bedroom house and eat gruel.”
