Mr. Tummet gave her a rather startled look, received an encouraging smile, and pursing his lips declared that he “might consider” such a post.
Restraining her mirth with difficulty, she asked, “However did you know I was in London?”
“I didn’t, ma’am. Knowed the Cap’n was coming to London, so I cadged a ride with a carter yesterday and a ’edge and stable—er, vegetable—merchant let me kip on ’is waggon last night. ’S morning I was lucky enough to see you out riding, so I ’oped as you could find it in yer beeootiful and kind ’eart to ’elp me.”
Naomi said staunchly that she would do so, and calling in the footman asked if he knew Sir Mark Rossiter’s new direction. The footman was able to oblige, and shortly thereafter Mr. Tummet departed, bowing, and expressing the depth of his gratitude—a gratitude that deepened when Naomi made him the richer of a gold crown. “Out of sympathy,” she said rather fallaciously, “with your tragic tale.”
She stood at the window, smiling, as she watched him hurry along the flagway. “Let that be a lesson to you, Captain Gideon Rossiter,” she murmured. “And never say this guttersnipe has not done her very best for you!”
***
Gideon slept late and awoke feeling much refreshed and cheered by the bright sunshine that flooded his room. His tug on the bell pull brought his brother’s servant, Henri Delatouche, with a breakfast tray. Gideon had never cared for the unctuous little valet and had decided long since that the man’s humility was as suspect as his accent. The breakfast was excellent, however, and as soon as he had done justice to it he turned his attention to his wardrobe.
Six years had not effected a great change in fashions, and although there was now some talk of making waistcoats sleeveless, the style had not as yet been widely adopted. He had feared that his long illness had left him so thin that his civilian clothes would be useless, and was rather pleased to find that, if anything, the coats were a trifle snug across the shoulders. He selected a coat of dark grey velvet, the great cuffs and pockets rich with scarlet embroidery. His waistcoat was silver brocade patterned with red, and his breeches grey silk. Delatouche groaned over so sober a habit for a young man, and when he learned the captain did not intend to have his hair cut short to accommodate a wig, he threw up his hands in despair.
“I did not wear a wig in the Low Countries,” growled Gideon.
“But, monsieur, consider, I implore. ’Ere in London, ze gentleman of fashion ’e would as soon go naked about ze streets as to appear in ’is natural ’air! If no wig,Monsieur le Capitaine mustbut ’e mustcertainement’ave ze powder and ze patches!”
The patches Gideon refused in so stern a voice that Delatouche tearfully surrendered, but an appeal to consider the feelings of his noble papa overcame his resistance to powder and he was ushered to the powder closet, enfolded in a wrapper, and subjected to pomatum and pounce pot. Whatever his vices, Delatouche was skilled in his craft. By the time Gideon was dressed, a great ruby ring slipped onto his hand, and a tricorne tucked under his arm, his mirror showed him an elegant stranger. Even Delatouche was mollified, and said thatMonsieur le Capitainewould “drive ze mademoiselles distracted!”
Seconds later, the much tried valet was clutching his brow in despair once more, for no sooner did the Captain step into the hall than Miss Rossiter rose from a chair and with a cry of joy flung herself into his arms.
“Gwendolyn!” Gideon swept her off her feet. “My cheerful sparrow,” he said between kisses. “How lovely you are grown! Why a’God’s name did you perch here in the hall as if I’ve not been yearning to see you? You should have come in at once!”
“I am only thankful you are home safe!” Gwendolyn wiped away happy tears. “I knew you had been wounded, and was fairly beside myself with anxiety. Oh, Gideon, can we talk before you go downstairs?”
“Of course.” Of all his family, this frail, crippled girl was closest to his heart, and with his arm tight around her, he led her back into his room. They sat in the window seat together and scanned each other hungrily; he with prideful approval, she with such obvious anxiety that he tugged a glistening ringlet and asked laughingly, “Am I such a shock, Gwen? You said you knew I’d been brought down. How, by the way?”
“Papa and Newby said I was silly, but I just… knew.”
Naomi had also said she’d thought he’d been hit. He frowned a little. Was it possible that she really had sensed—He dismissed such nonsense impatiently. Such prescience must also argue affection, and if Lady Naomi Lutonville gave affection to anyone it was to her innumerable flirts.
Deeply moved by her brother’s sombre expression, Gwendolyn seized his hand and nursed it to her cheek. “You are alive and will be your old self again in no time. Butmon pauvre,I see that it must have been very bad.”
His eyes became blank, and she said at once, “No, please, Gideon, do not shut me out. I have worried for such a long while.”
Repentant, he murmured, “My poor little one. What a fellow I am not to have written. But in truth at first there was small opportunity, and when the opportunity was there,” he gave a wry grin, “the ability was not. Besides, I had no wish to send you bad news. Which was as well, I am persuaded. You had enough already! Gwen, what can you tell me of this disaster?”
“Very little, I fear. I only know there was a run on the bank and that all the other investors backed away and left poor Papa to take full blame. And he did, Gideon. He made no attempt to save what he could for himself, but was concerned only in trying to repay as many as possible of those who had lost their money. You’d scarce believe the nightmare of it. The people who would shout curses after our carriage in the streets… the stones they threw at the windows of the house… the dreadful things that were written in the newspapers!”
He groaned. “Had I been here I might have been able to avert this. At least I could have stood by my father. Small wonder he is disgusted with me!”
“No, no! Just a little put out, perhaps, when you did not sell out as he asked, but I am very sure that now he is only relieved that you are safe home. At all events, it has not been quite so horrid since we moved here. Only… Papa is so proud, you know, and I think it broke his heart when we had to leave Promontory Point.” Her voice became a little scratchy. “I don’t know how long we will be able to stay here. Or… what will become of us.”
She looked very small and wan suddenly, and he pulled her close and gave her a buss. “Silly chit. Had you forgot Emerald Farm? If we are obliged to leave Town, we all can go and live there. You would like that—no?”
Her woebegone face lit up. “Oh, Gideon! I should love it! I had indeed forgot. But—’tisyours,you will be wanting to marry and—” She broke off, her eyes opening very wide. “Or—are you already wed, perchance?”
“Not wed, love. But I fancy you will have heard I am a father.”
She gave a gasp, searching his face but finding it unreadable. “Then it really is truth? I could scarce believe it! Oh, then I am anaunt! How marvellous! Tell me about them, Gideon. What are their names? When can I see them? Shall your lady of the garden come here? Or—oh dear! Was it the—other one?”
The frown which had crept into his eyes was banished by a reluctant laugh. “Good God! Has all London Town wallowed in mine iniquities?”
“There has been rather an astonishing amount of gossip, but I did not know of the children until yesterday when Naomi mentioned—”
“Naomi?” His voice harsh, he demanded, “Did she call here?”
