“Poppycock!” Marianne said.
“Caroline was perfectly content this morning,” Lady Chimes insisted. “We took a walk. There was no hint of her leaving. She didn’t even have luggage!”
“If they are together, and it seems likely they are,” James said, “then they are in a carriage on the best road to the closest Scottish town.”
“Gretna Green,” Lord Chimes interrupted.
“However, if I take my best horse,” James continued, “then I may be able to beat them there.”
“You meanImight,” Lord Chimes corrected. “For I intend to go after my daughter.”
“Not without me,” Lady Chimes insisted. “She might be frightened or in a dreadful circumstance if your dastardly son has had his way with her.”
“Then I shall go, too,” Marianne insisted. “If your daughter is trying to ensnare my boy, then he’ll need me to see through her feminine wiles. His heart will be broken.”
“Ridiculous,” Lady Chimes insisted. “Your son is obviously just like his father.”
“Meaning?” Marianne asked tightly.
“Not a gentleman at all. Rather, he’s willing to ruin a woman to secure her hand.”
“And your daughter is just like you,” Marianne said, rising once more. “A grasping mushroom!”
“How dare you!” Lady Chimes exploded, jumping to her feet. “We can’t all be fickle, shallow females, tempting men in order to secure an engagement.”
Marianne laughed. “Well, which is it? Did my husband ruin me or did I tempt him?”
“I thought we were talking about my daughter and your son,” Lord Chimes said. “I fail to see how your sordid history is important.” Even he seemed disconcerted by the turn which the conversation had taken.
“I suppose we ought to stop the wedding,” James said, “at least until we sort out a marriage contract and your daughter’s dowry.”
Lord Chimes turned red. “Not another penny from me to you,” he declared.
“We don’t want to negotiate a marriage arrangement,” Lady Chimes said. “We want to stop them getting married. I’m going, too, but not all that way on horseback.”
“Neither am I,” Marianne said. “Not when we have a comfortable traveling coach.”
“As do we,” Lady Chimes said, with a tilt of her chin.
“Why don’t you ladies go together?” James suggested. “Then when we find them, you’ll both be there should either one of our offspring need comforting or support.”
It sounded ridiculous, but he knew neither of the women would want to be left behind. Nor could he allow his wife to undertake such a journey alone.
“And we shall go on horseback,” Lord Chimes said, glancing at James, “to intercept them.”
“Will you ride straight through?” Lady Diamond asked. “How exciting and utterly exhausting!”
“We cannot stay alone in coaching inns,” Lady Chimes pointed out. “Can we?”
“We cannot stay with you,” Lord Chimes pointed out, “or we might as well be in the blasted carriage, and we’ll never make up time enough to catch them.”
“I’ll send the ladies with my driver and two footmen,” James proposed. “The driver is very experienced and will know where it’s safe for them to stay. And all three will be fully armed.”
“I shall have to go home and pack,” Lady Chimes said.
“I won’t wait,” Lady Diamond threatened. “Every minute wasted —”
James hated to gainsay his wife. It would mean a frosty reception in the marital bed when next he reached for her. However, since they would be apart for a few nights, she might soften toward him and forgive him by the time they met up again. Thus, he suggested a compromise.
