“You mean she was making inquiries intous,” Kevin said. “Posing as a servant.” He began searching his memory of that house party to see if he remembered her being there.
“The point is that Philip had blocked her way out and was—” Chase’s jaw hardened and twitched, making him appear like the army officer he had once been. “He had grabbed her arm and was speaking of much more, and was telling her how no one would believe her if she complained. I stopped him, of course. Just as well.”
“So he is the kind who will press his advantage with his inferiors,” Nicholas said. “Not unusual, only he refuses to stand down when refused. He is too lazy even to seduce. He just assaults and uses his station in dishonorable ways. I daresay he has done worse than we know about.”
Kevin’s mind had settled on something else. “What did you mean, Chase, when you saidjust as well?”
“What he did not see was that she had found a poker behind her, with her other hand. One might say I saved Philip from Minerva, not the other way around.”
“Too bad.”
Chase ignored that. “What are your intentions, Nicholas?”
“I will no longer receive him. When I inform the rest of the family of this, they won’t either.”
“Which means almost no one will, once word gets out,” Kevin said.
“I will also let it be known that he has no expectations from this family, least of all from me. My will shall be changed so he is in no way a beneficiary, should there be anything to be had by anyone, which at the moment seems unlikely. If one of the aunts decides to indulge him, either while she lives or after she passes, that is her business. The question for this morning is, do you think I am being too harsh?”
“You will ruin him socially and financially,” Kevin said. “On the other hand, you will spare untold tradesmen a lot of misery.”
“And perhaps the money lenders will give him wide berth, if it is known the family will not make good his debts,” Chase added. “It could be a blessing of sorts.”
“I don’t care if it is or it isn’t. I long ago gave up any belief that he would grow to understand that being a gentleman is not only about leisure and fashion. If my actions make him a better man, all to the good, but that is not my goal.” A scowl marred his brow again. “I will tell him to write an apology to Miss Jameson, not that I expect he will do it.”
“Someone should,” Chase said. “Whatever Minerva said last night was hardly sufficient.”
“I will,” Kevin said. “She only suffered that because she had the misfortune to attract the family’s attention due to our partnership.”
“Her inheritance would have done so without that partnership,” Chase said. “By rights, our aunt should apologize, as the hostess who had the poor judgment to inflict such a boor on the company.”
Kevin could not picture Aunt Agnes ever apologizing to anyone, least of all the daughter of a tenant farmer.
Nicholas’s expression dropped into one of resignation. “I suppose I can tell Agnes that I think that would be appropriate.”
“I don’t think a letter would influence her much,” Chase said.
“You mean I should call on her.” He shook his head. “Hell.”
* * *
Rosamund set the metal stands on the cabinet. She had bought the carved, mahogany cabinet already constructed. Far nicer than the counter she had intended to commission, it served the same purpose but appeared more impressive.
The metal stands would hold some hats and bonnets. A few more could go in the window. All she needed now were a few chairs and a small table on which to put the looking glass. Unlike the way she’d arranged her shop in Richmond, here she intended to have that out of view of other patrons, so there would be some privacy. Having her shop at street level might be a risk, so she wanted to provide a way for patrons to make purchases and have fittings without the world looking in.
She went to the window and looked out. Few people passed by at this hour, least of which the kind she wanted to attract to this shop. She did notice several women glance at her window while they passed on Oxford Street, though. Her conclusion that the shop would be visible on the cross street seemed to be correct.
She checked her pocket watch. Already quarter past nine. She hoped to keep her meeting with Kevin Radnor today, although it appeared she might be late. It all depended on when the wagon arrived.
Thinking of that meeting immediately brought Philip to mind again.
After parsing through her behavior last night, every moment of it, she could not think what she had done to invite such treatment. That didn’t lift the pressing humiliation, however. Nor wipe from her memory what Philip had done and said.
She’d been glad Kevin thrashed him. Grateful. Relieved. Perhaps that meant at least he did not think she had somehow brought that on herself, although undoubtedly his family would blame her.
She thought again of Kevin seeking her out in the shadows on the terrace. Apologizing for his cousin. Once the others were gone, her ability to stand tall and proud had left her. She felt again his arms while he comforted her. That had been the sort of thing a friend would do.
It had been more than a friend’s embrace, though. She could not lie to herself about that, although for hours last night she had tried to. Perhaps she shouldn’t have allowed it, especially after what had happened with his cousin. But instead she had welcomed it, taken comfort in it.
