Arthur frowned. “I left Wyatt in Montana because he’s responsiblefor the damage done to your leg. I didn’t want to risk having you decide to have another go on him by bringing him with me to New York again. You’re eighty-two years old. A man your age has no business getting on a horse like Wyatt.”
Lloyd waved that aside. “You’re beginning to sound exactly like your mother, which is not a compliment. She’s been lecturing me for months about the inadvisability of riding Wyatt, but you can bet your last dollar that I’ll be having another go on him. He and I were just about to get to an understanding when I fell off him.”
“You didn’t fall off him. Wyatt tossed you off, so the only understanding you can get out of that is the notion that he didn’t want you to ride him in the first place.”
Before Lloyd could argue that point, Chase sat forward. “That photograph you carry around of Eugenia Howland—isn’t she sitting on a horse named Wyatt?”
“She is, and before you ask, it’s the same horse,” Arthur said. “One of Eugenia’s relatives, Mr. Raymond Mason, got nipped by the beast not long after Eugenia left town. Raymond decided he was going to sell Wyatt to a horse factory, and since I didn’t think Eugenia would appreciate her horse being slaughtered, I bought him. Raymond is Eugenia’s great-uncle, being James Mason’s younger brother, and he didn’t hesitate to sell me the horse, perfectly content to take my money for something that didn’t actually belong to him.”
“Maybe we should tell the ladies at this agency that,” Lloyd said. “They may feel more charitable toward you if they learn you saved Eugenia’s horse.”
“Couldn’t hurt.”
“But don’t mention that you left Wyatt back in Montana, presumably in the care of people who wanted to send him off to a slaughterhouse,” Chase added.
“I left him in the care of Miss Hazel Mason, James’s youngest sister. She likes Wyatt, and oddly enough, Wyatt tolerates her.”
“How old is this Miss Hazel Mason?” Lloyd asked, his eyessparkling. “Or better yet, how is it that I’ve never made her acquaintance when I’ve come to visit you in Montana?”
Arthur wasn’t certain if he should laugh or shake his head. “Hazel is probably seventy, and you haven’t met her because she spends a lot of time traveling around the West, searching for unique items to put in the new businesses she’s been responsible for opening in Butte. However, before you get any romantic ideas, she’s a confirmed spinster and happy to embrace that state.”
“That’s because she hasn’t met me,” Lloyd said right as Miss Elsy Evans strode into the room.
“Forgive me, gentlemen, I fear time got away from me. How may I be of assistance to you today?”
Arthur rose to his feet. “We’re here to speak with Eunice Holbrooke.”
“Oh, that’s unfortunate, Mr. ... was it Livingston?”
He was relatively certain, given the time they’d been left to cool their heels in the receiving room, that Miss Elsy Evans knew exactly who he was. But because he didn’t want to chance having her pull out a pistol if he voiced that accusation, he summoned up a smile. “That’s right, Miss Evans. I’m Mr. Arthur Livingston. This is my grandfather, Mr. Lloyd Brevoorts, and this is my brother, Chase Livingston.”
“How delightful to make all of your acquaintances,” Elsy said, beaming a smile all around, her attention settling on Lloyd. “And Mr. Brevoorts, I believe we’ve met before. I’m—”
“Mrs. Derbyshire’s companion,” Lloyd finished for her with a charming smile as he limped his way closer, took hold of her hand, and kissed it. “How lovely to see you again, Miss Evans. I had no idea you worked at this inquiry agency.”
“It’s lovely to see you as well, Mr. Brevoorts, and yes, I hold down more than one position.”
“I imagine being a paid companion to the society set gives you incredibly helpful access to gossip around the city, gossip that must come in handy with solving some of your cases.”
Elsy wagged a finger Lloyd’s way. “That’s classified information,although it’s exceptionally astute on your part to suggest such a thing. But allow me to deftly change the subject and say that Mrs. Derbyshire speaks very highly of you, although”—Elsy leaned closer—“a word of caution. She’s currently, shall we say, put out with you. It seems you told her your leg was bothering you last Thursday during a luncheon at Mrs. Fish’s residence, which was why you couldn’t escort her while she did a bout of shopping on the Ladies’ Mile after the luncheon. Mrs. Derbyshire has since learned you went driving in Central Park with Mrs. Manchester that day.”
Lloyd’s smile dimmed. “How... unfortunate.”
“Indeed. Mrs. Derbyshire was so put out with you that she may have shredded the lovely note you penned her the day before, the one where you proclaimed your deepest admiration for her.”
Lloyd winced. “Do you imagine Mrs. Derbyshire may become less put out with me if I explained to her that I went driving with Mrs. Manchester because I knew it would not be as taxing as shopping would have been on my poor, yet-to-be-completely-healed leg that was recently broken—in two spots, mind you.”
“I don’t know if thatwouldsoothe Mrs. Derbyshire’s annoyance with you because I’m relatively certain she would have been perfectly content to abandon her shopping to go driving with you.” Elsy took hold of Lloyd’s hand. “If I may offer a word of advice?”
“I’m all ears.”
“Mrs. Derbyshire is partial to daffodils. You may want to send her a lovely bouquet as well as an invitation to drive through Central Park at your earliest convenience.”
“I’ll pen her an invitation later today.”
Elsy gave Lloyd’s hand a pat. “You might also want to consider paring down the list of widows you squire about town.” She shook her head. “While these ladies present themselves to society as kind and gentle souls, they’re nothing of the sort. Your welfare may be placed in serious jeopardy if they band together.”
Lloyd gave Elsy’s fingers a kiss. “Thank you, my dear. I appreciate your candor since your advice may spare me another brokenlimb, were I forced to flee through the city from an angry mob of widows.” He arched a brow Arthur’s way. “You won’t mind if I tag along with you to Montana and stay for a month or so, will you? That should be plenty of time to allow tempers to cool, while still allowing me time to enjoy a good portion of the Season when I return to the city.”
