He looked around and then at Lucinda, and his eyes grew wide. “Really? Oh, Gabrielle will be so pleased. I mean I am too, of course, but… I thought you were being courted by the Earl of Dunstan? Not anymore, I see. Well, right, excellent. Most excellent.” He then sighed. “Can I go home now?”
Tony smiled and clapped his back. “Of course. Just remember what I said.”
Charles congratulated Lucinda and kissed her cheek. He kissed his mama and sister, and Tony left with him, taking him back home.
The dowager duchess sat back down after her second child left. “I think I drank too much Madeira when I was carrying him.” That made all the women laugh.
“He is so smart when it comes to some areas and so dense when it comes to everyday matters. Thankfully, he has Gabrielle.” Marianne hugged Lucinda. “Tell us, what agreement did you and Tony come to?”
“He wants time to figure out what he can do if he is not working for Stafford. He did not say how long that would be. He does love me, of that I am sure, and he does want to marry me, so I will wait.” She could not tell them what his job with Stafford was, and she was relieved that they did not ask. Perhaps they had asked Tony before, and she could not know what he told them. Better to say nothing more about it.
“Well, my dear, he can forget about marrying you by special license. You deserve a proper wedding. People will expect it. I think we start on your trousseau immediately after this business is settled. We, as your family, must prepare you for marriage. And that means clothes, shoes, nightgowns, and of course a dress or two.”
His mother had called her family. Her heart swelled with pride, but she had caused them enough trouble. “I have clothes, shoes, and nightgowns. Surely just a nice dress will be sufficient.”
“Oh, pish posh. You have no idea. Leave it all to me,” the dowager said, patting Lucinda’s hand.
Marianne shook her head behind her mother, as if to say,do not even try; just let her be.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tony entered WarringtonHouse and gave his hat and coat to a footman before going upstairs to his brother’s study. He knocked and waited a few seconds before entering. The duke looked up and put down his quill.
“How is mother faring?”
“Mother is bored. Marianne is happy now she has her dog.”
“And Miss Sterling?”
“She is fine. She has had a lot of information thrown her way in the last two days.”
“That being?”
“There is a message in the ring that her father gave her. It seems so obvious now.”
“In her ring? That enameled thing she wears?”
“Yes, it has three hidden panes. Ingenious really.”
“Well, well. Did she know it was there? And what does this message say?”
“She did not know. She was upset at first that her father had used her so ill. A gift she thought was a token of his love for her was simply a vessel to hide a secret. At first we thought it was code, but it turns out it is a formula for a poisonous gas.”
“A poisonous gas?”
“I think the Prussians intended to use it in conflict. Either that or there is a rat plague they have been keeping a secret about.”
“Have you told Stafford?”
“Not yet. What do you think he will do with it?”
“He would no doubt tell the king and his generals. If the Prussians are intending to use this gas in a military scenario we need to make a plan.”
“See, that is the thing. I do not think they are. This has been lost for a decade and as far as we know, not reproduced. I am sure they would have at least tested it, if they had it. Perhaps better to let sleeping dogs lie.”
“Regardless, if this really has potential…”
“To do what with? Should we use such gas and on whom? No, it is too dangerous. No one should have this information.”
