Brynn shuddered. “Blood money from the Indies?”
“Perhaps. And perhaps the Dukes of Glenmoor dabble in trade—manufacturing, shipping, mining.”
In Brynn’s experience, mining meant blood money as well. He knew it too well: the dirt, the destruction, the accidents, the deaths… “Who would know?”
A slow grin spread on Benson’s face until Brynn had a matching one. “Rockford,” they said at the same time.
“We might be better off investigating Jessop.” Benson surprised him.
“We?”
“As you said, gathering information will do no harm. We’ll leave my blue-blooded brother out of it for now. His Earlness might take our efforts amiss.”
They agreed in the end that Brynn would approach Rockford about the Glenmoor coffers while Benson paid a visit to the War Office to see what he might find out about the previous Duke of Glenmoor’s service in the Carolinas during the American Revolution. Meanwhile Benson’s men would check hotels and inns to locate Isaiah Jessop.
Chapter Ten
Aformal dinnerparty provided little challenge to an earl’s household, even a bachelor’s establishment, no matter what the Earl of Clarion had told his sister. Breeding and training took over where Maddy’s inclinations failed. As the earl’s hostess and ranking lady, she led guests into the dining salon on the arm of the Marquess of Danbury.
Lucy, seated to the earl’s right as guest of honor, glowed in a gown of rose sarcenet with an ecru lace overskirt. Rob beamed at her from his place below the salt. Danbury’s Marchioness sat at David’s left, Viscount Rockford next to her.
Brynn Morgan, who seemed to know everyone, may have been the lowest-ranking gentleman, but he looked fine enough in evening clothes.More than fine enough.Maddy let herself drink in the sight of him from her end of the table.
She had never seen the man in evening clothes before, and she could hardly keep her gaze away from him when he took his seat toward the center of the table. David had called it a simple dinner for friends, but looking down the table that included a duchess, a marquess, an earl, two viscounts, the odd baronet or three, and their ladies, she bit her lip to keep from laughing.Simple dinner indeed.The august company didn’t seem to unsettle Colonel Morgan in the slightest.
The gathering wanted only a duke to awe Lady Lucy Benson with the full splendor of the English peerage. David had tentatively suggested they should invite Glenmoor but had backed down. Maddy’s facial expression had been enough to quell that idea. She wouldn’t have been able to preside with Phillip there to remind her of her worries.
Lucy’s quick wit and innate confidence served her well. An awkward moment occurred in the middle of the meal, just as the fish was served, when the Marchioness of Danbury spoke to Lucy in a voice that carried to the table, “Is it true you actually served a steward’s function for Benson’s estate?” Her question hushed all conversation momentarily.
Lucy’s soft but firm reply was lost as proper manners brought a hurried resumption of conversation. However, Lady Danbury’s “But how marvelous of you! I so admire you” was clearly heard by all. If Maddy worried for Lucy before, she no longer did. Some high sticklers may choose to be caustic about Lucy’s independence, but many other women would envy and admire her. Lucy could handle herself.
So could Colonel Morgan. His confident discussion about the situation in Naples with Viscount Thornburg caught her attention as did his appearance.His hair wants trimming.
Absorbed in ogling a man oblivious to her attention, Maddy missed a question from the marquess.
He repeated it. “Do you plan to stay in town? The social whirl will continue for some weeks yet.”
“Alas, I cannot, my lord. I do love my little house, the quiet of the country, and my niece and nephew’s company. I will leave in a day or so.”
“Can we not tempt you with good music? If I dare say it, Lady Danbury invites the very best to our musical evenings. We have one planned for two days hence. I hope you will come with Clarion.”
She conjured her most gracious smile. “You are very kind to include me,” she said vaguely.
“Lady Benson plans to attend.” The marquess lifted his brows in question.
The musicale would be Lucy’s first outing. Perhaps Maddy should stay for it, but how could she? Harris had told her Jessop had called again and been turned away. Were they being unfair to the man? Uncertainty about that and about her memories of the contents of a letter she hadn’t looked at in nine years continued to prey on her guilty conscience. She needed to go home, retrieve it, and decide what, if anything, to do. Still, another few days for Lucy’s sake wouldn’t hurt. The letter awaiting her at Clarion Hall would keep.
David’s cook finished the meal with an exquisite barberry ice accompanied by macaroons and a sweet liqueur dipping sauce that left the company sated and well disposed toward humanity. It left Maddy gratified and much relieved to have it over. She rose when the last morsel disappeared and invited the ladies to withdraw.
As they exited the room, Lucy slipped her arm into Maddy’s. “That went well,” she whispered. “But game pie at the Willow would have satisfied me just as much,” she added so that Maddy had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. She had missed Lucy’s wit.You could give yourself a few more days to enjoy her company.
A wee voice inside whispered,And Morgan’s too, but Maddy ignored it.
*
One of thelowest in rank, Brynn kept to his seat in the center when the men moved toward the end of the table to enjoy gentlemanly conversation and the earl’s fine port. Women may very well gossip over their tea, but as Benson and his troop knew well and used to their advantage, men’s loose lips over drinks poured out even more tittle-tattle.
By the second glass of port, Her Grace’s name crept into the conversation. Curiosity throbbed around the table, putting Brynn on alert, but Clarion’s presence kept it civil.
