“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I don’t believe we have met before, but I remember your husband. The duke was a fine gentleman. I guess it’s been a while since he passed.”
Susannah gave him a grateful smile. Her husband was seldom mentioned by anyone anymore, including his son. She instantly liked the friendly, robust man. “It’s been ten years, and yes, he was a fine man. Thank you for remembering him with kind words, Sir Randolph.”
“And how is his son the Duke of Blooming and his family doing?”
“All are well. The duke plans to come to London next year for the Season.”
“Is that right? I remember his father never liked the city much. Stayed away from it like the plague.”
“His son is somewhat like him,” Susannah agreed. “The duke’s eldest daughter will be presented at court and make her debut next year, so her father will be here for that. She’s excited to come and see London.”
“Tell him I’ll look forward to seeing him while he’s here. It’s been a long time.”
“I’ll be pleased to remember you to him when I return.”
“Will that be soon?” Race asked, thrusting himself back into the conversation.
Susannah turned to him. “That hasn’t been established yet. I’ve not made any final plans and won’t until I accomplish what I came here to do.”
“Keep in mind, Duchess, that I am in no hurry to look at the papers you brought with you.”
She gave him a confident smile. “I know that well.”
The marquis nodded to her and then turned to Sir Randolph. “What is going on here? Why have so many people gathered?”
“I’m not sure if it’s a fair that is coming to Town or simply a small carnival, but I’m told there will be a man arriving soon who will climb into that cage with a tiger. Everyone’s waiting to see if it happens.”
Susannah looked at the empty cage that had been placed on a platform. “That sounds very dangerous to me.”
“I’m sure it is,” Sir Randolph agreed.
“Why would he do something like that?” Susannah asked.
“It’s how the performers make their living,” Race said. “They will travel to a town, set up a small camp, and do free shows for a few people. They are taking a chance that the audience will be amazed and go back to their homes and businesses and talk about what they saw, which will make other people want to see it. Of course, when others come, they will have to pay money to watch the man get in the cage with the tiger.”
“A clever way to build excitement and anticipation,” Susannah admitted.
“Yes,” Gibby said. “They’ll stay in one location until the crowds stop coming, and then they will pack up their tents and shows and move on to another town and start all over again.”
Lord Raceworth turned to Susannah and asked, “Do you want to stay and watch this, or should we find a quiet place to sit?”
“If the man is going to be courageous enough to get in a cage with a tiger, he must need money. I’d rather come back and pay to see him do it.”
Race smiled at her. “I like your reasoning, Duchess, and I agree with you. We’ll come back another time to see him. Gibby, we’re going to find a place to sit and have refreshments. Want to join us?”
“There you are, you blasted scoundrel and seducer of innocent ladies,” someone shouted above the chatter of the crowd. “Ha! Now I’ve caught you. You will pay for what you did to my sister.”
Susannah, the marquis, Sir Randolph, and several other people in the small crowd all turned to see who had shouted.
Susannah’s blood ran cold, and her eyes rounded in alarm. It looked as if the irate man was pointing his finger directly at Lord Raceworth.
The marquis went still. From what she had read, she knew him to be a rake of the highest order, but to be vilified in the park like this, with ladies and children looking on, went beyond the pale.
She threw a questioning glance toward him. His gaze caught hers. His stunned expression asked that she reserve judgment until they found out what this man was talking about.
Without hesitating, Susannah instinctively moved closer to the marquis.
Five
