Page 32 of Her Summer Duke

“I concur, Lady Mantrell.”

Lady Peabody leaned forward.

“On the contrary, I am of the opinion that the young people of today are provocative, but in a positive way, and they are the portion of change that England so desperately demands.”

Lady Mantrell and Lady Huntington visibly raised their noses into the air, but they said no more. Lady Peabody smugly smiled at Lucy, Lady Margaret, and Lady Phoebe. Margaret immediately knew that she had a supporter in Lady Peabody, she just did not know how soon she might require the woman’s assistance.

~~~~~

When they finally arrived, after three days of travel, Margaret had never been happier to step down from a carriage. She stretched, and looked around her as Lord Percy’s coachman and footman unloaded the luggage.

The Old Ship Hotel was quite grand. All of the ladies were impressed by Lord Percy’s choice. It was a Hotel of significant age and reputation, well patronised by the nobility, and well equipped to ensure that the women would be safe and well cared for by the staff.

Margaret rather suspected that Lord Percy desperately desired to be alone with her, but she had no interest in allowing him such an opportunity. She claimed that she was quite exhausted from the journey and that she needed to rest. He accepted her words with apparent good grace, and retired quietly to his own chambers.

Later that evening, Lady Mantrell forbade Margaret from leaving her chambers, which she shared with Phoebe. Both young women were obviously upset, as they had hoped to at least see a little of the streets around them, and perhaps watch the sun set over the sea. Even, perhaps, Margaret thought, to sneak away and discover the theatre. Annoyed, she went to their room with Phoebe, and dropped grumpily into an overstuffed armchair. At least their windows allowed a clear view of the sea.

“Lady Mantrell cannot treat us as if we are children. Yes, she is my guardian, but I am of an age to know my own mind. This is outrageous. I refuse to be treated this way. Need I remind you, cousin that I am to meet Captain Halstone at twelve of the clock, tomorrow, near the pier?”

Phoebe’s eyes widened.

“Are you therefore truly considering Captain Halstone’s proposal?”

“I am. After all, in truth, the Captain is basically my Ensign Chester, is he not? I am in love with Ensign Chester, my mind and soul and heart belong to Ensign Chester, who is Captain Halstone. He wrote to me to explain and he is quite contrite. Perhaps my initial reaction to discovering the truth of his identity was excessive. Saltonbury’s rather more devious deception, and his extreme tardiness in revealing it, have led me to realise that I overreacted.”

Phoebe nodded.

“But do people not say a wolf is still a wolf in sheep’s clothing?”

“Captain Halstone is hardly a wolf or a sheep. It is all so clear to me now. Yes, the Ensign is the Captain. They are one, which in the end gives even more validity to my affections. After all, I love him and he loves me, whether he is an Ensign or a Captain. And he had the courage to admit his untruth to me, and to ask me, directly, after that, if I would consider his proposal. He at no time tried to trick me into marriage. I feel it is all as clear as glass. I must meet him, and ascertain whether my feelings remain as strong, when he stands before me again.”

Phoebe nodded, but her thoughts did not quite agree with her cousin as to how clear it was.