Page 35 of Her Summer Duke

Chapter Fourteen

At the hotel, Lady Mantrell was frantic. Lucy had informed her that both of the young ladies in her care were missing. Lady Mantrell, after berating Lucy rather unfairly, perhaps because she had been woken from a deep slumber in the armchair in her room, called for Lord Percy, and suggested that a constable be called as well. She was quite panicked at the idea of her two young charges wandering around in Brighton unescorted. Why, anything could happen to them here, in this town that they did not know well, especially as both of them were, like most young ladies of the nobility, rather naive about the ways of the world.

Percy tried to calm Lady Mantrell. Whilst he secretly agreed with her concerns, he was not about to say so. He wanted neither young woman to have their reputation ruined, for he hoped, by the end of their time in Brighton, to have convinced one or the other of them to marry him – he was sure that Lady Phoebe was having doubts about her betrothal to Lord Montpelier. Doubts he intended to capitalise on, if he could.

“Lady Mantrell, I will set off at once, to seek them myself. I am sure that they cannot have gone far, for they do not know the town. Likely, they have just walked along the promenade a little, to look at the sea. Please, do not panic. All will be well.”

She calmed a little, but stated that she expected him to return with them, within the quarter hour. He nodded, unsure whether he would actually be able to achieve that.

Just as he was leaving the hotel, he saw a familiar face. Lord Montpelier. What was the man doing here? perhaps he had realised that Lady Phoebe was wavering in her devotion to him, and he intended to protect his own interests.

“Lord Montpelier, I did not expect to see you in Brighton.” Percy barely nodded his greeting, annoyed.

Lord Montpelier was definitely a rival for the affections of Lady Phoebe at least, should Percy decide to pursue her. He did not enjoy the thought that he was going to have to double his efforts to win over one of their hearts. He had hoped that winning Lady Margaret might be easy, once he had heard of her deciding to cry off from her promise to Saltonbury – but it was not proving easy at all. And he needed to capture the heart of a lady soon, for, although everyone thought him wealthy, his finances were actually in sore need of assistance. Assistance which a dowry would provide. He had thought to be as honourable as possible in his pursuit, but now – perhaps the actions of a cad had something to recommend them.

“I have come to pay my attentions to Lady Phoebe. I have missed her sweet face.”

Percy wondered if his relief was visible on his face – at least the man had no interest in Lady Margaret.

“Wonderful! Well, she is out tonight, with Lady Margaret, undoubtedly at the Theatre Royal, and will be returning soon.”

Percy tried to sound casual, but realised, as soon as the words had left his lips, that he had made a mistake.

“Out? Did she have an escort? Who is he?”

Lord Montpelier’s voice displayed his eagerness to do damage to whomever dared try to take Lady Phoebe away from him.

“I, well, I uh, I cannot say.”

“You cannot say or you will not say, sir?”

Lord Montpelier looked into Percy’s eyes, his distrust and anger obvious.

“I must go. Perhaps if you go into the private parlour inside Lady Mantrell can explain the predicament to you.”

“Predicament? What is happening?”

“I really must go now Lord Montpelier. I am sure that Lady Mantrell will give you all of the explanation that you need to appease your fears.”

He tipped his hat and hurried out the door. As he did, he prayed that his assessment was correct, and that the most likely place for Lady Margaret and Lady Phoebe to be found was the theatre. It made sense, given their conversations during the journey here.

As Percy rushed away, Lord Montpelier went hurriedly into the parlour where he saw Lady Mantrell sniffing into her handkerchief as Lady Peabody consoled her. She looked up and saw him.

“Oh, Lord Montpelier, something dreadful has occurred. Lady Phoebe and Lady Margaret are missing!”

“Missing? Whatever do you mean?”

Lady Peabody shook her head.

“Now, let us not jump to undue conclusions. We will find the two young women, rest assured. Lord Percy has gone, just now, to seek them out.”

Lady Mantrell sniffed loudly.

~~~~~

The play had ended at the Theatre Royal, and Margaret was filled with a great sense of pleasure in the evening. Her adventure had succeeded, and the play had been wonderful. They strolled along the way back toward their hotel, the evening sky descending through the last deep blue shades of the late summer dusk.

They were shocked when Lord Percy rushed up to them, his hat askew, and a frown on his face.