“But that is hours away. I want you to ride into Marlborough first and find Dirk. I want to know what is happening with the deadbeat tenants.”
“Certainly, that can wait until tomorrow. I was going over early to see Harry and Maria. It is always nice to have a drink or two with Harry before the dance gets underway.”
“No. I want you to go now. Damn lazy, no-good. Make yourself useful to your father.”
“But I shall end up smelling like a horse, riding all the way into town.”
“Then change your damn clothes first. You have plenty of time. It will not hurt you to be a few moments late in any case.”
Percy walked over to his father, took his arm, and said, “But what if I find a nice eligible young lady with a fine living attached. Would that not help matters? If I am all worn out and scruffy who will want to dance with me?”
The Duke saw the reasoning in that and said, “Very well, then you will go to Marlborough first thing tomorrow morning.”
“After I get up,” Percy said, turning back to his mirror. “It might be a rather late night, Father. And if I should find someone special I might need to pay a call on a young lady later in the afternoon.”
“You lazy good-for-nothing! I should horse whip you and kick you out of this house. You are useless! Worthless! A disgrace to this family.” And he stormed out of Percy’s bedroom.
Percy had heard all of this before and paid it little mind. He stood before the mirror admiring himself. He turned his head left and then right—catching his profile and checking his cravat. He was satisfied. Then he went to his dresser and applied a few splashes of his eau de cologne. Yes, he was ready to have a most pleasant evening.
Chapter 6
Maria had not dressed yet for the party. She knew Harry and Christopher were busy in the barn, so tea would only be for her mother and herself. It had been a daunting time preparing for the dance, as she had her regular duties to attend to each day as well. But Anna and Dorothy had been most helpful, and she was very grateful.
Maria and her mother waited for the tea to be served, and Maria used the time to work on a knitting project. Her mother had nodded off in her wheelchair and Nurse Carter sat at the side of the room reading from her prayer book. It was a quarter until four when Daniels came into the room with a rather strange look on his face. It was too early for tea.
“Yes, Daniels?”
“Miss Maria, a couple has just shown up at the door.”
“Not guests yet, certainly?”
“No. A lady and a gentleman. I believe the lady is your Aunt Agatha.”
This startled Maria as they had had no word from her aunt for many months.
At that moment her aunt burst through the door behind Daniels, pushing him aside, and followed by an unknown gentleman.
“Darlings!” she exclaimed, stepping forward into the room “Leah… Maria… and where is Harry?”
Mother snapped awake in her chair and gazed, uncomprehending for a moment.
“Agatha?” she queried. “You are back from Africa?”
“Aunt…” Maria managed to say, discombobulated by this astonishing entrance.
“Is it tea time yet? I am parched… just parched. Have not had a decent cup of tea since the British Consulate in Malabo—and even that was only barely decent.”
Maria stood, went over to her aunt, who was in some sort of safari outfit, and gave her a kiss on both cheeks. Agatha was a tall lady with striking— but not beautiful— features. She carried herself with a great deal of self-confidence and tended to command any room she entered.
Maria caught sight of a young man lingering in the doorway. Maria asked, “Oh, and who might this gentleman be?”
The man stepped forward, offering his hand. “Chilton Oakley,” he said.
“Mr. Oakley… I am Maria Buxton.”
He took her hand very gallantly and kissed it with great ceremony. “Such a delightful pleasure.”
Mr. Oakley was shorter than Agatha, but boyishly handsome with reddish blond slicked back hair, giving him the appearance of an otter that had just popped out of the water.
