“So youdothink he’s the wrong choice.”
“I don’t believe that’s what I said. Please don’t put words in my mouth,” Alberta said. “The right choice, in my opinion, is whatever makes Valeria happy. Her happiness is of the utmost importance to me, and there is nothing I prioritize more highly.”
“And you don’t think she’d be happier with someone else? You know what people say about Lord Woodsford, don’t you?”
“Tell me you know better than to bring petty gossip and rumor to my door, Eleanor.”
Eleanor ignored that. “People say,” she said, “that he’s inherited mountains of debt from his father, and that he’s mixed up in all kinds of shady affairs to try to find the money. People say he works as a bounty hunter—”
“Oh,really,” Alberta said disdainfully. “What an utterly ridiculous thing to say. You’re not fool enough to believe that, surely?”
“Hedoeshave debt,” Eleanor said. “Everyone knows that.”
“Well, that’s no crime,” Alberta said. “And it’s no reason to invent such blatant falsehoods about the man, either, Really, this is no better than the way Lord Milton treated Valeria, accusing her baselessly of being involved in criminal activity. I’ll have no part of casting these aspersions against poor Lord Woodsford.”
“I don’t deny that the idea seems wild,” Eleanor said. “I’m just surprised that you’ve made your peace so easily with the idea of your niece entering into a courtship with him.”
“I’ve known Lord Woodsford for a long time,” Alberta said. “In case you’ve forgotten, Eleanor, he’s a good friend of my son’s. It isn’t as though I just met him.”
“Well, I suppose that’s true,” Eleanor allowed. “But even so—”
Thankfully, Eleanor was interrupted by the butler, who opened the door to the sitting room and leaned in. Alberta was very grateful for the interruption—she didn’t think she could bear to continue going through this with her friend. It was easy to forget, sometimes, just how judgmental Eleanor could be.
“I beg your pardon for the intrusion, Lady Earlington,” the butler said. “There’s a man here wishing to speak with you.”
“A man? Who is it?” She rose to her feet.
“He doesn’t say, My Lady. Wouldn’t give a name.” The butler frowned, indicating what he thought of that.
“Lady Earlington certainly isn’t going to receive any guests who can’t be bothered to give their names!” Eleanor said.
But Alberta’s curiosity got the better of her. “It’s all right,” she said, rising to her feet. “I may as well see what he wants.”
She followed the butler out of the sitting room and across the foyer to the front door.
The man standing on the other side was small and stocky, and his clothes looked as if he had owned them all his adult life without bothering about replacements. They weren’t dirty, but they were definitely frayed and torn. She stared at him in amazement. What on Earth was a man like this doing at her door?
“Good afternoon, Lady Earlington,” he said, bowing, but perhaps not as low as he ought to have.
“Do I know you?” she asked.
“By reputation, perhaps,” he said. “I assure you, you and I have never had the misfortune to meet in person.”
“And why would it be a misfortune if we had?” she asked.
“I beg your pardon, My Lady. I’m a debt collector, you see. Those who find themselves meeting with me are usually in a fair bit of trouble. But of course, that could never apply to you.”
“Then tell me what brings you to my doorstep,” she suggested.
“Of course, Lady Earlington.” He bowed again, and this time Alberta couldn’t shake the strange sense that he was mocking her. “I’ve come to discuss Lord Woodsford.”
“Lord Woodsford?” That was Eleanor, who had appeared at Alberta’s shoulder and was now looking positively hawkish with interest.
“Eleanor, perhaps you’d better go,” Alberta suggested. “I should meet with this gentleman privately.”
“I’m happy to stay and assist,” Eleanor protested.
I’ll bet you are.“No, no,” Alberta said. “We’re really fine. It was lovely seeing you today. I’ll write you soon and we’ll make arrangements to meet again. Travel safely.”