He had scarcely ever invoked it himself. Maybe it was time.
Louisa’s lips had parted. She said, with concentrated force, ‘Brothers.You. Goodness me.’
‘Please,’ Miss Beaumont said, with difficulty. ‘If Mrs Kentridge does not – does not wish to accommodate me—’
‘Not at all,’ Louisa said swiftly. ‘No. I made a foolish assumption, and I beg your pardon. And it is certainly too late for you to go anywhere this evening.’ She moved to ring the bell. ‘So I shall have a room made up, and you shall go upstairs and wash, Miss Beaumont, while my cousin explains to meexactly what is going on. Will you stay with us tonight, Sev?’
‘No, I shall take a room somewhere.’ He had no intention of spending a night under the same roof as Miss Beaumont, for both their sakes.
‘You must at least remain for dinner. I shall send to the Star for a room for you.’ A maid arrived: Louisa gave a series of orders that ended with Miss Beaumont being swept upstairs with a programme of tea, washing, and settling in.Louisa waited for the door to shut, turned to the Duke, and said, ‘Is this an elopement? Oh, Sev, is it a wedding?’
‘It is neither and I intend to keep it that way. Miss Beaumont has no interest in me—’
‘Fiddle.’
‘She’s an heiress in her own right. Listen. You know about my wager with Leo?’
‘Of course. He is staying here too. He and Father have been arguing up hill and down dale, over the bet and his losses to that ghastly Sir James.’
‘Ah.’ The Duke grimaced. ‘I hope he doesn’t consider my calling on you to infringe the terms. I needed to do something with Miss Beaumont.’
‘Leo will do as he’s told. I want to know everything, immediately.’
He explained the situation. Louisa had the quality, rare in the Crosse family, of being able to hear a story without undue interruption. She listened as the Duke outlined his travels, touching as lightly as possible on his travelling companion because he did not trust himself to talk about Daizell. He explained Miss Beaumont’s predicament and actions very frankly, since Louisa should know what she might be getting into, and at the end she drew a long breath.
‘Good heavens, Sev. Youhavebeen going it.’
‘I know.’
‘No wonder you look exhausted. And you have taken Miss Beaumont under your wing because—?’
‘Someone had to. Could you have walked away, seeing her alone?’
‘Yes,’ Louisa said crisply. ‘The little fool seems to have brought much of her trouble on herself, and encountered a great deal less than she might have, running around thecountry with men. I suppose she’s an innocent: one would have to be, to be so very stupid.’
‘She isn’t stupid. She’s inexperienced, and she was facing the prospect of Sir James pressing his suit.’
‘True,’ Louisa admitted. ‘Is he as vile as all that? Leo holds strong views on him, but then he owes the fellow a lot of money.’
‘Dreadful. He is a vicious swine who employs violent brutes and beats his horses unmercifully. I have no doubt he would beat his wife. But if he was the most virtuous man alive, she doesn’t like him, and that should suffice.’
She nodded slowly. ‘You are a good man, Sev, and Miss Beaumont is fortunate. What do you intend?’
‘I’d like you to keep her. Perhaps give her some useful advice,’ he added in the certain knowledge that Louisa wouldn’t be able to stop herself. ‘If you felt able to say that she came directly to you from Vier’s house—’
‘Are you asking me to lie, Your Grace?’
‘We could call it a benevolent deception if you prefer.’
‘I’ll have to talk to Kentridge about that,’ Louisa said. ‘What else?’
‘Kentridge’s help. Miss Beaumont needs a lawyer who will prod her trustee into action, and take steps against Vier. Break the guardianship if possible, or at least keep her out of his clutches. I don’t know what can be done, but he doubtless will, and he is welcome to use my name.’
‘That is liable to attract comment. Are you quite sure—’
‘Positive. She has no interest at all in marrying me, nor I her. Indeed, she would not have accepted my help if I had not assured her that it came without any expectation on my part or obligation on hers.’
‘Fiddle,’ Louisa said again. ‘I don’t wish to offend you,Sev, but one might see this as a well-woven trap, and you are a catch.’
