Joshua turned away to hide the envy sure to be on his face. What his sister had with Greycourt was what he wanted but feared he was destined never to have.
“So what willyoube doing today while we’re at the palace, Mother?” Thornstock asked.
“I’m meeting with Mr. William Bonham, Maurice’s man of affairs, because Sheridan is still on his way here, and Mr. Bonham had some questions about your stepfather’s accounts that couldn’t wait. I don’t know if any of you have ever met him.”
“I did,” Greycourt said. “Once, when Sheridan and I were discussing matters of the estate with him. Seemed like a decent enough chap.”
“And handsome, too,” Lady Hornsby said. “For a man in his sixties anyway.” She nudged Aunt Lydia. “Not that Lydia cares.”
His aunt cast her a frustrated look. “Stop trying to play matchmaker, Eliza. I’m still in mourning, remember? Besides, I have no wish to marry again.”
“And I doubt that Mother wants to marry a man of affairs anyway,” Greycourt said.
Joshua stiffened. This was sliding too close to his own situation for comfort. He cleared his throat. “Well, now that I’ve seen everyone’s outrageous attire, I’ll be off. I have an appointment.”
“With whom?” Beatrice asked.
“Thornstock can explain,” Joshua said. “I don’t want to be late.”
He could lie to the duke about his plans, but he couldn’t lie to Beatrice. She would beleaguer him with questions until he either admitted what he was doing or snapped at her. The former would take too much time and the latter would spoil her day, which, for all his teasing, he truly didn’t wish to do.
He approached her and took her gloved hand to kiss, because he quite literally couldn’t reach her cheek. “You look ravishing, ducky,” he said in a soft voice. “And I know you’ll impress them all.”
His sister beamed at him. “Thank you, dear heart. I’ll see you tonight?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
As he turned to leave, he saw a footman whispering in Gwyn’s ear. She colored deeply, then said something to the servant and followed him into the nearby parlor.
Joshua made sure to stroll past the parlor door on his way out. A quick glance showed him a young fellow standing and waiting while Gwyn read a note. A messenger? But from whom and regarding what?
He lingered to see if he could find out. With a grim expression, she tucked the message into her reticule and bade the lad wait. Then she went to the writing desk to write a note of her own. A response to the message she’d received? It had to be, because she gave it to the boy and murmured some instructions before handing him a coin.
Joshua considered walking in and demanding to see the message, but there was no reason to believe she would give it to him. She’d been keeping other secrets from him, so why would she divulge this one? And if she didn’t, he would have shown his hand.
It might be better to learn what he could in stealth. After all, it might be nothing of importance. Perhaps a friend had fallen ill. Or a family member. No, that couldn’t be. They were all here. And if it were Sheridan, she would tell everyone at once.
He walked out the front door to keep from being seen by her. Perhaps he should wait for the messenger to see what he could learn. He had a few minutes before he must leave.
It didn’t take long. The lad came out moments later.
A guinea in hand, Joshua accosted him at the bottom of the steps. “Let me see what’s in that message you bear, lad, and I will give you this guinea.” He was sure Thornstock would be good for it.
The boy’s eyes went wide to see Joshua in his undress uniform. It wasn’t as impressive as his dress uniform, but its red coat did have gold buttons and epaulettes, his bicorn hat was sufficiently buffed, and his tall boots were polished to a fine sheen.
“Are you in the army, sir?” the lad asked.
“Royal Marines. And the name is Major Wolfe.”
“Begging your pardon, Major, but the note is sealed. And if I bring it back to my master unsealed, he’ll beat me senseless.”
“We wouldn’t want that, now, would we?” Joshua said.
But he noticed the lad was still staring at the guinea with a covetous eye.
“I’ll tell you what.” Joshua held up the guinea. “You answer what questions you can about this exchange of notes, and I’ll give you the guinea. All right?”
The lad bobbed his head.
