Tweed retreated. Alice could think of only one person who would send her a letter by such means. She broke open the seal, unfolded the letter and another piece of paper fell out. She picked it up, set it aside and read the letter. Just as she thought, it was from Bamber.
Lady Charlton,
I am extremely disappointed. So far my daughter has been seen being escorted by various undistinguished Misters, one Viscount—your own nephew—but no Earls or Dukes. It is Not Good Enough. I made it Very Clear to you that she is to marry a Titled Man. To refresh your memory of our agreement, I have enclosed a Reminder—a copy only. I hold all the originals.
Octavius Bamber, esq.
She unfolded the enclosed paper and glanced at the contents. Bile rose in her throat. She crumpled the copy in her fist. She did not need to read the whole thing. She remembered the occasion...
She walked over to the fireplace and threw the letter in the fire. She watched as it briefly flamed then slowly turned to ash. Oh, that all her problems could so easily be destroyed.
But what to do?
She is to marry a Titled Man...
It seemed she’d been unduly optimistic in assuming thatBamber’s main desire was to see his daughter settled securely and happily. This letter made it clear that all he cared about was a title.
If only the wretched man had called in person, she would have talked to him, tried to convince him that Lucy’s happiness mattered more than any title. But he’d probably paid some urchin to deliver the letter. He must know that the money he’d given her for Lucy’s expenses had run out by now.
She had promised not to force Lucy into an unwelcome marriage and she utterly refused to break that promise. And since Lucy was as determined as ever to eschew lords, it was more important than ever that Bamber’s hiding place was found and the letters retrieved and destroyed. He had, after all, broken his side of the agreement by not providing her with the money he’d said he would.
She sat down and penned a quick note to Gerald, then drank a cup of coffee to brace her nerves.
Octavius Bamber wouldnotruin her day.
***
Lord Tarrant and his daughters arrived right on time. He introduced Alice and Lucy to each girl in turn, starting with the oldest, Judith. She curtsied and greeted Alice with faint reserve, as if wondering just who Alice was and what their relationship was to be. Or maybe Alice was ascribing her own foolish imaginings to the child.
Simple friendship, she reminded herself.
The next daughter, Lina, also curtsied—it was clear the girls had been well trained—and murmured her greetings in a shy almost-whisper. She was a pretty child with blonde hair and wide blue eyes, and Alice wondered if she resembled her late mother. Judith’s gray eyes obviously came from her father, but otherwise there was no strong resemblance.
Of the three girls, the littlest, Deborah, looked most likehim, with curly dark hair and wide gray eyes. She bobbed a quick, crooked curtsy and rattled off, “HowdoyoudoLadyCharltonMissBamber.” She glanced cautiously at her father, then added, “Yougotacat?”
Lord Tarrant gave Alice a look that was half amusement, half apology.
Alice gave a rueful smile. “Why, no, I’m sorry, Deborah. I’m afraid we haven’t.”
“Oh.” The small person scowled.
“There’s one that’s often in the garden,” Lucy said. “I’m not sure who it belongs to, but I often see it out there. A ginger tom, very friendly and well fed, so it obviously belongs to someone.”
Deborah’s eyes lit up. “Can we go see?” Judith nudged her, and Deborah added, “Pleeeeease.”
Lucy glanced at Alice for permission. Alice raised a brow in query at the children’s father. He sighed and nodded, “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all,” Lucy assured him. “It’s a glorious day. Shame to waste it by being inside. Come along girls.” She whisked all three girls away, leaving Alice alone in the drawing room with Lord Tarrant. Which had not been the plan. At all.
Those smoky-gray eyes...
She invited him to sit. “Sherry?”
“No, thank you.”
“Your daughters are charming.”
“Even ‘Yougotacat?’ Debo?”
