Page 61 of Not Quite a Lady
Well, now she knew better. Shecouldbuy herself a husband, but she did not want one who would allow her to do so. Which meant that she had better become used to being single, unless she could contrive to fall out of love with Jack and into love with a man at least as wealthy as she was.
But there was something she had to do first, and Aunt Herrick was not going to like it.
Chapter Fifteen
‘You are goingwhere?’Aunt Herrick sat bolt upright on the chaise, sending a shower of copies of Ackerman’sRepository of Useful Artscascading to the floor.
‘Newcastle upon Tyne,’ Lily repeated. ‘I shall want the travelling carriage, John Coachman, two footmen and Janet.’
‘But why?’
‘I intend looking at that new warehouse Lovington wrote to recommend we purchase. I shall also have a very close look at the books. I am most suspicious about the decline in demand for tea in the North East which he is reporting.’
‘Then send for him to come here. And surely an agent can assess this warehouse? Or one of your trustees can go.’
‘I want to go. I am tired of London, and I want a holiday, and no-one can say I am running away from a scandal now.’
Lily sat down and reached for the inkwell and pen. There were apologies to send for invitations she had already accepted, and Lady Billington to warn that she would not be required until further notice.
‘You are running after that man,’ her aunt accused. ‘Lily, you cannot do such a thing.’
‘I shall certainly call upon Lord Allerton,’ Lily replied with dignity. ‘I wish to thank him for a number of things.’
‘Lord Allerton? Who is he?’ Aunt Herrick swung her feet off the chaise and groped for her vinaigrette.
‘Oh, of course, I forgot you do not know.’ Lily put down the pen. ‘Mr Lovell is actually the Earl of Allerton. I only found out at the Duchess’s ball on Monday night.’
‘Why did you not tell me? Of all the bird-witted girls! We could have invited him to dinner, thrown a party, goodness knows what. We have an earl living at the bottom of the gardenand youlet him go. Words fail me.’
‘We quarrelled.’ Lily folded a note and stuck a wafer on it with a thump. ‘However, it was my fault.Largelymy fault,’ she corrected, thinking of Jack’s numerous infuriating tendencies. ‘And I do not like being in the wrong and not admitting it. Besides, I am indebted to him.’
‘Then write him a polite note thanking him.’ Her aunt’s eyes narrowed. ‘For what, exactly, are you indebted?’ she added suspiciously.
‘He knocked Lord Dovercourt out and he fought a duel with Adrian Randall, both on account of their insults to me.’
‘Oh, my heavens,’ Aunt Herrick seized the smelling bottle and subsided back onto thechaise longue. ‘A duel? The scandal! Was anyone killed?’
‘No, although Lord Allerton was wounded. And there will be no scandal.’ Lily reached for another piece of notepaper.
‘I shall have my holiday, I will attend to business, and I will call upon Lord Allerton and have a civilised conversation with him.’
The older woman was fanning herself with a copy ofThe Repository. ‘You must take a chaperone.’
‘No. I am sorry, Aunt, but Janet will be quite sufficient. Lady Billington will not want to leave London at this time in any case.’
‘There never was any use arguing with you, you stubborn girl,’ her aunt moaned faintly. ‘Just like your mother. How long will this benighted journey take you?’
‘Two or three days I imagine.’ Lily frowned in calculation. ‘It takes the stage just over thirty hours, but they do not stop at night. I will go and find an atlas.’
‘You cannot travel on a Sunday,’ her aunt announced as she returned and laid the book open on the table.
‘No, naturally not,’ Lily agreed, tracing the road. ‘I think if I make an early start tomorrow I should get to Stamford byevening. Then to York the next day, which will be Saturday. I shall stay there on Sunday. Just think, I will be able to attend services in the Minster.’
Aunt Herrick brightened at the thought of such an uplifting and unexceptionable experience.
‘Then Newcastle on Monday.’
‘But where will you stay?’
