Page 83 of Not Quite a Lady
Now he looked ineffectual and indecisive. Unless he was a first class actor Lily could not imagine he had the wit to defraud her.
‘Miss France! What an honour. I had no idea. Is something wrong?’
‘Nothing, I am sure, Mr Lovington.’ He was not going to recall his manners without a prompt, so she introduced her companions. ‘Miss Lovell and Lord Allerton accompany me, as you see. I am staying with them and thought I should not let the opportunity pass to drop in and see how you go on.’
Now she had met him again she certainly did not want to find herself a guest in his house. It had not occurred to her just how uncomfortable that might be, given that she wanted to scrutinise the books.
Could she continue to stay at the castle? Caroline and Lady Allerton had both been most pressing. Lily fought a brisk battle with her conscience and lost.
She wanted to stay at the castle, for several reasons, not least was the completely unacceptable one that she wanted to be near Jack. Well, she had spent her entire life doing more or less what she wanted, so, while her hostess appeared to enjoy her presence, she would stay.
Half an hour later Lily emerged with a clerk and a boy trotting at her heels, both laden with ledgers and the keys to the warehouse which Mr Lovington had been dithering about buying. Should he visit it himself? Could he make a decision without further guidance?
Lily had firmly removed the keys and assured him she would assess it.
Her trustees were certain that a location nearer the waterfront would be advantageous and had pointed out that the current warehouse was too small.
Lily was not so sure they were correct and increasingly certain she could not trust Mr Lovington’s judgement in any case.
‘I cannot decide whether he is lazy, incompetent or merely lacking in confidence,’ she murmured to Jack. ‘Something will have to be done about him.’
She nodded briskly to the clerks. ‘Run those ledgers along to the Maid’s Head and have them placed in Lady Allerton’s private parlour,’ she instructed.
They hurried on ahead, Lily strolling after them until they reached the corner. ‘I just want to make sure they actually get there,’ she murmured.
‘What a very suspicious mind you do have, Miss France.’ Jack grinned at her and Lily found herself smiling back.
‘I do like to make sure.’ Something across the street caught her eye as she tucked the warehouse keys in her reticule. ‘Caroline, I think that lady is waving at you.’
‘Oh yes, Jack, see, it is Jane Henderson and her sister Kate.’ Caroline waved back and the Henderson ladies, their maid on their heels, joined the Allerton party.
‘We were just on our way to visit Mrs Hodges,’ Miss Henderson explained once the introductions had been made. ‘You remember her from dancing lessons, Miss Allerton – she was Maria Bates. She has just had her first baby.’
‘But of course I remember her. Dear Maria – how wonderful. What a pity I cannot call today, but do give her my warmest wishes.’
‘Why can’t you visit?’ Lily asked. ‘Is her house so very far?’
‘No, I think only five minutes’ walk away, but there are rather a lot of us.’
‘I meant alone, with your friends. We can meet you back at the Maid’s Head.’
‘I will send my maid back with you,’ Miss Henderson offered. ‘Maria would love to see you.’
Jack regarded Caroline’s retreating back as, with times to meet up again at the inn agreed, she tripped off happily with the Henderson sisters. ‘So much for my Mama’s careful provision of a chaperone for you, Miss France.’
‘I am sure she was only concerned about me going to a place of business without a female companion, not that she thought I needed chaperoning when in your company,’ Lily said repressively, and with a complete disregard for past experience.
‘If you would just see me back to the Maid’s Head I will wait for the others.’
‘Who, as we agreed, will be another hour and a half at least. You will be bored to tears. Shall we go and look at this warehouse?’
‘Have we time?’
‘I should think so, if we take a hackney carriage.’ Jack hailed one as he spoke, called up the address Mr Lovington had given Lily, then handed her in. ‘At least this will eliminate it altogether if it is no good and, if it is promising, you can always pay another visit.’
‘I suspect that thisisa situation where Lady Allerton would expect me to have a chaperone,’ Lily remarked thoughtfully as the hackney headed down to the quayside, clattering over the cobbles.
‘Not the most promising location for attempting to ravish a lady,’ Jack murmured, watching her from under hooded lids.
