Page 12 of Her Daring Earl
Eliza gaped at her mother. “Is he truly, though?”
“He is a flirt, yes,” her mother said, looking her way with her lips curled into a smile. “But that doesn’t mean he would make a bad husband.”
Eliza snorted as she sat down across from her mother.
“It might,” she retorted. “I don’t want a man who flirts with every woman he encounters. I want a man like Father, who is utterly devoted to his wife.”
“That I am,” her father said, choosing that moment to join them. He placed a kiss first on the top of Eliza’s head and then on his wife’s cheek before he took a seat himself. Eliza knew he had been up for hours, and this was already his second meal of the day, but he enjoyed spending time with them so always made a point to join his wife once she arose. “Where is Baxter?” he said, looking around.
“Here I am!” Baxter said, casually strolling into the room. Eliza wrinkled her nose as she smelled smoke, alcohol, and cheap perfume that reminded her of that which had been cloying to Fitz.
“Have you just returned home now?” she asked, aghast.
“No,” he said defensively, obviously lying.
“Where were you?” she asked, and he eyed her before looking around the table at the three of them.
“Are you sure you want to know?”
“I suppose not,” Eliza said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Have you spoken to Lord Fitzroy?”
“To Fitz? Not since last night. Why?” He looked up from the toast he was eating, likely to try to relieve any ill effects from the night before, suddenly realizing that there might be an issue of concern.
“Oh dear,” their mother said, abandoning her obvious disapproval of her son. “You will never believe what happened.”
She proceeded to tell Baxter of the events of the previous night, playing up their coming to Fitz’s rescue, even though Eliza remembered it differently. She certainly couldn’t recall her mother being the one to urge the driver on.
“Goodness,” Baxter murmured as he lifted a scone to his mouth now. “And I thought I was only hearing rumors.”
“So, you did know about it?” Eliza attempted to clarify, but he shook his head.
“Not about a man trying to kill Fitz. I heard another rumor. Of someone trying to poison him.”
“Poison!” Eliza exclaimed. “Who?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Baxter said, shaking his head. “What does matter is that someone is obviously out to get him.”
“Why?” Eliza said, her stomach beginning to churn. “Is someone trying to claim the title?”
“Doubtful,” Baxter said. “I’m not even sure who would inherit.”
“If I had to guess,” their father chimed in, which caused them all to turn his way, for his contributions to conversations were so rare that they were always worth listening to, “it has something to do with what he is proposing to bring to the House of Lords.”
“Which is?” his wife asked expectantly.
“I really shouldn’t say.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Clifford, if you mention it, you must finish the story.”
Eliza had to hide her smile behind her hand, for she knew that her father wasn’t winning this one. He should have known better before he raised the subject.
“Very well. He has been meeting with a social reformer and political activist, as well as a member of parliament, about repealing the Combination Acts.”
“Pardon me?” said Baxter, who had no prior knowledge of his friend’s views judging from the expression on his face.
“He is trying to rally some of the other lords to provide their support as well. The trade unions feel they have been suppressed by the laws, and Fitz agrees that this has only led to clandestine activity.”
“Why does he care?” Baxter asked with a snort, earning himself the ire of his mother and sister. Sometimes Eliza wondered if she and her brother had truly been raised by the same parents.
