Page 15 of Her Daring Earl
“If you stay in London, it is not justyouwho could be in danger. Your entire family could be at risk.”
He opened his mouth to offer a retort but the only thing that emerged was a sigh. For as much as he hated to admit it, she was right. And there was nothing he could do about it.
Except pack up his family and journey to Essex.
Eliza followedSloane and Henrietta out of the drawing room after Fitz told them both it was time to pack. Just as they reached the landing, a knock sounded on the door, and Eliza hung back, peeking over the railing, out of sight, to see who had come to call.
“Lord Mandrake for Lord Fitzroy,” came a dull voice that she recognized. “Or Lady Dot, if she is home.”
“One moment, my lord,” the butler said before leaving the man at the front door. He returned moments later, his steps quick and efficient. “My apologies, my lord, but neither Lord Fitzroy nor Lady Dot are currently available to accept callers.”
There was a loud sniff that Eliza assumed was Lord Mandrake showing his displeasure.
“Tomorrow, then.”
“Perhaps,” the butler returned, “although Lord Fitzroy and his family may be leaving London for a time. May I pass on a message?”
There was a clicking of Lord Mandrake’s tongue against his teeth before he responded, “Tell him that I must talk to him. I have intentions toward Lady Dot, and I mean to act upon them. Tell him that if he would like to marry off his sisters, I have a perfectly good offer for the first. Tell him he should put aside his dislike for me and do right by his family.”
“Ah—very good, my lord. I will do so,” the butler said before ushering the man out. Lord Mandrake had no idea who he was dealing with. Dot was not one to bow to a man who ordered her about, nor was Fitz the type of man who would ever let someone he disdained become close to his family.
“Eliza! Where are you?”
She put aside her musings to hurry after Henrietta, who was waiting at the end of the corridor, hands on her hips. They entered the large room the twin sisters shared, Eliza taking a seat on the edge of the bed as a maid bustled about the room, helping her ladies. Henrietta was actively participating in the preparations while Sloane was draped across one of the beds.
“As much as I love our country home, I will miss you dreadfully,” Henrietta said, going through her wardrobe.
Even though she knew her argument had caused Fitz to agree to take his family to the country, Eliza hated that they were going. Henrietta and Sloane were two of her closest friends besides Siena, who she now saw so infrequently, as she lived just outside the city.
Eliza glanced over at the other bed, finding that Sloane did not seem overly concerned with their upcoming departure, her arms and legs spread wide like a star, her eyes closed.
“Sloane?” she asked. “Are you all right?”
“Fine,” Sloane said from her prostrate position. “Just packing.”
“You are not moving.”
“I first visualize in my mind what I might need. Then it takes far less time to pack it all together.”
“That is called laziness,” Henrietta remarked, causing Eliza to laugh. She always wondered how two sisters could look so alike and be born at the same time yet be so incredibly different from one another.
“Respect my process, Hen.”
Eliza considered how much fun the three of them – four, when Siena had joined them – had always had together, and wondered when she would next see them.
“Do you think you will be bored out in the country?” she asked, addressing her question to Henrietta since Sloane seemed otherwise occupied.
Henrietta shrugged. “I’m not entirely sure. I most often enjoy it, but then we are usually spending quite a bit of time at balls and parties and the like. With most people in London for the Season, I can imagine it will be much duller. That being said, we are fortunate that we have so many of us to entertain one another.”
A snore came from Sloane’s bed and a pained expression crossed Henrietta’s face. “Perhaps I will be bored, after all.”
Eliza couldn’t help but laugh at that, and as dire as the situation facing Fitz’s life was, she embraced her friends and wished them the best of luck in solving this situation quickly so that they might return to London.
At this rate, she would have no acquaintances left in the city.
Perhaps she should go stay with Siena for a time, she mused an hour later as she followed her mother into the carriage.
But no, Siena and her new husband were far too wrapped up in one another. She would not want to disturb their newfound happiness. Not yet.
