Page 93 of The Virtuoso
Val smiled slightly. “He told me he can’t fight worth a bloody farthing. Jackson has been taking his money for nothing.”
“A man must deal as best he sees fit.” Darius took a sip from a glass of whiskey, passed a tumbler to Nick and the third one to Val. “You’re not satisfied with this outcome?”
“I am not. Still, let’s put our statements down for Sir Dewey and see what he makes of it.”
“You are glued to that window, Val.” Nick came to stand at his shoulder. “Whatever for?”
“I don’t want Freddy running into Ellen,” Val said. “I told the boys to keep her in town until at least four this afternoon, but she’s like my father. When she takes a notion, there’s no arguing with her.”
“Rather like you,” Darius murmured, joining them at the window. “And there is Sean with Ezekiel.”
“Gentlemen.” Val passed his glass to Nick. “It has been a pleasure, of a sort. You have my eternal gratitude. I’m off to town.”
“Of course you are,” Darius said. “At a hand gallop, at least.”
“Canter,” Nick decided, “owing to the heat.”
Val left with Darius’s final shot ringing in his ears.
“Dead gallop,” Darius bet Nick. “Owing to theheat.”
***
To Val’s relief, Ellen was enjoying a lady’s pint outside the Rooster when a quick cross-country gallop got him to town. Her wagon had sold out again, but Phil and Day—clever, clever lads—told her they wanted to shop at some of the other vendors’ booths and stop in at the lending library.
“Sir Dewey.” Val nodded at Ellen’s companion. “A pleasure. Ellen, your day has gone well?”
“It has.” She smiled at him, and Val felt his heart trip on the next few beats. Good God, she was lovely. Just sitting here outside the Rooster, cradling her mug in her hands. A little dusty, a little tired, but in her warm, earthy dark-eyed way, she was beautiful. “I think Mr. Belmont should be warned his sons are turning into regular charmers,” Ellen went on. “The ladies adore buying their posies and sachets from those two.”
“Belmont also has a certain charm with the ladies,” Sir Dewey said, “but if you will excuse me, Mrs. Fitz, I see the boys approaching and will ask Mr. Windham to accompany me to the livery.”
“Oh?” Ellen frowned slightly. “Are you to discuss the situation at the estate?”
“No.” Sir Dewey added just the smallest smile to support what Val took for a lie. “I am going to importune him, again, to tune the piano in the assembly rooms before we gather for our summer revelry.”
“You can tune pianos?” Ellen asked, cocking her head at Val.
“I can,” he admitted, wanting to skewer Sir Dewey. “It isn’t that difficult once you have the tools and know what to listen for.”
“You really must pitch in, then,” Ellen told him. “Even at the end of the evening, when all have appreciated Rafe’s special ales at some length, that poor piano is not a welcome addition to the orchestra.”
“Two fiddles and a tambourine.” Sir Dewey rolled his eyes. “Maybe a guitar, possibly a flute, until Thorn Bragdoll gets bored watching his brothers tromp on women’s toes.”
“Which one is Thorn?”
“The one who is too smart to get caught where there’s hard work to be done,” Sir Dewey replied. “The runt, for now, though if he grows into his feet, he’ll be the pick of the litter. Mrs. FitzEngle, it has been a true pleasure.”
The gentlemen took their leave of Ellen as the Belmonts came bounding up with a few purchases.
“Well, now you’ve done it,” Val groused as they ambled toward the livery.
“Put you into a neat corner,” Sir Dewey said, congratulating himself. “You don’t really mind?”
“That I have to tune a piano? I guess not. I tuned one earlier today and survived more easily than I’d thought I would.”
“And is that all you accomplished?” Sir Dewey asked, stopping in the shade of a venerable oak where they would not be overheard. Val filled him in as succinctly as he could, ending with Freddy’s admonition regarding Ellen.
“That is disturbing,” Sir Dewey said. “I’ve already sent for the reports regarding Francis Markham’s death—Belmont suggested I might have need of them—and there is nothing to indicate Ellen was responsible. Her husband was on the mend, and she was observed by all to be devoted to his care and very properly so. Do you know you use her first name in company, by the way?”
