Page 36 of Lady Beast's Bridegroom
Peter cast about for a change of subject, but had no time to introduce it, for a complete stranger walked up to the table where they were sitting, dropped to his knees, and said to Peter, “I know you will want to call me out, Lord Ransome, or horsewhip me, more likely. And I don’t blame you. I didn’t mean to do it. I don’t know how it happened. But I am so sorry. I cannot express how sorry I am.”
Peter was fairly certain he had seen the man before, but he couldn’t put a name to the face. “I’m sorry? What is it that you’ve done? And who are you?”
“His name is Mandeville,” John said. “He is one of Belinda’s court.”
Ah, yes. Peter had seen him at various entertainments, following the lady like a puppy along with half a dozen other gallants.
“You had better take a seat, Mandeville, and tell me why you have come.”
Mandeville did as he was told, looking even more like a puppy, and one in expectation of a sound kick. “Buck is going to kill me. Uncle only lost all our money. I’ve destroyed ourreputation, or I will have if people find out it was me. I will do anything to make it up to Lady Ransome, my lord.”
Peter, who had been watching the performance with some amusement, stiffened. “You had better start at the beginning.”
It was worse than Peter could have imagined. This idiot had been one of Arial’s suitors. Like the others, he had given his solemn word not to speak of her husband hunt or of anything that Richards or Arial herself disclosed.
“I drank too much,” Mandeville admitted. “I saw you and her out and about, so happy. Everyone was talking about how rich you are now—how you’ve paid off your mortgages and bought a townhouse for your mother.” Peter clenched his fist. He hated any reference to Arial’s wealth. Mandeville made him sound like a damned fortune hunter.
But Mandeville had not finished. “And Lady Ransome—I never knew she could look like that. Like a queen. Everyone admires her. I thought, that could have been me.”
Maudlin and drunk, he had poured out the story of his interview with Arial to one person. He would not name the person, but his furtive glances at John were a strong hint.
“I told her it was in confidence,” he said. “She would not have talked to anyone else, would she? Not when I told her it was a secret.”
Mandeville’s behavior seemed an overreaction. Until he laid a flyer on the table—one of those scurrilous cartoons that the printers pasted in their windows and sold as news.
The figures were a caricature of a plump woman from the side, a half mask in the hand away from the viewpoint, and a skinny man who was in the act of losing his lunch into a flowerpot.
The caption said, in large letters, “Lady Beast’s Husband Hunt,” and underneath, “A certain masked lady purchasedherself a husband—once she found someone brave enough to embrace what lies beneath the mask.”
The speech bubble above the woman read, “But sir, will you not come and embrace all my lovely money?” The man had a speech bubble, too. “The horrific sight of Lady Beast’s scars offends my stomach. No amount of gold can entice me to wed her.”
John glared at Mandeville. “You bastard.”
Mandeville gave a sob.
Peter’s surge of rage was not helpful. He needed to clear his mind and think about what was best for Arial.
“Am I right in thinking that the most damaging part of this is the suggestion that my lady wife purchased herself a husband?” Peter asked John. “As this worm says, people have seen how lovely Arial is, and Mandeville’s reaction to a few scars is on him.”
Mandeville shrank a little more at the contempt in Peter’s voice.
John nodded, thoughtfully. “We need Cordelia,” he said. He stood and gestured to Mandeville. “Bring the worm.”
Chapter Fifteen
At the Deerhaventownhouse, the three men were directed out into the garden. Arial, Clara and Miss Pettigrew were in the garden with Lady Deerhaven, watching a flock of girls at play.
Five of them—Viv and Rose among them—were sitting on the grass chattering like starlings while they wove flowers into garlands. Two very little girls were playing with a pair of kittens. Another two, slightly older, were floating paper boats in the fountain under the supervision of a pair of nursemaids.
“Here come my brother-in-law and your husband,” Lady Deerhaven declared. “And young Mandeville, Breckham’s brother. Do you know Mandeville, Lady Ransome? Miss Tulloch?”
Arial paled, and Peter moved to take her hand, and tuck it into his arm.
“Cordelia, we have need of your expertise,” John told the marchioness. “Can you spare some time to give Lord and Lady Ransome some advice on some news Mandeville has just brought us?”
Lady Deerhaven’s brows climbed towards her hairline. “Is there a problem? Yes. I see that there is. Come along, then. We shall go to the library. I believe Deerhaven is there. Would you object to involving him, Lord Ransome?”
“Not at all. His advice would be welcome.” In the few weeks since Lady Deerhaven had taken Arial under her wing, Peterhad come to admire the marquess’s bluff good sense and his affectionate respect for his wife.
