Page 11 of The Husband Gamble
Mrs. Turnbull was not quite ready to give up. “Lord Hythe must have invited her here,” she insisted. “He has ravaged my poor daughter.” She howled the last few words and dabbed her handkerchief to a dry eye.
Lady Osbourne was not sympathetic. “Do not be more ridiculous than you can help, Maude. As things are, I am sure Lord Hythe and Lord Joseph can be persuaded to keep this incident quiet. Make a fuss, and the girl shall be ruined. Do you want to be shunned from London Society, you and your whole family?”
Hythe decided it was time to speak up. “I did not make an assignation with your daughter. I have taken pains not to be alone with of the young ladies at this house party. I will not marry Miss Turnbull under any circumstances. Iwillkeep this incident between ourselves, provided that the pair of you remove yourselves and say nothing further.”
Lord Joseph shrugged. “I won’t tell anybody,” he said.
Mrs. Turnbull’s shoulders slumped, and she turned back towards her daughter. As the other three exited into the passage, and Hythe closed the door, he heard Miss Turnbull say, “But Mother, you said…”
“Foolish pair,” said Lady Osbourne. “I apologise, Lord Hythe. Lord Joseph, I am glad you were present when Lord Hythe returned to his room. You may be sure I will interrogate the servants to discover who gave that foolish young lady the key to your room.”
At that moment, Pritchard scurried along the passage with Hythe’s washing water, slowing as he realised that his master and two other gentlefolk stood in the passage outside Hythe’s room. “My lady. My lords.”
“A small pest infestation,” Hythe told Pritchard. “It is being removed. Pass me the jug, Pritchard, if you would. I will wait here while you fetch me a cup of tea to have while I dress.” Best if the only witnesses to Miss Turnbull’s exit were those who already knew about the escapade.
The valet bowed, but set the jug on a nearby hall table. “I will carry it inside when I return, my lord.” He hurried away.
The door opened, and Mrs. Turnbull peeped out and then stepped into the passage, followed by her daughter. They did not look at Hythe or Lord Joseph. Mrs. Turnbull glared at Lady Osbourne and opened her mouth, then thought better of whatever she was going to say and led her daughter away.
Lord Joseph inclined his head. “The Keats, Hythe?”
“Of course,” Hythe agreed, picking up the jug of hot water and leading the way into his room.
* * *
When Lord Hythe came down to lunch, he clearly had something on his mind, but whatever it was, he shook it off and was his usual charming company. When Lady Osbourne stood to invite them all to choose their afternoon activity, Hythe was ready with a suggestion.
“Miss Fernhill, may I escort you for a walk in the picture gallery?”
Rilla swallowed her instant agreement to give the approved response. “I will need to ask my cousin.”
Cousin Felicia insisted on coming with them, but then declared she was too tired for the long promenade, and would seat herself at one end of the gallery where she could watch the couple from a distance.
They set off down the gallery, Rilla on Hythe’s arm. Wall sconces lit the paintings, and what daylight there was filtered in through the windows, so they moved from pool of light to shadows and then back into a pool of light.
Rilla waited for Hythe to raise whatever topic was on his mind. Surely, he was not about to propose? If he did, what would she say? She knew he was an honourable man and a kind one. Was that enough?
The problem was, she liked Hythe too much to saddle him with a wife like her. She would have to refuse him, and then she would have to explain to Cousin Felicia why she had refused him.
For several minutes, Hythe made comments about the various paintings in the gallery. Rilla responded in kind. How foolish she was to think a man like Hythe was interested in a woman like her. He had clearly just latched onto her to defend himself from the crazy antics of those desperate enough to try to trap him into marriage.
It was unfortunate for Rilla, since her other suitors had melted away at his supposed competition, but she could not blame him.
Which reminded her of what she overheard that morning. “Lord Hythe, I heard part of a conversation when I went up to get my shawl before lunch. I think it was about you. Just in case, may I suggest that you take someone with you when you return to your bedchamber tonight, and that you lock the door and perhaps put something against it?”
Hythe stopped in his tracks and looked down at her. He had his polite blank face on.
Rilla hastened to add, “They might not have been talking about you, of course. They just said the most eligible man at the house party.”
“Someone else is planning a compromise?” Hythe asked. “Who was it?”
Rilla hesitated. “I would rather not name names; in case I am wrong. Wait a minute. You said someone else?”
Hythe nodded. “When I went up to dress after riding, I found someone waiting in my room. Fortunately, I had been out all morning, and had Lord Joseph with me when I opened the door. Her mo– her chaperone turned up a moment or two later, with Lady Osbourne.”
“But that is what I heard them plotting,” Rilla said. “I am so glad you had Lord Joseph with you, my lord.”
His smile looked smug to Rilla. “Are you? Is there a particular reason?”
