Page 33 of Rescued from Betrayal
Mr. Roberts’s father was married again? But he had only lost his last wife nine months ago.
Lady Stanford put down her fork. “Ah yes, I had heard he had remarried. What number does this make?”
“Five,” Sir Nathaniel said flatly.
“Dear me. Well, I pray this Lady Roberts has a better constitution than the last four. If it were me, I would have run screaming the other direction rather than marry the man—knowing his propensity for burying wives.”
A chunk of boiled potato lodged in Melior’s throat and she began to cough. Sir Nathaniel shoved her wine glass into her hand. Taking three great swallows, she washed the potato down, but her shock still remained.
“Come now, Mother,” Sir Nathaniel said, as if Melior’s choking fit were nothing out of the ordinary. “The man cannot be blamed for his wives dying in childbirth.”
“Yes, but four of them? I would be terrified to carry that man’s child if I were a young lady. Not that he does not supply them with healthy babies that somehow all make it through the delivery, but then the babies suck the life and beauty right out of their mothers.”
“Really, Mother. I do not think this is appropriate dinner conversation, especially for Melior.”
Lady Stanford glanced at her. “Nonsense. Melior is educated enough to understand the way of things.”
She was, but only just. Her mother’s lecture from the evening before seemed like years ago with everything that had transpired today, but the information still felt new and foreign. Her cheeks heated.
Lady Stanford gave her a soft smile. “Besides, she may be a mother one day soon. Be happy you married my Nathaniel instead of Lord Roberts, my dear. I am sure he will give you far easier babies to carry.”
“Mother!”
Melior peeked up to see Sir Nathaniel’s pink cheeks and shocked expression. It was gratifying to see him even more embarrassed than she was. His discomfort entertained her, and she decided to encourage his mother in her prattle as retribution for the discomfort she'd suffered in the carriage.
“And how many children does Lord Roberts have?” She knew a little of Mr. Roberts’s family, but only the bits and pieces she’d overheard in ballrooms or when he came to visit Eddie. He had a few sisters if she recalled.
“Eleven,” Lady Stanford said.
“Eleven?” Heavens, she’d not realized he had quite so many.
“And all of them girls, save Algenon.”
“My word.”
“And yet Lord Roberts is not satisfied. Insists he must have a second son should his first not outlive him or provide an heir. So he acquires a pretty, young wife every time he loses the last one, but they only increase his number of daughters.”
Sir Nathaniel put down his utensils. “Might we discuss something else, Mother? I hardly think Melior cares to hear about Lord Roberts and his many wives and daughters.”
She’d made him squirm. A tiny victory in a day fraught with losses. “I actually enjoy hearing about your friend’s family, and it explains a great deal about Mr. Roberts’s ease with ladies. He always knows what one is in need of, and he’s never remiss on his compliments. He has brightened many a lady’s day with his gallantry.”
Sir Nathaniel blinked. Once, twice, three times. “I see you have a very high opinion of him.”
“Does not every woman of his acquaintance?”
His right eye twitched, and his lips pressed together. “I suppose.”
Picking up his knife and fork, Sir Nathaniel began slicing his meat with a bit too much vigor. Melior took another biteof her food, confused by his reaction. She would have thought him pleased to know she did not view all his acquaintances as inferior. Unless… no, it could not be possible.
“Algenon is the very best sort,” Lady Stanford said. “It takes a certain amount of saintly patience to put up with that many females under one roof. It is most likely why he prefers to spend the season in London. There are only nine at home now, as Paulette recently married and Henrietta is sure to follow within the year, but there is enough perfume and petticoats in that house to drive any man to bedlam.”
“Yes, he’s practically a saint,” Sir Nathaniel grumbled.
Melior took another sip of wine to cover her smile. Was it really possible he was jealous after her praise of his friend?
Lady Stanford continued imparting detailed information on each of Mr. Roberts’s sisters. She seemed to be a fount of knowledge on the subject. How did the woman know so much if she was confined to the house?
“Tell me, Nathaniel. When do you think Algenon will return from Town?”
