Page 42 of Lady Gambit
She was referring to the men’s estranged uncle, the Earl of Berridge—or the Earl ofArsedomas her brothers called him when cursing him to Hades. No one had saved the boys from the gutter. They’d been left shouldering the blame for their father’s mistakes.
“I agree with Mr Flynn. Why would a peer risk his neck or make an enemy of my brothers? It makes no sense.”
“A man can be born to privilege and still be a dolt, dear.”
They ate their breakfast, the conversation turning to how long Theo might remain at Mile End.
“Mr Daventry thinks it’s best to wait until the villain is in custody.” She was of no mind to argue. Not because Theo’s safety was a priority. Not because she relished the idea of spending time alone with Mr Flynn. But she sensed a change in her brother’s mood. An inner anger had stolen the sparkle from his blue eyes. The notion he had something to prove had robbed him of his playful grin.
“Let’s pray it’s soon, dear. Mr Flynn must have the patience of a saint to suffer us all living under his roof.”
Yes, he’d taken to muttering under his breath quite frequently.
“He’s used to spending time alone and rarely has company.” A mirthless chuckle escaped her when she thought about the years she’d spent staring at the bedchamber walls. “He says he enjoys the solitude.”
He enjoyed kissing, too, but what did it all mean?
Mrs Maloney nodded. “Like Aaron, he spends a lot of time brooding in his study. He was there until midnight last night.”
Had her brothers not visited, she might have sought Mr Flynn out. They might have kissed again without fear of interruption.
“Sorry I didn’t come to say goodnight to you.” She had planned to take a glass of sherry to Mrs Maloney’s room and sit talking like the old days. “I was with Theo until quite late.”
She’d crept into Theo’s room once her brothers had left. She’d cleaned his wound, mopped his brow and told him about her visit to Mrs Haggert.
I was frightened the night I hurt my head.
And Mrs Haggert doesn’t know why?
She says not.
Perhaps she knows but doesn’t want to incriminate herself.
She had sat thinking about the last comment long after Theo had fallen asleep. “It was so late. I don’t recall climbing into bed.”
“You wouldn’t.” There was a mischievous glint in Mrs Maloney’s gaze. She reached across the table and gave Delphine’s arm an affectionate pat. “Miss Darrow found you asleep on Theo’s bed. She couldn’t rouse you without disturbing him so summoned help.”
“Oh.” It was not surprising. She had not slept properly in days.
“We had to fetch Mr Flynn from his study.”
Her pulse skittered. “Mr Flynn?”
Mrs Maloney covered her heart with her hand and smiled like all was well with the world. “He appeared like an errant knight, though he stared at you for so long we thought about calling the butler. Then he hauled you into his strong arms without waking you or poor Theo.”
Delphine froze. “Mr Flynn carried me to bed?”
She’d been wearing nothing but a nightgown.
“Yes, dear. I know it might be inappropriate, but we didn’t want to wake Theo. We can’t have him relying on laudanum to sleep. And while we’re all living together under one roof, we must make allowances.”
Suspicion flared.
She might have pressed Mrs Maloney for more information, suggested she had taken to playing matchmaker, but the man in question entered the dining room and her heart skipped a beat.
“Forgive the interruption. We need to leave for Bethlem Hospital soon.” He’d chosen to wear the dark blue coat she loved. The one that gripped his muscular shoulders like a second skin.
“I assume we’re collecting Mr Daventry on the way.”
