Page 51 of Tamed By a Duke
"One cannot put a price on hiring good staff," Orsino replied, and the two men fell into another one of their bickerings.
Hugh ignored them, mulling over just when and how he might entreat Miss Drew to grant him a moment of her time to apologise. He could not corner her in her house, for it would be unsporting of him to ambush her at home. Not to mention, that he was certain Charlotte's Valkryie would not hesitate to throw a chamber-pot over him, if her mistress so demanded.
So lost was Hugh in his thoughts, that he did not realise his two friends were preparing to leave, until they both rose to a stand.
"Adieu, Penrith," Montague called cheerfully, bounding toward the door with a whistle on his lips.
Orsino hesitated, and waited until the marquess had cleared the floor of the morning room, before he leaned down and whispered in Hugh's ear.
"Miss Drew will be attending a boat-race at Miller's pond in Hyde Park tomorrow afternoon, with Miss Havisham and Lady Julia," he imparted with a whisper, before a brief pained look crossed his face, "But for heaven's sake, please don't ask me why I know that."
Without waiting for a response, Orsino turned on his heel, following Montague out the door. Hugh beckoned for the footman to fetch him another brandy, and as he waited, he contemplated how he would approach matters the next day.
An apology was in order, this he knew, but would he be able to swallow his pride and deliver one so publicly? Only time would tell, but Hugh hoped that when the hour struck, he would be brave enough to do battle for his bride.
Chapter Fifteen
The sky above Charlotte's head was grey and dull, but there had been nothing dull about her morning. As the barouche carrying the three wallflowers made its way toward Hyde Park, Charlotte hastily explained to her two friends the drama which had unfolded at Ashfield House, just after breakfast.
"Papa had just put down the paper," Charlotte told her friends, "When we heard the sound of pebbles being thrown against the window."
"Gracious, you must have been frightened," Violet offered, thinking that perhaps some ne'er-do-well, or mischief maker had sought to upset the Drews.
"Not at all," Charlotte assured her friend, "For then we heard the sound of the lute."
"A lute?" it was Julia's turn to speak, her upturned nose wrinkled in confusion, "That would frighten me even more than the pebbles. For who would play a lute in Grosvenor Square, except a mad-man?"
"Mr Augustus Dubarry, that's who," Charlotte supplied, not telling her friends that her father now thought of Mr Dubarry and a mad-man as beings which were equally interchangeable. "He came to perform a sonnet for Bianca and beg her forgiveness."
"Oh, my," Violet sighed, looking momentarily wistful.
"In broad daylight?" Julia looked pained.
"Yes," Charlotte confirmed, "In broad daylight, with the whole square watching, Mr Dubarry performed a sonnet he had written for my sister, before begging her to forgive him."
"How utterly sweet," Violet sighed.
"How utterly silly," Julia added, "Gemini. I should hate for a man to perform such a grand gesture for me. I am all for a gentleman who understands subtly and a stiff upper-lip."
"Well, it seemed to win Bianca over," Charlotte shrugged, failing to keep hold of the happy smile which crossed her face. "She has declared—much to my grandmama's horror—that no other man than Augustus Dubarry will do as her husband."
"They are to be wed?"
"In time," Charlotte nodded her head, "Bianca still has to make her come-out, but her heart is set on Mr Dubarry. Poor Grandmama; Bianca was her only hope for one of us to make a triumphant match, and now she has set her cap at a lowly second son."
There was silence, as Charlotte's fellow wallflowers digested this morsel of news. Violet seemed cheered by the romantic tale, but Julia looked troubled.
"Is there no hope?" she queried, as the barouche turned off Piccadilly and into the park, "Have you cut Penrith off completely?"
Charlotte stiffened in her seat. Julia knew full well the tale of Penrith's betrayal; why was she all of a sudden expecting Charlotte to change her mind about the man?
"He lied to me," Charlotte pursed her lips together in a mulish pout.
"You lied to him," Julia gently ventured.
"But I told him," aggrieved now, Charlotte felt hot tears sting her eyes, but she valiantly blinked them back. "I told him of my deceit and he did not reciprocate. He allowed me confess and beg forgiveness, and he did not do the same."
"Did something prevent him from revealing the truth?" Julia asked, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
