Page 42 of Unforeseen Affairs
“Well, this is Bayswater, after all,” Miss Sedley replied. “We passed the gravel pits a while ago.”
“But we haven’t settled the matter of your alias!”
“Haven’t we? I haven’t heard any ideas from you.”
The carriage halted.
“Fine,” he groaned. “Miss Punch.”
He prayed that they would succeed.
Bayswater was a popular, relatively new neighborhood, full of ancient streams and handsome, modern terraces that sprang from charming crescents, wide streets, and garden squares. Mrs. Kitson’s home, tall and of Georgian design, gave every impression of prosperity. Mr. Bass’s letter had described the lady as the widow of a civil engineer, and “very keen” to make Sir Colin’s acquaintance.
Colin hadn’t much cared for that.
An unimpressed butler quickly ushered them inside to a drawing room with high ceilings and tasteful furnishings, where a very impressed Mrs. Kitson waited, flanked by Mr. Bass and the taciturn Mr. Trenwith. A gaggle of ladies and gentlemen milled about further within, beyond what appeared to be the same large, circular table that had been set up in Colin’s home.
He wondered how exactly Mr. Bass and Mr. Trenwith moved it about the city. No doubt Miss Sedley knew. He glanced sidelong at her, and started at what he saw.
She was smiling. Grinning, in fact, from ear to ear. Appearing almost an entirely different person.
Colin didn’t know how he felt about that.
Mr. Bass, on the other hand… Colin was quite certain of how he felt about the medium. For where his ingratiating manner had previously led Colin to forget himself and allow that theman might not be all that bad, there was no longer any doubt in his mind. Everything about his demeanor—and indeed, his dress—betrayed his flagrant falseness, from his long, curling blonde locks and garishly lavender neckcloth to his bright, yellow-checked waistcoat and insipid mustache.
“Sir Colin! I amsopleased to have, shall we say, piqued your interest in the spirit world?” Mr. Bass punctuated his greeting with a raised eyebrow and a shallow bow. “This is the lovely Mrs. Kitson, who was only too eager to extend the invitation when I put forth your name.”
Mrs. Kitson was a fairly young widow, perhaps only ten or fifteen years older than Colin himself. She had a broad face and bright eyes that were trained right on him.
“Sir Colin,” she said, “I cannot believe it myself. Why, if only my Arnold could see us now. He was a great follower of the Navy, if you would believe it. I still recall him excitedly reading aloud of your capture of those two filthy pirate vessels as if it were yesterday.” She clasped her hands together and sighed happily.
Colin smiled graciously, but then she began speaking hurriedly, in a way that suggested recitation.
“The captain as well as the first lieutenant violently ill and under board, the young second lieutenant, Colin Gearing, quickly took command and pressed his advantage.”
Suddenly he felt the top of his head tingling, as if his scalp were being stretched taut.
“…and his ship, the—”
“Iapyx,” he interrupted, wishing very much to put a stop to her soft-soaps.
Mrs. Kitson, absolutely tickled, cried out in glee.
He’d only done his damn bloody job, as anyone else on the ship would have. He never expected to be anything other than a simple captain. It was Bernard who was meant to be the hero. Not him.
Before Mrs. Kitson could start in again and send his head reeling, Colin turned to Miss Sedley. A mixture of giddiness and panic coursed through him, like a boy who was about to tell an outlandish falsehood. Which, of course, he was.
“Mrs. Kitson, Mr. Bass, might I introduce a dear family friend.” He gave Miss Sedley a resigned look that he hoped only she noticed, then turned back to the hostess and the medium. His voice nearly caught in his throat as he said, “Miss Undine Punch.”
“Miss Punch?” Mrs. Kitson repeated.
Colin drew a breath, bracing himself.
“Miss Punch,” Mr. Bass echoed. He glanced at his assistant, then back. “Were you not at Mrs. Gearing’s spirit circle? I do not believe we were properly introduced then.”
“I was, and no, we were not.” Miss Sedley, thankfully, maintained her typical aloofness, though it was now tempered by a lovely, if false, smile.
“An unexpected outcome that was, I have to say.” Mr. Bass grimaced slightly, clasping his hands behind his back. “Allow me to assure you that not all of my circles end with such, well…”
