Page 83 of Nothing But a Rakehell
The footman bowed and left while Keswick stared at his friend. “You’ve set a guard?”
His friend shrugged. “Perhaps it’s foolish. I just can’t get that fishtail out of my head. It’s bothered me for years, and I can’t bear the thought of this one disappearing.”
“I had no idea naturalists were such a nasty bunch.”
“Yes, well, I had no idea debutantes were such an incessantly persistent breed.” Tensford sent a warning look his way. “You might have to do something drastic to dislodge this one, at this point.”
“If you have any good notions on how to accomplish it, I’d love to hear them. I need to get rid of her quickly—especially as she’s somehow convinced my father to push her cause.”
Tensford looked truly horrified. “If your father likes her, she must be worse than I already thought.”
“My sentiments exactly.”
“No wonder you wished to bolt back to London. I do appreciate your staying, all the more. Mr. Simon seems very interested in hearing just how you three found this lovely piece.” He ran a hand along the large fossil. “I suspect he is thrilled at the prospect of attaching your name to it.”
“A bit of notoriety to sell tickets?” Keswick rolled his eyes. “See the fossil accidentally exposed by London’s famous rakehell!Does he really think that will work?”
“Evidently. I hope you won’t mind. I also suspect it has something to do with the surprisingly high price he’s willing to pay—and I admit, it’s a bit of a sop to my pride, getting it.”
“Tired of spending Hope’s money, are you?” He tossed his friend a grin to ease the sting of the question.
“Not precisely. I’m not too proud to spend it, in order to restore Greystone and help our people, but well . . .”
“I understand. It will be nice to get a bit of your own back. And in support of such a cause, I’m happy to let my name be bandied about with this old thing.”
“Good.” Tensford picked up a brush. “Will you check the varnish on the framing pieces, to be sure they have dried? And I think we’ll need some shim pieces, if you wouldn’t mind cutting a few varied sizes from those strips of thin wood?”
They got to work and had been at it thirty minutes or so before the workshop door opened. Miss Vernon stuck her head in. “Oh!” she said. “Here you both are.”
Keswick just stared at her, but Tensford gave her knowing smile. “Indeed. Just where I said we would be.” He waved a hand over the large stone piece. “Are you interested in fossils? I would be glad to tell you all about—”
“No, thank you,” she interrupted. “I thought I would check to see if you might be done early, but I can see that . . . you won’t.” She started to withdraw. “Good day!”
“That’s one,” Tensford said, after going to the door and checking to see that she’d hurried away.
“One what?” Keswick asked with a shudder. “Don’t tell me there are more to follow?”
“Just wait.”
An hour later, they were maneuvering the first corner of the frame into place, coming at it from different directions, when the door opened again. Keswick started when his father stepped in.
Tensford repeated the same offer, but this time his father took him up on it. Keswick kept working while his friend showed the older earl around, telling him about all the different sorts of fossils that had been found on the estate and why the newest find was special.
Keswick felt his father’s gaze fall on him more than once as they spoke, but the old man never spoke to him. When Tensford had talked himself out, the earl stood, staring at his son.
“And you say the museum’s man will be at dinner this evening? And at the ball?” Braunton asked.
“He will. He wishes particularly to speak to Kes and the young ladies who were responsible for the find.”
His father nodded. Keswick kept working.
“I do thank you for my own invitation.”
“Of course.” Tensford glanced at Keswick as he answered.
“I shall speak with you this evening, then.” His father spoke to him directly. “We have matters to attend to.”
Keswick glanced up and managed a small nod.
