Page 93 of His Duchess in Disguise
“Thomas, Winston, and Ben? Really? Gentlemen, I thought better of you. Disarm and give yourselves up.”
Captain Arnault came dashing up on horseback with his pistol cocked and at the ready.
“Stand down, Roger,” Leo said. “What we’ve got here is four idiots who lost their pay. You take these three, and I’ll have a word or six with Reggie. I am truly disgusted with you. Whatever would your mother say?”
Chapter 12
“Good morning, Lord Hoskins,” Percy Harlow said amiably. “How is my blushing bride to be?”
“Gone,” mumbled Hoskins.
Percy stared at the man in disbelief. The Baron of Calber did not look well. He was dressed in a haphazardly, his wig was on crooked, and he clearly had not shaved. “Good God, Hoskins. What happened? Was she kidnapped? Did she elope?”
Hoskins waved one hand ineffectually to indicate that he really didn’t know. “She’s gone. Run off. Servants are gone, too.”
Hoskins appearance made more sense to Percy Harlow now. “Ah. Well, come along to the club then, and we’ll get you set to rights. It stands to reason that you might be upset and not thinking well. No doubt, she has not gone far. Do you have family or friends in the area?”
“Aunt,” Hoskins mumbled. “Mrs. Pearthorne.”
The sound of the name “Mrs. Pearthorne” made Percy grind his teeth. Damnable woman! Always getting in his way and messing things up for him. There were at least two heiresses he might have snagged by now had it not been for her.
“I’ll send someone to look into it,” Percy soothed. “No doubt she has gone to one of them. Girl cannot have gone far without help. Woman alone… not safe, you know.”
“I know, I know!” Hoskins moaned. “I have been such a bad father!”
“What, to ask her to wed me?”
Again, Hoskins waved his hand in negation. “No, no. Sprung it on her too fast. She cut up stiff, and I hit her.”
“What!”Well, the old dog. I didn’t take him for that kind of man. Still, it might make getting the girl into wedlock that much easier.
“Was in my cups. Celebrating, you know? Couldn’t believe our good fortune. But m’daughter didn’t like it. Didn’t like it at all. And the servants all left. Last two this morning.”
Percy frowned. The Baron really did look bad. This was an unforeseen development. Quite aside from Emma Hoskins being quite a lovely young woman, even though the Calber estate was deeply encumbered in debt, the young lady came with a dowry that included a nice little cove and several other bits of real estate.I don’t need more funds, but that inlet would do very well for my business. Yes it would.
“You really are having a very bad day. Come along to the club, and my man will see to you.”Before you have it all over London that you are a drunkard and ne’er do well. Oh, wait, London already knows that. Before it is known that I don’t take care of my future father-in-law.
The Earl helped the distraught Baron into his carriage, took him over to their club, and had his own valet set the fellow to rights. Once he got some tea into him, and his wardrobe straightened out, the Baron was a good deal more coherent.
With the Baron more presentable, Percy loaded him back into the carriage, and they set off for the lodgings where Mr. and Mrs. Brown were residing.
Mrs. Brown answered the door and looked at them both suspiciously. But she could scarcely refuse entrance to her only brother. Mr. Brown entered the little parlor and sat down on a stiff chair, surveying his brother-in-law with a jaundiced eye. It was clear to Percy that there was little love lost between Lord Hoskins and his family members.
When the baron outlined the difficulty, Mrs. Brown looked down her nose at both of them. “I cannot say that I am surprised,” she began.
“I told you,” Parson Brown interjected, “You neglected the child and allowed her too much latitude. More than that, you allowed her to learn to read and to buy her own books. Did I not tell you that no good would come of it? Then to top it all off, you have spent your time indulging in strong drink, and you have wasted your talents.”
Mrs. Brown sighed. Clearly, she did not entirely agree with her husband’s assessment. However, she added, “Mr. Brown is correct. You have neglected Emma, and now you have frightened her. You have only yourself to blame, Gilbert. I wish I could tell you that she is here, but unfortunately, she is not.”
“Did she say anything to you to give you some idea of where she might be? She said she was leaving London. Where might she go?”
“I really have no idea. Brother, you have kept the girl isolated. By now, she should have many friends among her peers. In fact, she should have a home of her own.”
Lord Hoskins opened his mouth as if to speak. “No, no, hear me out. You could not be bothered to present her at court when she was young enough to be quiescent to your orders. You left the running of the house to her, with scarcely a penny to pay the tradesmen. And if that bit of truth scares off the prospective bridegroom, I am sorry. But it is true. Go away, Gilbert. I don’t want to see your hangdog face.”
With that, Mr. Brown stood up. He was not a formidable man, but he had a determined look on his face. “Goodbye, Gilbert. I will show you and your friend out.”
Short of making a scene, there was nothing further to be done.
