Page 77 of Lady Daring
“Of course not,” Henrietta said, but out of loyalty more than belief. She lowered her eyes. “Darien has enjoyed felicity with a great many women,” she said after a moment. “I shouldn’t expect his interest in me to be real.”
Clarinda watched her stepdaughter with an odd, soft smile on her face. “My dear, practical Hetty. How I admire your mind. But you may wish to rely on your heart in matters such as this.”
Dearbody appeared at the door. “Lord Alfred Highcastle to see you, mum.”
He glared at Henrietta. Her usurpation of his position that morning had made it necessary that he should learn of important goings-on in his own house from the scullery maid, the lowest among his domain.
“Show him in here, Dearbody,” Clarinda replied.
Henrietta hovered over the child on the floor. “But the babies?—?”
“He may see us at home,” Clarinda said serenely. “And perhaps he has news of Lady Celeste.” She gathered little Charlotte into her lap, Sophia beside her, while Matilda and Amelia took seats, agog at the prospect of a noble visitor.
Henrietta wavered. Part of her was furious with Lord Alfred for shooting Darien, intended or not, deserved or otherwise. But she was also holding his tiny niece.
Freddy stepped in the door. He had changed into riding dress. He looked handsome and miserable. His eyes went to Henrietta. “Is he?—?”
“Sleeping, upstairs,” Henrietta said tersely. “I really don’t wish to disturb him.”
Freddy twisted his hat in his hands, too distressed to notice Dearbody’s attempts to take it. “Gad, what a fine hobble this is!” he exclaimed. “The duchess had her bristles up already with m’sister loping off. I never meant to wing him, I swear I didn’t.”
He looked so miserable, Henrietta took pity on him. “Oh, very well, sit. Lord Alfred, you know Lady Clarinda?”
“Lord Alfred,” Clarinda greeted him. “The surgeon tells us Lord Darien will mend. What have you learned of Lady Celeste?”
“Cut sticks,” Freddy said, taking a chair. “Gone to the Continent. The customs office stamped her papers to Calais.”
“So soon after childbirth?” Clarinda murmured.
“Alone?” Henrietta asked.
“No.” Freddy gave a short laugh. “With Perry.”
“Mr. Empson?” Clarinda said. “Lord Darien’s friend?”
“The third man,” Henrietta surmised. Darien had said there was one.
How could any woman, once knowing Darien’s embrace, want anyone else?
Freddy set his jaw. “Her maid ’fessed up once the duchess put the fear of God into her. Seems Celeste had been intriguing with Perry for months, but his uncle won’t allow him to marry, so she—” His eyes lit on the young faces drinking in every word. “Er…she played her paw-paw tricks on Darien to bring Perry up to scratch. Never had a thought to marry Havering, for all that the settlements were drawn up.”
“And I suppose your parents would not entertain Mr. Empson’s suit,” Clarinda guessed. “Given he has no rank, no fortune, and no commission.”
“Gad!” Freddy yanked his hands through his hair. “I shot the wrong man! Perry’s the one caused this bloody mess. I beg your pardon, Lady Clarinda,” he said, appalled, as the girls grinned and giggled.
“But of course,” Clarinda said. “And it is Lady Wardley-Hines now, as I am sure you are aware.”
If Freddy thought it odd that her ladyship should prefer the lower address of a knight’s wife to her born title as an earl’s daughter, he didn’t remark upon it.
“Nurse scolds us for playing paw-paw tricks,” Matilda said, to show she took no insult at the young lord’s language. “Once, we put a mouse in her bed!”
“That’s more or less what m’sister did to…” Freddy’s eyes fell on the infant Henrietta held, and he stuttered into silence.
Henrietta rose with the babe, who grumbled and blew a spit bubble in her sleep. “I suppose James told you I took in your niece.” She stepped close so Freddy could inspect the baby’s face.
“But how—?” Freddy stammered, shying away.
“Lady Celeste sent her to the hospital I support, and I collected her. Of course I don’t expect you to acknowledge her. I don’t know if Darien will. But I have the care of her, at any rate.”
