Page 71 of Long Live the Baron
“Why?” Abbott was sincerely astonished at Brendan’s explanation. “Why would he be an expert in such a thing?”
Trafford burst out laughing. “What a little-breeches you have on your hands, Filminster. Is your brother-in-law truly so unsophisticated?”
Brendan soughed heavily. “Women, Abbott. Trafford is highly skilled in gathering information about women of theton. I should have thought to request his help in learning about my … father’s … movements.” He hoped Abbott and Trafford did not notice his hesitation, or ascribed it to the pressure he had been under.
Trafford smirked. “Just so.”
Abbott shook his head, as if to reshuffle his thoughts. Brendan could not blame him. Trafford had that effect on people. It was hard to imagine what it would take to ultimately tame the impudent showman, but in the meantime, Brendan would gladly accept his help. Trafford could be useful when one needed loyal friends, like how he had gone to a great deal of trouble to help Perry Balfour the year before.
“So, what do we do now?”
“I discussed it at length with Saunton and Halmesbury. There is not much to be done, I am afraid. We remain vigilant and continue our search for information.” Brendan wished he had a better answer, but it was the only one he had.
* * *
It was a glorious summer day,made even more glorious because her husband was accompanying her to Hatchards. The bookshop was one of her favorite places in all the world, and now she could share it with one of her favorite people in all the world.
“I think we should order a number of novels for the library. Most of the books in there are fusty old texts about agriculture. We should have some Byron, Wordsworth, and Keats. I also wish to order Frankenstein, along with Ann Radcliffe and Jane Austen.”
Brendan nodded, perusing some books on the front stacks and pulling out several. Lily picked one off the top to see what had caught his attention.
“Coleridge’sLyrical Ballads! It did not cross my mind, but I love it!”
She and Brendan had discussed modernizing Ridley House. He was amenable to her taking charge and agreed to stocking up their library. Soon their new housekeeper would arrive, and Richard had recommended that they speak with his brother, Mr. Thompson, about their home.
Barclay Thompson was a renowned architect who had attended their wedding, and his firm had worked on numerous townhouses for the wealthy of London. Lily was excited to meet with him and his assistant in the near future when he returned to Town. It would be a wondrous thing if they could set things in motion before leaving for Baydon Hall in Somerset.
Soon, they were placing their order at the counter. Lily had never placed such a large order before, and her hands trembled with her excitement to bring Ridley House to its full potential. Wiping away any traces of the past would be an excellent strategy for dispelling the shadow of death that currently haunted its sinister halls.
“Have you read much?” Lily inquired. Her husband appeared to be astute about which books to buy, despite the sorry state of their own library.
“I have, but I mostly took advantage of the libraries of others. Annabel and the duke have an excellent selection, and I had access to Trafford’s and several other friends’.”
Brendan opened the door and stood aside to allow her to exit onto the street. She turned back to question him. “Who is your favorite?”
“Well, well. It is the scandalous Lily Ridley, if my eyes do not deceive.”
Lily spun about to find Lady Slight accompanied by a friend. She looked luscious in a striped, blue dress, her breasts lifted prominently. Lily backed up to avoid getting banged in the face by them. Lady Slight’s companion, a blonde with a low-cut gown and cold blue eyes, giggled at the coy remark. Lily supposed her friend found the widow’s greeting to be devilishly amusing.
For a moment, Lily was unsure how to respond, but then she decided she could not apologize for her recent adventures. She must attack … with words.
“Oh, do you mean the scandalous night I spent with Lord Filminster while his father was being bludgeoned to death?” Reaching out, Lily grabbed Brendan by the arm. He cooperated, stepping through the door and shutting it behind him, before tucking her hand into the crook of his arm.
“Or do you mean when I stepped forward to speak to the coroner in order to clear Lord Filminster’s name of those dreadful accusations of murder?”
Both Lady Slight and her friend had drawn back with expressions of wide-eyed horror.
“Or perhaps you mean our hasty marriage to protect my reputation?” She gave them a chance to answer, but no words were forthcoming.
“Perhaps you mean when our footman attempted to abduct me and my husband bravely offered to take my place? Before our butler shot the man dead, of course.” Lily tapped a finger to her lip as if thinking. “But, no, I think you must mean all of it.”
Settling the matter, Lily dropped her hand to gesture widely. “If I think about it, I must confess that I am. I am scandalous. Scandalously happy, that is!”
Lady Slight’s jaw was hanging open. Apparently, the widow had not expected to be assaulted with the brunt of Lily’s chatter, nor her innate candor. Lily was not known for her subtle manners.
Beside her, Brendan raised a hand to cover his mouth, his eyes sparkling as he struggled to not burst out laughing. Lily fought to keep a straight face, fighting back the urge to burst into gales of glee as she watched Lady Slight and her friend struggling to contain their shock.
Turning to her husband, she lifted a hand to cup his neck. Tugging down, she leaned up on the tips of her toes. Brendan dropped his hand from his mouth and leaned down to capture her lips with his, more than willing to go along with her performance. He deepened the kiss, wrapping his arm around her waist to pull her closer, and Lily quite lost her breath as her breasts crushed against his hard chest.
