A Wedding In Springtime(66)

Penelope stared at the dowager.

“You needn’t look so scandalized,” chastised the dowager. “You young people are so much more moralistic than we were in my time.”

“Should I apologize? How was it exactly in your time? Did you entertain many lovers?”

“A lady would never quote a number,” said the dowager with a sly smile. “It used to be a marriage was for family name, inheritance, and breeding. Love was something reserved for other relationships, after, of course, you provided at least one or two legitimate heirs.”

“I can come back later if I have interrupted a private conversation,” said the duke, who was standing by the door.

“Your grandmother was telling me of her numerous lovers. I’m not certain you would quite like to hear it.”

“I am sure I would not. Miss Rose, could I have a moment in the study?” They walked down the corridor to the study, where the butler was standing guard outside the door. “Thank you, Peters.”

“You are leaving nothing to chance,” said Pen, following the duke into the study.

“No, not after yesterday,” said the duke, motioning Penelope to sit down. He sat across from her and she could see worry lines about his eyes she had not noticed before. “I expect the thief will try again, and this time I intend to be better prepared. Tell me what was that man doing here?”

“Blakely? He came to visit Genie without the watchful eye of Lady Bremerton. Genie has a guidebook she wanted to review with him without suffering her aunt’s set-downs regarding the topic of guidebooks.”

“A guidebook for London?” Marchford asked with a twinge of disgust.

“Exactly so.”

“Anything else I should know?”

“Most of the staff have in some way been either threatened or bribed to retrieve what you are hiding in this study.”

“I am aware. I’ve had to send agents out to protect the families of several housemaids and a few have left altogether.”

“Why did I see Mr. Grant here this morning, looking like he had slept in his clothes?” asked Pen.

“We had some fun last night and he passed out on the floor. Not safe to wake Grant until afternoon, so there was nothing I could do but let him sleep.”

Pen raised an eyebrow.

Marchford sighed. “That is the story you are to tell grandmother.”

“Would it do me any good to ask you for the truth?”

“I needed to go out last night and I trust none but Thornton and Grant to guard the letter. The footman and any guards I could hire are vulnerable, and I’ll not trust any agents from Neville’s office.”

“Mr. Grant offered to drive Miss Talbot to the lending library. She left in that high-perch phaeton of his.” Penelope’s tone was accusatory. Marchford may trust Grant to watch over his document, but she did not trust him to watch over Genie.

“You do not approve?”

“If he has no intentions of offering marriage, which I think we both know he does not, he should clear the field.”

Marchford sighed. “I will speak to him. Anything else you have to report?”

“Miss Talbot has befriended a young boy, a street urchin and thief, and is trying to rehabilitate him. Lord and Lady Bremerton rejected the notion, so Mr. Grant has agreed to house the urchin.”

“I confess Grant did tell me much the same, but I thought it must be one of his jokes. And my grandmother?”

“Feisty and plotting your demise.”

“Everything is normal then, capital. I must thank you, Miss Rose. I have rarely seen my grandmother in such fine fettle. Whatever you are doing to lift her spirits, please do continue.”

“I shall remind you that you directed me in such a manner sometime in the future.” Pen could not help but smile.

Marchford smiled in return, a rare occurrence. “I do not mind having you in the house nearly as much as I thought I would.”

“Was that a compliment? I fear I may have missed it.”

“It was a little backhanded, I apologize. Let me try again. I enjoy your presence, Miss Rose. I shall miss you when you leave with my grandmother to the dowager house.”

“Thank you. Since we have no plans at present to leave, you shall have the pleasure of enjoying my presence for the extended future.”

“I shall accept my fate with the courage that befits an Englishman,” said Marchford gallantly. “I should warn you, I shall be around the house and most likely in my rooms for the next few days. I believe I will become ill.”