Page 56 of Earl Crazy
“Stop! Dearest, you must stop! None of this is true. Youareclever, kind and loving, and so brave and fierce! Why, I wish I had a tenth of your courage! I see now I haven’t said it often enough, but I’m extraordinarily proud of you, Tilly.”
Tilly sniffled. “You are?”
“Yes, dearest. So proud. I don’t wonder at all that Lord Prestwick fell in love with you.” Phee cocked her head to the side, considering. “Or you with him, come to that. Heisvery handsome.”
“He is, isn’t he?” No one with the gift of sight could ever deny Kit was handsome. “He’s quite the most handsome gentleman I’ve ever seen, but I never intended to go as addle-pated over him as every other young lady in London.” It was a trifle embarrassing, really, especially for a lady who’d sworn she’d never fall in love.
“I daresay you wouldn’t have if he had only his looks to recommend him, but that’s not the case. Last night, when he declared his love for you to everyone in the room? My goodness, I nearly swooned.” Phee patted her chest. “I don’t see why everyone insists that he’s such an awful rake. I think he’s lovely.”
“He isn’t a rake at all, Phee! He’s truly the dearest, loveliest man imaginable.”
Phee smiled. “Spoken like a lady in love. As I said, love will have its way in the end.”
But Tilly wasn’t so sure. Everything was in such a dreadful tangle! “Will it, Phee? Will it truly?”
“It will, I promise you.” Phee squeezed her hand. “Just wait and see.”
* * *
“Well, Fairmont, we meet at last.”Darby dropped into a chair in front of Lord Fairmont’s desk. “Prestwick’s always spoken highly of you.” He ran a bored gaze over Fairmont, who was seated on the other side. “I confess I expected more.”
Kit opened his mouth to warn Darby to keep a civil tongue in his head, but then closed it again without saying a word. Fairmont had made it clear he no longer considered Kit his friend, and after the accusations he’d hurled at him last night, he didn’t owe the man any courtesy.
There was no silencing Darby when he was in a mood, in any case, and he was most certainly in a mood this morning. They’d presented themselves at Fosberry House, as Fairmont had demanded, and been ushered into the study, where they found Fairmont alone, his second nowhere to be seen.
“I can understand why you might initially suspect Prestwick here, Fairmont. His reputation is a bit tarnished.”
“I thought you were on my side, Darby,” Kit muttered.
Darby crossed one leg over the other knee. “I’m getting to that part. It’s a pity that the Nonesuch turned out to be such a scoundrel, although I confess I suspected him from the start. The most perfect fruit always hides the worm, eh, Fairmont? Now Prestwick here may be a bit blighted on the outside, but his core is solid.”
Good Lord, what an analogy. “Er, thank you, Darby. I think.”
“I think only of my sister, and protecting her reputation,” Fairmont said, but the fury that had so animated him last night had cooled, leaving him looking flat and exhausted.
“A bit late for that.” Darby waved a dismissive hand in the air. “You might consider challenging the man who actually insulted her, instead of going after Prestwick. Anyone can see he’s head over heels for that Templeton chit. It’s rather pathetic, really.”
Kit rolled his eyes. “Thank you again, Darby.”
“Just leave it to me, Prestwick. Now, Fairmont. If you insist on going through with this absurd duel, then you’ll be facing off withme. We can’t put Prestwick on the dueling field with that bloody curse hanging over his head, now can we?”
“What?” Kit jumped to his feet. “What the devil, Darby? You’re not dueling in my place!”
“Hush, will you, Prestwick? Let Fairmont speak. Well, Fairmont?”
“I may have spoken too hastily last night, Prestwick,” Fairmont began, “I shouldn’t have accused you of—”
“James Abner Theophilus Fairmont!” A female voice cried, followed by footsteps in the corridor.
Darby turned to Kit, one eyebrow raised. “Theophilus?”
There was a scuffle in the hallway, and an instant later the door of the study flew open. Lady Harriett marched in, her cheeks bright, and eyes ablaze. “Lady Fosberry has just informed me that you’ve challenged Lord Prestwick to a duel!”
Fairmont rose from his chair. “This doesn’t concern you, Harriett—”
“Oh yes, it does! Lord Prestwick never touched a single hair on my head. For pity’s sake, James, hesavedme last night. He, and Tilly. Not just my virtue, but perhaps even my life!”
Fairmont paled. “Hattie—”
