Page 75 of Honor Unbound

“Good afternoon, Mr. Randall. Enjoy your chocolate.” And with the smallest of curtsies, she left.

There were men like Randall in the countryside, she supposed. Predatory. Rakish. There was even the odd murder, as she knew from personal experience. But London seemed to have sin to spare. She could only thank her lucky stars that she had come to the city with a woman like Lady Mary.

And that she’d found a man like Brett. London would have seemed a lonely place without them.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Lady Mary

“Iinsist youtell me what you know.” I tapped the toe of my boot on the parquet floor of the boutique. Southey pounced on my foot, and I shook him off. He, Jane, and I were making the rounds of the Burlington Arcade, the latest place for all the fashionable people to shop. The knowing looks, the abruptly ended conversation whenever I entered a room from Jane and my other servants had become too much. Jane had too much of an advantage at home, so I’d insisted she accompany me shopping in order to get my answers. “Is there a mutiny underfoot in my house?”

Jane leaned on her cane and guffawed. “A mutiny? That assumes that you’re in control now.”

I exhaled sharply. There might be some truth to that, and that only irritated me further. I’d had little enough sleep the night before. I kept seeing the hackney bearing down on me, over and over again. It didn’t help my disposition. “Enough of this nonsense.” I frowned at the dressmaker who sidled in our direction. I lowered my voice. “If there is something afoot in my house, don’t you think I should know it?”

“You want me to peach on people we care about?”

“Of course.” I tugged the hem of my gown from Southey’s teeth. “I would have no interest of you informing against anyone we didn’t care about.”

Jane toddled over to a display of embroidered shawls stacked on a shelf. “Have you noticed Cook has made a cake for dessert the past nights?”

“Yes.” They had been some of her best works, and I looked forward to what might be in store tonight. “What has that to do with anything?”

“Joe knows ever so many people along his morning route.” Jane fingered a blue cotton square before moving on. “He delivers his milk to the Doctors’ Commons and several clergymen.”

I scratched my head. “Jane, what are you going on about? What does your milkman’s route have to….”

Realization dawned. “Oh my Lord. You and the milkman are getting married?”

Jane wheezed. Her lined face puckered like she’d sucked on a tart lemon. “Me? Heavens no. I might like a chat with Joe every now and then but I’m much too settled to think of marriage now.”

A weight I hadn’t realized was on my shoulders lifted. Jane had been with me since I was a child. I wouldn’t know what to do without her. “Then why…” I narrowed my eyes, understanding curdling in my gut. “Those little fools. They’ve married, haven’t they?” I thought back to the day they’d both requested off. If Burton had gone to the Doctors’ Commons early enough in the morning to get a common license, and if there was a minister available, he and Marie could have been married by noon.

A mature, well-dressed woman approached. The tassels on her silk tippet kissed the floor. “You wished to speak with me, milady?”

I bit off a peevish reply. Ihadasked to speak to the manager but her interruption right when I’d learned of my servants’ betrayal was most unwelcome.

Jane smirked and wobbled off to peruse the goods some more.

I forced a smile at the woman. “Yes, thank you. I saw a woman wearing a gown at the theatre last night that was simply divine. Her name was Mrs. Trent, I believe. I was wondering if perhaps you had made it for her?”

Southey prepared to pounce at one of the tassels, and I scooped him up. The dog hadn’t wanted me to leave without him, and I had to admit, since nearly being run down by a hackney, I hadn’t minded his company, either.

The woman tapped her lips. “Mrs. Trent. Mrs. Trent. No, I don’t believe she is one of my clients. But perhaps you’ve seen one of my gowns on Lady Derbyshire? She is the acknowledged star of society this season.”

I admitted that I hadn’t and escaped as quickly as I could before I bought another gown I didn’t need. I put Southey back down and waited for Jane.

The afternoon was stifling, even under the covered colonnade, and I walked briskly to the next stop, which was only two shops down from the entrance of the arcade. I could see Ernest sitting atop the carriage on the street, shouting at someone out of view.

Jane huffed behind me. “Stop walking so fast. This isn’t a race.”

If it were, I’d win. I sniffed. “Activity is good for your rheumatism. But if you like, you can go sit in the carriage.” Now that she’d told me what I’d wanted to know.

“You know I’m looking for a new fichu. A blue one I think. To match my eyes.”

I spun on her. “Match your eyes?” I gaped. “You do have atendrefor the milkman.”

“Stuff and nonsense.” Jane waved her cane, nearly striking a passing man in the knees. “I enjoy his company is all. Now, arewe going to go into this shop to ask more questions or are we going to natter on out here all afternoon?” And with chin raised, she marched into the men’s clothiers at an impressive speed.