All up and down the hall, doors closed, except one, which opened still further. Hannah let out a sigh of relief as she recognised the elegant individual who stepped into the hall, though she doubted he would know her from a bar of soap. He was Lord Chirbury’s cousin, and had sometimes visited the family home at Longford Court when Hannah lived there. He was also a courtesy marquis and the heir to a duchy.
“Attempting to rape the maids again, Wayford?” he asked, his languid drawl belying the poise of his athlete’s body. “You really are an embarrassment to the peerage.”
He bowed to Mrs Captain, who had not relaxed at his appearance, her pistol still pointed at Lord Wayford’s groin, wavering only as the drunkard did.
“Mrs Redepenning, I’m pleased to see you back in London. I hope I can tell Her Grace that your mission went without any difficulties? She was most anxious about the children.”
“I have them with me, Lord Aldridge,” Mrs Captain said. “In fact, until Lord Wayford interrupted my servants in the commission of their duties, they were bringing the children their supper.”
The innkeeper hurried along the hall from the main stairs, his face creased with anxiety. He stopped to stare, open-mouthed, at the tableau. He stepped forward, but Lord Aldridge raised a hand to stop whatever he was about to say.
“Wayford, I suggest you apologise to Mrs Redepenning, and take yourself off. We shall hear nothing more about your consequence, or your drunken ramblings about being assaulted. Ah. Lady Wayford.” He bowed again to a tall woman dressed in the height of fashion in garments some ten years too young for her, though she’d made skilful use of powder and paint to redress the discrepancy. “Do take your son in hand, my lady. Her Grace my mother would be most distressed to discover that he had attacked one of her goddaughters and that lady’s servants.”
Lady Wayford offered the briefest curtsey commensurate with good manners, already arguing before she rose. “You must be mistaken, Lord Aldridge. My son does not disport with unwilling gentlewomen.”
Unwilling maids were clearly beneath her notice.
Lord Wayford turned to his mother, whining, “That woman pulled a gun on me, Mama. Just because…”
Before he could say another word, Lord Aldridge interrupted again. “I do hope I shall not feel obliged to challenge you, Wayford. I have urgent business in the west, and am expected at my mother’s house party for Christmas. But you are close to leaving me with no choice. In the absence of the lady’s husband, her brothers, her father (officers of the Crown, Lady Wayford, as you well know, but currently busy with the small matter of a war), and her cousin, it falls to me as cousin-in-law to see all due respect paid to Mrs Redepenning’s honour, her person, and her household.”
A slight exaggeration—the relatives were all the Captain’s not Mrs Captain’s, but either the threat or the list worked. Lady Wayford took her son’s arm. “Come, Ulric. You do not want to fall afoul of the Redepennings, and you know what the Duchess of Haverford has been saying since that little misunderstanding at her garden party last year.”
With a last glare, the monster allowed his mother to lead him away.
Hannah picked up the tray, and Japheth hurried past Mrs Captain to open the door to the suite, where Pranisha and the three children fell back to allow them to enter. Listening at the door, beyond a doubt, which was not gentry-like behaviour, but Hannah couldn’t find it in herself to reprimand them.
“Now, my lovelies,” she said, “Let’s see about some toast and eggs.”
Behind her, she heard Lord Aldridge say, “May I meet the children, Mia? My mother really is taking a most personal interest in them, and would be delighted if I make their acquaintance.”
