Kissing Cousins (15 page)

On that speech, Salverton strode from the room. Plimpton cast one questioning glance on Miss Oakleigh before darting off after his employer. He was familiar enough with Salverton to know something unusual was afoot. Miss Oakleigh was very different from the cousins who usually came begging at the door, and Salverton was treating her differently, too. Very odd, that. Salverton didn
’
t usually have any use for those pert girls. Mind you, she was dashed pretty.

While Salverton
’
s fresh toilette was proceeding above stairs, his secretary discussed the correspondence with him and took notes on how various matters were to be handled. The last item was for Plimpton to discover Sir Geoffrey Bayne
’
s address and call on him personally to repay the purloined thousand pounds.

“
I
’
ll write you a check on my bank. Give him cash, but get a receipt promising he
’
ll drop the charge. I want the only record of this arrangement in my own pocket. If he turns rusty, you can hint at some future perk. I
’
ll see what I can arrange.
”

The gentlemen then returned to the study, where Samantha had made herself at home. She was writing a note to her friend at Milford.

“
I wanted to show off your crested stationery,
”
she explained artlessly.

“
Be sure to have me frank it before you send it off,
”
Salverton said, chewing back a smile.
“
Receiving it without expense is more likely to impress your friend than the crest.
”

“
I wanted to ask you, but was afraid you
’
d cut up stiff,
”
she said.

“
You will be giving Plimpton a strange notion of my character, Cousin.
”

“
A regular tartar,
”
Plimpton said, smiling in a bold way that belied the statement.

Salverton called for his curricle while Plimpton got cash from the safe.

When this was done, Salverton said,
“
Write the note to Lady Louise first, Plimpton. I want to sign it before I leave. You can sign for me on the other matters.
”
Then he turned to his guest.
“
Samantha, a glass of wine while we wait?
”

The door knocker sounded as Plimpton was leaving. Salverton gave a tsk of annoyance and said to his secretary,
“
Tell Luten I
’
m not in
—
unless it
’
s the P.M.
”

Samantha felt a little thrill to consider that she might be about to meet this eminent worthy. They both listened as Luten spoke to the caller. It was Plimpton who appeared first at the study door. His face wore a harassed expression.

“
It
’
s Lady Louise!
”
he said in a strangled whisper.
“
Luten
’
s let her in.
”

“
Damn the man!
”
Salverton growled.

Samantha knew she was the cause of his discomfiture. Lady Louise would dislike that her fianc
é
e (nearly) was involving himself in such low doings for a female cousin who was not precisely an antidote. Naturally the lady would be jealous if she had any affection at all for Edward.

Samantha felt instinctively that if she could allay the lady
’
s jealousy, all would be well. She thought Edward was making a mistake to marry the duke
’
s daughter, but he must see the light for himself. She would not be the cause of his losing out on her, if that was what he truly wanted. She waited eagerly to see this lady, who had recently been featuring largely in her thoughts.

The lady who came striding into the study was obviously from the very top of the tallest tree in the country. She was elegantly outfitted in a blue walking suit and dashing high poke bonnet. Pride and arrogance deprived a handsome face of its beauty.

The physical requirements of an Incomparable were all there
—
glossy black hair, fine white skin, dark and lustrous eyes, and a well-shaped nose. What was lacking was that spark of amiability. The lips were held in a thin line. The eyes glittered in vexation.

“
Salverton, why did you not call this morning?
”
she demanded in a strident tone. Then she looked around and spotted Samantha sitting at his desk, holding his pen, looking as if she owned the place, and her lips grew thinner.

Salverton said,
“
Louise, allow me to introduce my cousin, Miss
—”

Samantha leapt from the chair as if it had grown spikes.
“
I
’
m Mrs. Oakleigh,
”
she said, advancing to Lady Louise and curtsying low.
“
And you, I take it, are Lady Louise. Such an honor to meet you. Lord Salverton has spoken of you, milady.
”

Samantha didn
’
t risk a glance at Edward, but she could sense his astonishment.

“
Mrs. Oakleigh, you say?
”
Lady Louise said. Her annoyance lessened a degree.

“
Married to Lord Salverton
’
s cousin, Darren Oakleigh,
”
Samantha invented.
“
When my Darren fell into a hobble, I didn
’
t know where to turn, so I asked Lord Salverton to lend a hand. He is always so helpful in family matters. I am extremely sorry it caused him to miss your tea party. He was most distressed.
”

Lady Louise was sufficiently mollified to inquire the nature of Mr. Oakleigh
’
s hobble.

With one glare at Samantha, Salverton spoke up swiftly to forestall talk of lightskirts and stolen money.
“
He
’
s disappeared,
”
he said.
“
I am trying to find him. I
’
m afraid, Louise, that I may not be able to attend the opera this evening. I was just about to
—”

“
Salverton was just going to call on you,
”
Samantha said, feeling this would be more flattering than to have his secretary write a letter.

“
Your first trip to London, Mrs. Oakleigh?
”
Lady Louise inquired with a careful examination of the lady
’
s toilette.

“
Indeed, yes, milady, and I hope it may be our last, for I fear London is too big and wicked for Darren and me. I wager he has been caught up in some card game, like a regular flat.
”

“
If you are fortunate, it may be no more than that. You ought to check out the hospitals, Salverton, and the morgue. The city is full of cutthroat bandits.
”

On this speech, Job
’
s Comforter turned toward the door.
“
If you find him in time, do come to the opera this evening, Salverton. I shan
’
t give anyone else your seat. We were to attend with Mama and Papa, so I shan
’
t be alone. Good day, Mrs. Oakleigh.
”

“
Thank you, ma
’
am,
”
Samantha said in a chastened voice.

Salverton accompanied Lady Louise to the front door.
“
Pity,
”
the lady said to him.
“
Could you not send Plimpton to look for this Darren person?
”

“
A family matter,
”
Salverton murmured vaguely.
“
I felt I ought to lend a hand.
”

“
You
’
re too generous by half, Salverton. You can
’
t forsake your job at Whitehall for every provincial cousin who falls into a hobble. They
’
re debating the budget in the House today. You ought to be there. Why don
’
t people like that stay in the country, where they belong?
”

“
It is the Oakleighs
’
wedding trip,
”
he said, and was astonished at the celerity with which this lie occurred to him.

“
Are they prominent in their home riding?
”

“
Very influential,
”
he said, to be rid of her without further squabbling.

“
The fellow is probably drunk in some ditch. Find him quickly, for you must attend my ball tomorrow evening. Papa expects it.
”
Her meaningful look suggested why this should be so.

She cast a commanding eye on Luten, who flew to hold the door for her. She swept out. A footman in royal blue with gold lace held the door of an extremely elegant crested carriage that stood at the curb. The lady entered and was carried off without a backward glance.

Salverton said,
“
No more callers,
”
to Luten, and returned to the study to find Samantha and Plimpton enjoying a fit of giggles.

“
You should be on the stage, Miss Oakleigh,
”
Plimpton said.
“
Upon my word, you should.
”

“
Or in Bridewell,
”
Salverton added curtly.

“
Surely it is not an indictable offense to tell a little social lie,
”
Samantha retorted,
“
even to a duke
’
s eldest daughter.
”

“
You can forget the letter to Lady Louise, Plimpton,
”
Salverton said, and turned a wrathful eye on his cousin.
“
May I know the reason for that unnecessary performance? It will be awkward, if you meet Lady Louise again in the future, to explain how your husband has suddenly become your brother.
”

“
I was afraid she
’
d beat the pair of us if she learned the truth. You must be sure not to bring her to Milford after the wedding. You
’
re a brave man, Edward, to shackle yourself to that tartar. Of course she is very handsome
—
and well dowered, I should think?
”

“
Thirty thousand,
”
Plimpton said.

“
That much!
”
Samantha exclaimed.
“
Well then, you wouldn
’
t want to risk alienating her by helping me. Carnford may run to her with his story. Only marriage could restore me to respectability, and you to your usual unassailable position of rectitude. From the way she orders you about, I assume the engagement is all but settled?
”

“
I have some reason to believe she would accept an offer,
”
he said, but his mind was dwelling on that
“
unassailable position of rectitude.
”
He had thought Samantha realized by now that he was human.

“
Then I wish you well,
”
she said in a voice that implied he would need all the luck he could find.

They went out to the waiting curricle, drawn by a set of blood grays.

“
It must be lovely to have so many carriages and horses,
”
Samantha said as he handed her up.

Before Salverton could join her, a coachman came up to them, shouting.
“
Here, milord! Wait a moment!
”

“
Good Lord!
”
Salverton moaned.
“
It
’
s Sykes! What the devil can he want?
”

Sykes was panting as he approached the curricle.
“
Glad I caught you in time!
”

“
Well, what is it?
”
Salverton demanded.

“
It
’
s that fellow who was following us last night. He ain
’
t a Bow Street runner. I checked him out with my pals. When I learned that, I set out after you. He
’
s followed you from Brighton. I spotted his rig around the corner on Bruton Street. He
’
s waiting to follow you again.
”

“
I didn
’
t notice anyone following us,
”
Salverton said, frowning.

“
You wasn
’
t looking. He
’
s there right enough. What does the likes of him want with you and Miss Oakleigh? I thought I
’
d best let you know.
”

"Thank you, Sykes,
”
Salverton said, reaching into his pocket for the necessary
pourboire.

Sykes pocketed the money and said jauntily,
“
Where are we off to, then? Tunbridge Wells, is it?
”

“
Miss Oakleigh and I are going to Tunbridge Wells,
”
Salverton said.
“
I suggest you return to Brighton.
”

“
My nag
’
s winded from following you. When I saw the villain who
’
s been dogging your heels stop at Bruton Street, I rode over to Newman
’
s stable and hired a rig. I was just about to knock on your door, when the duchess came out. Or thinks she
’
s a duchess anyhow, with her nose in the air.
”

"A duchess
’
s eldest daughter, actually,
”
Samantha told him. Then she spoke to Salverton.
“
About that man following us, Edward. We can
’
t just ignore him. He may mean to do Darren a mischief.
”