The Duke Conspiracy (21 page)

“I did not say that. I passed along all that
we found out from Lady Anne, and Wrentham is determined to be
vigilant. It saddens me a trifle because Lady Anne really does seem
to be a charming young woman who is merely misguided. I cannot
agree with her father's idea. It seems to me that it is a recipe
for a disaster of a marriage. You would not think any father would
wish that for his daughter.”

Now Elizabeth looked pensive about the
matter. “So, what can we do?”

“We can be vigilant over the next weeks while
out and about. I still cannot feel easy in my heart that Broderick
is not up to something. It strikes a strange chord that he would be
scheming with someone to entrap a husband for that someone's
daughter. Wrentham pointed out that if it is not a love match on
her side, they might just set their sights elsewhere. I cannot
think this will lead to a happy life for Lady Anne. I propose that
we should make an effort to dissuade her from her plans. She should
set about getting to know some nice gentlemen and hope one of them
makes her an offer that she can be happy with.”

Elizabeth nodded her agreement. “It may not
be as exciting as sneaking around to find out some information but
it is a sound course of action. And do you think we should keep an
eye out for the duke in case we need to defend his honor?”

Now Rose could feel her face shifting into a
skeptical expression. “Do you think that would be possible?”

Elizabeth laughed. “I was jesting you, ninny.
Although, now that I think on it, I do believe the idea has merit.
It would keep him from the parson's mousetrap. Eventually he has to
marry someone but I can tell that your old friendship is still
important to you, so I would think you would at least wish it to be
a happy union.”

“You are absolutely correct on that score; I
was just wondering how we could defend him.”

“By keeping an eye out for scheming hussies
who are trying to entrap him,” Elizabeth stated, as though Rose had
lost her mind. This led to great hilarity between the two girls,
and the subject was slowly changed to other matters.

After a short time Rose stood to take her
leave. “Thank you for being such a great sport on this matter, my
dear lady. Your help was invaluable. I certainly could not have
done it without you.”

Elizabeth shrugged, dismissing Rose's
compliment. “I barely did anything. I am absolutely certain you
could have done it on your own—I merely sped up the process. I
shall be sure to keep my eyes and ears open for anything pertinent
tonight. We are going to the theatre so there might not be too much
to find out there, but there is always lots of gossip floating
around at the intermission.” Her eyes glinted with excitement. “I
have always enjoyed the gossiping because I love to be up to date
on the very latest
on-dit
, but now it takes on an entirely
new meaning when there could be actual useful information in
it.”

Rose laughed once more. “You are a dear. I
shall see you soon. We are going to a ball this evening that is
being held by one of my father's ambassador friends. It shall be
anything but dull, although I cannot quite say that I am looking
forward to it.”

The two girls parted from one another on the
best of terms and Rose left, collecting Mary on her way out the
door.

“Did you manage to extricate yourself, Miss?”
Mary asked, as soon as they were out of earshot of the house.

Rose giggled at the maid's terminology. “I
did at that, Mary. Elizabeth is a dear and not at all a suspicious
sort. She has no reason to think there would be anything more
sinister than a young lady determined to make a good match. No
doubt their scheme is not even all that original. We agreed that we
should still keep our eyes and ears open for any mention of
Broderick and his activities, as well as trying to steer Lady Anne
into a more honorable method of making her match.”

“That was well done of you, Miss,” Mary
congratulated. “Where are we off to now? This is not the way
home.”

“We are going to stop in and see if Lady
Yorkleigh is at home to visitors. If she does not have anyone else
there I am going to try to find out if she knows anything of use
about Broderick. The fateful night of the musicale she seemed to
indicate to me that she had her own reasons for distrusting the
man, and it felt as though she were warning me away from him.”

“Oh Miss, this is so exciting!” the maid
almost squealed before sobering to add, “But you must have a care
for yourself, Miss. I fear this could end up being an unsafe
situation for your person or your reputation. I know this is
important and all, but shouldn't you be keeping in mind that you
are here in Town in search of a husband for yourself?”

“Do not fret, Mary. I will have a care, have
no fear. Besides, having you along will help to preserve my
reputation in whatever situation I might find myself.” Rose sighed
before continuing. “As to my search for a husband, that is another
matter altogether. I know it will need to be done eventually, but I
do not think I am in dire need as of yet. Surely my little brother
is not about to marry any time soon, so I shan't be the spinster
aunt before at least a few years have passed.”

“I don't mean you any insult, Miss, but you
ain't getting any younger.”

“Mayhap not, but I am quite certain that at
twenty summers, I am not yet nearing my dotage,” Rose huffed.

“True, Miss, but I was trying to say that you
should at least keep it in mind.”

“I know, Mary, you are quite correct. And I
promise you that I shall give it some thought at my earliest
convenience. In fact, you could help me, if you so choose.”

“How ever could I do that, Miss Rose?” the
maid asked, clearly intrigued at the thought.

“You know me better than anyone—you could
help me decide what I should consider important traits in my future
husband. The rest of my life is a rather long time to live with
someone, so I would hate to make a bad choice. My parents will of
course ensure that he is well enough established to properly
support me, so that is not what I wish to concern myself with. I
want to look for a man I can respect, and with whom I will enjoy
spending time. So many of the gentlemen I have met thus far make me
think that a few weeks spent in their company would bore me to
tears, never mind the next several decades.”

Mary was looking at her mistress with wide,
eager eyes. “I will put my mind to it immediately, Miss.”

“Thank you, Mary,” Rose smiled her
appreciation. She congratulated herself on her skillful change of
the subject which also would help her tackle a tricky task that was
necessary but intimidating. “I look forward to hearing your
insights.”

The young maid barely acknowledged her
mistress's comment, so engrossed was she in her own thoughts, her
mind engaged in the important task.

Rose had a genuine smile of amusement still
creasing her face as the door was opened by an attentive footman.
He could not help his answering smile at the pretty young woman on
the doorstep.

“Good afternoon, I was wondering if Lady
Yorkleigh is at home to visitors today,” Rose asked politely.

“May I tell her who is calling?” the footman
asked formally.

“The Honorable Rosamund Smythe.”

The footman widened the door for her to step
into the foyer. “Would you care to have a seat here while I check
with her ladyship?”

“Thank you,” Rose replied simply.

A moment later, the butler came to collect
her. “Her ladyship will be happy to see you. Might I take your wrap
for you? Your maid could either wait here for you or go to the
kitchens, if you think you are to be a while.”

“Thank you.” Rose turned to Mary to allow her
to choose. “It is up to you, Mary. I might be a while. If you would
like, you could make yourself comfortable in the kitchens.”

“Thank you, Miss, but I have a lot to think
on. If it's all the same to everyone, I'll just sit myself down
right here and ponder while you are visiting.”

Rose grinned and left her to it, following
the butler to a lovely, welcoming receiving room. As he opened the
door, Rose could see that it was decorated in the warmest shades of
cream and ivory, and while it passed through her mind that it must
be terribly difficult to keep clean, she did find it
extraordinarily attractive.

“Welcome Miss Rose, it was such a pleasant
surprise to hear that you were asking to see me.”

“I hope I am not disturbing you, my
lady.”

“Not at all, I was actually just wishing that
I had arranged something to amuse me today, and then I heard the
knocker and was hoping it was somebody interesting. To my delight,
it was you.”

Rose could feel a slight blush of delight
rising in her cheeks over the older woman's pleasant welcome.

“That is so kind of you to say, my lady,” she
began with deference.

“Oh do not be so starchy with me, young miss.
I am determined that we are to be friends. Now come and sit down,
and let me ring for some tea so that we can be comfortable.”

Rose did as she was bidden and perched
delicately on the settee, fearful because it looked too fragile to
be useful. Thankfully, its appearance was deceptive and it turned
out to be remarkably comfortable. She soon settled in for a
visit.

The two ladies exchanged idle chitchat about
the weather and what amusements they had attended the evening
before while they waited for the tea trolley to be brought in. Once
the housekeeper had brought it in and served her mistress and
guest, and then bustled from the room, the countess sat back
comfortably with her teacup and eyed her guest carefully.

“Now, Miss Rosamund Smythe, what brings you
to my parlor on this fine fall day?”

“Well, my lady, you did mention at your
musicale that I was welcome to return at any time,” Rose began, a
little flustered.

“Indeed I did, and I am delighted that you
have acted on that sincere invitation. But it strikes me that there
must be a reason, as it has been about a week since I uttered it.
If it was merely to cultivate our developing friendship, I would
think you would have turned up sooner.” Seeing that her guest was
becoming even more flustered by her words, the countess hurried to
add, “I am not complaining or censuring you, my dear girl, I am
merely stating the facts as I see them. I am delighted that you
have finally turned up at my door. I am merely curious what has
prompted it.”

“My dear Lady Yorkleigh, since you were so
kind as to invite me to visit, I was looking forward to speaking
with you further. I apologize profusely that I did not come a
couple days ago, as you invited, for your at-home.”

Lady Yorkleigh waved away her apology so Rose
promptly continued. “But you are correct that there has been
something that has prompted the timing. It is a rather delicate
subject and I hesitate to impose upon you.”

“Please, my dear Miss Rose, I welcome your
imposition, or rather, it is no imposition at all. I am ready to be
of service.”

Rose now felt a touch more relaxed over the
countess' droll words and so, smiling, she launched into her tale,
very nearly telling the truth. “At your lovely musicale I had the
dubious pleasure of becoming reintroduced to Sir Jason Broderick. I
have taken the gentleman in dislike and did not relish cultivating
the acquaintance. Unfortunately, my mother has decided that she
thinks he might be a fine catch for me, that as a baron's daughter
I should not think to look too highly for a mate, and that a knight
might make me an excellent husband.”

Lady Yorkleigh forbore to comment at this
point and Rose continued her explanation. “Now do not get me wrong,
my lady, I am not opposed to a knight. I am not overly concerned
with a gentleman's status or trying to improve my own through my
marriage. I am perfectly content to be a Miss or Mistress. The
trouble is with Sir Broderick himself. He strikes me as being a
rather repellent man. But I do not have any facts to back this up
in an argument with my mother. Since you yourself warned me away
from him at your musicale, I thought that perhaps you could share
something useful with me.”

The countess had continued to look at Rose
steadily throughout this speech, holding her own counsel and not
betraying much of her thoughts by even the twitch of an eyebrow.
Rose was admiring her ability to keep herself contained, but then
was distracted by the lady's words.

“I mean no offense, my dear, but is your
mother daft?”

Rose burst into raucous laughter. After a
moment, she was able to control her mirth. Wiping the tears that
had escaped during her hilarity, Rose finally was able to reply.
“My lady, I have on occasion wondered that myself but, no, I do not
believe she has lost her wits, she is merely of a different mind
than I am.”

“But, my dear, this is far more serious than
just a matter of taste. I can, if I make a concerted effort to be
unbiased, see that some might consider Sir Broderick to be
handsome, but the man is a snake under his skin. Clearly your
mother has not taken the time to even have a conversation with the
man or she would have disabused herself of the notion of marrying
you off to him. Not that he would want you.” At Rose's faint gasp
over this surprising statement, the countess finally found her
smile. “I can assure you, I did not just insult you. The man has no
taste for ladies with any thoughts of their own in their head. To
be honest, I strongly doubt that he is in search of a wife for
himself, but from what I have observed, the only ladies he ever
dances with are very fresh from the schoolroom, with very large
dowries to recommend them.”

“You have partially set my mind at ease in
that case, my lady. I have found a reason to be happy that I am
becoming a trifle long in the tooth.”