His chance came quickly. As soon as we arrived, Mr. Kendrick slipped away to prepare a plate for Lily. I watched her blush as Ainsworthy spoke to her and felt I’d done Mr. Kendrick a disservice. I didn’t know him well, but he seemed a pleasant man, and since he was clever enough to obtain the supper dance with Lily, he deserved to have her attention at supper, rather than to be pushed aside by a prettier face.
Not that there was anything wrong with Kendrick’s face. His looks were chiseled where Ainsworthy’s were painted with a fine brush. Ainsworthy was tall and broad, where Kendrick was a bit shorter, and lean. He didn’t look as though he would crush Lily with a simple hug. Not that there would be any hugging. Good heavens, I was getting far too ahead of myself.
Kendrick returned with two full plates and a pointed glare for Ainsworthy. “Lady Harleigh must be famished, old man.” He seated himself on Lily’s other side and presented her with one of the plates. With obvious reluctance, Ainsworthy took the hint and left in search of sustenance while the three of us conversed.
“Is this your first ball of the Season, Miss Price?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve only been here a few days, so this is my first entertainment of any kind.”
“If you have any thoughts of attending the theater, I hope you’ll allow me to escort you.” He glanced at me and added the word both as an afterthought.
Lily beamed. “I—we’d love to go to the theater.”
“Excellent. If I may take the liberty of calling on you this week, perhaps we can settle on a date and venue.”
Alarm bells sounded in my head. I’d just been doubting his chances with Lily, and now I needed to worry he was moving too fast. Settle on a date, indeed! Didn’t he realize such a phrase would put ideas in her head?
Ainsworthy returned with not two, but three plates—one filled with a tempting assortment of cakes. “Just as I’d suspected, Kendrick,” he said, dutifully seating himself next to me, but across the table from Lily, “you’ve forgotten the sweets. Miss Price, you must try some of this.”
Lily, whose corset was every bit as tight as mine, wore a pained expression as Ainsworthy served her one of the sugary morsels. Kendrick opened his mouth to respond, when a gentleman bumped into our table, nearly sweeping my plate to the floor. I looked up to see Mr. Grayson.
“I beg your pardon, Lady Harleigh.” He reached out to steady a wobbling glass. “The room is rather crowded.” With a smile for Lily and a nod to the gentleman, he passed by. The incident had the happy result of causing a cessation of hostilities between the two men, and the topics of conversation became more general. Before long it was time to go back up to the ballroom. Ainsworthy and I had just reached the stairs when someone called my name. I turned to see Mr. Kendrick holding my reticule.
“This was on the floor near our table,” he said. “Does it belong to you?”
“Oh, dear. I’m not normally so scatterbrained. Thank you for returning it, Mr. Kendrick.”
* * *
In the cold light of day the following morning, watching Jenny arrange a third bouquet from one of Lily’s admirers, I realized that Lily was viewed as another American heiress, and could be the target of any number of fortune hunters. I would have to make sure these men were more than just romantic figures—that they were actually good husband material—before any of them engaged Lily’s heart. I looked at the cards: two honorables and a title. That alone was enough to raise my suspicions. Lily was a pretty girl, but she’d have to be much more than that for the average aristocratic mother to overlook her lack of blue blood. If the family were in need of funds, however, Lily might be as welcome as a large bag of U.S. dollars.
I should start with a visit to Fiona. She might know if any of the three ought to be avoided.
That would have to wait until later though. It was going on noon, and I’d yet to eat breakfast. When I dragged myself out of bed an hour ago, my maid told me Lily was still sleeping, but she should be up by now. I’d forgotten how late into the night these society events lasted. We didn’t arrive home until three in the morning.
I placed the cards back with Lily’s flowers, and headed to the dining room, delighted to find both of my relations up and taking nourishment. Well, Lily was anyway. Aunt Hetty was nursing a cup of coffee and listening to Lily chatter between bites of egg.
She glanced up at me with sleepy eyes. “Ah, so you’ve finally decided to join us. I was beginning to wonder if you planned to sleep the day away.”
“Me? Why I’ve been up for hours, supervising Lily’s floral deliveries.”
“Flowers?” Lily’s head popped up. “For me? Where?”
“You’ll find them in the drawing room.” I barely got the words out before she scrambled from her chair and fled the room, tossing her napkin on the table.
“No flowers for us, Aunt Hetty. I’m afraid we made no conquests last night.” I gave her shoulder a squeeze as I passed behind her.
“Goodness me, I gave up on conquests long ago, but I did speak with a number of intelligent gentlemen last night.” She took a bite of toast and unfolded the newspaper beside her plate.
“Well, I hope you gave them good advice.” I moved to the sideboard and examined the offerings. Hmm, a little egg, toast, coffee of course.
“I only give advice when asked,” she replied, leafing through the pages, probably looking for the market reports. “However, I do believe the gentlemen were surprised to find themselves discussing business with a woman.”
“Perhaps we should expect some callers for you this afternoon.”
Hetty’s look of derision told me she wouldn’t rise to the bait. “Well, if you see me acting like your sister, please feel free to shoot me.”
“She’s still very young, Aunt,” I said, seating myself beside her. “And this is all new to her. It’s normal for a girl to be excited about her first Season, but I hope she’s not quite ready to fall in love yet.”
“I’m just glad she enjoyed the evening. Things didn’t go as well for her at the affairs she attended in New York.”
I glanced over at Hetty’s face. She looked grim. “Why not?”
“She’s young and enthusiastic. She and the Knickerbocker set just didn’t mix. And you know your mother would never settle for anything less than an old, established family.”
My heart went out to Lily. I knew how that felt, to be on the outside, looking in. Before I could inquire further, she floated back into the room, a bright smile on her face, and the three cards in her hand. I drew back as she fluttered them before my face. “Franny, look! Viscount Ainsworthy sent flowers. And that nice gentleman who took me to dinner, and Daniel Grayson.” She frowned. “I heard Lord Ballymore is his father. Will he inherit the title?”
I tried to remember how many sons belonged to the Grayson family. “I’m not sure if he’s the eldest son or not.”
“Can we find out?”
“Is it important?” Now I was confused.
“Well, if there is a chance of marriage, I should learn as much about him as possible. You said so yourself.”
I saw Aunt Hetty hiding her face behind the newspaper, struggling not to laugh. “I was referring to their characters, Lily, not their standing in society. But aside from that, you seem to be jumping from flowers to marriage much too quickly.” I made a little flip- flop motion with my fork. “A London Season can be very exciting, but don’t let it carry you away. There’s no pressure on you to marry. Don’t put that pressure on yourself, or the gentlemen you meet.”
Lily looked aghast. “I know why Mother sent me here, Frances—to find a husband. And I must find one this spring or go back to New York as a failure.”
“Lily, no.” This was no longer amusing. Her attitude was far too much like mine had been at her age. “Mother’s not here and I won’t allow you to marry the first man who asks you, simply because that’s her idea of success.”
“But that’s what you did.”
“Exactly my point. I was on a quest to marry th
e most eligible man I could find, and once I did that, I thought I’d fulfilled my duty. But it doesn’t end there. It’s just the beginning of a new life, one in which you find yourself in the care of someone who is little more than a stranger.”
Lily stared down at her plate, a sullen expression on her face. How was I to make her understand? “Don’t rush into this. Once married, you belong to your husband, and you have no idea of the misery your life can become when you are tied to the wrong man.”
Her gaze softened as she looked up at me. “I’m so sorry, Franny. In my excitement I’d forgotten how awful Reggie was to you. But surely most men aren’t that bad?”
Not that bad? “Dearest, Reggie was a wastrel, and he was unfaithful to me, but in some ways, considering how incautious I was in marrying him, I was lucky. He took my money, then left me to my own devices. He was never cruel, or violent, or controlling.” I searched my mind for the words that would make her understand this was a serious business she was undertaking. “A woman is completely under the power of the man she marries. Considering what brutes some men are, we must be fools to rush into marriage the way we do.”
“Oh, come now.” Hetty lowered her paper and glared at me. “They’re not all bad.”
“Of course not, Aunt Hetty,” I was quick to agree, remembering how happy she’d been in her marriage. “But you must admit, marriage is an enormous risk for a woman. I just want Lily to be sure she knows the man she says yes to—both his heart and character. And it takes time to learn if a man is like your husband, or like Father, or like Reggie, or worse.”
I wasn’t sure I was getting through to either of them. Hetty was frowning. Well, perhaps she’d had a wonderful marriage, but in my experience, those were few and far between. Meanwhile, Lily still looked bewildered. “None of the gentlemen I’ve met appeared to be brutes,” she said.
“Anyone can be pleasant for the length of a dance,” Hetty put in. “Frances is right. You need to spend time with a person, see them in a number of different settings, to find out if they have a temper, or some other character flaw you may not wish to live with. You might get lucky, but without taking time to develop a relationship with someone, you are taking a risk.”
I silently thanked Hetty for her support. “And in this country, men have all the power in marriage, so a woman needs to be even more careful. Especially in cases like Lily’s and mine, where the gentleman might be expecting a large marriage settlement.”
“You mean they’re only interested in me because of Father’s money.”
I felt as though I’d crushed her hopes. “I mean that’s a possibility, and it would be wise to be suspicious.”
She inhaled and heaved another dramatic sigh. At this rate there’d be no oxygen left in the room. “I suppose you are right, but is there no way to do this quickly? Find out their intentions, I mean. And their flaws, too.”
I didn’t have a good answer. “I know where we can find the gossip about them, or at least two of them. Ainsworthy has been here such a short time, few people will have more than a passing acquaintance with him. However, we should start with a visit to Fiona. She always knows the latest gossip, and may have some ideas about how we can learn more of Viscount Ainsworthy. She is rather devious.”
“You could contact your solicitor,” Hetty suggested, folding up the newspaper. “Through him you could hire a private inquiry agent.”
I stared at her. “You mean someone who would follow them around? Spy on them? Are you serious?”
“Absolutely. If you think there are men who might romance our Lily, while having nefarious intentions, you need to find out everything you can. Your father and I have used inquiry agents before investing in certain companies in the past. It can be expensive, but the information they provide is well worth the cost.”
“Excellent.” Lily stood up with an air of impatience. “Send a letter to your solicitor, then we’ll go visit Fiona. I want to get things rolling.”
* * *
I dashed off a letter to my solicitor, intimating that I might be interested in hiring a private inquiry agent, to check up on the characters of the three gentlemen who might be courting my sister—that is, if he thought the expense to be within my means. Although as an afterthought, I realized I could ask my father to cover that expense. I provided the names of the gentlemen and concluded with a request for any new information regarding my bank account. I sent the note off with the kitchen boy, and shortly after one o’clock, Lily and I were in the cozy intimacy of Fiona’s boudoir, seated in tufted slipper chairs, sipping tea, and nibbling on sugary biscuits.
Fiona’s eyes were alight with excitement. “So what do you think happened to Alicia’s bracelet?”
“Her bracelet?” I was so wrapped up in Lily’s suitors, I had all but forgotten about the stolen bracelet.
“Do you really think it was stolen?” Lily asked. “I assumed she just lost it. I’m sure it’s turned up by now.”
Fiona flashed her a look that implied Lily was spoiling her fun. “I suppose that’s possible, but there have been quite a few thefts lately.”
“Yes.” I had to concede that. “But those were of objects taken from desks and shelves. I’m inclined to believe Alicia’s bracelet was simply lost.”
Fiona pursed her lips and sent a glare our way. “Fine, but I must say you are a couple of killjoys. Apparently you aren’t here to speculate on the identity of the thief.”
“No, not at all.” I apprised her of Lily’s potential suitors and asked for her thoughts. Fiona good-naturedly allowed the change in subject.
“Grayson wants watching,” she pronounced. “You are wise to be suspicious. The family goes back for ages, and there is no reason to suspect any financial problems, but Daniel Grayson is the third son.”
“Does that mean he won’t inherit anything?” Lily sat on the edge of her seat, eager for information.
“That’s part of the problem,” Fiona agreed with a nod. “I believe he studied the law, but he has done nothing in that profession. That leads me to believe he has an allowance from his father, and it’s not likely to be a large one. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were looking for a wealthy bride. Not a bad thing in and of itself,” she added, as if Lily or I were about to protest. “But it does call into question any feelings he may or may not have for said bride.”
“So he might just be after my dowry.”
“Too soon to tell. You should take care with him. However, you have two other lovely prospects.” Fiona’s face fairly glowed with excitement. The effect was to brighten Lily’s countenance as well.
“I do?”
“Oh, my dear. Yes, indeed. Kendrick might be an uphill battle, but well worth the fight.” She set down her cup and leaned forward in her chair. “The family’s wealth came from mining, I’m told. The grandfather built the business himself, and his sons expanded it into other areas. Leo Kendrick’s father married the Honorable Patricia Whiting, which was a huge coup for him, and now it’s said the children are expected to marry into the peerage.”
“Thus the battle,” I added.
Fiona nodded. “But on the positive side, if he is attracted to you, my dear Lily, it is for your own sake.”
Lily wrinkled her nose. “Well, that’s reassuring. From everything I’ve seen and heard lately, it seems marriage is all about position and money.”
“It is often a great deal about position and money,” Fiona said. “Which is why we need to find out how much influence Kendrick’s family has on his decisions.”
“Won’t his actions tell us that?” I asked. “If he calls on Lily, and his manner is respectable, then it would appear he intends to make his own decision.”
Fiona nodded. “Time will tell in his case. The family may not voice any objections unless he seems to be courting Lily in earnest. And they may not object at all, now I think about it, as Lily’s dear sister is a countess.”
I rolled my eyes, but realized Fiona was probably correct in this assessment. Stil
l, we weren’t hitting the points I was most interested in. “What about the characters of these gentlemen? There was an incident when both Grayson and I were staying at your home. I couldn’t recall it last night, but now I remember he struck one of your grooms with a riding crop.”
Fiona gasped. “Oh, yes. That’s right. The groom hadn’t tended to Grayson’s horse after a hard ride. Grayson was furious when he returned to the stables and saw the beast standing outside still sweating.”
“So he struck the groom?” Lily asked.
“Well, the groom had been terribly negligent and Grayson was concerned about his horse. I admit that was poor behavior on his part, but be assured the groom suffered much worse from the head groom afterward.”
“I’m fond of animals too, Fiona, but I’d never strike a boy for neglecting one. Though I suppose in some cases I might be sorely tempted to do so. You must admit that shows Grayson has at least a bit of a temper.”
Fiona sipped her tea as she considered this. “I suppose he does, but he was provoked.” She gave Lily a nod. “You should be alert to any signs of that if he calls on you. Impatience or temper is so difficult to live with.”
“Kendrick seems very upstanding,” I said.
“And far too occupied with business to get into any trouble. I’ve heard nothing to his discredit but the fact that he’s rolling in wealth means he can pay for discretion.” She gave us a one-shoulder shrug. “He could be hiding a multitude of sins.”
“But that’s the type of thing our inquiry agent could discover.”
“I didn’t realize this would be so complicated,” Lily said. “I’m beginning to consider all men as horrid and want nothing to do with them.”
“There are many good men, Lily. Look at Lord Nash, or Alonzo. The problem is the bad ones are skilled at acting like good men, which is why we have to be so careful at choosing one. I still say the best method is to take your time, and let them court you, if they plan to do so. After spending time with them, you may decide you don’t like any of them.”
“But I do like all three of them,” she said, forgetting her claim that all men were horrid. She brightened. “That’s right. We haven’t discussed Viscount Ainsworthy.”
A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder Page 9
