Paging Miss Galloway

by Susanne Marie Knight

  "Benjamin? Is he in any condition to be seen? Just yesterday, he still reeked from the Devil's brew."

  "He has been mollycoddled long enough.” Edward set his cup down, then pushed away from the table. “Galloway will be ready to go even if I have to tend to his ministrations myself."

  Raleigh rubbed at his tight curly hair. “Determined, aren't you?"

  Edward stood, and with a wave of the hand, he walked in the corridor toward the stairs. “Wish me luck."

  He heard Raleigh's voice follow him. “I say, I wish you more than that—I wish you a miracle!"

  * * * *

  Edward did need a miracle—for getting Danny's brother presentable, at any rate. Unwashed, unshaved, uncouth, Benjamin Galloway had literally stewed in his own juices, just as he had at the abbess's house.

  "Galloway.” Edward sighed as he reluctantly entered the bedchamber. “What are you doing to yourself?"

  The man quickly stood, then held onto the bedpost for support. His shirttail, more grey than white, hung down past his hips. He looked more suited for the beggar streets of London, than the fashionable resort town of Bath. “I-I have demons, sir. Regrets. I don't expect you to understand them."

  "We all have regrets, Galloway. How we handle them is what distinguishes us as men, or as beasts.” Edward walked over to the chest of drawers and poured water from the pitcher into a glass. “Here. Drink. I will have some coffee sent up."

  Blast. He never expected to play the part of a nursemaid. “What would your sister say to me if she knew you were no better off than when she found you three days ago?"

  Benjamin downed the water, then refilled the glass. “That is not true, sir. I have eaten well here. Plus you have paid my debts."

  The man's self-absorption put Edward out of countenance. “It is past time to have a care for someone other than yourself, Galloway."

  A nod was his only reply.

  "And what about your sister? Her situation is quite precarious. You have not inquired as to her whereabouts here in Bath. Indeed, previously, it is unconscionable that you offered her to Raleigh to pay your gaming debts."

  Benjamin turned away, then gingerly sat on the bed. “I was out of my head, sir.” His voice was ragged. “There is no excuse—"

  "You are correct. There is none.” After a moment, Edward sighed again and took pity on the man. “Your sister stays with Lady Yancy, the childhood friend of your mother. Lady Yancy, however has thrown an intolerable obstacle our way. She insists that I have compromised Danielle's reputation."

  The man stared up at Edward with bloodshot eyes. “Wh-What are you going to do?"

  Good, Edward spotted a glimmer of sense in the man's demeanor. “First, I insist you bathe and shave. I shall arrange for a man to assist you. Once you are fit to be seen, then we shall journey forth, this afternoon if you please, to Number Twenty, at the Circus and call on Lady Yancy. After the pleasantries, I expect you to use your influence over your sister to convince her to see me. To let me have my say before she makes any decisions."

  "You mean to save my sister's reputation, sir? Are you offering her marriage?"

  "Make no mistake, Galloway, my offer has nothing to do with Danielle's reputation. I love your sister, although I confess, she drives me to distraction. I hope to give her not only my name, but my heart."

  Begad, he prayed that his strategy would be successful.

  Edward placed his hand on the doorknob. “Now hurry and prepare yourself, Galloway. There is no time to lose."

  Shutting the door, Edward strode down the corridor to order pots of coffee and a hot bath for—God willing and God help him—his future brother.

  * * * *

  Danielle liked to think of herself as a woman of action. Someone who charged full speed ahead and took the bull by the horns in whatever life threw her way.

  An onlooker would never know that about Danielle by the way she'd been moping about her bedchamber.

  Enough! She slammed her fist into the palm of her open hand. This indecision had gone on long enough. Lady Yancy wanted Danielle to entrap Edward into marriage. Danielle refused to comply.

  A lump settled in her throat just thinking about that fine gentleman. He'd sent her flowers, notes, and kept trying to see her. But her mind was made up. She would not have his hand forced in such a repugnant fashion. He deserved to be happy, with a lady of quality, a lady of his own choosing. Not a termagant such as she.

  She wiped away a sudden tear.

  Lady Yancy also wanted Danielle to languish here until Sir Ambrose journeyed south from Leeds, though only the Lord above knew when ... and if that would happen.

  Again, Danielle refused to comply. Stuffing her few possessions into her well-worn carpetbag, she glanced one last time around the room and silently said her farewells. With Millicent gone from the house, Lady Yancy was most likely resting. Which meant Danielle's departure wouldn't be noticed for a few hours.

  She lifted the window which faced the back alley. Sounds from the street below, so muted before with the window closed, now filled her bedchamber. She leaned over the sill and looked down. The climb to street level would be a quick one despite the fact she wore a muslin gown—borrowed, of course. Gowns were not the easiest of climbing apparel, true, but she was done traveling as a boy. At least she'd learned that much from this foolhardy adventure.

  The brown velvet spencer covering her shoulders and arms would keep her warm during the evening hours, the straw hat protected her head, and her reticule contained a few silver crowns. Hopefully she had enough money to purchase passage on the mail-coach back to Leeds.

  Firm with her resolve, she straddled the window sill only to halt when a stable boy came running out into the street.

  "Make haste, lads! Make haste,” the stable boy called out. “'Tis another fancy cove's carriage arrivin'."

  He was joined by two additional boys. “Cor, this one's got four matched prime bits of blood fer us to handle. I get first dibs."

  That said, all three boys scurried out of the alley.

  Intrigued, Danielle swung her legs back into the room. Four matched prime bits of blood indicated an excellence of equipage far beyond any means she had ever known. Who was Lady Yancy's extraordinarily wealthy caller? She walked over to the window facing the front of the house to find out.

  What ... or rather whom Danielle saw made her heart stop. Getting out of a stately berline carriage was the elegant leg and well-dressed form of a very familiar gentleman. A gentleman she wished were anyplace but here.

  It was her father, Sir Ambrose Galloway.

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  Chapter Fourteen

  With a reluctant Benjamin in tow, Edward had no trouble gaining entrance into Lady Yancy's address on the Circus. The butler, a starch older fellow full of more pomp than circumstance, led them to a grand room situated to the left of the main door.

  "I shall inform Milady of your arrival,” the man intoned, then left Benjamin and Edward to their own devices.

  Benjamin tentatively entered the room, then flitted from one side of the salon to the other. He stopped a moment over the sidebar containing various decanters, but a lifted eyebrow from Edward was warning enough. Danny's brother moved away from temptation. He finally sat in a peach upholstered wing-backed chair.

  "I'm deuced thirsty,” he admitted.

  "I can imagine,” Edward replied. He sat across from Benjamin on the matching peach settee.

  Fortunately, the white paneled door opened to distract Benjamin from the after-effects of his inebriety. “Benjamin!” the lady of the house called out.

  Lady Yancy flew into the room and grabbed a hold of his hands. “Oh, dear Benjamin. Son of my dearest, departed friend. ‘Tis really you this time, isn't it? And not Danielle?” She squinted her china blue eyes. “I do wish I had my spectacles."

  She dropped his hands, then turned to Edward. “He looks a trifle peaked. Has he been unwell?"

  "You might say that has been the
case.” Edward shifted his position. “About Danielle—"

  The door opened again. “Milady,” the butler announced. “You have another visitor."

  Lady Yancy tilted her violet turbaned head. “Do I, Carter? How curious. You had best bring some refreshments—"

  "This is intolerable!” shouted a strident voice. A man strode through the door, pushing the butler out of his way. “I refuse to be kept waiting in the foyer in all my travel dirt. Most provoking. Most provoking in the extreme."

  The man removed his top hat and coat, then foisted the garments on the hapless Carter. His next action was to march over to a looking glass and adjust the lone, flaxen curl hanging down on his high forehead.

  Who the devil was this ill-mannered fellow? Despite the grey at his temples, he was a distinguished gentleman, if one could overlook the sour expression on his face. Edward glanced at Benjamin's pale countenance, then deduced this discourteous dandy was none other than Sir Ambrose Galloway.

  Sir Ambrose walked further into the room, inspected its occupants, then sniffed. “I did not expect to see you here, Benjamin. Are you party to this outrageous nonsense?"

  If Benjamin had appeared unwell before, he now resembled a corpse waiting for the undertaker. He murmured something, was it affirmative or negative? Edward could not be certain.

  During this display, Lady Yancy had stared at the intruder. Now she fluttered her handkerchief and patted her bosom in tandem. “Sir Ambrose, you are here!"

  "Madam.” The man looked down his long nose at her. “You state the obvious."

  She reddened. “Sir Ambrose, please, allow me to introduce Lord Tremaine."

  Edward exchanged nods with the older man. So this was Danielle's father. No wonder her behavior was more than a bit unconventional.

  The introductions concluded, Sir Ambrose removed a letter from his tailcoat pocket. “Lord Tremaine, you are the one who sent me this most distressing message.” Then he turned his disapproving gaze onto Lady Yancy. “And who is this encroaching female?"

  Lady Yancy gasped. “Well, I never—"

  "Mayhap you should,” Sir Ambrose interrupted.

  Edward quickly stood. The man's behavior was quite out of bounds. Sir Ambrose knew his hostess’ name; Edward had written all the details in the letter. So why did the man feign ignorance on her identity?

  Highly curious. However someone had to take charge of this situation. It appeared it was up to Edward. But, on another front, how the devil was he going to ask this incorrigible man for his daughter's hand? Blast.

  "Won't you have a seat, Sir Ambrose? Your hostess, Lady Yancy,” he gestured to the outraged woman, “has ordered refreshments for us. They should be here momentarily."

  The man complied, taking the spot Edward had just vacated. A scowl marred his thin lips.

  Thankfully, the butler entered, bearing provisions to soothe the savage beast. Edward escorted Lady Yancy to the opposite end of the settee. “And you, my lady, have a seat as well."

  Setting down the refreshment tray, the butler then left as swiftly as he had entered.

  After inquiring on how her guests took their tea, Lady Yancy fulfilled her hostessing duties. She could not, however, hide her pout. But as least she poured the tea. Benjamin did little more than stare at his fingernails.

  "Lady Yancy.” Sir Ambrose inclined his head toward his hostess. “Yes, I remember you now; back when Lady Galloway was around. You were always filling her head with some such nonsense or another."

  About to sit with his teacup, Edward froze where he stood. This man deserved a set-down.

  Apparently, Lady Yancy also thought so. She set her own cup on the side table. “You, sir, are putting me out of countenance."

  A gleam entered Sir Ambrose's pale green eyes. “You, madam, are a meddlesome witch."

  Edward watched with amazement. Those two were going at it like they were sparring a round at Gentleman Jackson's Boxing Saloon.

  Lady Yancy tucked a curl back inside her turban, then slid a sideways glance at her opponent. “Insolent puppy."

  Sir Ambrose grinned. “No, you insolent puppy."

  So that was the way the wind blew. Edward withheld his smile and signaled to Benjamin. The two of them quietly headed for the corridor. Since Sir Ambrose and Lady Yancy obviously had eyes for only each other, in a manner of speaking, he and Benjamin would not be missed.

  After Edward closed the door on the pair's mutual admiration society, he spotted the butler hovering nearby.

  "Lady Yancy and Sir Ambrose prefer to be left alone while they catch up on their news.” Edward cleared his throat. In all his thirty seven years, he had never seen the like—lovemaking amidst trading insults. “Carter, while Mr. Galloway and I wait in another room, please inform Miss Galloway that her brother is desirous of speaking with her."

  Edward glanced up the stairway and lowered his voice. “Only mention Mr. Galloway, Carter, understood?"

  "Certainly, sir.” The butler opened the door into the library, waved his arm inside for them to enter, then left to accomplish his task.

  Edward chose a chair next the fireplace. “That was the most unusual conversation between a gentleman and a lady that I have ever witnessed."

  "Indeed.” Benjamin sat across from him on a small settee. “I had no idea my father could be so ... so..."

  "Besotted,” Edward supplied. Perhaps this violent billing and cooing between Sir Ambrose and Lady Yancy was a fortuitous thing. If successful, then Sir Ambrose would be in a proper frame of mind to hear Edward's request to marry his daughter.

  * * * *

  Her father was here at Lady Yancy's! No doubt to rant and rage about how his daughter had inconvenienced him. About what an uncomfortable journey it was traveling down to Bath. About what an insufferable state his daughter's affairs were in. About how Danielle had compromised her reputation a thousand times over. And on and on.

  If her father ever learned about her disguising herself as a boy...

  She shuddered. That did not bear thinking about.

  And why had Sir Ambrose arrived in such grand equipage? Or perhaps the more pertinent question was how had he come to be in such grand equipage? The Galloway estate was a modest one. While the family never lacked for necessities, Sir Ambrose was not so strong in the pocket as to allow for extravagancies.

  Danielle paced in the small area of her bedchamber. She glanced at her image in the looking glass. In truth, she appeared almost unrecognizable from that headstrong girl back in Heptonstall at Harmony Manor, Cousin Jeanette's home. That naïve girl had vanished. A woman stood in her place. A woman who had found not only love, but heartache. How could she live with herself if she had to force Edward, dear Edward, into marrying her?

  No, that was unthinkable! She could not bear to see the abhorrence in his eyes.

  She dabbed at her own eyes with a lacy handkerchief. It wouldn't do to face her father in tears. And since she did have to face him ... and get a severe dressing-down, she'd better remove her straw hat and spenser. She obviously wasn't leaving Lady Yancy's house at this time, on her own or otherwise.

  A knock at the door interrupted her actions. She frowned. Her punishment was about to begin.

  "Miss Galloway,” a man's voice—Carter—called out. “Your brother, Mr. Galloway, has arrived and is waiting for you downstairs."

  She swung open the door. “Benjamin? Benjamin is here?"

  "In the library, miss."

  Before she had a chance to question the butler about her brother, or her father, Carter pivoted quickly and walked down the corridor, his black shoes squeaking after him.

  But here was a fortuitous break. She could talk with Benjamin first about her predicament, before she had to face her father. Benjamin would help her decide what to do.

  With her heart lightened, Danielle rushed down the stairs. She reached the library, hesitated just a moment, then opened the door and walked inside.

  "Benjamin, oh, Benjamin! I'm so glad to see—"

>   Her hand flew to her lips. She did see her brother, hunched down in his seat by the white marble mantelpiece, but she also saw Edward, looking dashing in his double-breasted suit, white waistcoat, and black Hessian boots.

  A maiden's dream come true.

  He immediately stood. “I hope you are just as glad to see me, Danny.” Extending his hand, he indicated for her to have a seat on the settee next to her brother.

  Her legs wobbly, she sunk down on the cushions. She had to control herself. Couldn't allow her emotions to run amok. She couldn't let him see how he affected her.

  "Certainly, my lord,” she managed as calmly as she was able. “Gracious, has Carter forgotten to bring in refreshments? I'll go ring—"

  Edward held up his hand. “We are not here to drink, Danny."

  Benjamin lifted his sullen gaze and muttered, “Not tea, at any rate."

  Once again, her hand flew to her lips. Not in surprise as before, but in dismay. How had Benjamin turned into a hardened drunkard?

  "Do not fear, your brother will dry out, eventually. I shall see to that.” Edward sat back in his chair and crossed his right leg negligently over the other. He tapped his left foot as if he had a twitch.

  Did talking about Benjamin annoy him?

  "'Tis not your concern, sir,” Benjamin said mulishly. “I don't see—"

  "I have made it my concern. Demons or no, you will conquer this condition and live a respectable life again."

  An alarm rang in Danielle's head. Why was Edward concerning himself with Benjamin's fall from grace? Now that Sir Ambrose was here, he would take on the job of his son's redemption.

  Edward shook his head. “Danny, why are you wearing a hat and a jacket? Going someplace?"

  She flushed. “Oh. I was only trying the hat on. Besides, ‘tis not your concern, whatever you may say.” She thought a moment. “And please, you mustn't call me Danny. My name is Danielle, however I haven't given you leave to call me by my Christian name."

  He smiled, but it was a grim one, at best. “You expect me to call you Miss Galloway then?"

  She shrank against the back of the settee. “Yes. Um, of course."