Page 55 of Last Night with the Duke
Sir Welby’s brown eyes squinted. His bushy gray eyebrows twitched. It looked as if he were trying to focus on Griffin’s face but couldn’t quite manage. “No, no, I can’t say that I have. Not a thing more.”
“You sit here most every evening. Have you since heard any of the voices from that night?”
He stared at Griffin blankly. “No, no. I’m sure I haven’t. I-I would have sent word to you immediately just like you asked if I had.”
“That’s puzzling. Everyone stops to speak to you when they come into the taproom.”
“No, no. Not everyone speaks, but I’d say most of them do. Some are in too much of a hurry to be polite,” he grumbled. “I told you, Your Grace, I’m not sure I’d recognize them again if they did. I don’t know everyone who comes in here like I used to. There were too many voices that night. They all blended together just like I said.”
“All right,” Griffin said. “Has anyone mentioned this to you and questioned you about it?”
“Yes, yes,” he answered, suddenly looking excited. “Most everyone who stops by to speak asks me if I’ve heard anymore from the blades. I tell them the same thing I’m telling you. It was only the two of them. I haven’t heard another word, and don’t think I will. I don’t think they want to say anything else around me for fear I’ll tell everyone that too.”
That was odd. Griffin rolled his shoulders. “Earlier you said it might have been as many as three, four, or more.”
“Yes, yes, that’s right. Two to four. It was dark. I’m not sure.”
The man seemed to be certain the last time he spoke with him. Griffin glanced around the taproom. The lamps had been lit. It was dim but not dark.
“Have you not found out any indications as to who the young blades might be?” the old gentleman asked.
The last thing Griffin wanted was Sir Welby telling everyone he had narrowed his suspicions down to Sir Charles Redding and Mr. Albert Trent. It would be fine if Trent and Sir Charles suspected he might be watching them, but he didn’t want them to know for sure. What still baffled the hell out of him was that no one was talking. London Society wasn’t known for keeping secrets.
Griffin shook his head. When he realized that Sir Welby probably couldn’t see the gesture, he said, “Not yet.”
“I’ll ask around for you,” he said eagerly. “And see what I can find out.”
“It’s good of you to offer, but I’d rather you didn’t say anything more about this to anyone.”
Sir Welby gave him a questioning look, then said, “That’s probably for the best. It could be that whoever was doing the bold talk that night has decided against putting their words into action since it’s been written about in every scandal sheet in London. Not to mention they’d be downright foolish to try anything with a duke’s sister.”
“That’s what I’m hoping, but we both know there are some men willing try anything.”
Chapter 18
Do make the best of any unpleasant situation put before you.
MISSMAMIEFORTESCUE’SDO’SANDDON’TSFORCHAPERONES, GOVERNESSES, TUTORS,ANDNURSES
The old and magnificent Grand Hall had been favored with the first ball of the Season since it was built over half a century ago. This year was no exception for the famed building, which had been honored with the presence of kings, queens, emperors, and nobility from countries all over the world. When Esmeralda stepped inside, she’d gasped at the opulence of the décor. It far exceeded anything she’d ever seen.
Keeping in the grand style of elegance, the vestibule had gilt-covered chairs with plush, rose-colored velvet cushions lining the walls and filling the beautifully appointed, scalloped alcoves. It was the perfect area for patrons wanting a reprieve from the music, chatter, and laughter of the guests. Couples could steal away for intimate conversations or gentlemen could conduct business discussions in privacy while the festivities continued in the main room.
The ballroom glimmered with flickering candles that threw pale yellow light from corner to corner, windows to doors, and back again. A wide archway leading into the gathering place, where guests stopped briefly to be announced, had been decorated with greenery and pale blue, yellow, and violet flowers. Twelve Corinthian columns trussed with flowing ribbons hanging from their gilt-topped capitals were evenly dispersed around the spacious hall and appeared to be holding up the massive ceiling, which had been painted blue with floating white clouds to resemble a sky.
Throughout the room, tall urns, short vessels, and small vases overflowed with spring’s most gorgeous blooms. Someone had somehow managed to produce a spectacular stone waterfall in the center of the room about the height of a man. It had also been adorned with flowers. On one side of the spacious area, the musicians were clustered closely together playing a lively tune. The dance floor was crowded with beautifully gowned ladies and splendidly dressed gents swinging, twirling, and clapping in time with the music.
Along the back wall stood four white linen–draped tables. One was filled with sparkling glasses and what looked to be endless bottles of champagne and wine. The other three were laden with food. Gleaming, tiered silver trays were filled with such delicacies as stuffed mushrooms, smoked oysters, quail eggs, and small slices of ham and lamb. A variety of cooked vegetables, fruits, and breads topped another table. The fourth and largest overflowed with pastries, pies, tarts, and other mouthwatering treats for those wanting a taste of something sweet.
The aromas of food and candle wax, sounds of the loud music, the drone of humming chatter and laughter, and the breeze whistling through the open doorways made everything about the room a feast for all the senses. Esmeralda found it impossible to take in the spectacle of it all at once.
“There must be at least two hundred people here,” Lady Sara said as they stood in the archway and looked down into the ballroom. “Griffin, you can’t possibly know them all, can you?”
“Most, and we might as well get started with the introductions. It looks as if the Earl of Daundelyon and his ladyship are standing closest to us, so we will begin there.”
“I want to meet Lord Henry first,” Vera said.
“Yes,wewant to meet him first,” Sara corrected, giving her sister a stern look.
