Page 44 of Otters and Obstacles
Sir John hesitated, and Peter could all but see him sort through the possible falsehoods he could tell. “One of the stableboys. He thought he could sell them to the previous vicar here. He has been dismissed without a character, of course.”
Peter raised an eyebrow at the flimsiness of this story, but decided to allow the other man to dig himself in even deeper. “No payment was demanded when they were left with me.”
“So theyarehere! Return them at once.”
“I cannot return them without proper documentation that they belong to you.”
With an edged smile, Sir John reached into his coat and pulled out a letter. “I have here a letter from Sir Anthony Hoult, the keeper of the Regent’s menagerie. He is inquiring about the otters that were entrusted to my late uncle, Sir George Morland.”
Peter held out his hand and Sir John reluctantly handed over the letter. Peter read it quickly, trying to think at the same time. Sir Anthony was certainly inquiring after the otters, and Peter suspected his own inquiry several weeks ago had led to this exchange and to Sir John’s sudden appearance. However, upon reading the letter over again, Peter felt Sir Anthony didnotimply that Sir John was the rightful guardian of the otters after his uncle’s death. It was a mere inquiry into their whereabouts.
It was none of Peter’s concern if Sir John got into deep water with the Prince Regent, while Georgie’s happiness was entirely his concern. She would be miserable if the otters were given to Sir John, even if the man was forced to treat them better than he had.
“I do not have the otters any longer,” Peter lied. He handed the letter back to Sir John.
“What?”
“A young gentleman arrived a few days after they did and claimed they were his. He showed me a letter to prove his claim. I had no use for them, so I allowed him to take them.”
Rage flared in Sir John’s face as a dark flush. “You let him leave?”
“Of course. What reason would I have to keep him here?”
“But where did he go?”
“He did not tell me.”
“But I must have them back! Sir Anthony is coming to Sussex in two weeks to inspect them and their living circumstances!”
“I do not feel that is any concern of mine, Sir John.”
The other man stewed in that for a few moments before he said, “What did this… this young gentleman look like?”
“I don’t recall. It’s been more than a month.” Peter stood up from behind his desk, forcing Sir John to do the same. “You must excuse me, Sir John. I am a busy man, and my next appointment…”
Visibly fuming, the other man bowed. “If I find you have been harboring a thief, it will go very hard for you, duke’s son or not.”
Peter looked the other man straight in the eye. “I have no idea what you are talking about.” Georgie had done nothing wrong. Nor had she done anything illegal since the otters belonged to her. As far as Peter was concerned, it was not even a lie.
Sir John stormed from the room, pushing his way past a startled Mrs. Barwick as the front door slammed behind him.
“Where is Lady Peter, Mrs. Barwick?” Peter was surprised his voice was as steady as it was. The encounter with Georgie’s cousin had shaken him more than he expected.
He was suddenly, fiercely glad he had persuaded Georgie to marry him, impulse or no. Imagining her under that man’s thumb for the rest of her life was the stuff of nightmares. No wonder she had been so reluctant to write to her cousin to inform him of their marriage, or to allow Peter to do so. Now he was glad he had acceded to her wishes.
“Lady Peter is out visiting Mrs. Clarke, my lord.” Mrs. Barwick frowned. “Did that man come to take the otters away?”
“I will not allow him to.”
Mrs. Barwick sniffed. “I won’t say I like the creatures, because I don’t. But I don’t wish Lady Peter to be hurt.”
“No more do I, Mrs. Barwick. So let’s not trouble her, shall we?”
After a moment, she shook her head slowly. “If you think it best, Lord Peter.”
“I do,” Peter said, quashing his sudden qualm. After all, it wasn’t as though her cousin would accost her in public even if he did see her. No gentleman would do such a thing.
As Georgie exitedMr. Banner’s shop, an all-too familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.
