Page 79 of The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins

I said nothing, and he went on.

“I would treat you gently, and you would lack for nothing. I’d protect and honor you. You believe me?”

“I ... I do believe you.” But I immediately wondered if that was true.

“Dinner is ready, ma’am.” The servant bowed and left the room.

No one spoke for a moment, then Mr. Merritt said, “I’ll go and see if I can fetch the two errant lords.”

We all smiled at his referring to the earl and the viscount as if they were children.

Less than a minute later, the three men returned, Lord Markeley looking a bit more sober, and we were able to pair up and proceed into the dining room.

I’d paired Millicent with Lord Markeley and Hattie with Mr. Allen, who was so much altered from the house party at Lowndesbury House that I wondered if his parents’ presence there had caused him to be antisocial. I’d paired Mrs. Drake with Mr. Merritt, and myself with Lord Brookhaven, since his status as an earl would entitle him to the highest place at the table. But that meant that these two gentlemen were on either side of me.

The meal progressed pleasantly enough, with Millicent, Lord Markeley, and Mr. Allen telling Hattie stories of the party at Lowndesbury House. And Lord Brookhaven and Mr. Merritt talking pleasantly enough with me and Mrs. Drake. I never would have sensed any tension between the two gentlemen if not for the fact that I’d seen them speaking much more familiarly and in a much friendlier manner at Lowndesbury House.

I’d managed to sneak away just long enough to whisper to the servant pouring the wine and ask him to make certain he only gave Lord Markeley the watered-down wine I reserved for myself and Hattie. It was the only kind of wine Mrs. Southey allowed her schoolgirls and teachers to drink, so we preferred it.

I hoped it helped keep Lord Markeley from ruining our evening.

While we were being served the second course, I thought I heard a knock at the front door. But I ignored it, until half a minute later I heard shouting.

I jumped up and rushed toward the sounds of raised voices. In the hall, I felt Lord Brookhaven’s hand on my shoulder.

“Allow me to go first,” he said, even as he maneuvered himself between me and the man shouting at the young footman who’d answered the door.

“Them’s m’ rightful kin,” he was shouting. “Your mistress took ’em unlawful-like. You bring ’em down here to me.”

“You are trespassing, sir,” Lord Brookhaven said.

“I want what’s rightfully mine! I know my Joshua and Sarah are here.”

“Joshua and Sarah are orphans,” I said from behind Lord Brookhaven’s shoulder. “You’re not their father.”

“That’s all you know! They’s my own niece and nephew, my sister’s young’uns. Now hand ’em over, or I’ll be fetching the constable.”

“We will speak to your solicitor about it in the morning,” Lord Brookhaven said.

The man spit out a curse, and that was when I smelled the alcohol on him.

“Ain’t never had no solicitor. But I’ll be back, mark my words.” He pointed a dirty finger at me. “You ain’t seen the last of me.”

“And what is your name?” Lord Brookhaven asked.

“Gilbert White, and I know my rights. This is still England, and the lady of this house has my kin.”

The man backed out the open door, and Lord Brookhaven shut and locked it.

I lifted my hand to my face, then noticed it was shaking and put it down again.

“Are you all right?” Lord Brookhaven asked.

“Yes.”

“Have you ever seen that man before, or have the children mentioned him?”

“No, I haven’t, and they have told me themselves that their parents are dead and they have no home.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I will not allow that man to take them. They are happy here. I won’t allow it.”