Page 130 of How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days

He pointed accusingly at Lydia – stooping to retrieve her pin from the ground – and Elspeth, who was still holding the riding crop threateningly aloft.

‘They are not madwomen,’ Ashford said.

‘I was not attacking you,’ Lydia said. ‘I was defending her!’

‘And I,’ Phoebe said, ‘do not wish to be your wife, any longer!’

A resounding silence followed in the wake of this declaration.

‘I intend to divorce you.’ Lady Phoebe spoke again, raising a wobbling but resolute chin.

Sir Waldo laughed. ‘On what grounds?’

‘Cruelty.’

‘There is not a judge in the world who would grant such a thing,’ he said. ‘No one would believe it: I am a pillar of society!’

‘Now that,’ interjected Ashford, ‘is not strictly true, is it, Waldo?’

He smiled at Waldo so benignly that Lydia half expected him to offer a pinch of snuff.

‘What are you inferring?’ Waldo spluttered.

‘Mr Hanworth can enlighten you,’ Ashford said evenly.

Pip raised himself up to his full height.

‘Fact is,’ he said, ‘Sir Waldo has almost bankrupted himself. That Mr Villars who keeps writing to him is a moneylender. Wants his dues.’

‘What on earth is he talking about?’ Lady Morton frowned.

Sir Waldo had gone white as a sheet.

‘Is that why you needed money, Waldo?’ Dacre asked. ‘Truly?’

Pip nodded. ‘Your payment appeased them, but it will not for long – so Waldo promised them the necklace.’

‘But you never had any intention of giving it to them, did you, Waldo?’ Ashford said. ‘That’s why you decided to go to Mauritius.’

‘And you had no intention of coming back,’ Pip said.

‘This is nonsense,’ Waldo said. ‘Madness.’

But his hands were shaking.

‘Waldo?’ Lady Phoebe said. ‘Is this true?

‘A mere trifling spot of financial bother.’ Waldo brushed at a speck of dust on his sleeve, not meeting anyone’s eye. ‘It is not serious.’

‘Did you truly keep such a thing from me?’

‘What good would there be in telling you?’ he barked. ‘You’ve no head for business.’

‘As you have told me, again and again.’ Lady Phoebe shook her head. ‘I almost believed you, but all this time – what about my money? My dowry?’

‘Do not stand on your high horse with me!’ He jabbed a finger at her. ‘You were leaving – running off with some lover, no doubt. It runs in the family, I see!’

He sent a sneering look toward Ashford, whose jaw tightened.