Page 132 of How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days

‘If we ever hear a whisper of your presence on these shores again, you shall speedily regret it,’ Lady Hesse said crisply.

Sir Waldo looked as if he were going to be sick.

‘I …’

‘I do not wish to look upon you for a second longer,’ Lady Phoebe interrupted. ‘I will sell the diamonds and pay your debts, so you may live easily in your new life. You will give me power of attorney to do so.’

The driver opened the door to the chaise with a suggestive creak.

‘Go,’ she said. ‘And do not return.’

Sir Waldo looked about them all, from face to face, examining them for any weakness.

‘This is not over,’ he snarled at last, stalking past them. He leapt into the chaise and slammed the door hard enough to make the glass of the window shake threateningly.

The driver set the horses, too, and they watched as it swept down the front drive – silent, implacable and united.

29

‘Well, you have outdone yourself, my lady,’ Lady Morton said, patting Lady Phoebe’s hand as the carriage left the front gates. ‘I am certain I have never attended a more eventful house party.’

‘It is a miracle we were not observed,’ Lady Hesse agreed, turning to regard the empty lawns behind them. ‘If any of this gets out, the whole of Kent will be gossiping for years.’

Lady Phoebe let out one, very constricted sob.

Ashford laid a hand on her arm.

‘My lady,’ Elspeth whispered.

‘I think we can all understand the need for discretion, can’t we?’ Lydia said carefully. She made eye contact first with Lady Hesse, then Lady Morton.

‘Fact is,’ Pip said. ‘There’s rather a lot we would all like to keep quiet, is there not?

‘Yes, I think so,’ Lady Morton said.

‘There is no need, in fact,’ Lady Hesse said, turning a gimlet eye upon her son, ‘to speak any further on anything that has occurred this week – if we are all in agreement?’

‘Yes,’ Dacre said.

‘No,’ Hesse said, looking from his mother to Lady Morton. ‘That won’t do for me at all – I wish you to marry me, Lady Morton.

‘Oh, do not be preposterous!’ Lady Hesse said.

Lady Morton pouted. ‘But it has been so long since I have been able to call anyone Mama.’

‘If you dare …’ Lady Hesse seethed.

‘Oh, you are too easy!’ Lady Morton said. ‘Hesse, darling, it’s been a great deal of fun, but I’m not in the least interested in marriage.’

‘But – but I love you,’ he declared.

‘Understandable,’ she said. ‘I’m sure I’m very fond of you, too – but it ends here. You would not wish your mother to suffer a heart attack – ladies of her age must be vigilant.’

‘You—’

‘Yes, I’m terrible,’ Lady Morton said mischievously. ‘Come along, Dacre, you owe me a dance.’

She twined a hand through Dacre’s arm and bore him off towards the house, Lady Hesse and her son trailing behind.