Bluegate Fields by Anne Perry Read Free Book Online Page A

themselves. It did them no good at all. She looked at him again, more carefully.
    “Is your barber indisposed?” she said at last.
    Dominic’s black eyebrows rose a little.
    “You consider my hair ill-cut, Grandmama?” He still gave her the courtesy title, even though his membership in the family was far more distant since Sarah’s death and his move from the house in Cater Street to his own lodgings.
    “I had not realized it had been cut at all!” she replied, screwing up her face. “At least not recently! Have you considered joining the army?”
    “No, never,” he said, affecting surprise. “Are their barbers good?”
    She snorted with infinite contempt and turned to Caroline.
    “I’m ready for luncheon. How long am I obliged to wait? Are we expecting yet another guest I have not been told of?”
    Caroline opened her mouth to argue, then resigned herself to the futility of it.
    “Immediately, Mother-in-law,” she said, standing up and reaching for the bell. “I will have it served now.”
    Charlotte did not find an opportunity to raise the name of the Waybournes until after soup had been served and eaten, the plates removed, and the fish set on the table.
    “Waybourne?” Grandmama balanced an enormous portion on her fork, her eyes like black prunes. “Waybourne?” The fish overbalanced and fell on her plate into a pile of sauce. She scooped it up again and put it into her mouth, her cheeks bulging.
    “I don’t think so.” Caroline shook her head. “Who was Lady Waybourne before she was married, do you know?”
    Charlotte had to admit that she had no idea.
    Grandmama swallowed with a gulp and coughed violently.
    “That’s the trouble with the world these days!” she snapped when she caught her breath. “Nobody knows who anyone is anymore! Society has gone to the dogs!” She took another huge mouthful of fish and glared at each of them in turn.
    “Why do you ask?” Caroline inquired innocently. “Are you considering whether to pursue an acquaintance?”
    Dominic appeared lost in his own thoughts.
    “Are they people you have met?” Caroline continued.
    Grandmama swallowed. “Hardly!” she said with considerable acid. “If they are people we might be acquainted with, then they would not move in Charlotte’s circle. I told her that when she insisted on running off and marrying that extraordinary creature from the Bow Street runners, or whatever they call them these days! I don’t know what you were thinking of, Caroline, to allow such a thing! If one of my daughters had ever entertained such an idea, I’d have locked her in her bedroom until she came out of it!” She spoke as if it were some kind of fit.
    Dominic covered his face with his napkin to hide his smile, but it still showed in his eyes as he looked up quickly at Charlotte.
    “A lot of things were done in your day that are impractical now,” Caroline said crossly. “Times change, Mama-in-law.”
    Grandmama banged her fork on her empty plate and her eyebrows rose almost to her hair.
    “The bedroom door still has a lock on it, has it not?” she demanded.
    “Vanderley,” Dominic said suddenly.
    Grandmama swung around to face him. “What did you say?”
    “Vanderley,” he repeated. “Benita Waybourne was Vanderley before she married. I remember because I know Esmond Vanderley.”
    Charlotte instantly forgot about Grandmama and her insults, and looked at him with excitement.
    “Do you? Could you possibly find a way to introduce me—discreetly, of course? Please?”
    He looked a bit startled. “If you wish—but whatever for? I don’t think you would like him. He is fashionable, and quite amusing—but I think you would find him very light.”
    “All young men are light-minded these days!” Grandmama said morosely. “No one knows their duty anymore.”
    Charlotte ignored her. She had already thought of her excuse. It was a complete lie, but desperate situations occasionally call for a little invention.
    “It is for a