Carola Dunn by The Fortune-Hunters Read Free Book Online Page B

stitches fastening the apricot feather to the straw, “as gentlemen don’t rightly notice what a lady’s wearing so’s she be neat and smart.”
    “I daresay, but the other ladies certainly do, and news would soon spread if I wore the same clothes to walk up Beechen Cliff as I did to parade in the Pump Room. I’ve no doubt gentlemen listen to rumour quite as avidly as ladies, even though they affect to despise it.”
    “Oh aye, t’menfolks is all gossips at heart. Why, wasn’t our Tad out this morning on an errand for Mr. Hayes and come back full o’ what Mr. Walsingham’s valet told him.”
    “Mr. Walsingham’s valet?”
    “Aye, miss, t’gentleman as walked you home just now.” Sukey knew her mistress was dying to know what had been said but would not lower herself to ask. She took pity on her. “Seems as he’s Viscount Stone’s fav’rite nephew an’ stands to inherit, for my lord has no nearer kin. He won’t get no title, being as he’s a sister’s child, but house and land—Stone Gables ‘tis called— an’ all. A nice gentleman, is he, miss?”
    “Oh, yes,” said Jessica dreamily. “Very nice.”
    “Matthew his name is. Tad says.”
    “The valet’s name?”
    “No, he’s Renfrew. Mr. Matthew Walsingham. And a very nice name, too, Miss Jessica.”
    Jessica smiled at her. “Why, I do believe you’re teasing me, you wicked girl. I like him, but I only met him yesterday, after all, and I daresay I shall meet others I like as well.”
    “That’s as may be, miss.” Privately, Sukey doubted it. She was a romantic at heart, a believer in love at first sight. Hadn’t she been faithful to Tad since the very first day she went to work at Langdale, when she was a twelve-year-old scullery maid and he a lad of sixteen?
    Miss Jess was catched, she reckoned. Whether Mr. Matthew Walsingham was worthy of her remained to be seen.
    At that moment. Sir Nathan was heard taking the stairs two at a time and calling his sister. “Jess? Can I come in? Tad says we have an invitation for this afternoon.”
    “The Barlows are walking up Beechen Cliff, with several others. Kitty Barlow particularly asked that I invite you to go too.”
    “She’s the short, jolly girl, isn’t she? Who else will be there?”
    “Her brother, of course, and Lord Peter, I think. He was there. And a number of people whose names I don’t know. Oh, and Mr. Walsingham.” Jessica saw Sukey smile at this apparent afterthought and willed herself not to blush.
    “Walsingham’s going? I’ll go with you then. You met him in the Pump Room?”
    “Before I reached it. Tibby disappeared again and he kindly squired me there and coming home.”
    “Dash it, this obsession of Miss Tibbett’s is becoming ridiculous. I’ll have to have a word with her,” he said, frowning.
    “Pray don’t, Nathan. She would be sadly mortified, and I’m not likely to come to any harm in the streets of Bath.”
    “It’s all very well if you happen to meet up with a respectable gentleman like Walsingham, but supposing it had been Alsop?”
    “Who is Alsop?”
    Nathan flushed. “A fellow I met in the card room last night and called on this morning. He may be a baron but he’s a bit of a Captain Sharp.”
    “You mean he cheats at cards?”
    “I admit I wouldn’t wish to introduce him to you, but you need not look at me so. Remember that I’m no pigeon for the plucking; I was in the army for three years.”
    “How do you suggest I avoid the acquaintance if he is a friend of yours?” Jessica kept her voice interested rather than reproachful and was rewarded with a rueful grin.
    “Oh, very well, you win. I shall drop the acquaintance. He was not half so amusing this morning as last night, anyway. Walsingham ’s much more interesting to talk to, and there’s nothing ramshackle about him. I’m going to ask Mrs. Ancaster for something to eat before we leave.”
    He dashed off. As Jessica changed into the blue gown and admired Sukey’s