Mayhem in Bath by Sandra Heath Read Free Book Online Page A

parental guidance on the part of his late sister and brother-in-law, he sniffed and continued, “As to the ball, everyone who is anyone will be there, but every hired carriage in Bath has been snapped up. The crush of traffic near the rooms promises to be unbelievable.”
    “Surely anyone with sense will walk,” Polly ventured, thinking that walking seemed infinitely preferable to the madness of driving the short distance along Brock Street, around the Circus, then a few yards east to the Assembly Rooms, in the full knowledge that everything was bound to grind to a complete standstill anyway.
    “Polly, you know it isn’t done to walk to a ball!” he replied tartly, then went on. “On the day before the ball—that’s tomorrow, of course—there is to be a fine army review on Claverton Down, at which the duke will take the salute of his own regiment of light dragoons. I confess that even though I have been invited to join Count and Countess Gotenuv’s very select luncheon party in their tent at the review, and—”
    “Count and Countess Who?” Polly interposed, never having heard of them before.
    “Gotenuv.” He chuckled. “Gotenuv by name, got enough by nature, for they are rumored to be fabulously wealthy. They’re Russians, but the count is out of favor with the czar, so he and the countess were obliged to flee the country. Anyway, where was I?”
    “Their select luncheon party at the review.”
    “Ah, yes. Well, their tent will be right next to the royal pavilion, and I had resigned myself to not attending due to lack of transport, but now we can go together, for I have no doubt the Gotenuvs will graciously include you among their guests.”
    “Uncle, you cannot keep imposing upon other people’s hospitality like this. They don’t know me, and I don’t know them, so why on earth would they wish to include me in their exclusive party?”
    “They are very well bred, my dear, and any such request from one of their guests would be agreed to without question.”
    “As you would agree if you were the host? I think not.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Polly, for you know I would never have a tent at a royal occasion in the first place.” Hordwell frowned at her. “Anyway, I was telling you about the Gotenuvs. They’ve taken the other end house here on the crescent, and are very well acquainted with Benjamin, upon whom they dote as if he were their son.”
    Which meant they were probably addled, Polly thought, further surmising that Lord Benjamin’s interest in them would be purely mercenary. No doubt he intended to swindle them out of all he could. “Does the count play cards?” she asked shrewdly.
    “Oh, yes. He and Benjamin spend many an evening at the green baize,” her uncle duly confirmed.
    Definitely addled, she decided, for who in his right mind would play cards with a debt-ridden sharp like Lord Benjamin Beddem?
    “Well, Polly, no doubt you are tired after your unexpected journey. I will ring for a footman to take you up to whichever room is deemed best for you.” He reached over to the bell-pull.
    After a moment Giles came. “You rang, sir?”
    “I did indeed. My niece will be staying, so please conduct her to one of the guest rooms. Oh, and then refill this decanter.”
    Polly darted a cross look at him. “What of your gout. Uncle!”
    “Show a little understanding, my dear. It helps with the pain, you know.”
    Especially when it’s free, she thought as she followed the footman from the room.
     

Chapter 7
     
    Earlier, on finding the mews belonging to Royal Crescent, Bodkin had immediately selected a comfortable hayloft in which eventually to spend the night. He’d tossed his bundle and the pumpkin up into the loft from the stable below, his aim so impeccable that both landed in the exact place he’d chosen. Then, after eating a little of his honey, he commenced his search for Hordwell’s carriage.
    He combed the length and breadth of the mews, but found no sign at all of either