Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) by M. C. Beaton Read Free Book Online Page A

respects, obviously felt he had done his part. He turned round and saw a slim girl with long hair down her back under a fetching straw bonnet standing beside a thin, spinsterish lady. He frowned a little and then his face cleared. The child from the hotel, looking vastly pretty in a grownup bonnet.
    Miss Tonks whispered to Mr. Davy, who was on the other side of her, “Is there any way you can engineer an introduction for Miss Carruthers to Lord Denby?”
    “Obliquely,” he said. “Come forward.”
    He led them into the circle of light and bowed low. Mrs. Tarry leaped to her feet with genuine enthusiasm. “Jason Davy,” she cried. “Where have you been?” Arabella reflected that despite his boast, Mr. Davy did not go backstage these days as much as he had led them to believe.
    “Oh, here and there, my heart,” said Mr. Davy. “May I present my two friends, who are vastly enamoured of your performance? Miss Tonks and Miss Carruthers.”
    Miss Tonks forgot she was there to further her friend’s marital ambitions. She looked at the actress with glowing eyes and said, “You are wonderful! Such grace, such elegance!”
    And Mrs. Tarry, who did not normally have much time for women, glowed before this praise and smiled at Miss Tonks and introduced the circle of men. The earl nodded to them and then said to Arabella, “You are staying at the same hotel as I, are you not?”
    “Yes, my lord,” said Arabella.
    “And are you enjoying the play, child? Does your mama know you are frequenting the Green Room of a theatre?”
    “I am nineteen years old, my lord, and no, my mama does not know I am here. But I am not in the way of having friends or of going anywhere, so I beg you will not tell her.”
    “That is hardly likely to happen as I do not have the pleasure of being acquainted with your mother.”
    “Oh, but you will,” said Arabella and bit her lip in confusion.
    “And why so confident, miss?”
    Arabella felt she had gone far enough. She could hardly say that as her mother was looking for a husband and because the earl was an eligible man, her mother would soon effect an introduction. Where were all the light and clever things she had rehearsed in her mind? She hung her head and blushed.
    Miss Tonks moved to the rescue. “I am a part-owner of the Poor Relation, my lord,” she said. “I trust you are comfortable.”
    “Extremely, ma’am.” He looked at Arabella. “And is Mrs. Carruthers one of the owners as well?”
    “
Lady
Carruthers is a guest.”
    The earl’s interest was aroused. This pretty girl with her large eyes and long, long hair was Lady Carruthers’s daughter. Lady Carruthers could not know her ingénue was consorting with a shabby actor and a spinster who helped to run the hotel. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his friend, Mr. Sinclair, down on one knee, presenting that necklace to Mrs. Tarry. He said quickly, “Perhaps I could take you all for some ices or a dish of tea, Miss Tonks?”
    “Thank you,” said Miss Tonks, much gratified. “We should like that above all things.”
    “Do you have your carriage?”
    “Yes, my lord.”
    “Then shall we meet in Berkeley Square at Gunter’s in, say, half an hour?”
    “Delighted,” said Miss Tonks. “Your lordship is
too
kind, so
very
kind.”
    The shrewd Mr. Davy saw the earl was already regretting his invitation and quickly drew Miss Tonks away. “Leave it be,” he muttered, “or he’ll change his mind.”
    He took Arabella and Miss Tonks on a brief tour of the backstage, showing them the scenery and the dressing-rooms, before hustling them out to the carriage.
    “I wish I had waited,” mourned Arabella as the carriage lurched forward in the rain. “How can I engage his interest when I look so unfashionable?”
    “You must seize the opportunity when it arises,” said Miss Tonks firmly. “Is that not so, Mr. Davy?”
    “Oh, yes.”
    “What were these men doing in the Green Room?” asked Arabella.
    “Most of ’em