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

were paying court on Mrs. Tarry,” said Mr. Davy. “And I think that Mr. Sinclair, the earl’s friend, hopes to make her his mistress. Just before we left, did you notice that necklace he gave her?”
    “And were they all looking for mistresses?” asked Arabella in a small voice.
    “No, they usually go to the opera for that,” remarked Mr. Davy, staring out at the rain. “The dancers at the opera are much in demand.”
    “Do you think Lord Denby has an opera dancer?”
    Mr. Davy sat up straight, alarmed. “Hey, it don’t do for any female to be talking about a man’s opera dancers, and don’t you forget it.”
    Arabella relapsed into gloomy silence. Opera dancers had not featured in any of the wonderful plays she had written in her head about herself and the earl. Although, from overhearing her mother’s gossip to her friends, she was well aware that many men had mistresses, it was very lowering to think that the man of her dreams might have one as well.
    This idea began to plague her so much that when they arrived at Gunter’s to be welcomed by the earl and ushered to a table, she could think of nothing else. Mr. Davy and Miss Tonks had agreed to converse with each other just before the carriage arrived at Gunter’s so as to leave Arabella free to talk to the earl. So as soon as they were comfortably seated, Miss Tonks turned immediately to Mr. Davy and began to question him about the theatre.
    The earl looked at Arabella’s expressive face and said gently, “Something is troubling you, Miss Carruthers?”
    Those large eyes of hers fringed with long lashes studied his face and then she said quietly, “I was wondering if
you
had an opera dancer?”
    For one moment his face froze. He was about to resort to the aristocratic tactic of appearing to become immediately deaf, but again his curiosity stabbed him.
    “I have not been long resident in London, Miss Carruthers,” he said. “I have not had time. But when I get around to it, would you like me to let you know?”
    “I do not know what came over me,” said Arabella miserably. “I am terribly indiscreet. You see, my lord, as you will observe from my childish dress, I am kept mostly in the schoolroom and do not get about much and… and… perhaps if I had a little Town bronze, I would not make such disgraceful remarks.”
    “You are forgiven, Miss Carruthers. But why are you kept in the schoolroom? There is no schoolroom at the hotel, so I assume you were speaking figuratively.”
    “Yes, I was. Papa died last year and we are in London for Mama wishes to find a husband. Having a grown-up daughter is a disadvantage and so… Oh, I have done it again. I should not have said that. Oh, dear, there is something else!” She looked at Mr. Davy.
    “What now?” asked the earl indulgently, thinking that to feel interested and amused was an unusual state of affairs for him these days.
    “Miss Tonks,” cried Arabella. “Lord Denby should not have met Mr. Davy!”
    Miss Tonks and Mr. Davy looked at Arabella in dawning consternation.
    “Now why should I have not met Mr. Davy?” asked the earl. He added maliciously, “Can it be that Mr. Davy and Miss Tonks are having a secret liaison?”
    “My lord!” Miss Tonks’ sheeplike face was crimson.
    “I am sorry,” he said, not looking sorry at all. “But Miss Carruthers has infected me with bluntness. Perhaps you had better explain what you mean.”
    Miss Tonks struck her bosom. If the earl had been infected by Arabella’s bluntness, then Miss Tonks had been infected by the theatre. “We must throw ourselves on your mercy, my lord.”
    “I shall tell him,” said Arabella firmly. “I have already broken the rules of polite conduct. My lord, Sir Philip Sommerville is part-owner of the hotel.”
    “I have met the gentleman.”
    “He has become enamoured of a vulgar woman, a Mrs. Budge, who does nothing but eat. Miss Tonks, Colonel Sandhurst and Lady Fortescue—that is, the other partners in the