The Adventuress: HFTS5 by Marion Chesney, M.C. Beaton Read Free Book Online Page B

it
presumptuous
of Miss Goodenough to send them invitations when she don’t know them or anybody else.
Then
Lord Frankland’s valet says as how everyone’s saying, ‘Who is this mushroom?’ and how Brummell said in White’s t’other day, ‘I shall not go. Not
good enough
for me,’ which everyone thought was monstrous funny.”
    “But Miss Emily has spent a fortune on food and flowers and an orchestra,” said Mrs. Middleton. “I wanted to tell her that all these things were not necessary for a rout, but she is rather cold and haughty, and I did not like to tell her what to to do.”
    “Yes, she
has
been very unapproachable and frosty,” said Rainbird. “I wonder what brought that about. She did seem to have accepted my apology, but later, the day after that, she looked at me as if I had crawled in from the kennel.”
    “Reckon I know something about that,” said Alice slowly.
    “Come on, Alice,” urged Jenny. “What happened?”
    There was a long pause while they waited for Alice’s brain to crank into action.
    Then Alice said, “She was asking about the rat and the horses and all, and I told her lies about them. But then she asked me why Mr. Rainbird had been so insolent and, well, I told the truth.”
    “You what!”
screamed several voices in unison.
    “Couldn’t think of a lie,” said Alice. “Told her we thought she was being a bit cheap over the matter of the rent and that we feared she might be cheap with us, so we tried to gel rid of her.”
    “And what did she say to that?” asked Mrs. Middleton faintly.
    “Says something like, don’t do it again, and looks relieved.”
    “How can we help the poor girl now?” said Rainbird crossly. “If we try to advise her as to how to go on, she will think we are plotting against her.”
    “Pity she isn’t someone who
has
to keep her background a secret, like in those books I read,” said Lizzie dreamily. “You know, like she’s really a foreign princess in disguise.”
    “Worth a try,” said Angus MacGregor. “Thae tottyheids in society would believe anything, provided someone told them it was a secret.”
    “You really mean we should go ahead with it?” asked Rainbird, amazed.
    “Why not?” said Angus with a shrug. “I dinnae want to see all this food go tae waste.”
    “There’s one other thing,” said Mrs. Middleton. “Miss Emily does not seem to know that it will be considered very odd in her, should anyone at all turn up, not to be accompanied by a female companion. A young lady, hopeful of marriage, should always be launched by some female.”
    “Wait there!” said Rainbird. “First I must go and see if I can melt Miss Goodenough’s icy manner or we will not get anywhere at all. There’s the door. See who it is, Dave.”
    Dave came back, looking puzzled. “It’s Luke,” he said. “And he wants to speak to you, Mr. Rainbird.”
    “Not Joseph?”
    “No, you.”
    Rainbird went to the door. After only a few moments, he returned, looking highly amused. “Well, well,” he said. “Wonders will never cease. That was Luke asking permission to walk out with Lizzie.”
    Lizzie blushed and avoided Joseph’s startled look.
    “I said I’d think about it,” said Rainbird, “and sent the whipper-snapper on his way. Come along, Joseph. No need to sit there looking as if you’ve been struck by lightning. Clean the silver while I soften Miss Goodenough’s flinty heart.”
    Emily’s face set in a hard and haughty mask as Rainbird entered the room. After her relief at Alice’s revelation had worn off, Emily felt that she, Emily, had not behaved in a proper manner. She should have reported the servants to Palmer and found somewhere else. But jewels and fine feathers could be sold should the Season prove to be a disaster. An enormous rent would have drained a significant amount of their capital away, and although they had a great deal of money, Emily always reminded herselfit was Mr. Goodenough’s money, and it was her duty