Chapter Ten #4
He thought it well they did not talk long as they stood in front of the Patinir, as he could feel the baron watching them. For that matter, several of the ladies were watching them too. That, he would imagine, would be engendering hopeful thoughts that he and Lelander had decided to become friends.
Montachet, though. He would not care if Burkhart and Lelander were friends or enemies. Did he watch because he suspected that he was suspected?
If he did, that would be more reason to take what he could and move on tonight. He would not like the magistrate to turn up and hear of any suspicions against him.
The baron might also wonder about Miss Millthorpe.
The lady had not given anything away at table, she had set her sights firmly on managing Bertie and Teddy.
But would Montachet wonder at her being in the house?
Would he wonder if she knew something and was saving it for the magistrate?
One did not encounter the likes of Miss Millthorpe, however briefly and in whatever situation, without understanding that she was a woman of great fortitude.
Burkhart was determined that they would get to the bottom of the mystery around Montachet.
Either they would catch him in the act of stealing, or he and Lelander would sit in a dark and quiet house all night and realize their suspicions had been unfounded.
Either way, he would see that Miss Pansy was safe.
That thought brought to mind how he planned to proceed with the lady.
Certainly, he would not leave the house without expressing his wish to have the situation defined between them.
Were he to leave with things unspoken, he might never see the lady again.
He would not be able to write and how else was he to end up in this neighborhood, if not to visit Chemsworth?
He might be able to write to Hemmings and extract some sort of news or send some sort of message.
But that would be rather weak tea. And a risk too.
Were he and Lelander the only two gentlemen who would be invited to the house?
Or more likely, the lady’s relations might have several ideas about who might be suitable.
If he were to go with nothing said, some rogue might be waiting in the wings.
The very idea made his jaw lock. He would not allow it. He’d never met a lady like Miss Pansy and was relatively sure he never would. All those trips to York, in which he’d been hopeful about it, had come to nothing. As pleasant as some of those ladies had been, none of them had moved him.
Miss Pansy Granger moved him.
Of course, there was the slight problem of Lelander. He appeared to be very taken with Miss Poppy. Would he propose? What then?
He tried to imagine explaining the situation to his father.
“Yes, Father, it is a fine match from every conceivable angle. A lady from a respectable family who comes well funded. She is exceedingly genial and I am certain you will be taken with her. Now, as a minor aside, did I mention she has a twin who is just now living at Pepperdon Hall?”
He could not quite imagine the earl’s reflections on having a daughter-in-law whose twin was living with the enemy down the road. He’d probably attempt to ban Miss Poppy from the house. That would not stand though. Miss Pansy would not accept it.
What was the answer then? That there must be peace between their houses? That made his jaw set even harder. Peace? With Pepperdon Hall? It felt akin to inviting Napolean over for tea.
He reminded himself that he must take one step at a time. He’d not even said anything direct to Miss Pansy. Perhaps she would not have him.
But then, as he turned the pages of music that did not need turning, and he looked down at the top of her head and her pretty brown hair, she occasionally glanced up and smiled at him. He thought she would have him. Yes, he really did.
What extraordinary luck had brought him to Chemsworth Hall. The fates had surely smiled down upon him.
The viscountess had risen, signaling the ladies it was time to retire. Miss Pansy sighed over it.
He smiled. “I imagine your fingers must be tired from playing so long,” he said.
“Indeed they are,” she said. “Though that would not make me stop when we have had so much fun.”
“It has been my honor to turn your pages.”
“Even though I think you must suspect that I had no need of it.”
“That was my hope,” he said.
She hopped up from the instrument, gave him a dip of a curtsy, and ran off rather red-faced.
Good. He’d planned to hint and he had hinted.
Now, he and Lelander would bide their time, eventually sending the other gentlemen to their beds. They’d send the butler off to his own. They would be left alone. They would bank the fire and snuff the lamps. Then they would retreat to their respective hiding places.
As a usual thing, the circumstance of Lord Burkhart and Mr. Lelander being left alone would lead to trading insults and possibly blows.
Not this night, though. There was something bigger at stake. The safety of the two ladies just now above stairs was at stake.