Chapter 20
An Orderly Retreat
She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! alas! she must confess to herself that she was not wise yet.
Jane Austen, Persuasion
When Rosalind at last descended the stairs, her plan was to find Clara and Devon. At first, she’d thought she should look for Adam. But after a moment, she realized that if she was seen in conversation with Clara and Devon, Adam would quickly come to them.
After a brief search of the rooms, Rosalind discovered Devon and Clara together in the corner, hemmed in by a pair of gentlemen.
Rosalind could not make out any of the conversation, but she could tell from Devon’s expression that he was having difficulty remaining polite. So, for that matter, was Clara.
Rosalind assumed a breezy air and stepped directly up to them. “Ah, there you are, your grace, Miss Clara. Oh!” She let her eyes widen as if she’d just noticed the other men. “I’m so sorry, I did not mean to interrupt.”
The gentlemen looked at each other, clearly annoyed by the intrusion, but Devon smiled. “Ah, Mrs. Rutherford. There you are! Miss Clara and I would be glad of a word. You will excuse us?” he added toward the gentlemen. The pair had no choice but to make their bows and withdraw.
“Thank you,” murmured Devon fervently to Rosalind as soon as the pair was out of earshot.
“Yes, your timing is excellent,” Clara added. “In another minute, I would have thrown them both out the window.”
“I’m afraid I would have insisted you let me do that,” said Devon.
“If you say it’s not a job for a lady, I will have to remind you again who hauled you out of that ditch you entirely failed to jump at our picnic last May.”
“I would never be so crude,” said Devon rapidly. “But rank has to have some privileges.”
Rosalind was prevented from inquiring about this eventful picnic by Adam’s arrival.
“I apologize if I’m late,” he said. “Were we throwing someone out the window?”
“Mrs. Rutherford has interrupted those plans,” Devon told him. “Thus continuing her reputation as a force for all that is good and orderly in this world.”
“But we can find them later, if necessary,” added Clara. “Although, do make sure the windows are open. I shudder to think what the repairs might cost otherwise.”
She and Devon shared a smile, and a fleeting touch of fingertips. Then, Clara turned to Rosalind.
“Have you discovered anything?”
“Not as much as I hoped,” said Rosalind. “And I’m afraid I have been recognized.”
“By Mrs. Lynn?” said Adam.
Rosalind nodded. “However, it appears to have served our purposes. She has agreed to leave.”
“What!” Devon choked. “When?”
“Tomorrow,” murmured Rosalind.
“As easy as that?” Adam breathed.
“So it appears,” said Rosalind. “Mrs. Lynn is an experienced adventuress, and she knows she is in danger of being fully exposed. All she asks is that we allow her to leave quietly.” She outlined the plan Mrs. Lynn had given her.
Clara closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. “Thank goodness.”
Devon, however, was watching Rosalind carefully. “Do you advise that we cooperate with this plan?”
“I do,” she said. “If for no other reason than it will put an end to these parties, and their ongoing expense and social disadvantage. It will also allow Miss Kinsdale and her sisters to gain more influence over their father and his decisions.”
“Elizabeth will be furious when she finds out,” said Clara.
“We will deal with that when the time comes,” Devon told her. “But I don’t like simply letting Mrs. Lynn go. Something feels … wrong.”
“What else can we do?” asked Clara. “We do not know that she has done anything against the law. If she leaves and stays away—what more could we ask for?”
Devon was looking at Adam. Adam, on the other hand, was looking at the crowd.
Across the room, Mrs. Lynn was passing from table to table.
She paused frequently, speaking to this guest and that, usually laughing at the responses.
When she reached Sir Anthony’s table, she leaned close over his shoulder, looking at his cards.
She said something to the gentlemen he played with, then something to him, and plucked a card from his hand and threw it on the table.
A shout and a groan went up, and all the gentlemen folded their cards.
Mrs. Lynn straightened and smiled, fluttering her fan as if she was applauding her own cleverness.
Sir Anthony beamed, as if basking in his.
“Casselmaine, if you really want to bring her before the magistrates, there’s evidence enough in this room,” Adam said.
“If I was still with Bow Street, that’s what I’d say should be done.
” He paused, unusually hesitant. “But you’ve said you want to spare Miss Kinsdale and yourself the scandal.
Having Mrs. Lynn, or Sir Anthony, arrested won’t do that. ”
Rosalind caught his eye. It was not like Adam to recommend letting anyone leave, especially when they were likely to make more trouble wherever they went. But the look he returned told her to be patient. He was not saying all that he thought. Not yet.
Devon nodded absently. Clara touched his arm. He looked down at her, and his expression changed, softened and warmed. “You’re right, you’re right. It comes of being a magistrate as well as a duke. I always want to do something.”
“You did,” Clara told him. “You brought our friends here, and they have stopped the immediate harm to my father, and my family. As soon as Mrs. Lynn is gone, we will be able to start repairing the damage.”
“Do you think she will keep her word?” asked Devon.
“I do,” said Rosalind, and she found herself wondering at her own certainty.
“Then we will let her leave,” said Devon finally. “Thank you. Both of you.” He stopped and shook himself. “Well. We had planned to go to the refreshment room. Will you join us?”
Rosalind looked to Adam. “If you don’t mind, I think we will take our leave.” Adam was not saying something, and she very much wanted to hear what it might be.
“Of course. I’ll have my carriage called. You can send it back when you’re finished.”
Clara took Rosalind’s hand. “Thank you so much.”
They said their farewells, and Devon beckoned one of the bored footmen over so that he could send for the carriage. He took Clara’s arm then, and led her away.
“I’m very interested in how that conversation between you and Mrs. Lynn went,” Adam said to her. “But are you sure you don’t want to stay? There might be more to learn.”
Rosalind surveyed the room—the raucous laughter, the slap of the cards, the ladies whispering behind their fans and openly eyeing the men at the tables.
She looked through the doorway to the refreshment room and Clara standing so close to Devon.
She looked across the way to Elizabeth, who stood apart from it all, her attention fixed on Mrs. Lynn, her fan hanging limp and forgotten in her hand.
She saw Sir Anthony beaming as he surveyed his little party, clearly well-pleased with the scene unfolding around him.
“No,” said Rosalind. “Unless you can give me a definite reason to do so, I have no wish to stay here.”