28. Fathers & Daughters
Fathers & Daughters
The late Ambassador’s library was the sort of refuge a gentleman might contrive for himself, a sanctuary where the scent of old leather mingled with tobacco.
Though unused for three years, since the ambassador’s passing, the room kept its dignity, even if the fire had long since been dispensed with.
As it was now midsummer, all a footman could do to ready the room was draw the curtains and withdraw.
Alone with his daughter, Admiral Sir John Harrington settled into a vast wingback regarding Lucinda with benevolent curiosity.
“Thank you for coming to town so swiftly, papa. I fear removing from this house will soon be necessary.”
“Are you already weary of London? Shall I bring you back to Harrington Manor with me?”
“No, I mean to stay for a little longer, Papa, but I would not bring any shame on Lady Marlstone’s good name or the Society.”
“Come now, Lulu,” Sir John interposed, “it cannot be so very bad.”
“I assure you, it is, Father!” she said, her voice fraught.
“Speak freely, child. You know I never pronounce judgment without a full hearing.”
“I have done something reckless,” Lucinda admitted, wringing her hands.
Sir John approached and gathered her restless hands within his. “Come, sit down, my dear. It can’t be any worse than the stunts you pulled on the poor doctor, can it?”
Coaxed into a chair, Lucinda winced to admit: “Oh, yes, it’s much worse than that!”
Sir John reposed again with a look of mock fear. “What now? Have you issued a gentleman with a challenge? Must I whisk you away to the Continent?”
“Papa, I beg you!” she expostulated, vexed by his levity.
Sir John chuckled. “You’re the one keeping me in suspense, my dear. What is a poor father to do but speculate?”
Taking a deep breath, Lucinda plunged into her tale. “It all began when Miles’s dog was kidnapped.”
“Why?” was his startled rejoinder.
“I’m about to tell you, but you must refrain from interruption. This is trying enough without your roasting me.”
“I promise nothing of the sort,” he replied, unruffled. “But do go on—I am all attention.”
And so, torn between mortification and indignation on Peri’s behalf, Lucinda confessed all.
She began with the kidnapping and the peculiar ransom demand that followed.
The full extent of Miles’ gaming debts Lucinda did not know.
But Sir John was left in no doubt that regardless of the tally, demanding a ransom was no respectable way of retrieving it.
To which the Admiral merely nodded in general agreement.
Lucinda confessed to instigating a private rescue, believing it a simple enough affair that could be conducted without Lady Marlstone’s knowledge since she was spending the entire day at Kensington.
With artless candor, she recounted the borrowing of a footman’s apron and coat.
One each for her and Miles, and how her hair, once twirled and pinned, could remain bundled under a poor boy’s cap, effectively masking her gender.
The Admiral looked skeptical but held his peace.
Together she and Miles had slipped out of Marlstone House by the rear and walked two blocks to a wine merchant’s yard, where Miles had somehow contrived to rent a rickety cart and several crates of bottles.
Sir John’s brows twitched at this detail, but he refrained from commenting, allowing Lucinda to continue with her account.
They had driven the cart to a mews behind the Sixes & Sevens club in Covent Garden, where, after some elaborate falsehoods on Miles’s part, they gained entry to the club’s cellars, masquerading as wine porters.
“Miles was prodigiously clever,” Lucinda said, her eyes alight. “He was so persuasive in his deceit that even I nearly believed him!”
“I daresay that is not a skill to boast of,” Sir John murmured.
Ignoring this, Lucinda pressed on. Her eyes grew indignant, recalling the faint sounds of Periwinkle’s cries that had compelled her to insist that Miles remain behind and allow her to venture upstairs. The logic of this was spelled out to the Admiral in detail.
With a skeptical expression, he eventually nodded, understanding the decision.
“The place proved a perfect warren,” Lucinda recounted, “but by following his cries, I found Peri. The poor little thing was being beaten with a heavy rope, Papa! I cannot endure to dwell upon it even now.” She clenched her eyes, willing the images gone, continuing her tale.
“To spare him further, I placed myself between the dog and that brute and took the blows myself.”
Sir John’s understanding expression had given way to a frown, but he maintained his silence.
“But I am quite certain he never suspected my disguise,” Lucinda rushed on, “because he cursed me for an impudent boy all the while he beat me.” This she confessed with self-satisfaction.
Then, with a wistful sigh, she continued, “My narrative breaks off when the brute was summoned away. Before he left, he hit me rather hard across the temple. After that—everything is a blank. My memory fails me entirely.”
“Does it, indeed,” the admiral murmured, his brow knitted in thought.
Lucinda lifted her chin. “I was rash—indeed, quite foolish.” She hesitated.
“The only reason I can sit here now and recount this misadventure is because, while I was unconscious, I was rescued. You see after I was knocked senseless, Miles was harried off the premises, so he sought help from Lord Sinclair and Count van der Meer. I can only suppose they returned to that dreadful club while I was still unconscious and while Miles and the count kept everyone distracted in the gaming rooms, Lord Sinclair somehow found me and brought me home.” Her shoulders drooped under the weight of her confession.
“You cannot conceive, Father, how excessively provoking it is to be indebted to Ale—” she flushed, “to Lord Sinclair.” She regarded her father’s frown and added, “I fear I have disappointed you, Papa.”
His tone was measured, but not critical. “You are not the first to find yourself entangled in the consequences of your rashness. You’d best finish your story.”
Lucinda exhaled, “Well, I slept late the next morning, probably due to the blow,” she brushed her fingers over her temple.
“When I awoke, Lord Sinclair was shaking me and Lady Arabella was hovering nearby all agitated. It was mortifying beyond words, for I couldn’t remember a thing.
Not a thing! Godmama told me Lord Sinclair had brought me home,” she said incredulously.
“I was so confused and my head still hurt. I had to swallow all pride and submit to being told by the brothers, and the count what had transpired the night before. The whole affair seemed preposterous! And well you may nod, sir, I could hardly believe I had been the architect of such a scheme. Yet, as the day wore on and fragments of memory returned, I could not deny the truth of it. I am wholly to blame for the mess in which I now find myself.”
“So if your memory fails you,” Sir John clarified, “you cannot be sure your disguise was not discovered while you slept?”
“No, I can’t, only that Lord Sinclair assures me I left Sixes & Sevens on my own two feet and still incognito.”
“You walked out?”
Lucinda shifted uneasily. “So they tell me.”
“Observed by others, no doubt?”
“Pray, do not press me, Papa,” Lucinda said, her cheeks flaming. “I recollect nothing of it, and the whole business is insupportably vexing.”
“Quite,” Sir John murmured, meditating. “What of the Sinclair brothers and their accomplice? Do you judge them to be the loose-lipped sort?”
“Oh no, Papa. They have all pledged their utter discretion. After all, this was all in aid of Miles’s dog, so he’s overflowing with gratitude.”
“As well he might. And Lady Marlstone knows all?” Lucinda nodded.
“I’m hesitant to say there is not enough to scandalize one, but if you’ve been assured your disguise remained intact and the three gentlemen privy to this indiscretion vow to be discreet, why the need to quit Marlstone’s chaperonage?
Have you outraged the dear lady with your talent for getting in scrapes? ”
“I did scandalize her. I too, was shocked to know what happened. But that is not the end of the matter.”
“Then give me the full tally, Lulu.”
Lucinda felt the need to rise and pace. “Well, Papa, I intend to testify against the Bittermanns. Specifically Rudi Bittermann, he’s a monster,” she declared firmly.
“Lord Sinclair and Miles have contrived to bring the Bittermanns to justice, not only for their fraudulent gambling practices but also for their cruelty in kidnapping Periwinkle. I was a witness to Peri’s abuse, how could I remain silent having felt the same man’s hand?
The Brothers have engaged a barrister and are hoping for a trial soon.
” She sat before her father again, the weight of the inevitable consequences very clear.
“I have devoted many hours to considering the consequences. I understand, of course, that when society learns of my presence at Sixes & Sevens, I will be shunned so I think it best that I leave Marlstone House before the trial begins. I don’t suppose I will be forgiven for this folly, so after testifying I will retreat with you back to Kent.
” With resolute conviction, Lucinda ended her confession with the words, “I must do what is proper, let the consequences be what they may. Rudi Bittermann is a menace.”
For a moment, the admiral regarded her. At last, he spoke, “You remind me of a time when I was captain and a group of young men came to me in a similar predicament. Rash, hotheaded fellows, brimming with bravado, yet facing the prospect of disgrace and court marshal.” His gaze was distant as he recalled the memory.
“They sought my counsel. It was brave of them,” he said, nodding.
“I could have had every last one of them flogged for their actions.”
“What did you advise them, Papa?”
He smirked and lifted his eyebrows. “I surprised them. I told them that true courage lies in facing the storm head-on. I advised them to own their mistakes, to stand fast in the face of adversity, and to earn their redemption through their actions.”
“What became of them?”
He looked down into his lap, rubbing his knuckles. “Contrary to what you’d expect, they heeded my advice and went on to become the finest men I ever had the honor of commanding.”
Lucinda sat back, her eyes shining. “I shall strive to render you equally proud, Papa.”
The Admiral rose, nodding with approval.
“I have taken rooms at the Pulteney for tonight, but I’ll request a suite and you shall stay with me until a retreat to Kent is necessary.
” He gave the bellpull a short tug and took a moment to lift Lucinda’s chin to examine her temple injury.
Satisfied the yellowing bruise, concealed by her curls, would heal quickly, he took her elbow, lifted her, and led her towards the door.
“For now, Lulu, I desire you would not divulge your intentions to testify to anyone.”
“If you wish.”
“I feel I’ve kept you from Lady Marlstone long enough, my dear. Pray return to the drawing room.”
“Will not you join me? Lady Marlstone would wish to speak with you I’m certain, especially about joining you at the Pulteney Hotel.”
“And she shall, my dear, but allow an old man his reflections.”