29. Fathers & Suitors
Fathers & Suitors
As Lucinda stepped from the library, she nearly collided with a footman poised at the threshold. It was not until her footsteps had faded upstairs that Sir John turned to the liveried obstacle with an abrupt question: “Is Lord Sinclair still above stairs?”
“To the best of my knowledge, my lord,” replied the footman with proper deference, “he remains above stairs.”
“Excellent. Kindly request his presence here. At once.”
A few minutes passed before Alex strode into the library, eyeing the empty chairs, wondering briefly if he had been lured into an ambush.
From his stance at the window, Sir John swung around with a sailor’s energy and boomed, “Sinclair, my boy! You’ve earned a father’s gratitude!”
Alex blinked in surprise but responded with easy civility, “Have I indeed, Admiral? I confess myself quite in the dark as to how, sir.”
“Lulu—bless her headstrong heart—has seen fit to apprise me of her recklessness, but let us not dance around the truth, my boy. I would know precisely what passed between the moment she was struck and the moment she awoke in her bed. I think you’ll allow a father has a right to know.”
Under Sir John’s penetrating gaze, Alex shifted his weight uneasily. “With all due respect, sir,” he began, “it’ll suffice to say that Miss Harrington was extricated from her folly and put safely to bed.”
The admiral harrumphed, “Extricated from her folly, was she? Hmph! You’ll forgive an old sailor his skepticism.
Do you expect me to swallow the notion that Lulu—clad as a boy—passed an entire evening in a gaming hell, and not a soul discerned the truth?
” His eyes narrowed. “Alex, what aren’t you telling me? ”
“If I were to say nothing untoward occurred—?”
“Then you’d be lying through your teeth.”
Horrified by an assumption, Alex’s composure cracked. “Good God, Admiral! Can you suppose I would—”
“I’m forcibly trying not to imagine,” Sir John interrupted calmly.
“Which is why I am demanding a full and detailed account. Spare me no mortifying particulars.” He lowered himself into the worn leather chair that had been the Ambassador’s favorite.
“Now oblige me, by beginning your tale with your return to the establishment—with Miles and, what’s his name, the Dutch fellow. ”
“Johan van der Meer,” Alex supplied.
“I’ve not met the fellow. What bearing does he have on this?”
“A great deal! He was the linchpin to our success.”
Sir John gave a majestic sniff. “As I said to Lucinda earlier—start at the beginning, and don’t leave anything out.”
Resigned, Alex launched into the tale, beginning long before they mounted a rescue to the gaming house.
“Sir, I hope you’ve never been forced to cross paths with the Bittermann siblings.
They’ve been carving a path of misery across the Continent—always one step ahead of the law.
Their present haunt is in St. Martin’s Lane, where they prey on the young and foolish. ”
“Miles, I daresay, fits that description admirably.”
“As do we all, at some time or another, sir. I don’t begrudge my brother his moment in the sun. He meant no harm.”
Sir John arched a brow. “Is that so? Your father would be appalled. I had not expected to see a Sinclair speak magnanimously of another man’s failures. How unlike your father you’ve become.”
Alex nodded gravely, but if the remark had struck a nerve, he gave no outward sign. “Time and experience do temper a man, sir,” he said at last. “One cannot remain forever in the mold cast for him.”
Sir John eyed him up and down. “Your travels have changed you, Alex! And you’ve returned a positively handsome devil, too.
No doubt breaking hearts wherever you’ve been.
Look at you! A veritable Corinthian—Brutus crop, fobs in perfect array, and collar points sharp enough to slit a man’s throat!
I’d like to shake the hand of whoever managed to tame you. ”
“Another feather in the count’s cap, Admiral.”
“Well, I’m beginning to like the man.” Sir John gestured impatiently. “Get on.”
The tale of Periwinkle’s capture for ransom was already well-trodden ground. Alex’s account only varied from Lucinda’s when credit was issued for quick-thinking lies to gain access to the cellars.
“Your daughter, sir, can spin a yarn as quick as—” Alex paused seeing the dangerous glint in Sir John’s eyes but the old man merely gestured for a continuation.
So Alex described Miles’ frantic return to Grosvenor Square, where they plotted a rescue.
Their plan to free Lucinda depended on a diversion—one so grand as to attract all eyes while leaving the upper rooms blissfully unguarded.
Naturally, the execution required just the right spectacle: not so much as to bring an end to the gaming, but enough to render even the most dedicated sentry forgetful of his duty.
“What better diversion, sir, for a gaming house than a streak of unparalleled fortune?” Alex declared, warming to his tale.
“Once you become better acquainted with the count, you’ll learn never to wager against him at Hazard.
The man’s skill is beyond compare—though, to be precise, only when he plays a fair set of dice. ”
Eyebrows were raised. “I shudder to ask, were the house dice not entirely true?”
“False in every way, Admiral, but a necessary deception to ensure their house always won. Unless, of course, someone takes the liberty of replacing their loaded dice with a correct set. Once the Count had made the switch, his winning streak was quite literally the stuff of legend. The room was transfixed. Madam Bittermann looked fit to rupture something vital.”
“I am a patient man, Sinclair, but let us not set sail into a sea of irrelevance.”
“Ahem. Of course.” Alex collected himself.
“While the count commanded the room, I slipped away. The place is a warren, sir—doorways hung with velvet, muffling every step. But fortune favored me. I turned into a corridor and there stood Lucinda, poker raised for battle and the greyhound wrapped about her person in a makeshift sling!”
Sir John gave a long-suffering sigh. “Awake, was she? Carry on.”
“You can imagine my relief, sir! Not only did she seem unharmed, but she had already taken steps to mount an escape. I shall not dwell on the state of her disguise, save to say that I have long been accustomed to Lulu’s unconventional methods to achieve her ends.”
“This I know. Continue.”
“Yes, sir. She intended to flee toward the cellars, being the only exit she was familiar with. However, I persuaded her that the front of the house was the better course, given the count’s, uh, rather theatrical approach to gambling.
As we neared the Hazard room, Periwinkle, who had borne himself admirably thus far, caught wind of Miles’ voice.
No power on earth could have restrained him then, so we let him go.
” Alex smirked. “He darted between legs, overturned a table, and sent a tray of glasses flying—bedlam itself. The distraction was more than adequate for us to slip through the front doors unnoticed.”
Sir John groaned into his hand. “And no one stopped you?”
“The doorman, embroiled in a petty quarrel down the street, didn’t notice our departure.
Timms was told to be ready with the carriage, and though Lucinda’s strength was failing, we made good our escape.
And so, Admiral, here we are. A mission accomplished, a dog and damsel recovered, and a gaming house left in considerable disarray. ” He folded his arms with satisfaction.
The admiral pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sinclair, I am at a loss to determine what unsettles me more—that you succeeded, or that I suspect you enjoyed every moment of it.”
Alex, whose thoughts had wandered to a rather romantic interlude in a closet with Lucinda, smiled to himself. “I was happy to be of service to Miss Harrington, sir.”
“Hmm. And your coachman? He asked no questions about your new boy companion?”
“I told him Aunt Bella’s bootboy had found himself some trouble and required escort home.”
This raised a chuckle. “From wine porter to bootboy. It would seem all three of you take to lying with unseemly ease.”
“I had to think of her reputation, sir.”
“I’m grateful you did, scamp. What else transpired?”
“Once we made our escape, Lucinda was utterly spent from her exertions and succumbed to sleep before I could get her back here.”
Sir John steepled his fingers. “And the estimable Lady Marlstone?”
“Was on the verge of returning home from Kensington when I arrived,” Alex replied with a roll of his eyes.
“Yet more tomfoolery required, I take it?”
“Well, her travel companion was quickly dispatched, but unfortunately, Griffiths, the butler, could not be avoided. Not to worry—his loyalty to my aunt is absolute, he’ll not squeak.
I delivered Lucinda, unharmed and still clad in short pants, into her bed and departed.
Aunt Bella can vouch for that, she was there.
Of course, when I returned the following day and found she had yet to awaken, I feared a concussion. ”
Sir John looked awed. “You know of such brain fevers, do you? You continue to impress, Alex.”
“Thank you, sir. Happily, my concerns were unfounded since we were able to rouse her.”
“Yes,” the Admiral said dryly, “to considerable confusion.”
“The lapse of memory was regrettable, sir. Had I known, I might have—”
“No, my boy,” Sir John interrupted, rising to resume a stance by the window. “You could not have known.” He took a long, meditative breath. “I appreciate your candor, Alex. I repeat I owe you a debt of gratitude. If you hadn’t extricated her when you did Lulu was bound to have faced grave dangers.”
Alex made an unseen dismissive gesture.
Sir John turned and narrowed his gaze. “Now, you must tell me why you did it?”
“I merely did what any gentleman would do in such a situation.” Alex shrugged. “I could not stand idle while Lucinda faced such peril.”
“Why?” Sir John’s voice was softer now.