Chapter Sixteen #2
They needed to hear something more specific.
Enough to keep them satisfied until after dinner.
“For many years, the marquess has enforced the obedience of each of us by threatening our brothers. He broke the leg of my seven-year-old brother when I refused the marriage he planned for me, and threatened to break the other one if I continued to refuse. He has beaten and injured each of us, time after time. My brothers Francis and Jerome have permanent limps because of his beatings.”
He waited for the murmur of comment to die down and then continued.
“He kept Jerome locked up for more than ten years to use him as a lever to control me. All ten of us have lived in the tower at his townhouse for the past seven years. At first, we were let out during the day,” except for Jerome.
And Frank, after he was brought back from Spain.
“But for the past two years we have been let out—no more than three at a time, under the threat of beatings for the rest—only when he wanted to display us at some entertainment, or introduce us to a potential bride.”
Was that enough? No. That was their past situation. Dellborough had asked him to summarize their current situation and their plans.
“We have been fortunate enough, with the help of our ladies, to escape the tower. Seven of my brothers have married, two have fled overseas—for Jerome will not be twenty-one for several months, and we want him out of the marquess’s hands.
We are free, and we intend to remain so, which means we need to find evidence of Teign’s crimes and bring him to account. ”
There was one more matter he should mention.
“Since he discovered our rebellion, there have been at least four attempts to kill or injure me or Mrs. Blackmore, and any person assisting us, including damage tonight to Lady Baldwin’s carriage and the horses’ tack.
Fortunately, it was picked up by a sharp-eyed stable master, but that is what made us late this evening. ”
He bowed. “Your Graces, my lords, my ladies, gentlemen, my family and I shall be happy to answer any questions you might have after dinner.”
The Duchess of Dellborough spoke into the buzz of conversation that followed Allan’s statement, and the room hushed to listen.
“Thank you, Lord Kemble, for giving us that explanation. Friends, shall we proceed to the dining room? Lord Kemble, I have placed you on my right. Would you be good enough to escort me in? Mrs. Blackmore, this is my brother Lancelot, who shall be your escort to dinner.”
Lord Lancelot gave up the lady on his arm to another gentleman and winged his elbow at Melody. When she accepted it, Allan performed the same courtesy for the duchess and they went in to dinner.
The dining room table was large enough to seat the sixty guests and their host and hostess, and the meal was served a la Russe—that is, with all the dishes for one course already on the table. Allan, as he seated the duchess and took his place beside her, was the target of many curious glances.
So were his brothers and their wives, whom the duchess had, according to custom, split apart.
Cunning lady. She had spread the Sheppards out around the table so that more than two thirds of the guests had a Sheppard on one side of them, and those who were not seated next to one of Allan’s family were no more than one person away.
Melody was between Lord Lancelot and a lady Allan had been introduced to last night, the Duchess of Kempbury. The two ladies were deep in conversation. I hope Melody is not being interrogated.
Her Grace must have seen him looking. “I thought Mrs. Blackmore would appreciate sitting next to Adaline Kempbury,” she said. “They are acquaintances from before the Kempburys’ marriage.”
That was a relief. She, at least, could enjoy the dinner.
And Her Grace had also been thoughtful about seating Rosina and Amber, who might also feel out of their depth in the august company.
Rosina was sitting between Dellborough’s eldest son and the Countess of Stanford, who was a gentle lady and a champion for women.
The son’s wife was Amber’s dinner companion, with the Earl of Nottwick, Phineas’s brother, on her other side.
Allan relaxed and began to enjoy the dinner.
His conversation with Her Grace was so interesting that they were halfway through the first course before he realized that, without mentioning the brother’s plight, she was giving him a crash course into the personalities, alliances, and interests of major Society figures, and which side they were likely to take in the struggle with the marquess.
When the second course began, she turned her attention to the earl on her left. Obedient to social dictates, Allan was turning to Kempbury, who was sitting on his right, when the meal was interrupted.
They heard the shouting from outside the room, coming closer.
Then the doors burst open and people scrambled into the room.
First, two burly men in Teign livery, holding the Dellborough butler between them, his back facing the room as he protested, “My lord, Their Graces are at dinner. My lord, you cannot burst in this way.”