Diamond in the rough, p.12
Diamond in the Rough, page 12
“He was set upon by Lena Ridgeway’s dogs after I got Poppy from the lake.”
“How peculiar. We actually ran across Mrs. Ridgeway after we spoke to Nigel. She was searching for Nigel, saying something about him not showing himself to advantage, but she didn’t expand on that, probably because one of the dogs in her carriage began trying to eat the flowers on her hat. I was forced to bid her a hasty good day because Miss Tooker and Miss Roche descended into hysterics, a state that Mrs. Ridgeway, given the look on her face, didn’t seem to appreciate.”
“I’m not sure what to say to all that.”
“Not much to say, really, except that New York is an unusual place, isn’t it?”
“Can’t argue with you there. But how did you come to the conclusion I might be dead?”
Charles gave a wave of his hand. “Gossip has you all but buried, or so said the occupants of numerous carriages we encountered as I was escorting Miss Iselin, Miss Tooker, and Miss Roche home.” He shook his head. “I should know better than to put much stock in gossip, but you know I’ve always been a man drawn to the intrigues of the day, and how could I not be drawn into a story that had my very dearest friend and cousin dead?”
“You’re a complicated man, Charles—a bit mental at times, but I’m thankful you would have mourned my death if I’d actually been killed in the lake.”
“Of course I would mourn you,” Charles said firmly before he settled his attention on a stack of papers Reginald had left on the corner of the sink. “What are those?”
“Notes from Giles about some of the heiresses you’ve been squiring about town.”
Charles picked up the notes and riffled through them. “Seems like he’s been remarkably busy, given the extent of his notes.”
Reginald raked a hand through his wet hair. “Indeed, and he’d just stopped by to drop off his notes when I arrived back here. Giles took one look at me and ordered me out of my soggy clothing and into the bath, determined to get my clothing to the laundry as soon as possible in the hopes it could still be salvaged.”
“That might be overly optimistic on his part.”
“That’s what I told him, but since he was heading out again anyway, mentioning something about a meeting with a lady’s maid, he said it was worth a try.”
Charles tilted his head. “What lady’s maid is Giles off to meet?”
“Not sure. He was rather sketchy with the details, although he did say he hoped to get additional information about a lady he’s almost convinced will not be an appropriate choice for you, given her questionable character.”
“Sounds like Giles is putting a great deal of effort into researching the backgrounds of all the heiresses out this Season.”
“I would expect nothing less of Giles.” Reginald smiled. “He’s been a tremendous help to me over the years, and not just because of his abilities as a valet. He’s got a wonderful aptitude for uncovering facts many people want to keep hidden, and he’s saved me numerous times from investing in deals that turned out to be anything but ethical. He’s putting that same tactic to work over here.”
Charles blew out a breath. “It seems somewhat troubling to have to resort to such measures as well as a bit disrespectful to all the ladies in question. It’s as if we don’t trust any of them.”
“We shouldn’t trust any of them at this point, Charles.” Reginald nodded to the papers in Charles’s hand. “Perhaps you should read Giles’s notes so we can begin narrowing down your search for a countess.”
“You’re right, of course, but I have to go run down my spectacles first.” Charles set the papers aside. “Can’t see a word on the page without them.”
It took a good twenty minutes for Charles to find his spectacles, during which Reginald finished his bath, bundled himself into his warmest dressing robe, and settled himself into his suite’s small sitting room.
“Found them,” Charles said, striding into the sitting room and brandishing the spectacles. “No idea why I stuffed them into one of my socks, but at least they’re not overly bent.” He sat down in a nearby chair, shoved the spectacles on, then looked around. “Where do you suppose I left those notes?”
“You left them in the bathing chamber, but I brought them out here. They’re right beside you on the table.”
“Oh, quite right.” He picked up the notes, took an inordinately long time to read through them, then frowned as he looked up and caught Reginald’s eye. “Why am I reading these again instead of you?”
“I was in the bath when we first started discussing them, but I didn’t think you’d appreciate me taking over since you did have to go on a bit of a journey to find your spectacles.”
“Ah, excellent reasoning there, and I thank you for being so considerate.”
When Charles didn’t say anything else and seemed to get distracted by something out the window, Reginald gave a bit of a cough, which had Charles turning his way.
“You’re not taking ill, are you, Reginald?”
“Not at all. Just a tickle. But returning to Giles’s notes, anything of interest you want to share with me?”
Charles shuffled through the pages he’d been reading. “He’s listed at least twenty names, then added tidbits about how much each lady’s dowry is rumored to be as well as how much their fathers are worth. He’s added a few personal observations, such as he finds Cynthia Roche to be a bit of a spendthrift, believes a lady by the name of Miss Mary Kip, whom I must admit I can’t recall meeting, is prone to suffering from frequent fits of the vapors, and noticed that Miss Adele Tooker is less than pleasant to members of her staff.” He raised his head, peering at Reginald over the rim of his spectacles. “Why would he write that down about Miss Tooker? I find her to be a most pleasant lady.”
“Many people believe that a true test of a person’s character can be seen by how they treat those beneath them. If Miss Tooker is unkind to her staff, it shows a weakness of character and should give you pause about pursuing her.”
Charles removed his spectacles and rubbed a hand over his face. “Concerningly enough, I haven’t had to put much effort into pursuing any lady since they seem only too keen to pursue me.” He caught Reginald’s eye. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m not sure I enjoy all this feminine attention. I’ve even witnessed ladies shoving other ladies out of the way in order to get closer to me.”
“Perhaps I should begin accompanying you to events, Charles. You’ve often mentioned that I’m an intimidating sort, which might dissuade some of these ladies from pursuing you so earnestly.”
Charles suddenly began looking a tad guilty. “You’re not going to have time to accompany me, Reginald, not when word has gotten out about those decorum lessons you’re giving Miss Garrison. Quite a few other ladies are now determined to take lessons from you as well.”
Reginald blinked. “How did that information get out?”
“I . . . ah . . . might have been . . . perhaps a bit . . . responsible for that.”
“You were either completely responsible for it or not. Which is it?”
Charles winced. “Completely.”
“And . . . ?”
“You know, I neglected to inquire on how Miss Garrison is faring after her dip in the lake.”
“She’s fine, or at least she was when I returned her to her grandmother’s house, but getting back to—”
“Not many young ladies would be fine after suffering such an unusual adventure in a lake, in December at that. Should I take that to mean she’s a lady possessed of unusual fortitude and survival skills?”
“Perhaps, although I would say she’s more along the lines of a lady possessed of an unusual ability to become entrenched in unlikely situations, but getting back to what we were discussing before—”
“Mind if I help myself to some tea?”
“Will it help bolster your courage?”
Charles grinned. “Wouldn’t hurt.”
Returning the grin, Reginald watched as Charles moved to the teapot, poured himself a cup, then returned to his chair, taking three sips before he set the cup aside. “Where was I?”
“You were about to explain how it became known I’m giving etiquette lessons to Poppy.”
“Ah, so I was.” He reached for his tea again. “I believe that came about after I, along with Miss Tooker and Miss Roche, ran across Mr. Nigel Flaherty in the park. After he explained what happened, Miss Tooker and Miss Roche began wondering why Miss Garrison has been spending so much time in your company. I got the distinct impression they were implying you had set a romantic eye her way, and knowing that was not the case, I’m afraid I blurted out the bit about you giving her lessons as a way to disabuse them of that rather laughable notion.”
The fact that it wasn’t exactly a laughable notion at all left Reginald reeling ever so slightly.
“But then, Miss Tooker and Miss Roche began to, well, almost mock Miss Garrison for needing decorum lessons in the first place,” Charles continued, “something I was surprised to hear from ladies who’d been nothing but sweet when in my presence. I realized I’d done Miss Garrison a disservice and wanted to make amends. I then told Miss Tooker and Miss Roche that you were actually assisting Miss Garrison in learning more about what is expected of a proper countess, and . . . that’s why I know you’re soon to be in high demand with the ladies.” He caught Reginald’s eye. “Are you completely disgusted with me?”
“You know I’m not, since you were trying to come to Poppy’s defense, although allow me to suggest that you distance yourself from Miss Tooker and Miss Roche. There are many eligible American heiresses out this Season, some of whom I have to imagine aren’t nearly as unpleasant as those two ladies seem to be.”
Charles buried his head in his hands. “I’m rubbish at deciphering who is pleasant and who is not.” He looked up and frowned. “This choosing an heiress business is downright daunting and I’m tempted to wash my hands of it and simply return to London—a temptation I know I don’t have the luxury to embrace, what with my finances being in such woeful shape.”
Reginald leaned forward. “If you truly don’t want to continue this search for an heiress, we can return to London. I did offer to help you with some investments, which would see a stream of revenue flowing back into your accounts, although it will take time to build up any substantial amount of funds.”
“I’m even more rubbish at investments than I am at choosing an heiress, and I know full well I’ll never have the patience needed to become successful at investing, even with your assistance,” Charles returned. “And don’t forget that my mother is notorious for overextending her allowance, which means any profit I might see won’t last long.” He shook his head. “No, an heiress is my best chance at this point, although I do think, what with my mother’s proclivity for spending money in such a willy-nilly fashion, I might need to consider choosing a no-nonsense type of heiress, one who would be capable of keeping my mother in check.”
“A prudent decision.”
Charles smiled. “And an unusual decision coming from me, but . . .” He raked a hand through his hair. “Do you believe Miss Garrison is a no-nonsense sort?”
For some reason, Reginald felt it difficult to nod in agreement, but when Charles sent him an expectant look, he forced a nod as well as a smile. “She is.”
“She is remarkably beautiful, and rumor has it her dowry is quite extensive.”
“True,” he agreed even as his stomach began to churn most unpleasantly.
Charles abandoned his seat. “Then I’ll keep her in the running. Although . . .” He took a step closer to Reginald. “You haven’t turned a romantic eye her way, have you?”
“Why would you ask me that?”
“You jumped into a lake to save her. That’s a romantic act if I’ve ever heard one.”
“Or I jumped into the lake because it’s really not in my nature to stand back and watch a lady drown.”
“There is that, but do know if you had turned a romantic eye Miss Garrison’s way, I wouldn’t be troubled in the least to stand aside. In fact, I think it might be rather amusing to watch you try your hand at romance, what with how you’ve always been such a sensible sort and definitely a bit disdainful when it comes to matters of love.”
“I’m not in the market for romance.”
Charles sent him a rather sad smile. “Apparently nor am I. More’s the pity since I’ve never been a sensible sort and do believe I’d enjoy falling in love.” He turned and headed for the door. “And on that happy note, I’ll bid you adieu for now. I’m off to take a short nap before I head out to enjoy yet another night of being pursued.”
As Charles closed the door quietly behind him, Reginald shook his head and reached for the notes Charles had abandoned.
While there was no debating that Charles was a most impractical sort, he was a good man at heart and could make the right lady a more-than-acceptable husband.
The problem with that, though, was the sheer number of ladies who were interested in being considered for the position of Charles’s countess.
Looking through the names written on the pages, Reginald suddenly stilled when he realized that Poppy had not proclaimed any interest at all in Charles, an idea that left him feeling, curiously enough, rather relieved.
Chapter 11
“It was absolutely brilliant on your part, Reginald, to get us well away from my grandmother’s house. And, because of that brilliance, I’ve decided to apply myself most diligently to our lesson today.”
Reginald turned on the seat of the hansom cab and arched a brow Poppy’s way. “Even if I decide to drone on and on about how to fold a proper napkin?”
Poppy wrinkled her nose. “Why in the world would anyone feel the need to drone on about napkin folding?”
“To see how diligent you’re really prepared to be.”
“Maybe I should have given this more thought,” Poppy muttered as the cab pulled to a stop in front of Rutherford & Company, one of the leading stores of the day and the place Reginald had decided would be perfect for a lesson.
Sending her what almost seemed to be a grin, Reginald opened the door and stepped to the sidewalk. Turning, he helped her down, paid the driver the fare, then took hold of her arm, scowling when she pressed a few coins into his gloved hand.
“What are these for?”
“To reimburse you for the fare.”
“Why would you think it necessary to reimburse me for the fare?”
“Because you’re on duty as my instructor, so it’s only fair that I, or rather my grandmother, pick up any expenses we incur. Besides, you’ll never be able to purchase yourself a grand ancestral estate if you spend your coins so frivolously.”
“Saving my coins will never be a viable plan, especially when ancestral estates are entailed, rendering them impossible to purchase.”
Poppy frowned. “You can’t purchase a grand estate over in England?”
“Not if they’re owned by the aristocracy and are entailed—which is how aristocrats have managed to hold on to their land over the years instead of being able to parcel it off to pay debts and keep up appearances.”
Something began niggling at the back of Poppy’s mind, but before it could fully develop, she was distracted by the Rutherford & Company doorman who was holding the door open for them. Hurrying as a blustery wind swept around her, Poppy stopped directly inside the door and looked around. “How lovely. I wonder where ladies’ fashions are located?”
“Those are on the third floor, miss,” the doorman said, nodding to the elevator that was a few feet away from them and to the elevator operator standing by the open grate. “James will be more than happy to take you there.”
“An elevator,” Poppy breathed. “I love riding in those.”
“We’re not going to ladies’ fashions. We’re here to visit the tearoom,” Reginald reminded her.
“That would be on the fourth floor, sir,” the man said.
“Then fourth floor it is,” Poppy said, taking Reginald’s arm as they walked to the elevator. She immediately returned the smile that James sent her. “We’d like to go to the tearoom, please,” she said, stepping into the elevator, Reginald joining her a second later.
James inclined his head, shut the grate, and moved to stand beside a gilded lever.
Poppy edged closer to him, peering over his shoulder. “How fast can this elevator go?”
“Don’t even think about it, Poppy,” Reginald muttered.
“I’m merely asking a question,” she returned, watching as James slid the lever to the right and the elevator glided upward. “How quickly can it stop?”
“Almost immediately, if one has the right touch,” James said.
“Which you won’t have, Poppy, so put that idea right out of your head.”
Poppy ignored him, but before she could figure out a way to convince James to let her have a try at the lever, he was bringing the elevator to a stop. Opening the grate, he gestured her forward with a smile. “Enjoy your tea.”
Blowing out a disappointed breath, she returned the smile. “Will you be manning the elevator all afternoon?”
Reginald had hold of her arm a second later as he all but towed Poppy out of the elevator. “It doesn’t matter if he’s manning it or not, Poppy. We’ll be taking the stairs.”
Annoyance was swift as Reginald exchanged a far-too-knowing look with James before that man closed the grate and the elevator whizzed away.
“I wasn’t going to badger him into letting me have a go at the elevator.”
“Weren’t you?” Reginald countered, steering her into a tearoom that was tastefully decorated and afforded a lovely view of Broadway. After being greeted by a young woman who quickly showed them to a round table draped in fine linen, Reginald helped Poppy into an upholstered chair before he sat down opposite her and took the menu the young woman handed him. Telling them she’d send a server right over to take their order, she walked away.
