Part 31 (1/2)

The squire scowled. ”I never said he couldn't visit. It's not as if I'm burying her away from mankind! I want her to have a season before she makes any decisions like that.”

”Just one?” Venetia asked.

Sir Henry looked at him expectantly.

Elizabeth frowned. ”But that would be months!”

”Yes,” Venetia agreed. ”However, it would be well worth it if your father will allow Sir Henry to visit you while you are in London.” She looked at the squire. ”If Elizabeth agrees to an entire season and joins in as she ought and causes no more scenes and promises not to see Sir Henry except when you approve-”

”Venetia!” Elizabeth exclaimed. ”I can't do all of that!”

”Yes, you can,” Sir Henry said, looking at his beloved with a heartfelt gaze. ”I would wait for you for a hundred years. What's one season, especially if I can see you?”

”Well?” Venetia asked the squire.

”I suppose so,” the squire said. ”But Sir Henry is not staying at our house when in London!”

”I don't need to,” that worthy gentleman said stiffly. ”I have my own house in Mayfair.”

The squire looked impressed. ”Do you, indeed?”

”Henry has houses in London, Brighton, Bath, and York, don't you, Henry?” Elizabeth said.

”Actually, I have two in Bath. Both of them excellent rental properties.”

The squire looked at Henry as if seeing him for the first time. ”I thought you were a farmer.”

Sir Henry offered a quiet smile. ”I am, sir. A gentleman farmer.”

Gregor grinned, his pride in Venetia swelling.

”There,” Venetia said, turning now to Ravenscroft. ”I believe you owe my grandmama two pence.”

He huffed. ”I do not! I won fairly and-”

Grandmama's cane smacked him in the s.h.i.+n.

”Ow!” He hopped up and down, his face contorted in pain.

”Grandmama, stop that.”

”I don't like cheats!”

Venetia looked at Ravenscroft. ”Do you have two pence on you?”

”Yes,” he said sulkily. ”But it's a matter of principle!”

”It's a matter of saving your s.h.i.+ns. I won't be here to stop her every time she wields her cane. And if you think she won't follow you to London, you're wrong. You'll be praying for Lord Ulster to shoot you.”

”She's right,” Grandmama said, shaking her cane at Ravenscroft.

He jumped back and fished in his pockets. ”All I have is this guinea.”

Grandmama snapped it from his fingers. ”We'll consider it interest.” Cackling, she pocketed the coin.

Ravenscroft's shoulders slumped, but he knew he'd been beaten.

”What about me?” Miss Platt stood with her bony arms crossed over her chest, her nose high.

”Mrs. Bloom has not been kind to me!” Mrs. Bloom stiffened. ”Not kind? When I helped you find the money to pay your worthless brother's debts?”

”By making me sew!”

”I didn't make you do anything. I arranged for you to be paid very well for some specialty work, which is what I used to do before I married your uncle. There is nothing wrong with earning money, despite what my late husband might have told you.”

Mrs. Bloom sighed and told Venetia, ”Randolf was an excellent man in many ways, but he was never careful with his funds. I am afraid he encouraged Mr. and Miss Platt to be quite extravagant. They never learned the least economy and don't like the thought of earning a living. I fear it's ruined them both.”

”We wouldn't need to make a living if you hadn't taken all of Mr. Bloom's money when he died,” Miss Platt said in a sulky voice.

”Mr. Bloom didn't have any money when he died. I've told you that before, yet you insist on thinking otherwise!” Mrs. Bloom reached forward and took Miss Platt's hand. ”I know you never thought I cared for you the way your uncle did, but over the years, you've become important.” Mrs. Bloom's lip quivered. ”When I thought you'd been misled by some hooligans, I couldn't get here fast enough!”

Miss Platt stared at Mrs. Bloom, tears filling her eyes. ”Oh, Mrs. Bloom! Y-you came to save me?”

Mrs. Bloom nodded.

Gregor watched, amazed, as Miss Platt threw herself on Mrs. Bloom's neck and wept.

Venetia sighed happily, then glanced back at Gregor. ”How much time do I have left?”

He pulled his watch from his pocket. ”Thirty seconds. I'd say that's a-”

”One moment!”

Mrs. Bloom, her arm still around Miss Platt, eyed Venetia with disfavor. ”Miss West, or Miss Oglivie, or whatever your name is, I believe you owe us all an explanation. You lied to us. You and your 'brother'. and your 'guardian.' I demand an explanation.”