Part 16 (2/2)
”What impeccable timing.”
Maman appeared inordinately pleased that he would force himself into the room without knocking. Phineas raised his guard. His mother should have remarked on his sudden lack of etiquette and the lapse in her usual behavior made him instantly suspicious.
”Lady Bretton and Lord Carrick are taking tea. May I pour you a cup?” She indicated the tea service with a wave of her hand. ”We have much to discuss.”
”I rather doubt that.”
His mother turned to her guests and lowered her voice in comment. ”Quelle horreur! I don't know what gets into him at times.”
Her gilded amus.e.m.e.nt proved her downfall. On any other day, Maman would have joyfully plucked out his eyes had he committed such a grievous mistake as to choose the wrong fork during dinner service. To test his theory, he leaned toward the refreshment tray and popped the last sugarplum into his mouth. He should push his mother's limits and speak with his mouth full of sugar and fruit.
”We're discussing how we may help each other and a.s.sist Penelope and Aubry. They've had a terrible go of it. Were you aware of the extent of their difficulties?”
He eyed his mother with curiosity. Had he wrongly perceived the situation? Could it be his mother was not scheming in some manner?
”I'm aware of their plight.” He did not expound on the subject, as he'd only learned the full of it less than a few hours ago. ”By inviting the ladies to live here and regain reputation within the ton, you've offered the opportunity to amend their situation. Is there something else you wished to discuss?”
He knew the answer to the question before he asked it, but he threw down the bait to test the waters. Would Maman admit she wished he'd declare Penelope as his own or would she continue to prod him with little attempts at jealously and manipulative mayhem?
Maman appeared nonplussed.
”Lord Carrick offered a better solution. He has pursued Penelope's hand for years now and would generously propose-”
His eyes skewered the stout male perched in the chair to his right. Phineas best get to the purpose. ”Maman, agreeing to a.s.sist Penelope here in London does not allow you the privilege of matchmaking her future. She is of age and does not require a guardian. This conversation would be better served were she able to voice her own decision. Certainly, Penny does not deserve any further pressure after the recent troubles she has endured.” His pointed glare said everything his statements had not. ”To that end, I have a query.” The older woman's disgruntled expression mirrored her son's at the quick dismissal of the previous topic. ”Penelope has mentioned to me an heirloom cameo belonging to her mother.”
”The Dilgano?”
Carrick moved forward on his chair. The mention of the cameo grabbed the man's attention with far more interest than the suggestion he marry his first cousin.
But Lady Bretton answered first. ”My family has known about the Dilgano for years. My sister treasured the cameo and brought it to her marriage although it became a source of unhappiness. She treasured the cameo as a work of art. Her husband viewed it as a means to vault status. We were all heartbroken to learn of the cameo's disappearance.” She paused as if deliberating her words. ”Do you know of its whereabouts? Does my niece have it in her possession?”
No one could ignore the woman's specious tone. Nor could Phineas dismiss the fact the room had grown silent as a tomb. Maman cleared her throat in a small feminine manner and eyed him with urgency.
d.a.m.n it all! He had no desire to let anyone know he held the cameo. If it belonged to Penelope, by no means would he invite trouble until he understood the situation further. Carrick's inordinate interest p.r.i.c.ked his suspicions and the automatic a.s.sumption that Dilgano crafted the cameo made him wary. Could it be his lady love had a fortune all her own? The thought instigated suspicion. Was Carrick's motive to gain a wife or possess the Dilgano? After meeting the man, only a nitwit would perceive his intentions n.o.ble.
He chanced a glance to his mother and met her piercing glare. He needed to offer some sort of reply that bordered on the truth.
”Penelope confided in me that the cameo was stolen. With the death of her father, the loss of her securities and the embarra.s.sment of her situation, I am sure you feel only regret and compa.s.sion for your niece. What troubles me most is that the theft remains unresolved.” He strove for succinct politeness. ”If you could shed light on the cameo's origin, I hope to trace its whereabouts. If it proves as valuable as suggested, it should not be hard to locate if sold publicly.” Intuition confessed everyone in the room held a secret. Phin scanned the occupants and waited for a response, eyeing Carrick with interest. The anxious look displayed on the corpulent man's face convinced him the impetus for his marriage proposal was rooted in greed. Thank G.o.d no one resorted to forcing Penelope to accept the offer. Without a doubt until Maman graciously invited the ladies to London, they remained without protection. His eyes skimmed to his mother, his esteem of her perceptiveness and genuine compa.s.sion raised another notch.
Across the room Mon Ami released a high-pitched squawk and startled everyone from their private musings.
”Do inform me if you locate the brooch.” Carrick stood, his reply colored with scornful disdain. ”We remain genuinely concerned.”
Maman escorted her visitors to the door and he watched from the window as their carriage pulled down the front drive and faded out of sight. For blood relations, they didn't seem even mildly concerned with their familial welfare, nor the hards.h.i.+ps of the confusing predicament. The meeting spoke volumes as to why Penelope's mother never established a close bond with her sister or why her father had broken off altogether.
He poured himself a brandy, his mind awhirl with haphazard conclusions and unanswered questions. Taking a long sip, he made to depart for Lady Livingston's residence when Dorothy entered the room. It could only be Providence when the one woman he thought to seek out arrived at his doorstep in timely manner. Providence, indeed. He reached into his trouser pocket to brush his fingertips against his lucky coin, but it wasn't there.
”What brought that little troll to Betcham House?” Dorothy placed her reticule on the sofa table and advanced into the room, the thump of her cane emphatic on the Persian carpet. ”Please tell me he is not a new friend.”
”h.e.l.lo, Dorothy.” Phineas greeted his mother's closest friend, more surrogate aunt than stranger. ”I a.s.sume you refer to Lord Carrick.” He took another sip of brandy and sat down once Dorothy settled on a chaise.
”Yes, unfortunately. The detestable little lackwit tried with considerable effort to convince me to sell my Dilgano last year. He became so insistent, my butler needed to forcibly remove him from my drawing room. Vickers refers to the incident whenever his back gives him trouble.” She let out a sound of disgruntled annoyance and placed her cane against the end table.
”Well, that explains a few things.”
Dorothy smiled in his direction, all evidence of her previous emotion gone.
”Where is your mother? I have something I wish to discuss with her. I take it she is in house if the visitors have just departed.”
”She is here.” He reached for his gla.s.s only to discover it empty. ”That troll is Penelope's first cousin on her mother's side. Carrick came to offer for her hand.” He forced the latter bit past his lips, offensive as it was. The thought of Carrick touching Penelope shot a ripple of revulsion straight through him. Dorothy appeared equally appalled.
”My word, Penelope becomes more interesting each time I discover something new. Fascinating girl. Intriguing, actually.” She paused but for emphasis or simply because she waited for his reply, he could not tell. ”How did Bretton take the slapdown?”
”I'm afraid you'll have to ask my mother for the particulars. Thankfully I wasn't present when it occurred.” He steeped his fingers and pressed with considerable force. ”He is completely unworthy of her.”
”And you have a nasty left hook.” Dorothy smiled with the quip. ”The Bretton's are anxious aristocracy. Your mother and I could never abide the att.i.tude. I'm surprised she entertained their company.” She paused briefly. ”I suppose it was unavoidable with Penelope living here. Thankfully I dissuaded her of the idea Elizabeth would make you a suitable wife. Although I doubt your mother considered it with seriousness. Now everything should follow seamlessly.”
”I do owe you a debt.”
”Not at all. Where is your lovely little flower anyway?”
He started to attention. The mention of Penelope and the remembrance of why she was not below stairs brought a well needed smile to his face. He reached into his pocket and produced the cameo. As soon as Dorothy saw it in his offered hand, her face lit with astonishment.
”Where did you get this?”
She cradled the brooch reverently.
”It's not mine. It belongs to Penny. Her mother's, actually. We're attempting to discern its authenticity. I aimed to visit your home before Carrick interrupted my errand. You're an expert on matters like this and until I visit Rundell and Bridge, I meant to solicit your advice.”
The playful mood of only a few words before was replaced with a solemnity that held Phineas silent. Dorothy's eyes watered and her hand trembled as she gazed down at the cameo broach in her palm. He moved closer and without hesitation, she returned the pin.
”It's a Dilgano, of that I am sure.”
He glanced at the delicate piece. ”I would hate for Penny to have further disappointment. Are you absolutely certain?”
”Without a doubt. It's the third of the five Dilganos I've located. Two are in my possession.”
The melancholic tone in her voice forced him to hesitate, but he needed answers to ease Penny's worry. ”It's of great value then?”
”Monetary value? Yes. To own a Dilgano is to have ensured wealth for a lifetime. The cameo will increase in worth as time pa.s.ses. It is an heirloom and a keepsake.”
”And?” he prodded gently.
”Sentimental value. There is no price to be placed on the emotional meaning of such an exquisite piece.”
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