Part 15 (1/2)
She pursed her lips. ”I suppose it would be best if he knew.”
Devonsgate nodded miserably.
”Very well, then. If his lords.h.i.+p should ask, pray inform him that I have gone out.”
The butler blinked. ”Just...out, madam?”
She smiled. ”Actually, inform him that I have gonecarousing. ”
The butler choked. ”My lady, did you say...carousing?”
”Yes. I am going out just as his lords.h.i.+p does only I shall seek out male companions.”
The butler's eyes could not open wider.
”Yes,” she continued, warming to her subject as she tugged on her gloves. ”I shall seek out the most unsuitable, most lecherous men in London. I will also gamble and drink and-” What else did one do while carousing? She supposed there were wild horse races in the dead of night and such, but she was not dressed for that. ”I suppose that's it.”
”I should hope so!” Devonsgate burst out.
Fiona raised her brows.
The butler colored. ”My lady,please. This cannot be safe. Let me send a note to his lords.h.i.+p-”
”You know where he is?”
”No, my lady. There are several places he likes to visit, most of themquite unsuitable for a lady of quality.”
Excellent. Then that was where she would begin. ”Does the coachman know these places?”
Devonsgate nodded miserably. ”My lady, surely you do not mean to do this. Perhaps you would prefer a nice cup of tea or a-”
”No, thank you. I'm going to discover the late-night attractions of London, either with his lords.h.i.+p or without him. But feel free to inform him of what I am doing.” She smiled. ”And tell him that I expect to have an exciting time.”
With a wave of her fingers, Fiona swept out of the house, down the steps, and into the waiting carriage.
”Are you playing, Kincaid, or sleeping?”
Jack looked up from his cards at the man across the table. ”d.a.m.n you, de Laughsley. I'm playing.”
”Then place your wager. You are holding up the game.”
Lord Cane looked into his empty gla.s.s with an expression of profound disappointment, then sighed.
”This place has wretched service. Why do I come here when there are better establishments-”
”Place your wager, Kincaid,” Lord Carlyse interrupted. His forehead glistened in the lamplight with the stress of play.
Jack noted the man's pasty demeanor. Carlyse had been losing steadily for the past several hours and seemed more desperate by the moment.
Jack placed a card on the table. ”I'm still playing.” He met Carlyse's gaze. ”Are you?”
The man's swallow was audible, but he nodded jerkily. ”Of course.”
”Then play!” Cane said, holding his gla.s.s aloft and hoping a footman would catch sight of his dilemma.
”Is this chair open?”
Jack looked up to see one of Fiona's brothers standing beside Carlyse's chair. ”What are you doing here, Gregor?”
”Dougal and I came to see what mischief you might be in.”
”How did you know where to find me?”
Dougal wandered from the crowd behind Gregor, and leaned an arm against the back of Cane's chair.
”Hamish told us where you were.”
”Do you mean to have me followed wherever I go?”
Gregor nodded. ”That's about it.”
Dougal caught sight of Cane's empty gla.s.s. ”Brandy?”
Cane blinked in surprise. ”Why, yes.”
”I shall find a footman to bring us some. I'd fancy a gla.s.s myself.”
”Good man!” De Laughsley pushed his empty gla.s.s forward as well.
Dougal looked across the room to find a footman. ”There's one.” He cupped his hands about his mouth.”Yaw!” The room went silent.
Jack winced.
Dougal plucked Cane's empty gla.s.s from the older man's hand and waved it toward the footman, who
stood, mouth agape, staring at Dougal. ”Brandy!”
The footman gulped, bowed, and rushed forward. Talk resumed immediately.