Page 42 of A Match of Misfortune (Bachelors of Blackstone’s #7)

Chapter Twenty-Four

I t had rained an entire day and the next as well, but on the third morning, when the maid opened Cecily’s curtains, there was not a cloud in the sky. Mrs. Markham had already sent word to the Rothsburgs, and the family hurried to ready.

“What are you most excited to see?” Cecily asked Jamison, who sat on the settee next to her while they waited for the Rothsburgs to arrive.

Jamison gave a wide smile. “The elephant and rhinoceros.”

“I believe those are two of the animals I am most looking forward to seeing as well,” Adelaide said. “Oh, and the hippopotamus.”

“What of the ostrich?” Nash said, entering the room behind them. “I hear it is nearly eleven feet tall.”

Jamison’s eyes widened, and he shifted to more fully face Nash as he approached. “Do they have any monkeys?”

“They do, indeed.”

“I wish Father could come with us,” Jamison said. “He loves monkeys. ”

Mrs. Markham gave a small sigh. “He should have liked to come, but he has business to attend to at the bank that could not be put off.”

Cecily glanced at Mrs. Markham, certain there’d been a touch of worry in her voice, but Mrs. Markham stood abruptly and started toward Mrs. Ingram, who stood in the doorway holding a newspaper in her hand.

Cecily watched as the housekeeper whispered something in Mrs. Markham’s ear, then pointed at the paper.

Mrs. Markham frowned.

“What is it?” Nash asked.

His mother’s gaze lifted. “It seems the menagerie is closed.” Her gaze roved over the article again. “Apparently, the cages are undergoing improvements due to a few recent incidents with the animals. It will not reopen for a fortnight.”

Nash shook his head, clearly frustrated at the turn of events. “What are the odds?”

“This has nothing to do with you,” Mrs. Markham reassured him.

Nash blew out a breath, seemingly not convinced.

A knock at the door was soon followed by the Rothsburgs’ voices in the entry hall.

“Why the forlorn faces?” Rothsburg asked, stepping into view.

Mrs. Markham handed him the newspaper. “The Royal Menagerie at the Exeter ‘Change is closed for the next two weeks.”

His eyes skimmed through the article, and he gave a little snort.

“What is funny?” Bridget asked, glancing at the article.

“Nothing,” he said, scrubbing a hand across his face to conceal his smile.

“By all means, go ahead and say it,” Nash said. “My bad luck is to blame. ”

“On the contrary. If there is something the matter with the cages, it seems rather fortunate they discovered it before our visit. We don’t need you getting eaten by a bear.”

Jamison’s jaw slackened, and Cecily wrapped an arm around him, shaking her head. “He is just teasing your brother.”

“So, what are we to do now?” Bridget asked, glancing around. “It is a lovely day, and I yearn to be out.”

“What about the Tower of London?” Rothsburg offered. “Though I’ve heard the selection of animals there has been greatly reduced.”

“Vauxhall is now open,” Fredrick offered. “We could even take a wherry ride across the Thames from Westminster.”

“What’s a wherry?” Jamison whispered to Cecily.

“It’s a small boat.”

His frown instantly morphed into a smile. “Let’s do that!”

Mrs. Markham seemed to consider the idea. “The paths would be suitable for the Bath chair, and since we are taking two carriages, I can return with Jamison and Adelaide before … the later crowds come, and the rest of you can stay for the fireworks if you so choose.”

“Do we not have a social event on the calendar this evening?” Nash asked, looking from Cecily to Bridget and Rothsburg.

“Nothing tonight.” Bridget forced out a smile. Then she lifted a finger. “We do have Almack’s tomorrow.”

Nash considered her with unusual focus. “Anything else this week?”

Rothsburg and Bridget shared a nervous glance.

“Your invitations have stopped, haven’t they? And it is because of me.”

“We expected as much.” Bridget waved a dismissive hand.

“Restoring a reputation takes time, and since you could not join us at Hyde Park, we have truly only had two outings. But I am still confident our plan will work. We simply need to continue visiting venues where an invitation is not required. Such as Vauxhall.”

“I do not want your reputations to suffer because of mine.”

Lord Rothsburg smiled. “Thankfully, you have no choice in the matter. Bridget and I have discussed the topic thoroughly, and we’ve made our decision. Miss Bradshaw as well. You, cousin, are stuck with our support.”

Bridget gave a firm nod. “We are on the right side of this.”

Nash glanced between the three of them. “I don’t deserve it, but I thank you.”

Rothsburg lifted his hands, turning to the others. “So, Vauxhall it is?”

Everyone nodded, and Jamison hopped to his feet, not appearing the least bit disappointed by their change of plans.

“Might I assist you?” Nash stepped in front of Cecily and offered a hand.

She took hold of it, aware that both Bridget and Mrs. Markham watched them, and allowed him to help her stand. “Thank you.”

“Have you been to Vauxhall?”

Cecily shook her head, her gaze sliding to her sister, who was being lifted from her chair by Fredrick. The utter joy that radiated from her face warmed Cecily straight through. “No, but I find I am most eager for the experience.”

The way Nash looked at her sent her heart pounding. “As am I.”

The wherry ride across the Thames from Westminster was far more enjoyable than Cecily had thought it would be.

She only wished Nash could have joined them.

Instead, upon realizing the boat could not accommodate Adelaide’s Bath chair, he had volunteered to take the carriage across the newly constructed Vauxhall Bridge and meet them at the river entrance as soon as he was able.

“Where is Nash?” Jamison asked, glancing around once Lord Rothsburg assisted him off the boat.

Mrs. Markham took hold of his hand. “He is to meet us inside the entrance.”

Cecily allowed Lord Rothsburg’s help, then moved aside so he could help to steady the boat while Fredrick lifted Adelaide.

One of the wherry workers hurried over to give assistance, but besides a steadying grip on Fredrick’s elbow as he stepped over the side, Fredrick managed it on his own.

“Let me know if you wish for me to take a turn carrying Adelaide,” Lord Rothsburg said as the group started up the Vauxhall Stairs.

“I think I can manage.”

Although Fredrick took after the Markham side and Adelaide was petite in figure, it was a fair distance to the grand entrance, and Cecily was certain Fredrick would soon tire.

But having Adelaide cradled against his chest, her smiling eyes upon him, seemed to give him the strength to see the task through.

When they’d paid the three shillings and sixpence per person to enter, Cecily located a bench near the entrance where Adelaide could rest until the Bath chair arrived. She gestured to Fredrick. “You can set her here.”

Carefully, he lowered her down, then took the seat next to her.

Her sister’s cheeks were rosy, and her green eyes shone in the daylight.

Cecily also couldn’t help but notice the smiles Fredrick gave her, along with his unwavering focus.

It seemed more than just kindness, as she’d previously assumed.

Something more akin to interest. Had Papa been wrong in his worry?

Could Adelaide find a gentleman who would accept her as she was ?

If so, what did that mean for Cecily and the promise she’d made to herself?

As quickly as the thought came, she forced it aside again. She would not be swayed in her resolve. Even if the opportunity ever presented itself, Adelaide was still years away from marriage. There was so much that could happen in that time. So much that could change.

“They seem to prefer one another’s company,” Mrs. Markham whispered, following Cecily’s gaze.

“Yes, though I fear it will only lead to heartbreak.” Cecily watched as Fredrick said something that made Adelaide giggle.

Even if Fredrick came to love her, would he marry her?

Would he be allowed to? Despite how deeply Cecily wished it could be so, it seemed too distant a hope. “For them both, possibly.”

Mrs. Markham sighed, as though she had come to a similar conclusion.

“There is Nash!” Jamison called, taking off in a sprint, his arms waving above his head.

Sure enough, Nash was coming down a path toward them, pulling the Bath chair as if he were a creature of labor with a small, empty carriage behind him. Truly an ox of a man. Cecily bit back her smile, thinking of all the looks he’d likely received as he’d made his way to them.

“Did you enjoy the boat ride?” he asked Jamison, the volume of his voice easily reaching them even with the distance.

Jamison nodded enthusiastically, though his voice was not loud enough for Cecily to hear his response. Nash gestured for Jamison to climb on the chair and handed him the handle before moving behind the chair to push it. “Straight ahead.”

With a few jolting movements, Jamison quickly figured out the steering and maneuvered it impressively close to where Adelaide sat. Jamison jumped off, and Nash moved in front of Adelaide. He gave a low, overdone bow. “Your carriage awaits, my lady. ”

She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you.” He gave her a wink that made Adelaide giggle again. “Now, may I have the great honor of transporting you to your chair?”

“You may.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, and with overly heedful movements, he safely delivered her into the seat. “Now the real question is, should you like to steer, or would you prefer to be pulled?”

“I should like to try and steer. At least until the path becomes more crowded or I prove myself incapable.” She glanced around until her gaze landed on Jamison. “You seemed to have figured it out quickly. Do you wish to join me so that you can teach me how I am to go about it?”

Jamison scurried into the chair, squeezing in next to her.

Nash handed her the handle.