Page 44 of Fortune Favors the Frivolous (Matchmaking Mischief Makers #2)
C aroline gazed with barely suppressed excitement at the maritime maps that adorned the walls to the entrance of Mr. Rothbury’s townhouse in Bloomsbury.
Soon, all the answers to her burning questions would be revealed.
Mr. Rothbury would announce that Venetia was an heiress and then confess his undying love for her. He would agree to a romantic proposal in a hot-air balloon at Lady Townsend’s Celestial Comet Viewing Gala…
And all would be well!
She was just deciding whether to wear white for her wedding to Henry—since Princess Charlotte had made white so fashionable for wedding gowns—or if a more practical pale pink or blue would be wiser, when they were greeted by the butler who’d been summoned by the housemaid who’d answered the door.
“Lady Weston, Miss Weston, my apologies, but Mr. Rothbury is not at home,” said the elderly butler, who carried himself with the disciplined bearing of one who might have served at sea.
Stricken, Caroline glanced at her sister-in-law. “I apologize for our unexpected visit, but we do not mind waiting.”
The butler shook his head. “Mr. Rothbury left half an hour ago and is not expected back until the day after tomorrow.”
“The day after tomorrow!” gasped Caroline, turning to Amelia with a look of entreaty. “But tonight is the Celestial Comet Viewing. He can’t possibly miss that!”
“Did he say where he was going?” Amelia asked. She hesitated before disclosing, “My sister-in-law and I have a rather important matter to discuss with him, and I fear tomorrow might be too late.”
“It will definitely be too late!” Caroline cried with an unladylike lack of restraint.
“That sounds rather dire,” came an unknown masculine voice from the darkened corridor and Caroline turned to see a lanky, copper-headed gentleman emerge from the shadows.
He bowed before sending Amelia a quizzical look.
“Lady Weston, delighted to see you again, most unexpected.” Then, appearing to register that she did not recognize him, he introduced himself.
“I am Mr. Rothbury’s cousin, Mr. Arthur Bowman, here in London on business.
Business which, in fact, precipitated Mr. Rothbury’s departure.
” He gestured for the ladies to follow him into the drawing room, saying, as he indicated a blue silk settee for them to sit, “Perhaps, if you tell me what business you have with my cousin, I can assist?”
Caroline felt close to tears. What possible help could an unknown cousin of Mr. Rothbury’s provide?
Until Amelia, clearly remembering their connection, said, “Why, you are Mr. Maximilian Bowman’s son—Your father was the late Mr. Playford’s solicitor. Mr. Rothbury mentioned that was the case, and I do recall now that we have met.”
“At the Pump Room in Harrogate three years ago. Yes, my cousin told me of your interest in the Playford family, so I am not surprised to see you,” he said, crossing his lanky legs and offering them a smile.
“And it was my dashing, post haste, from Winchester to inform Edward of developments that precipitated Edward’s unexpected journey.
Alas, I know he was greatly looking forward to tonight’s entertainment. ”
“Mr. Rothbury is going to Winchester?” exclaimed Caroline. “Why, that is—”
“Ten hours on the road,” Mr. Bowman supplied. “But fear not, he is not going to where I have come from, and his journey is only half that time.”
“Still!” cried Caroline, with no less desperation. “That means he will not be back in time to prevent a catastrophe at Lady Townsend’s Comet Viewing Gala.”
Mr. Bowman raised an eyebrow. “That sounds rather… dramatic. How could my cousin have helped prevent a catastrophe?”
Caroline hesitated, then at a nod from Amelia, said with as great an economy of words as she was able, “Mr. Rothbury indicated he had information that would belie the claim of my friend Venetia Playford’s aunt that she is penniless.
Tomorrow—I very much fear—Miss Playford will be pressured into agreeing to a marriage she might not otherwise have made had Mr. Rothbury been able to provide proof of his claims she is not… the pauper her aunt makes out.”
“I am sure she can stall for a little more time before making any binding promises,” Mr. Bowman said reasonably.
He contemplated the matter a moment, then added, “Of course, it’s easy to verify that Miss Playford was more than adequately provisioned when her father died.
And the business which sent my cousin across the county will make her even better provisioned if matters proceed as I believe they will.
” He smiled. “So I am sure your friend, Miss Playford, has nothing to worry about it. All will be revealed with my cousin’s return. More tea?”
Caroline’s heart was galloping as she shook her head at the offer.
Clearly, Mr. Bownman did not grasp the urgency.
“Miss Playford’s Aunt Pike maintains—and has done for ten years— that Venetia is quite penniless.
Are you telling me that your father, who was Mr. Playford’s solicitor, has proof that this is not the case? ”
“Miss Playford, while not exactly an heiress, had a very substantial sum apportioned to her upon her father’s death, and I believe it will not be too long before she, in fact, will be a considerable heiress.”
“An heiress!” Caroline gasped, raising her eyes at Amelia’s startled look. So, Barnaby’s hunch had been correct. Carefully, she asked, “How can that be when her aunt has maintained for years that she has nothing?”
Mr. Bowman shrugged. “Mrs. Pike has been receiving Miss Playford’s quarterly allowance since the death of her parents—a not inconsiderable sum that should have provided handsomely for her niece’s comfort and education. The proof can be provided, if it is requested. That is all I can tell you.”
This was shocking news in itself, but Caroline asked, “And you say she is to inherit more ?”
“Miss Playford’s paternal great-uncle, Mr. Leonard Harrington, is in failing health.
Having no direct heirs, he indicated some months ago the possibility that he may change his will and instead of leaving his estate to his closest male relative—a distant second cousin—he’d leave it to his great-niece, whom he has never met though he has followed her progress.
” He hesitated. “On occasion, this has been on the basis of reports from myself.”
“He asked you to spy on Venetia?”
Mr. Bowman smiled. “Mr. Harrington merely asked for a quarterly report on the general conduct of Miss Playford—which naturally was beyond reproach—as well as the conduct of his second cousin, James Barnaby, which, unfortunately, he found… disappointing.”
“James Barnaby?” cried Caroline, nearly dropping her teacup.
“You know him?”
“Why, he was involved in trying to… to abduct my friend Venetia in order to force her to marry Lord Windermere against her will. The two men were working in collusion.” So this was the reason for Barnaby’s involvement.
With a shaking hand, Caroline carefully put down her teacup.
“It appears James Barnaby has a… a motive to see Miss Playford wed to Windermere if the men had an arrangement!” She burst out, “Perhaps he didn’t just intend to see her forcibly married to Windermere, perhaps he intended to…
to harm her if she stood between him and his inheritance. ”
“Caroline!” Amelia’s sharp tone brought her back to earth. “You are making some very serious allegations which can never be proven—though… it is astonishing to learn of Barnaby’s involvement and… yes, the fact Miss Playford might pose a threat to his future inheritance explains a great deal.”
“And Lord Windermere…” Mr. Bowman said thoughtfully. “Despite appearances, the gentleman is in financial difficulties. I can well imagine he would be in search of an heiress to wed.”
“But Venetia is not yet an heiress,” Amelia pointed out. “And might never be.”
“No, but maybe Windermere intended to kidnap her and simply wait… considering Mr. Harrington was so ill and likely to die soon,” said Caroline. “And her aunt was going to make some excuse while she was locked away in his hunting lodge. For money, of course!”
A small kernel of satisfaction lodged in her breast at the look exchanged between Amelia and Mr. Bowman. They did not think her logic far-fetched.
“We shall just have to be patient, Caroline,” said Amelia, rising. “There is nothing more we can do until Mr. Rothbury returns.”
“But what about the comet viewing?” Caroline cried. “Mrs. Pike has threatened Venetia that if she doesn’t break her betrothal to Henry and agree to marry Lord Windermere, she’ll tell the world she’s—” she swallowed, then, blushing, added, “illegitimate.”
Mr. Bowman gave an incredulous laugh. “Why, that’s preposterous! There’s no question of her legitimacy.”
“You have her birth certificate, then? The records of her parents’ marriage?” asked Amelia.
“No, but Mr. Harrington, a stickler for such things, would not consider leaving his estate to a bastard—forgive my language,” said Mr. Bowman, reddening.
Caroline said quickly, “If Mr. Rothbury cannot return in time to reveal the truth about Venetia’s circumstances, then we must find another way to prevent her from being manipulated into Windermere’s clutches.”
“That should be easy,” said Amelia. “She just needs to know of her changed circumstances.”
But Mr. Bowman shook his head. “Mr. Harrington is a man of fair-weather temperament. He may well change his mind at the last minute once again. I would not get the young lady’s hopes up.”
Caroline fisted her gloved hands. “Then it’s up to us to stop Venetia from succumbing to her aunt or Lord Windermere’s machinations. We’ll set a trap. One that will expose Mrs. Pike’s deception before all of society.” She nearly stamped her foot. “Tomorrow night, all will be revealed!”
Mr. Bowman regarded her with a smile. “You are quite formidable, Miss Weston. What kind of trap did you have in mind?”
Caroline drew in a lungful of air while her mind worked furiously. “One that exposes Mrs. Pike’s greed to the whole world,” she said, though in truth she didn’t really know what could be done.
Rising abruptly, she said, “I must speak to Lady Townsend to arrange some important matters with her. I suspect she wants Henry and Venetia go up in that balloon… and there is much she needs to know—”
“But it is late, Caroline, and your mama will expect you home,” said Amelia with a regretful smile.
“And I suspect you know how unlikely it is that Mrs. Pike will allow Venetia any contact. A note to your friend to caution her not to break off her engagement is the best that can be done under the circumstances.”
But Caroline could tell by Amelia’s look that her sister-in-law feared, as much as she did, that Mrs. Pike had too much to lose to allow the possibility of any such correspondence reaching her niece before her plans were fully realized the following day.