Page 24 of Lady Liar (A Series of Senseless Complications #5)

H enry left the duke’s house well satisfied with the day’s events. He thought he had hinted at his intentions, and he’d not been rebuffed. As he still had some time before he needed to make his way home, and as he’d had a rather bright idea, he made his way to Rundell & Bridge.

Ludgate Street was its usual throng of people and carriages.

Henry looked up and down the busy street to see if there were anybody lurking about who might find themselves nosy as to the reason he went into a jeweler’s shop.

He did not see anybody he was well-acquainted with or who would be interested in his personal business.

Feeling confident that he was not to create any talk, he went inside.

He explained what he was looking for—something similar to the prize Sir Jonathan had given out at his scavenger hunt.

He would purchase two and send them to the duke’s house for Lady Valor and Lady Winsome, so they might get over their disappointment over not winning.

He suspected, or at least hoped, this would get him further into their good books.

As it turned out, Mr. Rundell was no slouch in the selling department. He’d anticipated that Sir Jonathan’s giving away a small looking glass in front of so many people with deep pockets would expand his trade in that item and had well prepared for it.

The clerk brought out a large velvet case with a dozen of them. Henry chose two he thought would suit. For Lady Winsome, he chose a rose pattern made with small rubies and chip diamonds. For Lady Valor, he chose one that was a bit more gaudy—it was a starburst of citrine and topaz.

And since he was already there, and since he was feeling more and more sure of his intentions, he looked around at some other cases. He looked around for something that would indicate his regard for Lady Verity. When the moment came.

After all, was it not sensible to be prepared?

He ended up selecting a delicate bracelet. It was a brilliant sapphire surrounded by perfectly matched seed pearls, and rows of pearls running all the way to a platinum clasp. It was well proportioned to a lady’s wrist, and it was entirely elegant.

He took the bracelet and made arrangements to have the mirrors delivered with a note. Then he made his way back to Berkeley Square.

His aunt was in the drawing room writing letters. “So? How did the scavenger hunt go? Were the Nicolets victorious?” Lady Pegatha asked.

“We were not,” Henry said. “However, the disappointment of it seemed to center on failing to win the prize. At least, for Lady Valor and Lady Winsome, it did. The prize was won by the Blendwhistles and it was a small lady’s looking glass, decorated with gems. I’ve been to Rundell & Bridge and purchased two of a similar look and had them sent over with my regards. To Lady Valor and Lady Winsome.”

“Ah, clever. You cannot send one directly to Lady Verity before you’ve declared yourself, but a gift to her sisters will be a heavy hint.”

Henry nodded. He took the velvet case from his pocket and showed his aunt the bracelet. “For when things become…more certain.”

“It is positively charming. By the by, when will things become more certain?”

Henry shrugged. “Soon, I think.”

“Excellent. In the past few years, I had begun to wonder if you would end a life-long bachelor with your head in books. I suppose your doubts about that ridiculous story about the fish looking about themselves when they find themselves on land is gone?”

Henry laughed. “I suppose it must be. In any case, there was not a mention of it today. I expect you were right in your assessment that it was just some odd sort of flirtation.”

“Very good,” Lady Pegatha said.

“Lady Lilith turned up, and attached herself to our party,” Henry said. “Then, she all but invited herself to the duke’s house as he’d invited me for apple cakes. They were surprisingly good, by the by. The duke was not having it, though.”

Lady Pegatha laughed. “The duke will not be pressured through some idea of courtesy. Apple cakes, you said? I wonder if we might secure the recipe for Cook.”

“Not a chance. Apparently, it is a closely guarded secret. Lady Marchfield attempted to get hold of it and was turned away.”

“Ah, well,” Lady Pegatha said. “In any case, I suppose Lady Lilith will get the hint that you are not interested sooner or later.”

“I really hope it is sooner. Today was outrageous, as far as I’m concerned.

She claimed her father waited in their carriage, but I do not think he was really there.

The duke did not think so either and teased her that we would stop by the earl’s carriage to say hello.

She practically ran out of the enclosure.

Nor do I think she even bought a ticket to the event. ”

“She stalks you like a hunter after a stag, I’m afraid,” Lady Pegatha said.

“I’m afraid so too,” Henry said. “I just do not know how to turn her from it. I’ve hinted enough, she must see I display no particular interest in her. Why does she not turn her view to somebody who might be interested?”

“She is desperate, I imagine,” Lady Pegatha said. “I do not suppose young lords with heavy pockets who have no need for a dowry are falling out of the trees at her feet.”

Henry supposed that was true. He also supposed he ought to have a bit more sympathy or patience for Lady Lilith’s situation.

Perhaps she was desperate. He was not certain what desperation would cause a person to do.

Perhaps he’d be better served thanking the stars that he’d never been in that situation himself.

Lady Pegatha rose. “Well, this was all very entertaining but now I must go abovestairs and change my dress. We are due to Lady Rareton’s card party at seven and her card parties wait for nobody.

Perhaps on the morrow, at Lady Jellerbey’s candlelight picnic, the time will have come to, as you say, make things more certain. ”

“Perhaps so,” Henry said.

“I only say, the dim lighting of that lady’s parties is rather conducive to your aim. I’ll leave you with that thought.”

Henry nodded. It certainly was a thought.

*

Lilith had not realized the thing could be done so quickly and with not too much expense.

Clara had finally proved her worth and delivered to her the young man working at a printing press.

As it happened, he seemed to admire Clara quite a bit and was eager to impress her.

All that Lilith would be charged for was the copper plate for the etching, paper, and ink.

Lilith had described what she wanted, and the young man had quickly sketched some rather glorious interpretations. She’d chosen the one that would irritate Lord Wembly the most, thereby driving him away from any association with Lady Verity.

That had been yesterday. Now, she was in possession of one of the caricatures.

The rest were being sent out to likely places to cause talk—gathering places like gentlemen’s clubs, and to the talkers of the ton .

She had even been so daring as to anonymously send a few to some very high-placed ladies.

She did not imagine Lady Pembroke and her ilk would be very amused that Lady Verity had been given a voucher to Almack’s after seeing the caricature.

The sketch was positively inspired. It depicted Lady Verity lecturing at a podium labeled Royal Society in front of a sea of gentlemen.

The caption read: After landing several trout on the banks of the River Esk, Lady Fiction concludes that fish cannot see much on land while a certain red-haired gentleman looks on.

By this evening, there were bound to be several people who’d seen the print and who attended Lady Jellerbey’s candlelight picnic.

Lilith would be there too. With any luck, Lord Wembly would open his eyes and see that there she was, Lady Lilith Crandall, daughter of the Earl of Berensby, standing there all along.

Lady Lilith was not causing embarrassment to him and his family, nor would she ever.

By all she knew about him, Lord Wembly was a sensible man.

Certainly he would see she was the better choice.

She would wear her best dress to hammer home the idea.

*

Verity could not help but to feel the compliment of it, even if Valor did not quite understand it.

Lord Wembly had sent over charming compact looking glasses from Rundell & Bridge for Winsome and Valor.

The note had said he hoped these small tokens would ease their disappointment over not coming out victorious at Sir Jonathan’s scavenger hunt.

“I’ll say it does ease my disappointment,” Winsome said. “Disappointment is gone!”

“I love mine so much,” Valor said. “But, why didn’t he send one for Verity?”

“It wouldn’t be right,” Verity said.

“I see. He doesn’t like you as much as I was worried he did. That’s all right, Verity. Don’t feel bad about it. You can borrow my looking glass sometimes as long as you give it back and don’t break it.”

“That’s not what she means,” Winsome said. “He couldn’t send her one because it’s just not done.”

“Why?” Valor asked.

“Nobody knows why,” Verity said. “Some things are done and some things are not.”

“Who makes up these rules?” Valor said, admiring herself in her glass.

Winsome shrugged. “Felicity asked Papa once and he said they’re made up by unhappy people with too much time on their hands. Like our aunt.”

“Valor,” Verity said, wishing to have a moment alone with Winsome, “I wonder if Sir Galahad has ever seen himself in a glass. After all, he’s too short to see into the one on your dressing table.”

“That’s true,” Valor said, considering the idea. She hopped up. “I’ll go find out and come back and tell you if he looked surprised. I tell him he’s handsome all the time, but he’s not really seen it for himself.”

Valor left and the drawing room door closed.

“I’ve decided what to do,” Verity said. “The very next time Lord Wembly says anything about intentions, even if it is vague like it was yesterday, I’m going to tell him I can’t read.”