Page 34 of Lady Liar (A Series of Senseless Complications #5)

H enry had escorted Lady Pegatha to Lady Darlington’s masque.

They arrived in good time, very much on the early side of things, actually.

He ignored the frowns from the footmen who had to bring them glasses of wine before they felt ready to do so.

It was, after all, the time-honored tradition of footmen to advertise any sort of opinion that ought not be said aloud with a deep frown.

He really did not care how much they wished to frown. Henry would be on the scene when Lady Verity arrived, approach her at once, and hopefully secure his aim.

The room had begun to fill but there was still no sign of her. At least, he did not think she had arrived. Some of the ladies were costumed so completely that it was difficult to know who they were.

“My advice,” Lady Pegatha said, “keep your eyes open for the duke. He is in the habit of wearing a domino that is decorated with flames at the hem. Does he reference his prior activities in setting curtains afire? Or perhaps he jokes that his vicar goes to the devil? Who knows.”

“Lady Pegatha, Lord Wembly.”

Henry turned to find Lady Lilith, or a dairy maid, as she was dressed at the moment. “Lady Lilith.”

“Charming costume,” Lady Pegatha said.

“Lord Wembly,” Lady Lilith said, all but ignoring his aunt’s compliment, “I must say that I am appalled at these ridiculous prints that are going round. What sort of person spends their days getting up to such tomfoolery?”

“I’ve no idea,” Henry said.

“I only wondered…” Lady Lilith said, trailing off.

Of course, Henry well knew that he was given a moment to press her on what she had wondered. He was not inclined to it, though.

“Wondered what, Lady Lilith?” Lady Pegatha said. “We do not prefer guessing games.”

Lady Lilith appeared flustered. “Well, it is just that I think, who would have the daring to do such a thing? Who would not fear any sort of recrimination? Who has made a habit of flouting society’s rules and opinions?”

“Who?” Lady Pegatha asked, beginning to look annoyed.

“The Duke of Pelham?” Lady Lilith said. “It just occurred to me that he might be put out about seeing his daughter mocked in a print and decided to…answer it.”

Henry did not know if the duke was at the bottom of all these prints.

He certainly might be, which added a complication.

He’d put all his thoughts toward Lady Verity.

But what if the duke would never sanction the match?

After all, he was only a baron, and an irritated duke might not deign to overlook it.

The duke was an interesting personality. Henry got the idea that he really was not at all concerned with society’s approval or disapproval. He would not have given a thought to the right or wrong of it if he’d decided to revenge himself upon Henry through a series of prints.

Now that he thought of it, he’d heard some stories of the older sisters’ suitors running afoul of the duke.

Stratton had a pile of chains dropped at his door.

And then there was something about Stanford’s house being infested with case moths, though Henry could not imagine how the duke could have been involved in it.

The joke at the time that went round The Royal Society was court a Nicolet at your peril. He’d not thought much of it.

Perhaps he should have?

The hum of a room filling up with people talking suddenly faded to silence. Henry turned to discover what had caused it.

Then he saw what had caused it. Queen Charlotte had arrived…with the duke and Lady Verity.

The queen was dressed in a very regal gold gown draped in the ancient Greek style, the duke in his domino with flames round the hem. Lady Verity was magnificent. A gown of white feathers, a swan, it could not have suited any lady better.

Why did she come with the queen, though?

“Oh dear,” Lady Pegatha said quietly.

He turned to her. “What do you mean? What is oh dear?”

“I have not before heard that the queen and Lady Verity are fast friends. Therefore, a point of some sort is being made. I will imagine the point is the queen throws her considerable favor on the side of Lady Verity and against whoever made that print of her.”

Lady Lilith gasped. Henry was not sure why. If the queen had decided to back Lady Verity, certainly that must be a very good development.

“What’s thrown you off, Lady Lilith?” Lady Pegatha said.

“Oh! It is just, well, one would hope…” Lady Lilith trailed off.

“Hope what?”

“Um, I suppose one would hope the queen did not assume that Lord Wembly was the author of the print against Lady Verity?” Lady Lilith said.

“Why would she assume that?” Henry asked.

“As to that,” Lady Lilith said, “I did hear that the whole idea of fish eyesight was mentioned at a small dinner at the duke’s house?”

Of course it had been mentioned at a small dinner. All family attending, but for he and his aunt. Henry did not suppose anybody in their right mind would accuse Lady Pegatha of being the author of it.

But he was not either! At least, not entirely. He’d mentioned it in passing and then the idea had spread, and somebody had the notion it would be amusing to do a print.

If Lady Pegatha was right, if the queen had come to back Lady Verity and denounce the author of the prints, and it was assumed to be him…Well, it was a fine situation.

The queen, the duke, and Lady Verity had proceeded to the top of the ballroom. A throne of sorts, meaning the largest chair in Lady Darlington’s house, had been set up, with smaller chairs on either side. The duke took one side and Lady Verity the other. Was she to be trapped there all night?

Lady Pembroke entered on the arm of the Earl of Dartmouth—both part of the queen’s retinue. The Lord Chamberlain stood to the side of the makeshift throne. Clearly, he would act the gatekeeper regarding who was to come into the queen’s presence, and who was not.

Lady Pegatha snorted. “It seems your damsel is just now locked behind the castle walls. Will you make any attempts to rescue her?”

“I believe I will,” Henry said.

“Oh, I am not sure that would be wise, Lord Wembly!” Lady Lilith said, the note of alarm in her voice all too clear. “After all, the queen might be affronted by it.”

“I am not certain I care, Lady Lilith,” Henry said resolutely. Of course, he did care, but this situation could not be allowed to stand.

Queen or no queen, he must speak to Lady Verity.

*

Verity had followed the queen to the makeshift throne Lady Darlington’s footmen had arranged. Queen Charlotte ordered the duke to her right and Verity to her left. Footmen arrived with trays of wine and champagne, as well as the bits of food Lady Darlington was in the habit of sending round.

The queen stared at small rolls of thin ham stuffed with creamed cheese, tiny cheese tarts, and squares of pineapple skewered on thin sticks.

She waved them on and satisfied herself with a glass of wine.

Verity did the same. She was not at all clear if there was some etiquette involved—could one eat if the queen had declined?

Though, she really would not have minded trying out the pineapple.

Whatever the rules might be, the duke did not seem to see the need to follow the queen’s lead and filled up a small plate.

He took so many, and such was the look of consternation on the footman’s face, that if Verity had to guess what the young man was thinking, it would probably be along the lines of: “Why not just take the plate in my hand, as you’ve nearly emptied it into your own. ”

The ballroom had gone very quiet, and the crowd stared at the queen as if nobody understood what they were to do next. Queen Charlotte signaled the three violinists to take up their playing again. They did so, and it seemed to break the pall that had fallen over the room.

“Hah!” the duke said, “there’s my sister, Lady Misery. Dressed in another high-flown get up—she attempts to look regal but can never quite hit the mark.”

“You are exceedingly naughty, Duke,” the queen said. “Lady Marchfield is a respected matron.”

“Yes, but not a very amusing one,” the duke said.

“Well,” Queen Charlotte said with a laugh.

The queen leaned in Verity’s direction and said, “Here comes Lady Pembroke and my lord chamberlain. Lady Pembroke will circulate the crowd, as I mentioned. Lord Dartmouth will stand by us and make introductions he thinks fit upon being approached. I am hopeful Baron Wembly will take his chance, as he will know Lord Dartmouth from The Royal Society.”

Goodness. It was all so formally done. Where was Lord Wembly? Was he here? Did he wish to see her? If he did, why? Was it to scold her for all those prints that had gone round? If she’d never said that stupid thing about fish, there would be no prints.

But perhaps not. He had come to the house twice, which seemed to be a lot of trouble just to complain. She very much wished she could see into his thoughts, but gentlemen were so inscrutable.

“I do not know why you suddenly look like a hare in a hunter’s sights,” the queen said. “You are a duke’s daughter—chin up!”

Of course, the queen was right. Verity lifted her chin and did her best not to appear as a ridiculous person who talked about examining fish eyesight.

As she did so, she saw Lord Wembly. He wore a simple domino and half mask.

Now that she’d spotted him, she wondered how she’d not seen him before.

That lovely, lovely auburn hair. It really was so superior to every other gentleman’s hair.

He was walking over, with Lady Pegatha and Lady Lilith trailing him.

“Now we will see what the lay of the land is,” the queen said, sounding very jolly about it.

Lord Wembly had a word with the Lord Chamberlain, that gentleman looking very stern and seeming to consider what was said to him.

“Your Majesty,” Verity daringly whispered, “he will not be turned away?”

“Certainly not,” the queen said, “where would be the fun in that? Though, Dartmouth does terrifically at pretending he is weighing the matter.”