Page 43 of The Hazardous Measure of Love
Damn,I thought. He had almost been lured into revealing more of the family ructions that Adrien had told me about only a few minutes before.
Marcus gave me an apologetic smile. ‘But you must be so weary of our family’s troubles. I hope it is not spoiling your enjoyment of your stay with Lady Radcliffe?’
I assured him that it was not, and that if I could assist in any way I was only too happy. I let him draw me into a conversation about which London sights I was planning to visit and what I thought of the shopping.
After five minutes of that I thought it safe enough to infiltrate the opposing family, so I made my excuses, went to refresh my tea cup and sat down in the rather noticeable gap between Jerald and his brother George.
George had his mouth full – Lady Radcliffe had cunningly sent for cake reinforcements, presumably calculating that if anything was going to keep a largely male party fixed on her sofas, that was it.
I waved him back into his seat as he half-rose and turned to Jerald. ‘Families,’ I murmured to him. ‘Always something of a trial, are they not?’
‘Yes.’ His expression was grim as he glanced past me, but whether that was directed at his Uncle Alexander or his own brothers, I couldn’t tell.
‘Still, you managed to escape from Upper Wimpole Street on the last visit,’ I prattled on cheerfully. ‘Where did you find to stay? I imagine lodgings in London are quite a price.’
‘Oh. Yes. A friend. I stayed with a friend.’
‘That was fortunate,’ I said. ‘Not too far from Mayfair, I hope? Although I expect you are fit enough to walk everywhere. It would cost me a fortune in hackney carriage fares.’
‘Yes. Quite central.’
‘Your friend is a lucky man to be able to afford it.’ I kept a bright, enquiring expression on my face and held eye contact.
As I hoped, he stumbled on, unable to resist the silence and too inexperienced to turn my impertinent questions. ‘It’s in Shepherds Market. Plenty of cheap lodgings around there.’
‘Ah yes, I know it. Just south of Curzon Street isn’t it?’
He nodded, clearly relieved that I had asked something easy, so I bounced back another question.
‘What’s your friend’s name?’
‘Pitts… I mean, Pitt. Er, Desmond Pitt.’
‘No relation of the Prime Ministers then,’ I said with a laugh. ‘They were both William, weren’t they?’
‘Ah. Yes. I mean, his name’s not William. No. Hah ha.’ He was even more uneasy now and I wondered why. Should I keep probing?
Then his brother Percy said something to George that I didn’t quite catch, other than, ‘…ask her now. Best not to waste the opportunity.’
But whatever it was, Jerald had obviously picked it up. ‘Leave her alone! It isn’t fair to hound her and, besides, she doesn’t wantyou.’
Percy twisted around on his seat, ready to snap a response, remembered just in time that I was between them and managed a sickly smile. ‘Do mind your own business, Jer,’ he drawled. ‘Elder brothers get the first pick at the Marriage Mart.’
I glanced back at Jerald and caught a flare of fury in his eyes before he had his temper under control again.
‘Brothers,’ he muttered.
‘I only have a sister,’ I told him. ‘And we used to fight, but not any longer. Not since she got married, in fact. Perhaps your brothers will be easier to get along with once they find wives.’
I never found out what he thought about that, because Alexander Prescott rose to his feet. ‘This has been a most delightful interlude,’ he told Lady Radcliffe. ‘So refreshing to be away from home for a little while.’
‘Not your home yet,’ Jerald muttered beside me. There was real venom in his voice. His uncle’s strictures on his way of life must really have stung.
‘Now, we must be on our way before we outstay our welcome.’
Out they all trooped, the ladies assuring Lady Radcliffe that they were sure she would transform the house into a perfectly delightful residence and begging her to call again before we returned to London.
When they had gone we collapsed in less elegant postures and finished off the cake while we caught up with what each of us had gleaned from the conversation.
