Page 25 of The Traitor
“The Honorable Alcorn Festus Upton, at your service.”
Sebastian lifted a finger toward the door, and Helsom melted away.
“Were you honorable,” Aunt replied, “you would observe the simplest civilities of Polite Society and take yourself off. I will have you removed forcibly should you fail to mend the error of your ways.”
Upton took hold of the lapels of his own coat, like Mr. Garrick taking center stage. “I will remove myself happily, madam—happily!—provided my misguided and vulnerable cousin removes herself with me.”
Well, of course. Unease dissipated as Sebastian set the poetry aside and resisted the urge to pat Miss Danforth’s hand. This was not a French emissary bearing knives or poison; this was that most universal of nuisances: the Interfering Relative.
Sebastian rose and marshaled his best Etonian accents. “St. Clair, at your service. Perhaps, Upton, you expected to find Miss Danforth in the employ of a short, hunchbacked, squint-eyed little frog?”
Miss Danforth shrank further at his words, and that…it more than aggravated Sebastian, it enraged him.
“I did not address myself to the likes of you, sir,” Upton sniffed. “Millicent, gather your things. You cannot realize the extent to which you’ve blundered this time, and I refuse to tarry here while I explain your missteps to you. Trust me, dearest, most misguided cousin, when I assure you those missteps are egregious.”
Michael slipped into the room, Helsom beside him. A glance assured Sebastian that Baumgartner was also prepared to act.
Aunt took a considering sip of her tea. “Sebastian, you will recall there are ladies present, even if this cretin does not.” No violence, then. No broken furniture, no spilling of English blood on Aunt’s pretty carpets.
Ah, well. A man learned to live with his disappointments.
“Aunt, I will accede to your judgment. Miss Danforth, would you perhaps like to accompany her ladyship up to her sitting room?”
The little companion rose slowly, her piecework clutched in her fists. “Alcorn, explain yourself.”
“And be quick about it,” Sebastian suggested pleasantly, “because you inconvenience my aunt, and I suspect you embarrass your dearest cousin—to say nothing of aggravating me, Mr. Brodie, and Herr Baumgartner.”
Upton lost his grasp of his lapels, apparently noticing for the first time that he faced not only one little old lady, a smallish cousin, and a disgraced Frenchman, but three stout fellows who all topped him by at least half a foot.
“Millicent, come with me,” Upton snapped. “You really don’t know what you’ve done by accepting this post. If you come quietly, we may be able to keep your little frolic in service from anybody’s notice, though if Vincent gets wind of this, your chances will be permanently queered. Another opportunity is not likely to come along for one of your limitations. I beg of you, heed my direction this instant.”
Sebastian had heard such self-assureddirectionbefore, usually from commanding officers about to send their men into needless danger.
“Alcorn, I am content here. Your concern is appreciated but unneeded. You should go.”
“I cannot leave you in the hands of…of theTraitorBaron, Cousin. Not when I know you are of limited understanding and ability. I would be remiss—”
He fell silent as Miss Danforth swished up to him, her sewing trailing out behind her like a regimental flag.
“The TraitorBaron, Alcorn? What about the traitorcousin? You pledge my hand in marriage to a man three times my age without a word to me? You expect me to step and fetch for your wife and daughters without any remuneration, to be grateful for every crumb, when Uncle Stephen charged you personally to ensure my happiness? You destroy any chance I have of maintaining a good, decent post among people who at least show me civility, and you…you failed to inform me of Aunt Hy’s passing?” Her voice rose on that last question, rose and broke.
“I didn’t want to upset you, and Aunt’s demise was a foregone conclusion, as anybody with any sense would have known.”
Which disclosure meant Upton had known exactly where to find his cousin, and he’d chosen not to, until now. Sebastian silently implored the cupids cavorting in the molding to imbue him with restraint.
“Upton, you have exceeded my patience,” Sebastian said. “If Miss Danforth chooses to remain in my household, then that is where she will remain.” And because he was a bad man, as was known by all, Sebastian could not resist adding, “We’re rather fond of her, truth be known. She is the very soul of patience and Christian charity.”
Sebastian took the soul of patience by the elbow and guided her back two steps, out of range of her cousin’s worst notions. She glowered up at him for this gallantry, but Sebastian didn’t turn loose of her.
“Of course Milly is a good girl,” Upton retorted. “My wife and I saw to her welfare and ensured no waywardness emerged, but Milly is not of sound faculties and must be sheltered from the demands of a cruel and intolerant world. I cannot answer for the sorry influence two elderly ladies had over her in recent years. Millicent, for the last time, come along.”
Sebastian wanted to drape an arm around Millicent’s shoulders. Her expression suggested she would have bitten him had he dared such overt protectiveness.
“Alcorn, please leave. I am content with my post, and her ladyship’s employ is hardly cruel or intolerant. Just the opposite, in fact.”
The ladies exchanged smiles, a compliment sincerely rendered and much appreciated.
“Then her ladyship does not know of your limitations, and we must add mendacity to your list of shortcomings, Cousin.”
