Page 126 of Enslaved
“An eviction notice?” Prudence screamed.
“There’s no hurry, just so long as you vacate the premises by midnight.”
“You little bitch,” cried Prudence, taking a threatening step in her direction.
“Watch it, Prudence, or I’ll give you a Bognor injection.”
“What?”
“That’s where I stick this parasol up your arse and pull it down open!”
Chapter 39
The earl was also enjoying himself at Richard Davenport’s expense. He held a handful of legal documents that were as lethal as any pistol.
Richard eyed him warily.
“Let me satisfy your curiosity. This deposition authorizes a full investigation into the handling of Lady Diana’s finances.”
Richard blanched.
“This one charges you with unlawful abduction; this one with unlawful incarceration and interment.”
“We were within our legal rights of guardianship.” “Not without just cause.”
“The girl was insane, believing she had gone back in time.”
“Only you and I and Dr. Wentworth heard her say anything about Aquae Sulis, and the doctor and I will deny it.”
“Dr. Bognor is a witness,” Richard asserted.
“Dr. Bognor is in even more trouble than you, Davenport. I’m afraid his days as a doctor are numbered, as are yours as a solicitor. Oh, I forgot to mention this deposition charging you with embezzlement. Being a man of the law, you will know the penalty that carries.”
Richard’s face turned ashen and he began to perspire. The earl allowed him to sweat for a few minutes.
“I might be able to persuade Lady Diana to forget about pressing some of these charges, if she were my wife.”
Richard’s hands were trembling. “Prudence will never give written consent to the marriage.”
“Fortunately, you are Diana’s legal guardian, not Prudence.”
When the gentlemen rejoined the ladies, Diana said sweetly. “We mustn’t keep you any longer, you will have a deal of packing to do.”
Prudence, vindictive to the end, said triumphantly, “You still need our consent to marry until you are twenty-one years old. Do you think you can sustain your position as mistress for three more years?”
Diana’s heart constricted with pain; Richard’s sank with dismay; Mark’s soared with triumph.
On the carriage ride back to the Savoy, Diana’s smile never dimmed, but Mark noticed that it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Would you like to go out for a birthday supper tonight?”
“I’d much rather have a private supper, if it wouldn’t disappoint you, Mark.”
“I’ve already ordered it, so staying in won’t disappoint me.”
Diana took her bath and chose a white negligee trimmed with gold ribbon to set off her deep blue lapis torque. When she emerged from the bedroom, the dinner cart had already arrived. She lifted the heavy silver cover from the first dish and gasped with delight. Mark had ordered her pale blue orchids. She turned into his arms. “You think of everything.”
His lips brushed her brow. “Let’s go home tomorrow.”
