Page 65 of Fortune Favors the Frivolous
Amelia put her hand to her belly and glanced up with a regretful smile. “I really am not feeling at all the thing today, Caroline. And nor am I sure that it is wise to go rushing back to a gentleman’s residence when you got into such a state last time. You really said some most inappropriate things. I don’t know if he will even receive you.”
Caroline didn’t know what to say after such a rebuke. She could hardly venture out alone and unchaperoned, and she didn’t know who else would accompany her to a gentleman’s townhouse. Her mother would have a fit and outright forbid it.
Amelia sighed placatingly and then patted the sofa beside her. “I know you have taken a great deal of interest in the happiness of your friend, and for that I applaud you. But surely whatever information you have found can wait one more day. Besides, I am not convinced that Henry and Venetia would not make a very happy pairing. Do you really think it is right to meddle so?”
Caroline swallowed. She clenched her hands at her sides and closed her eyes as she felt the emotion bubbling close to the surface of her skin. She had the information that would make everything right. At least, she was almost certain that Mr. Rothbury had the information that would make everything right.
All that was needed was for Caroline to pry it out of him so he could announce the truth to the world, thus freeing Venetia and giving Caroline and Henry their chance at happiness.
Tears stung her eyes, and she had to grip the back of the sofa to stop her knees from giving way. The room’s warmth suddenly felt oppressive, the scent of Amelia’s roses cloying. She took a deep breath, hoping to gather her self-control, but instead exhaled on a sob.
“Darling Caroline, it’s not all that bad, surely?” Amelia asked, sounding suddenly doubtful and concerned. She leaned forward, wincing slightly at the movement. “You are overwrought. Yes, Frederick has told me that as a child, you sometimes let your emotions get the better of you. And I know life can be disappointing, but we have to accept there are some things we cannot change. However, I’m not saying I won’t help you because I am the first to agree that there is something very wrong about the situation regarding Lord Windermere, and the information Mr. Rothbury insinuated he had about Venetia’s financial situation. On the one hand, I am wary about meddling; however, I do absolutely agree that it is important your young friend knows all the facts before she is committed in marriage. All I am saying is that surely waiting another day will not be detrimental to the cause in view of my feeling a little more delicate than usual today. Please don’t cry, Caroline. You are very selfless to be so concerned about Venetia. It is very admirable.”
“It is not admirable at all!” Caroline countered as she wept into her arms, supporting herself on the back of the sofa. The gilded clock on the mantel ticked relentlessly, each second carrying them closer to disaster. “Yes, Venetia is my friend, but she is also marrying the man I love. Henry and I have loved each other all our lives, but we only realized it too late, it seems. He was forced to do the honorable thing when herescued Venetia from Windermere.” Caroline raised her head, her cheeks flushed with emotion. “And now it seems he’s going to marry Venetia after all—when neither of them love each other—because Venetia will only hear too late that she will inherit a fortune that will enable her to do as she pleases—”
“Caroline, Caroline, please calm yourself.” With a frown, Amelia turned awkwardly on the sofa to pat her sister-in-law’s arm, clearly surprised at Caroline’s unexpected declaration. “You and Henry? Why, that is a surprise.” She swallowed, her thoughts clearly in some tumult before she added, “But… there are still days before the wedding—”
“Amelia! There is no time to wait! Mrs. Pike is planning something evil this evening at Lady Townsend’s Comet Viewing Gala.” Caroline raised her head, wiping furiously at her tears. “I don’t know exactly what she has in mind, but she is exerting all her power to make Venetia renege on marrying Henry so that she’ll somehow submit to Windermere’s pressure to marry him because Mrs. Pike says if she does not, she’ll reveal to the world that Venetia’s parents were not married before she was born and that Venetia is penniless when we know she’s not. Yes, I want to marry Henry, and having this information confirmed by Mr. Rothbury would enable me to do so—but not if Henry’s reputation is so compromised by whatever Mrs. Pike and Windermere have in mind, or if Venetia has already been spirited away by Windermere.”
Caroline hadn’t finished speaking before Amelia was on her feet and ringing the bell, her face set with newfound resolve.
“You’ve convinced me, Caroline,” she said with a sigh. “It was not all smooth sailing when I married your brother and, yes, you could have bowled me over with a feather to learn that you and Henry are in love… but I am now well persuaded of the need to move with urgency.” She pressed a hand to her lower back as she straightened. “Ah, Millie—” She put her hand to herbelly, closing her eyes briefly as she apparently suffered a pang. “Please fetch my gray pelisse, bonnet, and gloves. Caroline and I are going to pay a call.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Caroline gazed withbarely suppressed excitement at the maritime maps that adorned the walls to the entrance of Mr. Rothbury’s townhouse in Bloomsbury.
Soon, all the answers to her burning questions would be revealed.
Mr. Rothbury would announce that Venetia was an heiress and then confess his undying love for her. He would agree to a romantic proposal in a hot-air balloon at Lady Townsend’s Celestial Comet Viewing Gala…
And all would be well!
She was just deciding whether to wear white for her wedding to Henry—since Princess Charlotte had made white so fashionable for wedding gowns—or if a more practical pale pink or blue would be wiser, when they were greeted by the butler who’d been summoned by the housemaid who’d answered the door.
“Lady Weston, Miss Weston, my apologies, but Mr. Rothbury is not at home,” said the elderly butler, who carried himself with the disciplined bearing of one who might have served at sea.
Stricken, Caroline glanced at her sister-in-law. “I apologize for our unexpected visit, but we do not mind waiting.”
The butler shook his head. “Mr. Rothbury left half an hour ago and is not expected back until the day after tomorrow.”
“The day after tomorrow!” gasped Caroline, turning to Amelia with a look of entreaty. “But tonight is the Celestial Comet Viewing. He can’t possibly miss that!”
“Did he say where he was going?” Amelia asked. She hesitated before disclosing, “My sister-in-law and I have a rather important matter to discuss with him, and I fear tomorrow might be too late.”
“It will definitely be too late!” Caroline cried with an unladylike lack of restraint.
“That sounds rather dire,” came an unknown masculine voice from the darkened corridor and Caroline turned to see a lanky, copper-headed gentleman emerge from the shadows. He bowed before sending Amelia a quizzical look. “Lady Weston, delighted to see you again, most unexpected.” Then, appearing to register that she did not recognize him, he introduced himself. “I am Mr. Rothbury’s cousin, Mr. Arthur Bowman, here in London on business. Business which, in fact, precipitated Mr. Rothbury’s departure.” He gestured for the ladies to follow him into the drawing room, saying, as he indicated a blue silk settee for them to sit, “Perhaps, if you tell me what business you have with my cousin, I can assist?”
Caroline felt close to tears. What possible help could an unknown cousin of Mr. Rothbury’s provide?
Until Amelia, clearly remembering their connection, said, “Why, you are Mr. Maximilian Bowman’s son—Your father was the late Mr. Playford’s solicitor. Mr. Rothbury mentioned that was the case, and I do recall now that we have met.”
“At the Pump Room in Harrogate three years ago. Yes, my cousin told me of your interest in the Playford family, so I am not surprised to see you,” he said, crossing his lanky legs and offering them a smile. “And it was my dashing, post haste, from Winchester to inform Edward of developments that precipitatedEdward’s unexpected journey. Alas, I know he was greatly looking forward to tonight’s entertainment.”
“Mr. Rothbury is going to Winchester?” exclaimed Caroline. “Why, that is—”
“Ten hours on the road,” Mr. Bowman supplied. “But fear not, he is not going to where I have come from, and his journey is only half that time.”
