Page 66 of Fortune Favors the Frivolous
“Still!” cried Caroline, with no less desperation. “That means he will not be back in time to prevent a catastrophe at Lady Townsend’s Comet Viewing Gala.”
Mr. Bowman raised an eyebrow. “That sounds rather… dramatic. How could my cousin have helped prevent a catastrophe?”
Caroline hesitated, then at a nod from Amelia, said with as great an economy of words as she was able, “Mr. Rothbury indicated he had information that would belie the claim of my friend Venetia Playford’s aunt that she is penniless. Tomorrow—I very much fear—Miss Playford will be pressured into agreeing to a marriage she might not otherwise have made had Mr. Rothbury been able to provide proof of his claims she is not… the pauper her aunt makes out.”
“I am sure she can stall for a little more time before making any binding promises,” Mr. Bowman said reasonably. He contemplated the matter a moment, then added, “Of course, it’s easy to verify that Miss Playford was more than adequately provisioned when her father died. And the business which sent my cousin across the county will make her even better provisioned if matters proceed as I believe they will.” He smiled. “So I am sure your friend, Miss Playford, has nothing to worry about it. All will be revealed with my cousin’s return. More tea?”
Caroline’s heart was galloping as she shook her head at the offer. Clearly, Mr. Bownman did not grasp the urgency. “Miss Playford’s Aunt Pike maintains—and has done for ten years—that Venetia is quite penniless. Are you telling me that your father, who was Mr. Playford’s solicitor, has proof that this is not the case?”
“Miss Playford, while not exactly an heiress, had a very substantial sum apportioned to her upon her father’s death, and I believe it will not be too long before she, in fact, willbea considerable heiress.”
“An heiress!” Caroline gasped, raising her eyes at Amelia’s startled look. So, Barnaby’s hunch had been correct. Carefully, she asked, “How can that be when her aunt has maintained for years that she has nothing?”
Mr. Bowman shrugged. “Mrs. Pike has been receiving Miss Playford’s quarterly allowance since the death of her parents—a not inconsiderable sum that should have provided handsomely for her niece’s comfort and education. The proof can be provided, if it is requested. That is all I can tell you.”
This was shocking news in itself, but Caroline asked, “And you say she is to inheritmore?”
“Miss Playford’s paternal great-uncle, Mr. Leonard Harrington, is in failing health. Having no direct heirs, he indicated some months ago the possibility that he may change his will and instead of leaving his estate to his closest male relative—a distant second cousin—he’d leave it to his great-niece, whom he has never met though he has followed her progress.” He hesitated. “On occasion, this has been on the basis of reports from myself.”
“He asked you to spy on Venetia?”
Mr. Bowman smiled. “Mr. Harrington merely asked for a quarterly report on the general conduct of Miss Playford—which naturally was beyond reproach—as well as the conduct of his second cousin, James Barnaby, which, unfortunately, he found… disappointing.”
“James Barnaby?” cried Caroline, nearly dropping her teacup.
“You know him?”
“Why, he was involved in trying to… to abduct my friend Venetia in order to force her to marry Lord Windermere against her will. The two men were working in collusion.” Sothiswas the reason for Barnaby’s involvement. With a shaking hand, Caroline carefully put down her teacup. “It appears James Barnaby has a… a motive to see Miss Playford wed to Windermere if the men had an arrangement!” She burst out, “Perhaps he didn’t just intend to see her forcibly married to Windermere, perhaps he intended to… to harm her if she stood between him and his inheritance.”
“Caroline!” Amelia’s sharp tone brought her back to earth. “You are making some very serious allegations which can never be proven—though… it is astonishing to learn of Barnaby’s involvement and… yes, the fact Miss Playford might pose a threat to his future inheritance explains a great deal.”
“And Lord Windermere…” Mr. Bowman said thoughtfully. “Despite appearances, the gentlemanisin financial difficulties. I can well imagine he would be in search of an heiress to wed.”
“But Venetia is not yet an heiress,” Amelia pointed out. “And might never be.”
“No, but maybe Windermere intended to kidnap her and simply wait… considering Mr. Harrington was so ill and likely to die soon,” said Caroline. “And her aunt was going to make some excuse while she was locked away in his hunting lodge. For money, of course!”
A small kernel of satisfaction lodged in her breast at the look exchanged between Amelia and Mr. Bowman. They did not think her logic far-fetched.
“We shall just have to be patient, Caroline,” said Amelia, rising. “There is nothing more we can do until Mr. Rothbury returns.”
“But what about the comet viewing?” Caroline cried. “Mrs. Pike has threatened Venetia that if she doesn’t break her betrothal to Henry and agree to marry Lord Windermere, she’ll tell the world she’s—” she swallowed, then, blushing, added, “illegitimate.”
Mr. Bowman gave an incredulous laugh. “Why, that’s preposterous! There’s no question of her legitimacy.”
“You have her birth certificate, then? The records of her parents’ marriage?” asked Amelia.
“No, but Mr. Harrington, a stickler for such things, would not consider leaving his estate to a bastard—forgive my language,” said Mr. Bowman, reddening.
Caroline said quickly, “If Mr. Rothbury cannot return in time to reveal the truth about Venetia’s circumstances, then we must find another way to prevent her from being manipulated into Windermere’s clutches.”
“That should be easy,” said Amelia. “She just needs to know of her changed circumstances.”
But Mr. Bowman shook his head. “Mr. Harrington is a man of fair-weather temperament. He may well change his mind at the last minute once again. I would not get the young lady’s hopes up.”
Caroline fisted her gloved hands. “Then it’s up to us to stop Venetia from succumbing to her aunt or Lord Windermere’s machinations. We’ll set a trap. One that will expose Mrs. Pike’s deception before all of society.” She nearly stamped her foot. “Tomorrow night, all will be revealed!”
Mr. Bowman regarded her with a smile. “You are quite formidable, Miss Weston. What kind of trap did you have in mind?”
