Page 54 of The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter
Alexander laughed. “I hear he has been spouting off about me.”
“He is apoplectic over a certain young lady who is your cook. I cannot wait to meet this extraordinary girl. I believe you mentioned her in your letter to me, Viola Ruskin? Is it not so?”
“Oh, lord. What has he said about her? Grandmama, she is a sweet, innocent thing. There is nothing sordid going on between us. You’ll adore her. I will have you meet her tomorrow.”
She took his offered arm to escort her into the house. “Why not today?”
He shook his head. “You need to try her food first. I’ll wager you’ve never tasted anything so good. She is not my permanent cook, only helping me out for this weekend. Mrs. Stringer is on holiday at the moment.”
“I am intrigued. Your father claims she is the vicar’s daughter? Have I seen her before? A lovely, little girl with dark hair and big, dark eyes?”
“Yes, that’s her.” He led his grandmother into the parlor where refreshments were being laid out by Greaves. Tea, lemonade, and sherry for the ladies. Wine and brandy for the gentlemen. Sandwiches, scones, and ginger cake for everyone. There were also miniature tarts filled with ham and cheese, Greaves was proudly explaining to Gabriel and Daisy as he handed one to each. He then repeated the same for his grandmother. “You must try one, Lady Dayne. I vow, you will have tasted nothing like it.”
She took one and then smiled up at Alexander. “No wonder your father could not stop talking about the girl. Must I wait until tomorrow to meet her?”
He nodded. “She’s too busy preparing tonight’s dinner and refuses to be distracted.”
“Oh, she sounds quite strident.”
“No, she’s the sweetest thing. Don’t believe anything Father has told you. Where is he and Mother, by the way? I thought you were all coming up together.”
“They cannot be far behind us. He might have stopped in Ardley for a reason. By the way, Lady Withnall is riding with them.”
He stared at his grandmother, wondering whose bright idea it was to invite London’s most feared and influential gossip. It certainly wasn’t his. The woman was a little ferret, digging up secrets her poor victims wished to keep hidden in darkness forever.
Not that he had any.
Nor did Viola.
“Was this Father’s idea? I did not put her on my list.” He was already dreading this weekend and now it was certain to be a disaster.
His grandmother put a calming hand on his arm. “It was my idea. You did invite me with a companion.”
He groaned. “I meant some quiet mouse of a helper to assist you because you are old and frail.” He shook his head and laughed. “I guess you are not so frail, and you have always been delightfully young at heart. But you and your partner in crime had better not cause trouble here.”
“Lady Withnall is completely misunderstood.”
Gabriel overheard the remark and burst out laughing. “The tiny termagant is a devil’s spawn, Grandmama. Look what she did to poor Ecklesbury only last month, and now Lady Margery’s father has called off their betrothal.”
“The oaf deserved it and Lady Margery is better off without him.”
Alexander frowned. “Perhaps, but is it any of her business? What right does she have to meddle?”
Daisy now cleared her throat. “Alex, she probably saved Lady Margery’s life. That fiend, Ecklesbury, was only after her money and had plans to do her in. A honeymoon accident, and he provided with a solid alibi while his accomplices took care of the poor girl.”
“It was all the scandal,” his grandmother said with a nod. “Perhaps to be society’s biggest scandal of the year. Although I am confident some other clot will give Ecklesbury a run for that ignoble title soon enough.”
“And you wonder why I want nothing to do with London society?” Alexander muttered, shaking his head. “Well, what can you tell me about these three diamonds I’ve invited?”
Gabriel winced. “They are all beautiful, witty, and of good families, for certain.”
“But?”
Daisy sighed. “Perhaps it is the glamour of it all, and the fact they have each made a spectacular debut. To suddenly be much admired and sought after has made them a little…um, haughty.”
“Haughty? As in insufferably vain, inconsiderate, and rude to those they deem unworthy?” Alex groaned.
“Something like that,” Gabriel remarked. “You’ll find they are used to toadies fawning over them and will likely expect the same of you. Are you ready to give them your constant attention?”
