Page 84 of Starlight and the Duke
The day was filled with good news as Bromleigh and Cherish formally announced they were expecting a child, which prompted several other newly married couples to do the same. Reggie and Margaret, for one, although they made clear it was very early days yet. Ramsdale and Ailis also announced they were expecting their first around Christmastide.
Then Lord Barclay rose and cleared his throat. “I am delighted to announce that my daughter, Eloise, has accepted Lord Pershing’s proposal and agreed to marry him.”
This was met with a moment of stunned silence from the revelers before everyone finally recovered from the shock to cheer and wish them well.
Rob expected the proposal had been the other way around, Eloise ordering Pershing to marry her, and he was too deep in his cups to contradict her. “Good luck, Eloise,” he muttered, for she would need quite a bit of it to keep that drunken sot in line.
However, she looked quite pleased. Pershing seemed not as drunk as usual, and not as scared as expected. In truth, he seemed not to mind terribly that he had been snared by that bluestocking.
Perhaps that mismatch might work after all.
The wedding breakfast was drawing to a close when Aubrey approached Rob. “Durham, I need a moment of your time.”
It wasn’t a request so much as a demand. The man appeared distressed.
“What’s wrong?” Rob asked, as they melted away from the crowd and walked down the terrace steps to stroll in the garden.
“It’s Florence Newton,” Aubrey said, clearing his throat. “I think she is a thief.”
“What?” The remark genuinely surprised Rob. “Why do you think so? Has she stolen anything from Bromleigh’s guests?”
“No, not them. But I think this is why she was snooping around Milbury’s home a few days ago. I have been watching her these past few nights.”
“Still?” Rob groaned. “Aubrey, what in blazes are you doing?”
“Getting ready to confront a thief,” Aubrey insisted. “She stole into Milbury’s home the day after Lady Cordelia tried to push Fiona off the terrace. It’s true, Durham. I saw her do it. She went into Milbury Hill empty handed and came out with a small pouch. I am almost certain there were jewels in it.”
“Seriously? Jewels?”
He nodded.
“Have you said anything to Milbury?”
Aubrey nodded again. “I spoke to him privately later that day, never mentioning Florence. However, I asked him to check his valuables, because I told him that I noticed someone sneaking out of his house while I was out bird watching. I said that I could not make out who the person was, but he and his staff should conduct an inventory.”
“Did he?”
Aubrey nodded yet again. “But he claims nothing was taken.”
“Why are you still accusing Florence, then?”
“Because I know she took something from that house.”
“Have you asked her what it was?”
Aubrey groaned. “I was hoping you might help me. Will you do it?”
“What? Me confront her?” Rob shook his head in disbelief. “I’m rather busy right now, or haven’t you noticed it is my wedding day?”
Fiona happened to join them at that moment. No doubt she had been looking for him and wondering what he was doing away from the party. “Who are you confronting?”
“No one,” Rob said. “I am not getting involved in Aubrey’s nonsense.”
Fiona’s ears perked. “What nonsense?”
Aubrey sighed. “You may as well tell her, Durham. You’re going to do it anyway, aren’t you? You have that besotted, I-love-my-wife look about you, the sort that tells me you will keep no secrets from each other.”
“This is what happily married couples do,” Fiona explained. “But you are obviously distressed. What do you want us to do?”
