Page 24 of A Body, A Baron, and Miss Mifford
“Perhaps they will be offered an education?” Emily interrupted passionately. “And the chance of a better life. I am unsure if you’re aware, my lord, but the conditions those children work in are abhorrent. Many regularly lose fingers - even limbs - to the machines they operate; some even lose their lives. Tell me, Mr Lowell, do you engage many children in your mills?”
Eudora’s attention - and that of half the room - was now on poor Mr Lowell, whose cheeks had turned a little pink from all the attention.
“Regrettably, yes,” he said, turning his grey gaze to Emily, “But I fervently hope, that one day, it will not be the case.”
The sincerity in Mr Lowell’s eyes and the slight crack in his voice as he spoke, lent the industrialist a most endearing air. His handsome face and thick dark hair only added to this and both Emily and Eudora fell into blushes.
From the corner of her eye, Eudora spotted Lord Delaney bristling, but she ignored him. She was captivated by the man’s humanity, that was all; there was no need for anyone to get upset.
“Dreadful thing, child labour,” Highfield agreed, his tone a little louder than necessary. He, too, had noted the dizzying spell that Mr Lowell had cast on his female audience.
The other guests murmured politely in agreement, though Lady Albermay was compelled to speak.
“I visited one of my father’s cotton mills when I was a child,” she said, her eyes unreadable as she gazed into the past, “Horrible place; loud, dirty, and so much dust. It hangs in the air so that every breath you take scratches your lungs. When we left, my clothes were coated in that wretched dust. I was finding it in the strangest of places for days.”
Eudora shivered as she imagined a place where simply breathing was uncomfortable. The air in Plumpton was alwaysfresh and clean, except on the early spring days when manure was spread on the surrounding fields.
“Cotton dust,” Mr Lowell commented cheerfully, “Sometimes I fear that there is nothing but that between my ears.”
Even the worldly Lady Albermay flushed as Mr Lowell offered her a humble smile, which made Eudora feel slightly better. She wasn’t just a green girl if the viscountess was also disarmed by him - the man was very charming.
“The New World is where the future of cotton lies,” Captain Ledger interrupted, a little belligerent for a man who was usually so mild-mannered, “When I sailed with the merchant navy, American-grown cotton was in high demand. I fear Britain’s monopoly will not last long, even with our supplies of Indian cotton.”
“Perhaps,” Mr Lowell answered, with a Gallic shrug, “Or perhaps demand will rise so much that both countries will be needed as suppliers. Do you still sail the Atlantic, captain?”
“On occasion,” he answered, “I prefer to stick closer to English shores these days, but I go when it is asked of me.”
“Captain Ledger captained the ship that brought me to England,” Lady Albermay informed the room. “I can vouch that he is a copper-bottomed captain.”
Eudora blushed again as Mrs Canards and Mrs Wickling cast scandalous glances at Captain Ledger’s bottom, which was perfectly presented in a pair of tight breeches. It did look very firm…
“Forgive me,” Lady Albermay became flustered, “Copper-bottomed is sailor speak for safe. I was trying to say that Captain Ledger made me - I mean, all the passengers - feel very safe on our passage to England.”
“I’m sure he did,” Cecilia, who had stopped playing, agreed as she cast an appreciative glance the captain’s way.
“I rather wish he hadn’t,” Lord Albermay’s voice interrupted, “If that ruddy boat you arrived on had sank mid-Atlantic, my father might still be alive.”
The room fell into an awkward silence. Captain Ledger’s jaw was set, and he had every appearance of a man about to do violence until Lady Albermay offered her own retort.
“Had my boat sank mid-Atlantic,” she answered waspishly, “You would have inherited debts rather than a fortune. Do not try to paint me as a murderess in an attempt to hide your own guilt, my lord.”
“Lies,” Lord Albermay screeched.
He rose to a stand on feet so unsteady that he was in danger of toppling over. He was, Eudora realised, deep in his cups - though that was hardly remarkable, given that it was his usual state.
Captain Ledger stepped forward to rise to the challenge, but Ivo cut him off, placing himself bodily in front of the handsome seafarer.
“Enough,” he said, addressing Lord Albermay, “I am aware that you have suffered a loss, my lord, but it does not relinquish you of all your duties - namely manners and good grace.”
Lord Albermay snorted disparagingly to indicate that he had heard - but did not entirely agree with - his host.
The silence in the drawing room was now tense as each guest fidgeted with their hands or cast their eyes skywards to avoid looking at either Lord or Lady Albermay. Only Mrs Canards seemed at ease, her beady eyes bright as she glanced from one to the other, savouring every detail of the scandal.
“My father was murdered under your roof,” Lord Albermay broke the silence as he addressed Ivo, “Yet you have made no move to find out who it was that murdered him.”
To those outside the inner circle of the Mifford clan, his accusation rang true. Little did the viscount know that almost half the guests present were working to find the murderer.
“I shall interview every person in this household tomorrow,” Ivo answered evenly, “To ascertain their whereabouts last night. As magistrate of Plumpton, it is my duty to see that the murderer is apprehended.”
