Read Online Deadly Affair: A Georgian Historical Mystery (Alec Halsey Crimance) by Lucinda Brant - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lucinda Brant
Ads: Link
Thomas— otherwise engaged —you would need Jeffries to—”
“That will be all,” Alec said firmly and turned to the window.
The butler bowed again and went about his business, leaving his master to contemplate the view of dairy cows grazing on dew-covered grass.
Alec was well aware Wantage was alluding to the fact Tam had leave from his valeting duties to study for his apothecary’s examinations, and that he did not approve. Alec was sick and tired of the below stairs jealousy directed at his valet and knew Wantage took every opportunity to make life difficult for Tam. So he had decided to do something about it. Besides he had “made-do” long enough and had every intention of employing a gentleman’s gentleman. The newspaper advertisement was written and merely needed delivery. But how best to handle the situation without offending Tam and disrupting his household? He did not want the boy upset nor did he want Wantage to think he was victorious, however petty the victory. So the advertisement could wait until after Tam’s examinations, perhaps until his return from Bath.
But there was one awkward state of affairs he could not postpone and that was visiting Selina at her Hanover Square mansion. He had received her note as he was stepping out of the house to go to the exhibition and slipped it into a pocket, assuming it had come from some Continental town where she was staying. Imagine then his shock to see her returned to London when she should have been half way to Berne to join her cousin Sir Cosmo Mahon.
The shock had been compounded witnessing Talgarth Vesey’s utter despair at the mutilation of his most prized portrait. Alec had attempted to go to him in the aftermath of such a public humiliation, but the crowd had surged forward to better view the painter’s personal agony and by the time Alec had shouldered his way to the front of the gawking spectators, Selina and her brother had been bundled through a servant door by the Duke and his cronies; Sir Charles Weir leading a rear guard action to prevent journalists and others from following.
Alec wondered what role his Grace played in Selina’s life that he did not know about, as whispered by that drunkard Lord George Stanton. He’d never had cause to be jealous or suspicious, nor had he a moment’s doubt that Selina loved him, but seeing her clinging to the Duke’s silk sleeve he again felt that growing sense of unease experienced in Paris when they had parted: that a future with Selina as his wife had been taken wholly out of his control.
“Damn it!” he growled and finished the last of the ale in his tankard without tasting it. Sensing someone behind him he turned to find Sir Charles Weir peering at him in a half embarrassed, half smiling way that prompted him to say, “I beg your pardon.”
“I’ve interrupted your morning’s recreation,” said Sir Charles, an eye on Alec’s damp and ruffled appearance. Gingerly he touched the ornate handle of a sheathed fencing sword lying across the padded seat of a mahogany chair. “I’m out of practice myself. But I trust I never have need of it.” He smiled, patting the ornate handle of his own sword. The fact that he had not unbuckled the sash indicated he did not intend to stay long. “I fear I would fail dismally against robber or potential duelist.”
“What may I do for you, Charles?”
“I see that I am not forgiven.”
Alec frowned. “I don’t waste my time storing past petty spats.”
“When you speak in that tone you remind me of your uncle,” Sir Charles commented with a weak smile. “Not a day goes by in the Commons that Plantagenet Halsey isn’t on his feet condemning some such action put forward by the government. Even my most reasonable requests are greeted with suspicion.”
“No doubt you give a more than adequate performance in defense of your government’s actions,” Alec replied, though it was obvious to Sir Charles that no compliment was intended. “But what
“That will be all,” Alec said firmly and turned to the window.
The butler bowed again and went about his business, leaving his master to contemplate the view of dairy cows grazing on dew-covered grass.
Alec was well aware Wantage was alluding to the fact Tam had leave from his valeting duties to study for his apothecary’s examinations, and that he did not approve. Alec was sick and tired of the below stairs jealousy directed at his valet and knew Wantage took every opportunity to make life difficult for Tam. So he had decided to do something about it. Besides he had “made-do” long enough and had every intention of employing a gentleman’s gentleman. The newspaper advertisement was written and merely needed delivery. But how best to handle the situation without offending Tam and disrupting his household? He did not want the boy upset nor did he want Wantage to think he was victorious, however petty the victory. So the advertisement could wait until after Tam’s examinations, perhaps until his return from Bath.
But there was one awkward state of affairs he could not postpone and that was visiting Selina at her Hanover Square mansion. He had received her note as he was stepping out of the house to go to the exhibition and slipped it into a pocket, assuming it had come from some Continental town where she was staying. Imagine then his shock to see her returned to London when she should have been half way to Berne to join her cousin Sir Cosmo Mahon.
The shock had been compounded witnessing Talgarth Vesey’s utter despair at the mutilation of his most prized portrait. Alec had attempted to go to him in the aftermath of such a public humiliation, but the crowd had surged forward to better view the painter’s personal agony and by the time Alec had shouldered his way to the front of the gawking spectators, Selina and her brother had been bundled through a servant door by the Duke and his cronies; Sir Charles Weir leading a rear guard action to prevent journalists and others from following.
Alec wondered what role his Grace played in Selina’s life that he did not know about, as whispered by that drunkard Lord George Stanton. He’d never had cause to be jealous or suspicious, nor had he a moment’s doubt that Selina loved him, but seeing her clinging to the Duke’s silk sleeve he again felt that growing sense of unease experienced in Paris when they had parted: that a future with Selina as his wife had been taken wholly out of his control.
“Damn it!” he growled and finished the last of the ale in his tankard without tasting it. Sensing someone behind him he turned to find Sir Charles Weir peering at him in a half embarrassed, half smiling way that prompted him to say, “I beg your pardon.”
“I’ve interrupted your morning’s recreation,” said Sir Charles, an eye on Alec’s damp and ruffled appearance. Gingerly he touched the ornate handle of a sheathed fencing sword lying across the padded seat of a mahogany chair. “I’m out of practice myself. But I trust I never have need of it.” He smiled, patting the ornate handle of his own sword. The fact that he had not unbuckled the sash indicated he did not intend to stay long. “I fear I would fail dismally against robber or potential duelist.”
“What may I do for you, Charles?”
“I see that I am not forgiven.”
Alec frowned. “I don’t waste my time storing past petty spats.”
“When you speak in that tone you remind me of your uncle,” Sir Charles commented with a weak smile. “Not a day goes by in the Commons that Plantagenet Halsey isn’t on his feet condemning some such action put forward by the government. Even my most reasonable requests are greeted with suspicion.”
“No doubt you give a more than adequate performance in defense of your government’s actions,” Alec replied, though it was obvious to Sir Charles that no compliment was intended. “But what
Similar Books
