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dip into his purse was always uppermost in his mind.
    Hordwell exhaled heavily. “You’re a very trying creature, Polly. Most young women would leap at the chance of marrying into the nobility.”
    “I see nothing noble about Lord Benjamin Beddem,” she retorted.
    He felt it would be wise to change the subject. “I, er, presume you mean to accompany me to Claverton Down later?” he asked, deliberately changing the thorny subject.
    “To the review? Yes, of course, if that is what you wish.”
    “Good, for I’ve taken the liberty of sending a note to the Gotenuvs, informing them that you will accompany me at their luncheon party.”
    “Informing them? Isn’t that a little brazen? Surely you should have made a polite request?”
    “Nonsense. The count is a very close acquaintance of Lord Benjamin’s, and since you are a guest here as well as the future Lady—” He broke off hastily, not wishing to start another confrontation.
    Polly gave him a look, then bit into her toast.
    He cleared his throat. “I, er, trust you will drive to the Pump Room with me in the meantime?”
    “Yes, that too, if you wish.”
    “I do, and have already canceled my sedan chair and ordered the carriage in readiness. Oh. by the way, I also wish you to accompany me to the ball at the Assembly Rooms tomorrow night.”
    She was dismayed. “But I haven’t brought a ball gown with me!”
    “That is easily remedied. A courier will await your instructions this afternoon. All you have to do is write a list of exactly what you want, send it with him to Horditall House, and the maids there will pack it all. The courier will then bring everything back here.”
    She relaxed a little, but only a little. “Didn’t you say the Duke and Duchess of York are to be present? Uncle, my gowns are hardly grand enough for royalty. I really should have a new—”
    “Nonsense, you look exquisite in all your togs,” he interrupted hastily, glancing at the longcase clock at the far end of the room. His chair scraped as he grabbed his walking sticks and rose quickly to his feet. “Do be swift, my dear, for one is supposed to drink the water between eight and nine, and it’s half past eight now. Ah, there’s the carriage now.”
    She got up quickly. “I’ll put on my spencer and bonnet,” she said, and gathered her skirts to hurry from the room.
    The carriage was not the only thing at the curb outside 1 Royal Crescent, for Bodkin was there too, albeit invisibly. The brownie had been up for some time, first observing with great pleasure the havoc he’d caused with his overnight mischief, and then taking a leisurely honey breakfast in his hayloft. After that he’d left the stable to start searching for Nutmeg, but just as he emerged into the sunlight, he recognized Hordwell’s second carriage being driven out of the coach house pertaining to 1 Royal Crescent. Its presence could only mean that Polly had followed him to Bath, in the process leading him to the very house in which to find Nutmeg! Delighted, Bodkin ran after the carriage, jumped aboard, and held on tightly as it swung out of the mews on its way to the front of the crescent. As it swayed to a standstill, the brownie climbed down again and stood looking at the house. After a minute or so, the front door opened, and Polly emerged with Hordwell, who was hobbling on his walking sticks. Bodkin’s eyes sharpened, for Polly was smiling and clearly not at odds with her uncle as she assisted him down the steps toward the waiting vehicle. The brownie stared at her in dismay. She’d taken Hordwell’s side! She approved of what had been done to Nutmeg!
    Feeling too betrayed to even howl with boggart fury. Bodkin edged past them and slipped into the house.
     

Chapter 9
     
    Dominic had ridden to the Pump Room, in the certain hope that Georgiana and her duke-to-be would also go there, because it was the place to be seen in the mornings. Set right in the heart of Bath, alongside the abbey, the room