The Rake and the Recluse REDUX (a time travel romance) (33 page)

“Well, by all means then, carry on.”

“As you wish, Your Grace.” Madame Basire curtseyed. When she looked up her gaze shifted from Gideon, and he turned to find Mrs. Weston approaching.

“Your Grace, this could occupy Miss Francine for most of the day,” the housekeeper said. “Will you have need of her?”

“Of course not, Mrs. Weston. Please see to whatever she needs.” He was moderately disappointed that Francine would be occupied for the day, regardless that he was to be away from the manor as well.

“Yes, Your Grace.” She curtseyed, then turned to the dressmaker. “This way, Madame,” she said, leading the parade of packages upstairs.

Mrs. Weston left Madame Basire and her entourage in the sitting room outside Francine’s bedchamber and went in to prepare her. She found her already up, with her chemise and drawers on, sitting in one of the velvet chairs reading
Moby Dick
.

“Oh, miss, I do have a surprise for you! Madame Basire has arrived, and she has armloads of packages! You cannot imagine!” Mrs. Weston walked to the windows, drawing all the curtains aside. She returned to the sitting room to gather Madame Basire, her assistant, and all of her trappings as Francine stood.

Perry and Shaw sat in the breakfast room, allowing the footmen to serve them. “So, Mr. Shaw, tell me of this girl in London you are to marry.”

Shaw looked out at the gardens, his eyes glazing as he considered the request. He smiled. “She is unspeakably lovely,” he said quietly.

“That seems an unwieldy name for a girl, does it not?” Perry asked with a grin.

Shaw laughed. “It would be, but— Well, in truth, we are not formally betrothed as yet. She is the daughter of an earl and our match would obviously not be approved, so I really do not bandy her name about. I would prefer to be able to approach her father without any idle gossip preceding me.”

“I see. I suppose I do bear a resemblance to the worst sort of gossip,” Perry said teasingly. He had never really considered the fact that lack of title would be a stumbling block to a match, since he was of the peerage and never had need to consider it. Well, that and the fact that he was a rake of the first order, and even the
discussion
of marriage turned his stomach.

Shaw looked at him. “Actually, no, you do not at all, my lord. I beg your pardon if I inferred that you did. I only meant that I hope to make a respectable name for myself, beginning with my work here at Eildon Hill Park, before I approach the earl. To that end, I have not spoken of her.”

Perry nodded. “Would the work here be enough, do you think?”

“I’m not sure,” Shaw said.

Perry was quite sure that regardless of Shaw’s work at Eildon Hill, an earl would not consent to his daughter being wed to a professional man. “But you still haven’t answered my question.
Who
is this girl who has you smitten?”

Shaw gave him a devilish glare. “In truth, she only recently came out into Society, only a sennight prior. Her grandmother, the Dowager Countess of Greens—”

He stopped as Perry dropped his fork and started laughing so boldly that Shaw considered he’d lost his senses.

Gideon entered the breakfast room and glanced at his brother, who was caught in a fit of laughter. He sat at the small table as the footman brought trays of eggs, ham, potatoes, and a large glass of fresh orange juice. Another footman followed with a sauceboat filled with the same thick, yellow sauce that Chef had served the night before with the asparagus.

The footman gestured to his plate and Gideon nodded. “Apparently we are still being used for Chef’s studies,” he said as he looked from Shaw to Perry.

“I have managed to learn something interesting about our Mr. Shaw here.”

“Is that so?” Gideon raised a brow. “Why don’t you enlighten me?”

“Do you remember our darling dancing partner from the Greensborough affair?”

“Of course. How could I possibly forget such a treasure?”

Perry gazed at Gideon expectantly.

Gideon looked at Shaw as a napkin was placed in his lap, then at his brother, but Perry simply grinned like the cat that had eaten not just the canary, but the hamster and the goldfish as well. A smile broke across Gideon’s face as he turned to Shaw. “
You
are the professional man our Lady Alice is enamored with?” he asked.

Shaw froze and Perry and Gideon both laughed. “This is quite unexpected! Now I understand! She told me I would like you,” Gideon said, rather unceremoniously waggling his fork at Shaw. “She knows you are here. Of course.” He shook his head and looked at his brother.

“Yes, she does,” Shaw replied.

Gideon thought for a moment. “I believe we will need to go over the plans when I return to London, so
you
will
need to accompany us,” he said. “We should be leaving in about four days, as soon as Grover and Gentry return from Newcastle upon Tyne. We will be meeting the boat with Trumbull’s wards in London, and since the Season has begun, there will be at least one ball we can attend—perhaps more.” Gideon glanced at Perry again. “No doubt that overbearing mother of hers will be parading her around, still looking for a suitor.”

Shaw grimaced. “Your Grace, I am not invited to the distinguished parties of the
ton
.”

Gideon waved the statement away. “Mr. Shaw, no one would dare turn away a guest of
mine
.”

He smiled.
This could be entertaining.

Perry grinned.

“Trumbull, did you inform Shaw of our noble efforts with his betrothed?” Gideon asked.

His brother shook his head, laughing at Shaw’s annoyed glance. “Actually, I hadn’t made it quite so far.”

Shaw frowned at them. “Well? Why don’t you enlighten me?”

Gideon nodded and motioned to Perry, who embellished the story quite admirably.

Francine had no idea that fittings were so exhausting and decided right then and there that off-the-rack clothing was like manna from Heaven. She lost track of how many gowns she wore and imagined the poor girl who was doing the last of the alterations over in the window light was cursing her under her breath, even though outwardly she was perfectly sweet and composed.

Mrs. Weston took the finished gowns and hung them in the wardrobe. When they were done, Francine looked at Madame Basire and smiled to thank her.

“Madame Basire, I thank you for your efficiency,” Mrs. Weston said. “The gowns are beautiful and I am sure the duke will be pleased.”

Madame Basire waved her gloved hand at her assistant. “Not at all, Mrs. Weston. I was more than happy to oblige.” Then she left in another flurry of fabric and skirts.

After nearly four hours of debates and changes in terms, M. Larrabee and Perry, with their respective interested parties, Mme. Larrabee and the duke, came to a final agreement of the guardianship. Mme and M. Larrabee would remain in town while Perry and Gideon hired a governess to return with the Larrabees.

Perry scrutinized his copy of the agreement as the carriage started back to Eildon. He was now the official guardian for Madeleine, who was listed as being nineteen years of age, as well as Amélie, sixteen, and Maryse, fourteen. There was an older fourth sister, Aisling, and it was of little consolation to him that she was already wed. “Fourteen,” Perry said. “Do you
remember
fourteen?”

“I remember
you
at fourteen,” Gideon replied.

“Exactly my point. This is not going to be effortless. I shall endeavor to never let them out of my sight. There are hellions everywhere looking to grow into the reputation I have built. Look, there. Four of them, just wandering the countryside,” he said, pointing out the carriage window.

Gideon laughed. “Well, it is good you have a well-protected estate where you can hide them away.”

Perry glared at his brother. The stare was beginning to lose its effect after being overused the past two days, and Gideon merely laughed at him again.

“Stapleton,” Gideon said as his man held the door for the brothers. “Is the dressmaker still here?”

“No, Your Grace, she quit the estate nearly half an hour ago.”

“Good, send Mrs. Weston to the study.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

In the study, Perry walked directly to the sideboard and poured himself a whiskey, making Gideon smile as he walked to his desk.

“You really shouldn’t turn into a souse before the young ladies have a chance to become inured to your presence. They might be quite put off,” Gideon said.

Perry looked at his brother. “I have no plans of becoming a souse, as you so eloquently put it, but you cannot possibly fault a celebratory gesture to my new position.” He tipped his glass toward Gideon for effect.

“Celebratory.” Gideon paused. “Then, if you deem it, so be it.”

Perry grunted and lifted the glass to his mouth. “Fox hunting and old port, ships at sea,” he said, and downed the whiskey.

Gideon scowled. “Blast it all, Perry, you cannot toast the Royal Navy and leave me sitting here like a buffoon.”

Perry refilled his glass to two fingers full and poured another glass for Gideon, then walked over to sit across from his brother. They clinked and toasted.

“Your Grace?” Mrs. Weston questioned as she entered the study.

“Ah, Westy, how are you this afternoon?” Perry asked.

“Quite well, my lord, as you must be.” She nodded toward the glass of whiskey before turning to look at Gideon. “Your Grace, you requested me?”

“Yes, Mrs. Weston. We have need of a governess, rather expediently. Do you know of any?”

“Actually, Your Grace, I know Miss Faversham is recently returned from the estate of Lord Tanvers. His youngest daughter came out this Season, and they no longer require her tutoring. She should be back to Kelso by now.”

“Please send Grover and Gentry for her straight away,” Gideon said. “Have them stop by Meggie’s house and check on her family, and send some food along.”

“Yes, Your Grace. They will be much obliged.”

Perry glanced up suddenly. “Were you going to run this past me, Rox? After all, these young ladies are
my
wards.”

Gideon held out his hand, motioning for him to proceed, and Perry stood before Mrs. Weston placing his glass on the desk. “What are Miss—” He paused and waved his hand at Mrs. Weston.

“Faversham,” she replied.

“Yes. What are Miss Faversham’s references?”

“She was with Lord Tanvers’ family for these last eight years, my lord. I should think that would be sufficient reference?”

“Of course. Do carry on.”

She smiled and left the study as he sat back down.

“Really, Perry, how was that information different from what I obtained?” Gideon asked with a sigh.

“It was different because
I
obtained it,” Perry said stiffly. “You cannot possibly think that you will be watching over every move I make with respect to my wards. The ladies are
my
responsibility... You cannot oversee it. It would not be—” He paused, looking his brother in the eyes. “Proper,” Perry finished, narrowing his gaze and silently daring his brother to argue. Gideon studied him, then nodded with a half smile.

“On that subject, Rox, there will be no impropriety where Miss Francine is concerned,” Perry added. “She is legally bound to me. Simply because you are my brother does not mean any liberties are extended to you. I am sure you have no intentions of ruining my ward. I just find it important to make sure there is no misunderstanding.”

Gideon straightened, considering his younger brother with an increasing amount of respect. He had been concerned about signing over Westcreek Park, but any reservations he still held had just been shattered. This Perry was a changed man, an honorable man. He looked away, feeling a sweep of red crossing his cheeks and the bridge of his nose as he thought about his actions the previous night.

Perry scrutinized his demeanor. “Roxleigh… It has come to my attention that perhaps you have behaved in an untoward fashion with one of my charges.”