“Minnie, what on earth…?” Sebastian stared at her.
Francesca was already moving toward the elderly lady. “Minnie, whatever is it? Sit down, do, before you fall down.”
Minnie allowed herself to be assisted to a chair and restored with a glass of cordial.
Sebastian watched her, struggling with his impatience. As she drained the last drop, he said, “What is your fault, Minnie? It must be important if you’ve come all the way from Little Tunley to tell us.”
Minnie looked up at him, her eyes beneath her turban were sorrowful, yet Sebastian could have sworn there was also a gleam of pride in them.
“Marcus has kidnapped Lady Ellerslie.”
Sebastian and Francesca exchanged a glance.
“I would insist upon boasting about my Duval ancestors,” Minnie went on. “They were robber barons, you see. They used to ride out and take what they wanted. I told Marcus all about it. I paid especial attention to the way they kidnapped their wives—although of course they weren’t married to start with. That came later. He pretended to scoff at the story, but he must have been listening more carefully than I imagined. Now that I think back on it, there was a definite glint in the dear boy’s eye. He must have been planning it even then.”
“You mean to say that my brother really has kidnapped Lady Ellerslie?” Sebastian said in a voice like thunder. “And you encouraged him, Minnie?”
Minnie shrank a little, but her chin was still very much up. “I am afraid so, Sebastian.”
“Where are they? At Worthorne Manor? Or have they fled to France?”
“He’s at Duval Hall, of course,” Minnie said with a flash of scorn. “Surely you’ve guessed that? Marcus is wild about the place, just as Roger was. They are very much alike, you know. Now that I think of it, Roger also fell in love with a totally unsuitable girl.”
Francesca stood up, as if planning to set off at once for Norfolk. “Oh, this is dreadful! He could be sent to prison, or worse…Sebastian, my love, what are we going to do?”
“Yes, Sebastian, as head of the family I think you should take charge of the situation at once,” Minnie announced.
Sebastian nodded soberly. “You’re right. I’ll have to go to Norfolk,” he said quietly, “and try and mend this before it gets too far out of hand. If anyone else finds out what he’s done and where he’s gone and spreads the word…he’ll be torn to pieces.”
Francesca shuddered. “Oh God, imagine the angel in widow’s weeds being found in Marcus’s clutches? The man who stormed the dais and tried to…to molest her, or whatever those dreadful broadsheets were saying at the time. Even if they do not literally tear him to pieces, they will visit their anger upon him. Poor Marcus will be ruined, unable to show his face in polite society—in any society—ever again. His life will be over.”
“Exactly.” Sebastian sounded as grim as he looked.
“Yes, yes, you must go at once and save him,” she said. “Go now, my love, before it is too late!”
He clasped her in his arms, kissing her long and soundly, and then he was gone.
Aunt Minnie took out a painted fan and waved it in front of her face. “Actually…” She smiled wickedly at Francesca. “…it’s quite romantic, isn’t it? I always knew Marcus was impetuous, but never quite so dashing. If I were Lady Ellerslie, I think I would be very pleased to be whisked away by Marcus on a secret tryst.”
“Lady Ellerslie may not be pleased at all,” Francesca said worriedly. “Imagine the scandal? Her reputation will be ruined. Society can be very cruel to women who do not live up to its high moral standards. Do you know, I heard some silly woman saying at a supper last night that it would be better for Lady Ellerslie to die than for her reputation to be smeared?”
Minnie snorted. “What pish.”
“Exactly what I thought. But this is what Portia will have to deal with, if the worst comes to the worst. And as for Marcus…if he doesn’t go to gaol, then he will be ostracized as well, and just when he was beginning to take an interest in Duval Hall.”
“A scandal,” Minnie said breathlessly, her eyes shining. “How exciting!”
Francesca sat down beside her aunt by marriage and gave her a searching look. “Minnie, you said that your uncle Roger fell in love with a girl who was completely unsuitable.”
“That’s right. Tavern owner’s daughter, of all things. Roger stayed at the tavern on his way to London and by morning he was in love. I think she served him supper and he prevailed upon her to sit and talk with him. But that was enough.”
“Did he get over her?”
“Not at all. He married her. It was very shocking and caused a great scandal. There are snobs in all levels of society, you know, and the tavernkeeper was just as appalled as my parents. But neither of them minded a snap. Roger loved her until she died and was never the same afterward. Marcus is like that—steadfast. You’ll see.”
Francesca put a hand to her eyes. “Dear Lord, I don’t know if I want to see. I just hope there will be no scandal, and that Sebastian can smooth things over before it becomes generally known…for all our sakes.”
Lara Gillingham was horrified to find herself in such a situation. Everything had been going along so well. Portia was behaving herself, invitations were flowing in, life was as it should be. And now this! Everywhere they went they were pestered by well-wishers and scandal mongers, and she had to pretend to be distraught, when in fact she was furious. She wanted to tell them what she actually thought, but couldn’t say anything. Arnold had forbidden it.