Madcap Miss

“Got his letter saying he was coming for her,” the squire answered on a frown. “Someone was coming … was it you?”

“No, well, yes, but it is my brother who is now duke … he was to meet me here.”

“Well, he made a botch of it, didn’t he?” Wagging a finger at her, he added, “Where is he, this brother duke of yours?”

She pulled a face. “I am not certain. He must have been detained on the road. I was myself when we lost a wheel.”

“Well, whatever he wrote in that letter overset those two,” the squire said ominously. He fished for it in his pocket and, having found it, waved it in front of her face. “This is what one of Flip’s servants found in her room.”

She took the note and read it. She then closed her eyes and opened them to say quietly, “My brother is short and to the point, and I can see how a young lady might have taken it into her head … to think … but to bolt, and your son with her?”

“Miss Felicia Easton is not just any young lady. Spirited lass, and my son is devoted to her. Of course he would help her.”

Daphne made a mental note to tear her brother from limb to limb with her own hands, but she smiled and said softly, “Well, we must remain calm and get this all sorted out. Do, Squire, be seated so that you may address me in a rational matter, and we may, between us, find a solution to our present predicament.”

The squire, seemingly taken by her quiet air of authority, made a grunt and another sound but did, in fact, pull up a chair and sit, though he still grumbled when he said, “Right then, m’lady. Here is m’boy’s letter that he left for me … I shall read it to you, though I know better than to think he thought up these words—more than likely the little minx dictated this.”

Lady Daphne heard the affection in his tone when he spoke of Felicia Easton and waited for him to begin reading by folding her hands in her lap as she shifted in her seat.

Dearest Father:

Don’t fly into the boughs and don’t be cross. It is for the best. Taking our Flip away with me was the only answer to our problem. The Duke was on his way, you see, so there was nothing for it but to save her and I was the only one that could do that. Can’t tell you more lest you feel the need to do your duty and come after us. Mustn’t do that, you know. Will see you soon and trust in your son to see our girl safe.

Your loving son,

Scott

The squire put this letter away and looked into the Lady Daphne’s eyes to ask, “Did you ever hear such nonsense? You would think the minx feared for her life, though if it is true he meant to take her to Swindon and force her hand into marriage, I can’t say as I blame her or Scott for taking care that didn’t happen.” He leveled a look at her. “What sort of fellow is your brother to frighten her like that?”

“I am all at sea,” she confessed. “I have no idea why she should have taken such a fright into her head. She doesn’t even know him … didn’t know our uncle, and my uncle wasn’t the sort to force her into marriage. It is absurd. He had no need of her wealth, and both his sons died at Waterloo … tragic, and what is in Swindon? I have no idea.” She regarded the squire pointedly and asked, “Well, then, Squire, if they have not eloped, then just what have they done?”

“Zounds, if I know, woman!” the squire retorted irritably.

“Faith!” was her response. What, just what was she to do?

“The question is, while I know they aren’t eloping, people won’t know it, and eventually it will get out that they have run off together. I don’t want the minx involved in a scandal … nor do I want my son offering for her just to save her reputation. A damnable fix this is.”

Lady Daphne suddenly found herself sympathetic. This was all her late uncle’s fault for frightening the child half to death and then her brother’s for not visiting with her immediately. She could see this was something she was going to have to handle, and she knew just how to put out the embers of a brewing scandal. “Right,” she said with firmness. “No scandal will ensue from their youthful exploit, for I can see it all, and that is what it is, a youthful exploit, ill conceived but dangerous to both their reputations. I shall see to this—we will not have a scandal.”

“You will see to it? How?” he asked doubtfully.

“It will take some work, but it can be done,” she answered thoughtfully as she formulated a plan in her mind.

“You will set it about that you have sent your son off to London on some business errand you required him to see to for you. Make certain you tell all your cronies this. See to it that the staff believes this.”

“My staff knows better,” he said doubtfully.

“Do they? Yet they shall not accuse you of lying?” She arched a brow.

“Of course not!”

“There, you see. Scott is in London. When I am done, it is what everyone will believe as a fact. As to my charge, my brother sent me here to care for her and prepare her for her first London season. She is away, visiting with one of her friends from school, so I am waiting for her return.”

“The staff here already knows otherwise,” the squire said, eyeing her.

“Yes, they do, and I believe are quite loyal to her. They have pampered and looked after her for quite some time, have they not?”

“Yes, but—”