The Courtship (Sherbrooke Brides 5)

Douglas raised a dark brow at his wife. “Of course he knows that’s what I said. Yes, we would rather come with you, Heatherington, than go to Richmond. Lady Blakeny may cast me her sloe-eyed looks another time.”

“Lady Blakeny is tall,” Alexandra said. “Not as tall as Helen, but still tall, curse her.”

Douglas beamed at his wife, assisted her into the carriage, stepped back for Lord Beecham, then swung himself inside.

Lord Beecham looked out the carriage window to see Reverend Older still standing there in the walkway just outside of White’s, staring after them. He did not like the look on the man’s face.

“Perhaps you should find another scholar,” Alexandra said as she arranged her skirts around her.

“He is the best,” Lord Beecham said. “The very best. He and my mentor at Oxford, Sir Giles Gilliam, were excellent friends. I can r

emember sitting quietly on a stool in a corner of Sir Giles’s rooms, listening to them argue over some ancient text. It was fascinating.” He could remember not wanting to leave even to relieve himself.

“I don’t like seeing this different side to you, Heatherington, one that smacks of intellect and admiration of something that isn’t warm and soft and ever so delightful.”

“He’s referring to the ladies, Spenser.”

“I know, Alexandra.”

“I prefer you to be simply a rakehell with no redeeming qualities. I detest having to alter my opinions, particularly when I am convinced they are perfectly right.”

“I know,” Lord Beecham said. “But Douglas, those other parts of me—they have been dormant for a very long time. They are just now coming back into being. No reason to fret yourself about my changing on you just yet.”

Douglas cleared his throat. “I have decided to help you, Heatherington here. I will even help you remove Reverend Mathers to Grillons’ Hotel. Yes, you need me, Heatherington. Others might horn in, like Crowley, and the good Lord knows you are gullible. I want to make sure that no one takes advantage of Helen either. Yes, I will make certain that you don’t get your knees cut out from under you by any charlatans and, of course, will ensure that you understand exactly what is being said and exactly how to respond. I have known Reverend Mathers since I was a boy. He won’t mind that I am with you. I will even counsel him how not to talk in his sleep.”

Lord Beecham said, “I appreciate that, Douglas, I surely do. I am also certain Helen won’t mind having two more partners. Now, have either of you heard that Reverend Older is having particular difficulties, at present, paying his gambling debts?”

“That conniving old bookend?” Douglas was once again closing his wife’s cloak over her bosom, frowning as he added, “You fear he will continue trying to insinuate his way into this business?”

“Yes, I know he will.”

“He was at Ascot a while back and lost some five hundred pounds on a horse from the Rothermere stud that went lame nearly at the finish line. The Hawksberrys were very upset about it—not about Reverend Older, of course—but about the horse.

“He knows a lot of people, does Reverend Older. We will continue to pay attention to him. I will have one of my footmen follow him about and see if he meets with fellows like Crowley. What do you say?”

“I think that’s an excellent idea. Let one of my boys change every other day with yours, Douglas. That way, it won’t always be the same face Reverend Older would see.”

Alexandra said, “I think you should have men following Lord Crowley as well. He seems the more dangerous of the two.”

“She’s right,” Lord Beecham said. “I have only one bully boy footman. I shall simply hire another.”

“I will as well,” Douglas said.

Alexandra said, “I have heard that Reverend Older has this knack of sniffing out money.”

“He sniffs everything,” Lord Beecham said. “A very cunning man, is Reverend Older. I believe he is quite the best orator I’ve ever heard. I have always liked him. I hope he isn’t a scoundrel.”

“You gentlemen should see him flirt. He is really quite accomplished at it. I fear to tell you this, but once he did ogle me, just a bit.”

Lord Beecham said, “The last time I saw him, he told me he was going to marry, retire, and manage the lady’s stud in Wessex. He told me he wants to breed horses.”

“That old lecher. No, not about buying a stud, Heatherington, but about looking at my wife’s bosom.”

“Whom does he wish to marry, Spenser?”

“Lady Chomley.”

“A lovely woman,” said Alexandra, then she frowned.