The Honourable Fortune Hunter (Scandalous Miss Brightwells 5)

Chapter 24

Fanny felt strange and disoriented as she joined Fenton in the drawing room where her sister and Lord Quamby were already comfortably ensconced, drinking Madeira on a sofa near the fire.

“Ah Fanny, what a lovely shade of rose! I have not seen that ensemble before.” Quamby, as always, was quick to notice any new addition to his sister-in-law’s wardrobe, and Fanny smiled in acknowledgement.

Antoinette, as ever, was more absorbed in her own activities. Ignoring her husband’s compliment, she chattered on, continuing the discussion that Fanny and Fenton had interrupted as she said, “Despite all that has occurred between Mr Dalgleish and Mr McAlister, I knew my instincts were on the money when I invited Mr McAlister to be our guest.” She looked smug as she watched Fanny move to a seat opposite. “I know he’s not…well received...but people do love a bit of scandal so they can feel better about their own unblemished lives. And he is very handsome.”

Soon, the guests would arrive en masse for the Grand Christmas Ball and they would all go down to the saloon to greet them.

“Sadly, my dear sister was thinking only of the dangers he presented to her reputation and how that might damage her opportunity for being received at Court,” Antoinette went on, fanning herself and clearly unconscious of the heavy mood between Fanny and Fenton.

Antoinette continued speaking while Fanny rose, too restless to remain listening to her sister’s inanities. She stood in front of the fireplace and tried to puzzle out what should be done as a result of the events of the afternoon.

Having returned late from their walk, she’d seen Lady Conroy to her bedchamber with as much discretion as possible, ordered a sleeping draught for the young woman, and ensured her maid was on hand should she wake distressed.

“Will you be quiet if you have nothing helpful to say!” Fanny snapped at last, swinging round from the fire to fix Antoinette with a baleful stare. “So what if Mr McAlister and Mr Dalgleish are both sporting black eyes. That’s the least of anyone’s problems. Today, Lady Conroy tried to kill herself. Fenton rescued her from the castle battlements just in time and Mr Dalgleish, whom we now know is the villain of the piece—though we’re not sure how he knew what he did—is pressing his suit upon Lizzy. ”

She watched shock steal across Quamby and Antoinette’s faces.

“Yes, the fact that Dalgleish and McAlister have come to fisticuffs is scandalous!” Fanny spoke the obvious. “But that’s the least of it.”

“Indeed! The pair of them are a shameful sight to behold. Why, the villain!”

Fanny was not sure if Antoinette was referring to Mr McAlister or Dalgleish, but she put up her hand to stop her continuing. “Please Antoinette! It’s not helpful to be smug or point fingers or apportion blame.” She huffed out a frustrated breath. “We now just have to decide what we can do for Lady Conroy—”

“And Lizzy,” Antoinette interrupted.

“Of course! Lady Conroy is out of her mind with distress over Lizzy.” Fanny put her fingertips to her eyes. “If what she hints at has substance, and Mr Dalgleish is blackmailing her mother to pressure Lizzy to marry Mr Dalgleish, then Lizzy can’t possibly marry him.”

“And if she doesn’t, Dalgleish will reveal what he knows about Lady Conroy,” interjected Fenton. “Although, if Lizzy does in fact want to marry Dalgleish, it’s simple.”

“But Lady Conroy hinted that Lizzy doesn’t,” said Fanny. “And if that’s the case, we need to find a way to ensure that Lady Conroy’s secret is not revealed by Dalgleish to the detriment of the poor woman’s marriage.”

“Which is hardly happy to begin with.” Fenton sighed. “But how do we manage that?”

“Oh dear—secrets! I know a lot about those.” Antoinette shook her head, and for a moment, the tiniest hint of remorse crossed her face but was gone before Fanny could be sure it was even there. She was about to offer the response her sister’s remark warranted when a knock sounded on the door and the parlourmaid put her head round. “Please ma’am,” she said, looking at Fanny, “but I jest 'ad a message from the 'ostelry who said yer’d wanted to be told of any young gennulmen stayin’ at the 'ouse arrangin’ fer a chaise-and-four.”

Fanny returned a dignified look in response to the others’ raised eyebrows. “Do you imagine I am not alert to what an enterprising fortune hunter might have up his sleeve?” she asked. “And now it would appear I’m right. Someone is eloping.”

A hastily hired chaise-and-four was most definitely a sign of someone in the vicinity planning a long journey—and a four-day trip to the Scottish border was a likely option.

When Fanny had elicited the time the conveyance had been ordered, and the instructions given to the postilions as to where the coach should be waiting, the looks on Fenton and Quamby’s faces were satisfyingly admiring.

“So Antoinette, though both our fortune hunters have hardly distinguished themselves, it would appear your Mr McAlister is acting true to form—just as we all feared.” Fanny ran her palms down her rose-pink lutestring skirts and regarded her audience. “Tonight, he will shame or ruin some innocent young lady who doesn’t know better while bringing this establishment into disrepute. They’re headed for Gretna Green, mark my words.”

“It is not certain it’s Mr McAlister though, is it?” said Antoinette. “No name was given, and no description fits.”

“Who else could it be?” asked Fanny.

“After what you’ve just told us about Mr Dalgleish,” said Antoinette, “it would hardly be such a terrible thing if Mr McAlister did whisk Lizzy away.”

Fanny thought a moment, adding cautiously, “Lady Conroy did say that Lizzy was in love with Mr McAlister though Lizzy came here with the expectation of a marriage proposal from Mr Dalgleish. She has, however, been seen equally in the company of both young men, though it appears she is not in charity with Mr Dalgleish right now. And they did both fight over her, it would appear.”

“As long as Miss Harcourt is safe,” Quamby muttered, leaning back in his chair. “You are keeping a close eye on her, aren’t you?” He speared Fanny with a quelling look and Fanny put up her hands and glanced at Antoinette, though Antoinette was hardly up to the task of safeguarding the morals and reputation of any young lady who might be contemplating elopement.

“Miss Harcourt is very safe; I’m sure,” Fanny reassured him, feeling far from reassured, herself. “As we know, she and Mr McAlister had a falling out during last night’s ball.”

“Which means they are the pair who are leaving us tonight!” Antoinette declared, having obviously thought the matter through for a full second and a half. “It was pure play-acting. I could see it for what it was, and it convinced me something was in the wind. And now I see I’m right!”