"He was sleeping peacefully when I left." She sat down at the table. "Emily and Clarissa, I need you to come on an errand with me. May we take the barouche, Mama? I drove myself here, but the curricle isn't comfortable for three."
"What errand?" Emily inquired, passing her sister the coffeepot.
"It's a secret," Theo said, pouring coffee. "But I need you both to come for moral support."
"Theo, what mischief are you planning?" Elinor demanded, recognizing the aura of energy and purpose surrounding her daughter, whose eyes and skin were aglow.
"No mischief," Theo said with an innocent smile, helping herself to a slice of ham and buttering a roll.
"Lieutenant Fairfax, my lady," the butler intoned before Elinor could respond to this insouciant reassurance.
"I trust I'm not intruding, Lady Belmont." Edward came in on the announcement, his eyes immediately searching out his betrothed. "I know it's early, but -"
"You couldn't keep away," Rosie finished for him matter-of-factly. "I don't know why you don't live here, Edward. I'm sure it's more comfortable than your lodgings, and it would save you a deal of traveling time."
"Rosie!" protested Emily. "You make it sound as if Edward isn't welcome."
"Oh, but of course he is," Rosie said placidly, taking another piece of toast. "It was only an observation. Clarry's knight is the same. He's practically moved in, too."
"That's enough, child," Elinor rebuked her. "Sit down, Edward. You know we're always pleased to see you."
Edward sat down next to Theo, observing with a grin, "You managed to escape the tabbies."
"Edward, for shame!" Elinor protested. "Such an example for Rosie!"
"Oh, I don't mind," Rosie said. "Did the dragons really make Mary go green? Clarry said she was quite pea-colored when she came downstairs."
"That's enough. I don't want to hear another word about the Gilbraiths," Elinor said in a tone that they all knew meant business.
"Very well, Mama," Theo said with a placating smile. "But will you invite her to go visiting with you or something… just to relieve me of a little of the burden?"
Elinor's expression so clearly indicated how little she relished such a prospect that her daughters burst into peals of laughter, and accusations of "hypocrite" flew around the table. Elinor shook her head ruefully. "I suppose we should all take a turn."
Edward took the cup of coffee Emily poured him. "Well, I hope you'll excuse me this morning. I was hoping to persuade Emily to drive with me in the park after breakfast."
"Oh, it'll have to be later," Theo said. "Emily and Clarry are coming on an errand with me."
"Oh, well, I'll accompany you, then."
Theo chuckled. "I don't think you want to do that, Edward. You'll be most uncomfortable." She turned to her mother. "We may have the barouche, mayn't we?"
Elinor sighed. "I suppose so, if you promise you're not up to some mischief."
"Mama, I am a married woman," Theo declared loftily. "How could you possibly think such a thing?"
"Very easily," Elinor said wryly.
"Well, I have to be back by eleven o'clock, because Jonathan is coming to finish his portrait," Clarissa said. "He's going to hang it in the hall of his mother's house, and she's going to give a soiree so that people may see it. Once they realize how talented he is, he's bound to get a host of commissions."
"I haven't seen it yet," Theo said. "Do you like it?"
Clarissa blushed. "He won't let me see it, not until it's finished."
"Well, if I were you, I'd just take the cloth off and have a peek when he's not here," Rosie declared.
"That's cheating," Clarissa exclaimed.
"I don't see why. It's a picture of you, not anyone else, so it sort of belongs to you. At least that's what I think."
"You have the same unorthodox attitude to conventional rules as your sister," Edward said pointedly.
Theo glanced at him. They'd had no chance to talk in private about the disastrous events at the Fisherman's Rest. He seemed to have forgiven her for involving him, but she knew he was curious to know what had transpired between herself and Stoneridge. She would tell him later, when she explained about the other scheme percolating in her mind. She'd need his involvement there too, but his role wouldn't require physical intervention. Once she'd explained her suspicions and her plan to him, she was convinced he would give her his wholehearted support, as he'd always done.
She leaned across and pecked him on the cheek. "Don't be stuffy."
"Someone needs to be where you're concerned," Edward said, burying his nose in his coffee cup to hide his reluctant grin.
Theo, perfectly satisfied with this response, pushed back her chair. "If Clarry has to be back in two hours, and I have to be back to look after my mama-in-law, we'd better get moving. I've no idea how long this is going to take."
A renewed chorus of What? rose round the table, but she just grinned mischievously and went into the hall to give order for the barouche to be brought around.
Fifteen minutes later the three of them were on their way to a discreet establishment on Bond Street.
Chapter Twenty-six
Sylvester awoke while his wife was spearing bacon in the Belmont breakfast parlor. He lay for a few minutes savoring his bodily ease and the miraculous absence of pain. His mind still retained the ghastly memories of his agony, and the memories made the present sense of well-being even more precious.
"My lord." Henry, alert to the slightest hint of movement from the bed, drew back the bed curtains, an anxious smile on his lips.
"Good morning, Henry. What's the time?"
"Past nine o'clock, sir."
"Good God!" His mind flew to Theo. He saw her face, hovering over him, her smile, those pansy-blue eyes filled with compassion and something even deeper than that. It was that something that had soothed him, had stopped his protests at her presence during his torture. He could feel her hand on his brow, cool and soft.
He sat up on his pillows. "I'm not mistaken in believing that Lady Stoneridge was in here?"
"No, my lord."
"Why the devil did you let her in?"
Henry cleared his throat. "I didn't, sir. She came through the window."
"What?" He remembered she'd told him she'd flown through the window, but it had meant nothing to him at the time.
He swung out of bed and strode to the window, flinging it wide onto the noisy bustle of London town waking for business. He stepped out onto the balcony, looked across at Theo's, then looked down into the street. His scalp crawled as he imagined that perilous crossing.
The woman was incorrigible. Utterly, totally incorrigible. He returned inside, shivering at the chill wind blowing through his nightshirt. "Bath, Henry."
"Right away, my lord. And breakfast." Henry hurried to the door, then paused. "Oh, her ladyship asked me to give you this as soon as you awoke." He hastened back to the secretaire and handed the earl the folded paper.
"Thank you." Just what was she up to now? Sylvester ran a hand over his unshaven chin with a grimace. "Hurry with that hot water, man."
Henry left, and the earl opened the sheet. Theo's distinctive script jumped off the page at him:
Dearest Sylvester,
Henry assured me that you'll be quite well when you awake, or I wouldn't have left. I will be in Brook Street when you're able to come and find me. Your mama is still asleep, so I feel sure she won't need me for a couple of hours.