Dangerous in Diamonds - Madeline Hunter [104]
“My wife alludes to the biggest change in my brother,” Sebastian said, mostly to Castleford. “He did not return alone.”
Castleford had been listening politely, if somewhat lazily. Now his attention sharpened. “It does not sound as if he brought this physician back.”
“No, he did not.” Audrianna’s expression indicated she badly wanted to share this news. “He brought back the physician’s daughter, who was trained by her father in the medical arts.”
“I expect that will be useful,” Castleford said, his speculative tone prompting more details.
“That depends on what you mean by useful,” Summerhays said a bit dryly.
“Sebastian is still accommodating the surprise,” Audrianna said. “Joanna is a lovely woman. I liked her at once.”
Castleford crossed his arms and speared Summerhays with a devilish look. “Enough of this polite dodging. Did he bring back a mistress?”
Summerhays shook his head. “You will find the truth of it much more interesting than that, Castleford. He brought back a wife.”
“Thank goodness they left,” Audrianna said. “Forgive me, but I must put up my feet or I will cry.” She carefully swung her legs up so she reclined on the chaise longue. “Of all evenings for the duke to decide to make a social call.”
“My apologies. I should have discouraged him. I think that he felt some obligation to deliver me safely back to you.”
Audrianna opened a fan and waved it in front of her face, even though the day was not overly warm. “How chivalrous of him.”
Daphne sought to move the topic elsewhere, far away from Castleford. “If you do not mind, I would like to stay here tonight and return to The Rarest Blooms tomorrow.”
“Of course. We will send you down in a carriage whenever you like.”
“I was wondering if, in the morning before I go, we might have Celia visit so I can see her and tell her about Katherine.” She told Audrianna what had happened and that Katherine was gone.
“I will send a footman with a note to Celia this evening,” Audrianna said, the story dimming her mood. “We can all have a late breakfast together.”
“Thank you. There is another matter that I would like to explain to both of you too, and Verity when I see her. I am in need of your help.”
Audrianna gazed over innocently. “A personal matter?”
“Not really. It touches on me but mostly centers on others. It concerns a little quest I have undertaken to see some old injustices righted.”
Audrianna’s expression fell. “A quest? In the name of justice? How . . . noble.”
“You expected something else?”
Audrianna shrugged and appeared chagrined. “I will confide that Verity and Celia have been writing to me and suggesting the most outrageous things. About you and Castleford.”
“So you have all been gossiping through the post about me.”
“I want you to know that I was very sure that they misunderstood, and I wrote to tell them as much.”
“Thank you.”
“After all, I am your cousin. If you and the duke were—well, if he pursued you the way they claimed, you would have written and told me. You would have never left me to rusticate on the coast without so much as a tidbit to chew on.”
Daphne hoped her smile looked like agreement.
“No, I was very sure the two of them had concocted this grand seduction scheme on his part, out of their imaginations,” Audrianna said earnestly. “And even if they were correct, it went without saying that he would be on a fool’s path to attempt such a thing with you, of all women.”
“I appreciate your confidence.”
“Well, I think I know you best, Daphne. I was sure I had got it right and they had got it wrong.” She reached into her bodice. “That is, until I found these.”
She opened her hand to reveal two diamond earrings.
Daphne stared at them. Audrianna began laughing in a most insinuating way.
“You appear distracted, Summerhays. I do not think it is the repercussions sure to come from Peterloo that cause it either.”
“That disaster can wait a few days. It will not be going anywhere soon.”
They sat in the library enjoying some excellent