Kissing Cousins by Joan Smith Page B

along, and astonished to see Edward himself assist Samantha down. She had hoped he ’ d lend Samantha his rig, but that he went with her himself was condescension of a high order. Her worries were not over, but they were greatly diminished. She was at the door to welcome them.
    “ Samantha! And Cousin Edward — so excessively kind of you. Have you any word —”
    Lord Salverton bowed formally. “ Nice to see you again, Miss Donaldson. We haven ’ t found the miscreants yet, but we are hot on their trail. ”
    “ But if they weren ’ t in Brighton —”
    “ It was a horrid take-in, ” Samantha said with a touch of asperity, then turned and said familiarly to Edward, “ Come on into the saloon, Edward. Let us not stand in the hall like tradesmen. ”
    “ Do come in, ” Miss Donaldson added.
    The hallway was dim. In the stronger light of the saloon she noticed that Salverton was wearing evening toilette. It was not in the pristine condition she would have expected, either. And was that the makings of a black eye? She was on thorns to hear their story.
    Once settled in the modest saloon, Samantha opened her budget.
    “ Darren and Wanda didn ’ t go to Sir Geoffrey ’ s cottage in Brighton at all. There was another couple in the cottage. Fortunately Edward knew them, and Mrs. Abercrombie —”
    “ What on earth was she doing there? ” Miss Donaldson exclaimed.
    “ Not the Mrs. Abercrombie from Milford, Auntie. This one was from London, some kin to a bishop. She was extremely sorry she had her footman hit Edward with the poker. Of course, it was only to be expected when Mr. Sykes picked the lock practically in the middle of the night and frightened the poor souls half to death. ”
    “ Is that what happened to your eye, Cousin? ” Miss Donaldson asked him.
    “ No, ” Samantha said for him, “ that happened at Mike Skelton ’ s gaming hell last night. I am coming to that. ”
    Miss Donaldson stared as if listening to a performance in Greek. “ You mentioned a Mr. Sykes ... ”
    “ Yes, Jonathon Sykes. He isn ’ t really a groom, but he was kind enough to drive the carriage for us, in case Edward ’ s own coachman should be recognized. Edward was concerned lest his fianc é e, Lady Louise St. John, should see him out with me. ” She turned to Edward. “ Do you think Lord Carnford will tell her? ”
    “ Oh, you are engaged, Cousin! I hadn ’ t heard it, ” Miss Donaldson said. This took precedence even over his being hit with the poker.
    “ It is not an engagement yet, ” he said, and added without undue concern, “ God knows whether she ’ ll have me if word of all this gets about. ”
    Mary chose this moment to inform her mistress that luncheon was served.
    “ I hope you will take lunch with us, Cousin? ” Miss Donaldson said. It seemed the least she could do.
    “ Edward wants to call on Lady Louise, Miss Donaldson, ” Samantha said. “ He was to accompany her to the opera this evening, but it isn ’ t likely he ’ ll be back in time. I shall fill you in on all the details of Brighton while we eat. ”
    “ Cousin Edward has to eat as well. There is plenty of food here. You know we were wondering what to do with that ham, Samantha, and I sent Mary out for fresh bread, as ours was gone. Do stay, Cousin. Couldn ’ t you write a note to Lady Louise and explain? ”
    “ I ’ ll be happy to join you, ” Edward said.
    While Mary set the extra places at table, Salverton undertook a proper explanation of their doings over the past twenty-odd hours. Miss Donaldson assumed that Mr. Sykes was a friend of Salverton ’ s who had provided them well-chaperoned sleeping arrangements. The explanations and future plans were so long and complicated that they continued through luncheon, along, of course, with a multitude of questions as to where Darren could be, and whether he would escape without major damage to his reputation.
    “ At least we needn ’ t fear he ’ ll marry her, Auntie, ”