least. He indicated quite the opposite to me—estate work, with a little politics thrown in.”
“I’ll tell you who knows more about his private life than anyone is young Barker—the fellow they call Taffy Barker. He was visiting Aldred just before he came to London. He don’t see much of Barker any longer, now that he is working.”
“Taffy won’t miss Sidmouth’s ball. I’ll make a point of having a chat with him.”
“You’re going to a good deal of trouble, Eskott. Is there any special reason... ?”
He looked at her with a rueful smile. “Does it show? After all these years, I thought I had learned to hide it. Even as an objective friend, however, I would like to help her. You don’t abandon your friends when they are in danger. Such an ambitious man as Henry is dangerous.”
“You don’t have to convince me. I think he is a positive menace, but she won’t listen to reason. All I have done is turn her against me with my nagging. She won’t feel kindly disposed toward anyone who shows Henry up for the scoundrel he is either.”
“True, I must tread softly. The heart always rules the head, especially when the heart is in love, whatever that cliché means. I have come to associate it with another four-letter word: hell.”
“I’ll go to Sidmouth’s do tonight with them, to try to keep her feet on the ground. I do nothing but harp at the poor girl lately, but then she is acting very badly. She is with him this instant, I know, reading over his shoulder.”
“I wouldn’t leave them too much alone.”
“I am not worried about seduction. She ain’t that far gone that she has lost her morals. He is at pains to keep up the appearance at least of a gentleman. As Fordwich has not turned him off, he would not be thinking in terms of bolting to the border for a runaway match.”
“I wish he would suggest it. That would open up her eyes fast enough.”
“Don’t count on it. I’ll go and ask her to drive out with me. If I catch cold, it will be her fault, and I shall insist she dance attendance on me.”
“Good girl. I must be off now.”
Lady Margaret shook her head sadly at his retreating form. What dependence could be placed on a foolish girl who took up with that rattle of an Aldred, when she had a fine fellow like Eskott dancing at her skirts these five years—more. No dependence at all. She turned and walked swiftly toward the study door.
Chapter Eight
Lord Eskott sought out Taffy Barker at Lord Sidmouth’sball to see if he could discover anything amiss with Aldred’s personal life. The necessary preliminaries regarding the state of their respective health and the fineness of the party were quickly covered.
“Your friend, young Aldred, is rising fast in the world,” Eskott said at length, glancing to the floor, where Henry was performing an exquisite bow to Madeline during the course of the cotillion.
“Knew he had it in him,” Taffy agreed. “Very capable, popular fellow at Christ Church. Best-liked man in his class. Don’t believe he ever made an enemy.”
“A man who has not made a single enemy at his age must have a very obliging set of principles, ones that change with the company he keeps,” Eskott said, making a joke of it.
“Wouldn’t say so,” Barker answered, choosing to take offense at the jibe. “Haven’t an enemy myself, so far as I know. Not what you’d call a real enemy. The Sanfords were put out with me that I didn’t offer for Caroline, but as to enemies—no such a thing.”
“Rumor has it Henry left a lady behind crying willow when he left,” was Eskott’s next venture.
“Anges Dannaher? Devil a bit of it. She was the one gave him the rush. That is to say, her uncle did it for her. Aldred ain’t well inlaid, but he’ll do. Do very well for himself. How’d you hear about Agnes? But you’re a friend of Lady Madeline, of course,” he went on, answering his own question.
“Was he actually engaged to Miss Dannaher? You paid him a
“I’ll tell you who knows more about his private life than anyone is young Barker—the fellow they call Taffy Barker. He was visiting Aldred just before he came to London. He don’t see much of Barker any longer, now that he is working.”
“Taffy won’t miss Sidmouth’s ball. I’ll make a point of having a chat with him.”
“You’re going to a good deal of trouble, Eskott. Is there any special reason... ?”
He looked at her with a rueful smile. “Does it show? After all these years, I thought I had learned to hide it. Even as an objective friend, however, I would like to help her. You don’t abandon your friends when they are in danger. Such an ambitious man as Henry is dangerous.”
“You don’t have to convince me. I think he is a positive menace, but she won’t listen to reason. All I have done is turn her against me with my nagging. She won’t feel kindly disposed toward anyone who shows Henry up for the scoundrel he is either.”
“True, I must tread softly. The heart always rules the head, especially when the heart is in love, whatever that cliché means. I have come to associate it with another four-letter word: hell.”
“I’ll go to Sidmouth’s do tonight with them, to try to keep her feet on the ground. I do nothing but harp at the poor girl lately, but then she is acting very badly. She is with him this instant, I know, reading over his shoulder.”
“I wouldn’t leave them too much alone.”
“I am not worried about seduction. She ain’t that far gone that she has lost her morals. He is at pains to keep up the appearance at least of a gentleman. As Fordwich has not turned him off, he would not be thinking in terms of bolting to the border for a runaway match.”
“I wish he would suggest it. That would open up her eyes fast enough.”
“Don’t count on it. I’ll go and ask her to drive out with me. If I catch cold, it will be her fault, and I shall insist she dance attendance on me.”
“Good girl. I must be off now.”
Lady Margaret shook her head sadly at his retreating form. What dependence could be placed on a foolish girl who took up with that rattle of an Aldred, when she had a fine fellow like Eskott dancing at her skirts these five years—more. No dependence at all. She turned and walked swiftly toward the study door.
Chapter Eight
Lord Eskott sought out Taffy Barker at Lord Sidmouth’sball to see if he could discover anything amiss with Aldred’s personal life. The necessary preliminaries regarding the state of their respective health and the fineness of the party were quickly covered.
“Your friend, young Aldred, is rising fast in the world,” Eskott said at length, glancing to the floor, where Henry was performing an exquisite bow to Madeline during the course of the cotillion.
“Knew he had it in him,” Taffy agreed. “Very capable, popular fellow at Christ Church. Best-liked man in his class. Don’t believe he ever made an enemy.”
“A man who has not made a single enemy at his age must have a very obliging set of principles, ones that change with the company he keeps,” Eskott said, making a joke of it.
“Wouldn’t say so,” Barker answered, choosing to take offense at the jibe. “Haven’t an enemy myself, so far as I know. Not what you’d call a real enemy. The Sanfords were put out with me that I didn’t offer for Caroline, but as to enemies—no such a thing.”
“Rumor has it Henry left a lady behind crying willow when he left,” was Eskott’s next venture.
“Anges Dannaher? Devil a bit of it. She was the one gave him the rush. That is to say, her uncle did it for her. Aldred ain’t well inlaid, but he’ll do. Do very well for himself. How’d you hear about Agnes? But you’re a friend of Lady Madeline, of course,” he went on, answering his own question.
“Was he actually engaged to Miss Dannaher? You paid him a
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