Mary frowned. “You are Sir Royce Winslow. At least, that is what you told us. But perhaps I have been too trusting. It seems to me that someone who is as suspicious as you must engage in a bit of double-dealing himself, else how is he so familiar with swindles and frauds?”#p#分页标题#e#
He let out a short laugh that was signally lacking in humor. “I have had quite a bit of experience with those wishing to get closer to the earl. You see, the earl’s father married my mother thirty-one years ago. We grew up in the same house.”
Once again, Mary stared at him in confusion. “But no, the earl—we cannot be talking about the same man. Is there another Earl of Stewkesbury? He was my mother’s father; he must be an old man.”
Again he regarded her for a time. “What was his first name? Do you know?”
“Reginald. That is what my mother wrote on the envelope—Reginald, Lord Stewkesbury.”
“That is the old earl. The present earl’s grandfather. I am sorry to tell you that Lord Reginald died more than a year ago. Reginald’s son, Lawrence, had predeceased him, so Lawrence’s son Oliver became the earl.”
“Then he would be …” Rose stopped to work out the relationship. “Lawrence must have been our mother’s brother. And that would make the present earl … our cousin?”
“But that is wonderful!” Lily blurted out. “Then you are our cousin, too!”
A flicker of dismay ran through Mary at her sister’s words. This man, whose kiss had sent fire sizzling through her, was her cousin?
“No!” Royce’s eyes slid to Mary for an instant before going back to Lily. “No, we are not related at all. You see, I am not a Talbot.” At their confused looks, he explained, “Talbot is the earl’s family name. My father was Sir Alan Winslow. He died when I was young, and my mother, Barbara, later married Lawrence, Oliver’s father. Oliver’s mother had died when he was but three, leaving Lawrence a widower with a child to raise as well. Lawrence and my mother had another child, Fitzhugh. Fitz is my half brother through my mother, and he is also Oliver’s half brother through his father. But Oliver and I are merely stepbrothers. Lord Stewkesbury and Fitz would be your cousins if your mother was Reginald’s daughter, but I am no relation to you at all.”
“Oh. Well.” Mary turned away to hide the relief that his words brought. She reminded herself that she was irritated with Sir Royce. “It scarcely matters anyway, does it, since you believe we are common thieves.”
“Oh, no. You are most uncommon,” he retorted, and a ghost of a smile hovered on his lips. “As to your thievery—well, I must admit, it does seem unlikely that you could have arranged our meeting.”
“That isn’t the same as saying that you believe we are the earl’s cousins.”
“You must allow that there is little way I could know that.”
“Some people are able to judge one’s honesty just from speaking to a person.” Mary made a dismissive gesture. “In any case, it matters little whether you believe us or not. We are not asking for your help in presenting our case to the earl.”
“But, Mary, why not?” Lily protested.
“It seems to me that Sir Royce would be most helpful,” Rose agreed. “He could tell the earl our story, and then he would be more likely to see us.”
“I will find a way to address the earl.” Mary set her jaw. “I shall locate this club of his and go to see him there.”
“Good Gad!” Sir Royce looked shocked. “You cannot go to his club!”
“I don’t see why not.”
“For one thing, they will not allow you in. It is a gentlemen’s club. No woman of any sort is admitted. And if you showed up on their doorstep, it would ruin you socially.”
“As if I care for that!”#p#分页标题#e#
“You should, if you and your sisters are who you say you are,” he shot back.
“Then I shall sit down and write the man a letter and take it round to him.” Such a tame course was not what Mary wanted to do, but she was not about to ask this arrogant man for help.
Royce sighed and came over to her. “Miss Bascombe, I apologize profusely for any insult I may have offered you. Pray, sit down and tell me your story. Then we will see what can be done.”
Mary would have liked to hold out a little longer, just to show him that she wanted nothing from him, but her pragmatic nature won out. “Very well.”
She sat down on the sofa beside Rose, and Royce pulled over one of the straight-backed chairs and settled into it, as if preparing for a long tale. “Now …”