Notorious Pleasures (Maiden Lane #2)(46)
“I saw Lady Beckinhall today,” Cousin Bathilda said at last, “at a quite dreadful tea given by Mrs. Headington. All that was provided for refreshments were some very dry little cakes. I am positive that they were stale—at the very least two days’ old!—and Lady Beckinhall quite agreed with me.”
Lady Beckinhall could hardly do otherwise, Hero thought wryly.
“She informed me that Lady Caire is thinking of extending her stay on the continent through the winter,” Bathilda went on.
Hero looked up. “Oh, no. Really?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Well, it rather might be,” Hero said.
“Why?” Phoebe asked.
“It’s the work on the new home.” Hero sighed. “I’ve had to hire another architect, because the first one embezzled the funds we’d given him.”
“My dear!” Cousin Bathilda looked horrified.
“Yes. We’ll need more money—quite a bit more money, I’m afraid,” Hero said. “And Lady Caire staying away even longer won’t help matters.”
“What about her son?” Phoebe asked. “Won’t Lord Caire and his new wife be returning to town soon?”
Bathilda snorted. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed away until spring. He married a brewer’s daughter, after all. He’ll need his mother’s help in getting invitations.”
“I don’t think Temperance or Lord Caire are particularly interested in society events,” Hero began.
Bathilda drew in her breath sharply.
“But you are right,” Hero added hastily. “They may stay away from town for even longer now.”
“What shall you do?” Phoebe asked.
Hero shook her head and was silent a moment as the footmen cleared the supper plates and brought in a pudding for dessert.
She waited until they were each served, then said solemnly, “I shall have to raise the funds myself somehow.”
“You can have some of mine,” Phoebe said promptly. “Mother and Father left me a fair amount, or so Maximus says.”
“But you can’t touch it until you’re of a majority,” Hero said gently. “Thank you anyway, dear.”
Phoebe scrunched her face for a moment. “I’d wager there are other ladies who would like to help the home.”
“Do you?” Hero dabbed at her pudding without really tasting it.
“Yes.” Phoebe was beginning to look excited. “You could form a… a syndicate.”
“Like a gentlemen’s business syndicate?” Cousin Bathilda frowned.
“Quite,” Phoebe said. “Except it would be only ladies—because if you let a gentleman in, he’ll want to run things—and it’s to give money, not make it. You could call it the Ladies’ Syndicate for the Benefit of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children.”
“That’s a wonderful idea, darling,” Hero said, smiling. Phoebe’s enthusiasm was hard to resist. “But what ladies would I approach to give away their money?”
“You might try Lady Beckinhall for one,” Cousin Bathilda said unexpectedly. “I know for a fact that her late husband left her extremely well-off.”
“Yes, but will she want to simply give away her wealth?” Hero shook her head. She didn’t know Lady Beckinhall all that well, but the lady had always struck her as more interested in fashion and the latest gossip than charity.
“I’ll help you make a list,” Phoebe said, “entitled ‘Potentially Charitable Ladies of Means.’ ”
“That will certainly help.” Hero laughed.
“Mmm.” Phoebe ate some of her pudding with evident appreciation. “I say, why did you ask earlier about changing gentlemen?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Hero replied.
“Lord Mandeville seems perfect the way he is,” her younger sister commented. “Does he gamble?”
“Not to my knowledge,” Hero said.
“Well, if he did, I can’t think he’d allow you to confine him to his smallclothes like Lord Pepperman,” Phoebe said.
The younger footman choked, earning himself a severe glance from Panders.
Suddenly an image of Lord Griffin in his smallclothes popped into Hero’s head, making her go hot all over. She took a guilty sip of wine.
“No, indeed,” Cousin Bathilda said, apparently oblivious to the currents around her. “I’m afraid you’ll have to accept Lord Mandeville the way he is, my dear. Fortunately for you, he’s quite perfect as he is.”
Hero nodded, her mind on Lord Reading, which was why she nearly jumped at Cousin Bathilda’s next words.