“Of course.”
Merrick slapped Archie’s shoulder to send him on his way. He cast one last lingering glance behind him before he turned his thoughts to the other matter Lady Farnsworth had mentioned and headed for home. Winslette was for sale. A rare opportunity that intrigued him. The property had significant esteem, so the price would be steep to match. Farnsworth wasn’t one to bargain about anything. If Grayling were here and not buried in the country with his new wife and daughters, his friend would certainly consider purchasing the property that adjoined his to expand his holdings.
In his absence, Merrick could at least inquire. If a deal could be made, then there was no need for Lady Farnsworth to ever remove to Surrey at all. Grayling would never send her packing, and if Merrick kept the place himself because Gray didn’t want it, he would not either and would gain a decent excuse to visit and spend time with Arabella.
By the time he let himself in his front door, he had decided purchasing a property in Wiltshire was a sound investment and addition to his estates. He had no qualms about serving his own interests first before consulting his friend’s wishes.
He handed his hat and gloves over as Holland approached. “I’ve decided to buy another country estate. See what you can find in Wiltshire, my good man. There must be something close to Grayling’s estate that will be tolerable.”
Holland passed him the day’s mail. “Wiltshire? Very good, my lord. I’ll make enquiries on your behalf and have an answer by week’s end.”
“Today, Holland. I must have an answer quickly and the deal done without delay.” He flicked through the invitations, saw the promised one for Lady Berry’s dinner, and discarded the rest. It was not for a few days. Perhaps tonight he would stay in and read a book, recharging his enthusiasm before resuming his search.
Holland cleared his throat. “Why the urgency for a Wiltshire property?”
Merrick clapped his hand to his half brother’s shoulder and squeezed. He could have a little fun at Holland’s expense by knowing something before the other man did. “All in good time, Holland. Just wait and see what you find for sale.”
CHAPTER TEN
As Arabella had foreseen, Farnsworth was enraged by the elopement of his only daughter for the embarrassment it inflicted on him and the stain to the family reputation. What she couldn’t fathom was why he had not set off in pursuit of the lovers to Scotland to prevent the match from taking place at all.
“I wash my hands of them and rue the day I ever came to London,” he said sourly as he poured another drink, his fifth since Arabella had been summoned to dinner this evening. “He’ll not get a penny of her dowry.”
She winced. A lieutenant made little enough from his commission to support a family without denying them the dowry. She hoped her niece had considered that. After returning from her walk, Arabella had been on tenterhooks because Cecily’s elopement was still unknown. An hour later, Farnsworth discovered the situation. His bellow of outrage, heard clearly through the floor of her bedchamber from below, alerted her to be ready for his anger and made her tremble. She had been questioned harshly until he had received a note he wouldn’t share the contents of.
At first, she had assumed it was about Cecily, yet Farnsworth was still in their Half Moon Street residence, complaining at every opportunity. The butler appeared and delivered yet another note to Farnsworth. When he picked it up and read it, his eyes darted in her direction. He smiled, yet kept the details to himself again.
Arabella began to feel distinctly uncomfortable.
“What will you do?” She posed her question carefully, uncertain of whether she wanted his answer or not. Rothwell had eased her mind of Cecily being abandoned when the idea of elopement lost its appeal to Lieutenant Ford. As far as Rothwell was concerned, Cecily would marry without a shadow of a doubt and she had to believe it would be so.
Farnsworth sighed. “There is little to be done. She left very early last night. She has a whole night of travel between us, and according to my reports, this Ford fellow has disappeared without a trace. He’ll not stop long on the way to the border. Only a fool would attempt a recovery, and I am not dancing to that tune. It will take time for the stain to be forgotten by society, but Parker will overlook the impropriety and that is all that matters.”
Farnsworth was so wrong she wanted to laugh at him. They were in Town and everyone they met with would soon know exactly what had befallen the house of Farnsworth. The man had been obsessed with keeping up appearances prior to Cecily’s elopement. He was always throwing out little remarks about how a lady should conduct herself in public. No matter how much money changed hands or what apologies were made to Parker, the scandal would not subside for some time and would remain a black spot on the family’s reputation.
A tap on the front door reverberated through the house. Although Arabella strained her ears, she could not discern who it might be. When the butler interrupted their dinner yet again a few moments later, he went directly to Farnsworth, holding his little silver tray before him. A single note rested on the silver surface and he read it quickly. Farnsworth met her gaze. “You must excuse me. A matter of business has arisen that must be dealt with.”
“Do the notes concern Cecily?”
“No.” Farnsworth slipped the note into his pocket, his expression thoughtful. “You would do well to forget her and focus on the future. I’ll need a few minutes to conclude my business, and then I will join you in the drawing room.”
He retreated and rudely left Arabella seated at the dining table amid a feast better suited to a larger gathering and a celebration. Tomorrow Arabella would speak to cook about extravagance. It was not necessary to dine so lavishly when it was just herself and Farnsworth sitting down to dinner. She reached for her wineglass, startled to see her hand shaking. Just contemplating bringing order and good sense to Farnsworth’s homes unsettled her.
Without Cecily to talk to, Arabella was not certain what she would do with herself tonight in the drawing room. Since she’d come up to Town, she had concentrated on what Cecily needed. Practice at the pianoforte, dissecting the peerage to determine familial connections of those they met. During the day, they went out—shopping for new gloves, visiting the modiste, accepting invitations to parties and fetes that would show the girl off to advantage. Farnsworth had insisted they decline tonight’s round of amusements given Cecily’s embarrassing elopement, and she had to agree with his decision. If they went out without Cecily in their ranks, someone would ask of her whereabouts.
Without a pressing task before her, Arabella retreated to the drawing room as Farnsworth had demanded and stopped before a window facing the street. Outside, a steady rain had fallen since midafternoon, cocooning her with her thoughts and worries. Rain would slow Cecily and Lieutenant Ford’s flight to the border, though it might just prevent any pursuit being made by the Fords. She hoped Rothwell had factored bad weather into his calculations. She smiled ruefully. She had completely underestimated that gentleman. He was not the pleasure-obsessed rogue society made him out to be. He believed in love and helping those in need. Not at all what she’d imagined he might feel.