The Courtship by Catherine Coulter

Author:Catherine Coulter
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-02-28T23:00:00+00:00

17

ALEXANDRA CLEARED HER throat. “Actually, Spenser, what Douglas would like to say is that he and I would both like to accompany you to see Reverend Mathers. We would very much like to insert ourselves into your adventure.”

Douglas raised a dark brow at his wife. “Of course he knows that’s what I said. Yes, we would rather come with you, Heatherington, than go to Richmond. Lady Blakeny may cast me her sloe-eyed looks another time.”

“Lady Blakeny is tall,” Alexandra said. “Not as tall as Helen, but still tall, curse her.”

Douglas beamed at his wife, assisted her into the carriage, stepped back for Lord Beecham, then swung himself inside.

Lord Beecham looked out the carriage window to see Reverend Older still standing there in the walkway just outside of White’s, staring after them. He did not like the look on the man’s face.

“Perhaps you should find another scholar,” Alexandra said as she arranged her skirts around her.

“He is the best,” Lord Beecham said. “The very best. He and my mentor at Oxford, Sir Giles Gilliam, were excellent friends. I can remember sitting quietly on a stool in a corner of Sir Giles’s rooms, listening to them argue over some ancient text. It was fascinating.” He could remember not wanting to leave even to relieve himself.

“I don’t like seeing this different side to you, Heatherington, one that smacks of intellect and admiration of something that isn’t warm and soft and ever so delightful.”

“He’s referring to the ladies, Spenser.”

“I know, Alexandra.”

“I prefer you to be simply a rakehell with no redeeming qualities. I detest having to alter my opinions, particularly when I am convinced they are perfectly right.”

“I know,” Lord Beecham said. “But Douglas, those other parts of me—they have been dormant for a very long time. They are just now coming back into being. No reason to fret yourself about my changing on you just yet.”

Douglas cleared his throat. “I have decided to help you, Heatherington here. I will even help you remove Reverend Mathers to Grillons’ Hotel. Yes, you need me, Heatherington. Others might horn in, like Crowley, and the good Lord knows you are gullible. I want to make sure that no one takes advantage of Helen either. Yes, I will make certain that you don’t get your knees cut out from under you by any charlatans and, of course, will ensure that you understand exactly what is being said and exactly how to respond. I have known Reverend Mathers since I was a boy. He won’t mind that I am with you. I will even counsel him how not to talk in his sleep.”

Lord Beecham said, “I appreciate that, Douglas, I surely do. I am also certain Helen won’t mind having two more partners. Now, have either of you heard that Reverend Older is having particular difficulties, at present, paying his gambling debts?”

“That conniving old bookend?” Douglas was once again closing his wife’s cloak over her bosom, frowning as he added, “You fear he will continue trying to insinuate his way into this business?”

“Yes, I know he will.

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