The Madcap by Nikki Poppen

Author:Nikki Poppen [Poppen, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-11-16T21:58:00+00:00

Alasdair helped himself to a hearty plateful of breakfast from the sideboard in the morning room. He heaped sausage links next to his kippers and eggs. There was nothing like a good breakfast to start off a great day. He was in high spirits. The sun was out for a second day in a row, he was taking Marianne driving in the park later in the afternoon, and she had been a smashing success at the theater. Whatever vindictive recourse Brantley hoped to wreak in accordance with his bet to see her ousted from London by late July looked to be effectively thwarted.

The man could bluster all he wanted. Marianne was taking well, thanks to the efforts of Camberly and Audrey. Alasdair knew that where Audrey led others would follow, especially with Stella heading up the vanguard. Alasdair doubted that Brantley wanted to take on the Camberly prestige once it was firmly established that Marianne had Audrey’s sponsorship.

Alasdair set down his plate and took his seat at the empty table, ready to congratulate himself on a hand well played when it came to his strategy with Marianne. Between him and Camberly, they had skillfully managed to buffer her from Brantley’s cruel intentions without worrying her over them or calling her attention to Audrey’s sponsorship. It had all been neatly negotiated without discussing a thing.

Alasdair forked a sausage and bit deep into it, savoring its spicy juices. Ah, it was a particularly good day.

“What is all this about?” his mother’s angry tones demanded from the doorway, giving short warning of her approach. She rattled a newspaper to emphasize her words. A footman efficiently pulled out a chair for her and started to ask about filling a breakfast plate. She dismissed him with an imperious wave of her hand. “Just tea, please” She turned to Alasdair, who was feeling that his particularly good day had just become less so. “I can’t eat a bite considering what the papers are writing about you,” she scolded.

Alasdair set down his fork, giving his mother all his attention. “What are they writing, may I ask?”

She shoved the page under his nose. “More tripe about you and the American girl. This columnist seems very informed about your whereabouts: you sat with that American at the Radcliffe musicale, and you escorted her to the theater. You have been officially and publicly linked to her. Perhaps we could discard the first mention in the papers as nothing more than social speculation. But now, to have it done a second time! Everyone will assume you have serious intentions toward her. You should have known better, Alasdair. This article even mentions poor Sarah again and your previous understanding with her.”

Alasdair bore her tirade stoically. In the end, she could rant all she wanted and he would do what he preferred, he reminded himself.

“It’s absolutely scandalous to be the focus of so much attention,” his mother huffed.

Alasdair read through the article, tuning out his mother’s plans. The article was alarming to him, but not for the reasons his mother itemized.

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