Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) by M. C. Beaton Page B
Authors: M. C. Beaton
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well-appointed and well-run. He was suddenly curious to know more about the owners and how they had started out.
***
Lady Fortescue, when told about the afternoon and the earl’s plan, said that they must be careful that his intentions towards Arabella were honourable, and Miss Tonks pointed out that with the girl’s mother in residence, they could hardly be anything else, although, at the moment, she added, the earl did not look on Arabella in a romantic light, merely seeing her as an amusement, a diversion.
Colonel Sandhurst was beginning to report on his visit to the tailor with Mr. Davy when Sir Philip came in with Mrs. Budge. Sir Philip’s pale eyes darted this way and that. He had heard the sound of the colonel’s voice as he had approached the door of the sitting-room, a voice that had broken off and fallen silent the minute he entered. Secrets, he thought. They have secrets which don’t include me.
He realized Lady Fortescue was speaking. “Sir Philip,” she said, “we are as usual delighted to see you, but unless your companion is here to offer her services in some capacity, I must ask you to take her away.”
“Mary’s going to start work tomorrow,” said Sir Philip, “and I’ll thank you to treat her with respect.”
“Why?” demanded Lady Fortescue. “Her very presence is an insult to us.”
The door of the sitting-room opened and Arabella slipped quietly in.
“See here,” said Mrs. Budge truculently, “you’ve got no right to be so high and mighty wi’ me. You ain’t nothing but a load o’ tradespeople.”
“Sir Philip,” said the colonel quietly, “this sitting-room is our refuge, and we would be obliged if you would escort your lady out.”
“Oh, you would, would you?” demanded Sir Philip wrathfully. “Well, so I shall, and I shall be back in a trice to tell you lot something that’ll make your eyes start out o’ your stupid heads.”
“Now what?” demanded Lady Fortescue after Sir Philip had propelled the bulk of his lady from the room. “There is no insulting that creature. By which I mean she is determined to stay and batten on us.”
“Perhaps it might be better to tolerate the woman,” said Arabella, “until our plan goes into action. You might goad Sir Philip into doing something silly.”
“Like what?” asked the colonel.
“Like demanding all his share of the hotel and going off and marrying Mrs. Budge.”
“I do not think he would do that,” said Lady Fortescue. “He has extravagant tastes and any money he got from his share would soon be dissipated. Now, Miss Tonks, I forgot to cancel Monsieur André’s visit and he will be here presently, and as you expressed a wish to have your own hair done, perhaps you should make use of his services.”
“So soon?” Miss Tonks’ thin hands fluttered up to her brown hair, which she wore under a cap.
“Why not?” said the colonel heartily. “You deserve a treat.”
“When is he due here?”
“In half an hour,” said Lady Fortescue.
“But he is such a great man and my bedchamber is so small.”
“You can use Mama’s room,” said Arabella. “She will not be home until dawn, and by that time I shall have certainly removed all traces of the hairdresser’s visit.”
Miss Tonks made up her mind. “Then I shall do it. Will you come and sit with me, Arabella?”
“Gladly.”
Lady Fortescue experienced a pang of sympathy for Miss Tonks. The spinster was so obviously delighted to have a friend, and yet, a pretty girl like Arabella would soon marry and Miss Tonks would be left alone again. Strange that Sir Philip’s romance should have affected her so badly.
They talked then about general things and menus, none of them anxious to return to the subject of Mr. Davy when Sir Philip was expected to return.
At last he came in and stood looking contemptuously around the room, jingling coins in his pockets. He then noticed Arabella and raised his eyebrows in surprise, but then his gaze returned to
***
Lady Fortescue, when told about the afternoon and the earl’s plan, said that they must be careful that his intentions towards Arabella were honourable, and Miss Tonks pointed out that with the girl’s mother in residence, they could hardly be anything else, although, at the moment, she added, the earl did not look on Arabella in a romantic light, merely seeing her as an amusement, a diversion.
Colonel Sandhurst was beginning to report on his visit to the tailor with Mr. Davy when Sir Philip came in with Mrs. Budge. Sir Philip’s pale eyes darted this way and that. He had heard the sound of the colonel’s voice as he had approached the door of the sitting-room, a voice that had broken off and fallen silent the minute he entered. Secrets, he thought. They have secrets which don’t include me.
He realized Lady Fortescue was speaking. “Sir Philip,” she said, “we are as usual delighted to see you, but unless your companion is here to offer her services in some capacity, I must ask you to take her away.”
“Mary’s going to start work tomorrow,” said Sir Philip, “and I’ll thank you to treat her with respect.”
“Why?” demanded Lady Fortescue. “Her very presence is an insult to us.”
The door of the sitting-room opened and Arabella slipped quietly in.
“See here,” said Mrs. Budge truculently, “you’ve got no right to be so high and mighty wi’ me. You ain’t nothing but a load o’ tradespeople.”
“Sir Philip,” said the colonel quietly, “this sitting-room is our refuge, and we would be obliged if you would escort your lady out.”
“Oh, you would, would you?” demanded Sir Philip wrathfully. “Well, so I shall, and I shall be back in a trice to tell you lot something that’ll make your eyes start out o’ your stupid heads.”
“Now what?” demanded Lady Fortescue after Sir Philip had propelled the bulk of his lady from the room. “There is no insulting that creature. By which I mean she is determined to stay and batten on us.”
“Perhaps it might be better to tolerate the woman,” said Arabella, “until our plan goes into action. You might goad Sir Philip into doing something silly.”
“Like what?” asked the colonel.
“Like demanding all his share of the hotel and going off and marrying Mrs. Budge.”
“I do not think he would do that,” said Lady Fortescue. “He has extravagant tastes and any money he got from his share would soon be dissipated. Now, Miss Tonks, I forgot to cancel Monsieur André’s visit and he will be here presently, and as you expressed a wish to have your own hair done, perhaps you should make use of his services.”
“So soon?” Miss Tonks’ thin hands fluttered up to her brown hair, which she wore under a cap.
“Why not?” said the colonel heartily. “You deserve a treat.”
“When is he due here?”
“In half an hour,” said Lady Fortescue.
“But he is such a great man and my bedchamber is so small.”
“You can use Mama’s room,” said Arabella. “She will not be home until dawn, and by that time I shall have certainly removed all traces of the hairdresser’s visit.”
Miss Tonks made up her mind. “Then I shall do it. Will you come and sit with me, Arabella?”
“Gladly.”
Lady Fortescue experienced a pang of sympathy for Miss Tonks. The spinster was so obviously delighted to have a friend, and yet, a pretty girl like Arabella would soon marry and Miss Tonks would be left alone again. Strange that Sir Philip’s romance should have affected her so badly.
They talked then about general things and menus, none of them anxious to return to the subject of Mr. Davy when Sir Philip was expected to return.
At last he came in and stood looking contemptuously around the room, jingling coins in his pockets. He then noticed Arabella and raised his eyebrows in surprise, but then his gaze returned to
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