Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

“ A nnabelle is young for her age,” Penelope warned Victoria as they waited for this young lady on a café terrace in Hyde Park. “She has good intentions and a quick mind, but my friend has not had your education, Victoria. I only hope you will not find us both very frivolous and dull.”

Victoria laughed and shook her head as though the suggestion was absurd. She had already discarded her bonnet and jacket in a jumble on the table before them and was leaning back in her chair to bask in the warmth of the summer sun.

Maxwell’s sister seemed oblivious to the mildly disapproving stares of two nearby matrons, muttering darkly about freckles and good posture. Penelope admired Victoria’s confidence and self-assurance, which were very similar to her brother's.

“I do not spend all my time in libraries, you know,” commented Victoria. “I like meeting new people who are different to me. Life would be awfully dull if we all thought and behaved in the same manner, would it not?”

“Too true,” Penelope agreed and then stood and raised an arm to attract the attention of Annabelle, approaching on the main path with Stephen at her side.

Catching sight of Penelope and Victoria, Annabelle parted from her brother and headed towards the terrace with her parasol on her shoulder, shielding her pale skin from the sun. Lord Emberly, meanwhile, remained on the path, briefly raising his hat towards Penelope before walking onwards to some other destination.

“Annabelle, this is my sister-in-law, Miss Victoria Crawford. Victoria, let me introduce Lady Annabelle Elkins, daughter of the Duke of Colborne.”

In response to Annabelle’s neat little bow of the head, Victoria stuck out her hand as though she were a young man at a club and shook the other woman’s hand vigorously.

“Very happy to meet you, Lady Annabelle. Penelope has told me so much about you, all of it good.”

“Oh!” said Annabelle, her face surprised but not displeased by this unusual greeting. “I am very pleased to meet you too. I have heard a little of you but only from my brother…”

Annabelle’s voice trailed away with a slight blush, perhaps recalling Duchess Madeline’s advice that she should not accept everything Stephen told her as true without meeting people and deciding for herself.

“Let’s order some tea,” Penelope broke in, quickly smoothing over any potential awkwardness. “Or perhaps lemonade.”

“Yes, it is definitely the weather for lemonade,” Victoria agreed, waving to a waiter in a way that drew another disapproving glance from the middle-aged matrons nearby.

This time, Victoria did see them and giggled, a surprisingly girlish sound from someone Penelope had so far seen only in more serious and intellectual conversations.

“Do you think they disapprove of my summoning the waiter or just of me in general because I’m sporting neither bonnet nor parasol in such glorious weather?”

“The woman in purple is Lady Marchpane, Countess of Easley,” Annabelle whispered. “She disapproves of everyone young on principle but many other things too including parties of young ladies without a gentleman or chaperone. I doubt any of us could please her if we tried.”

Victoria laughed heartily at this observation while Penelope gave their lemonade order to the waiter.

“Well, I am a married woman and a duchess now,” she declared as the man scurried to the nearby kitchen. “Surely I can act as chaperone.”

“You’re too young and pretty, I suspect,” Victoria said bluntly. “A chaperone must be old or unpleasing in aspect, the better for scaring away unwanted menfolk.”

“I have a husband for that,” Penelope laughed back, thinking again of Maxwell’s very physical defense of her after that concert. “No one who knows Maxwell would dare importune us.”

“He does have that happy knack,” Victoria agreed. “But I do wish he would not see bogeymen and rakes at every corner and keep following me about. It makes it so damnably hard to do serious research. Excuse my French…”

Annabelle’s eyes were like saucers at this speech, combining as it did such strange ideas with unladylike oaths and other unusual expressions.

“Research? What kind of research?” she asked, slightly breathlessly. “I did not know that ladies could do research.”

Penelope was still considering her own words, sympathizing with Victoria’s frustrations but also more conscious than ever of the very real dangers Maxwell was countering beyond Victoria’s present viewpoint.

“Women are as well-equipped as men to explore the world and analyze it intelligently,” Victoria assured Annabelle. “We too have eyes, hands, and brains, sometimes more highly developed than the men around us. I do find gentlemen can be more interested in outdoing one another in cleverness rather than actually solving a thorny problem. Presently, I am engaged in astronomical observation and the study of light.”

Annabelle’s expression remained astonished but also very impressed.

“Astronomy? That means stars, doesn’t it?”

“Next time you come to Walden Towers, I shall show you my telescopes. They are only small ones but good enough to view the general picture of the night sky. If you like stars, I am sure you will like viewing them through a telescope.”

“I would like that very much indeed. Perhaps I could come to Walden Towers on the day of the Highgate Fair. What do you think, Penelope?”

“That’s on Sunday, isn’t it?” Penelope mused, running through her and Maxwell’s schedule in her head. “We have our first Walden Towers garden party the following Sunday, but this week that day is clear. Yes, I believe we could, unless you have other plans, Victoria?”

“None at all. What kind of fair is it?” Victoria questioned. “We are still so new to Walden Towers that I know nothing of the local events and celebrations.”

“It’s such fun,” Annabelle told them. “There’s a shooting gallery, a hall of mirrors, a coconut shy, and so many other stalls too. I went last year and the year before with Stephen, but he is so stuffy and doesn’t want to do any of the games or contests at all. He says they’re common. I would have so much more fun with the two of you.”

“I’m a good shot,” said Victoria nodding. “I bet I could win a prize. If Maxwell lets me go with you, of course. If your brother finds it too common, Lady Annabelle, I wonder if mine will judge it too dangerous and full of ill-intended men.”

“We must bring Maxwell with us,” Penelope announced, this solution suddenly coming to her. “Then he cannot object to anything.”

“You must ask him,” Victoria said decidedly. “He is likely to tell me that he is too busy for such frivolity. It is an important year for Maxwell, and I understand that, but he should try to relax more. You’re the only person who seems able to distract him from work at all, Penelope.”

“Am I?” commented Penelope, reacting to this surprising but not unwelcome news with a question. “I try, but I’m not sure I always succeed.”

She had tried in vain last night, in fact, pausing on the stairs with her candle to ask her husband whether he was not coming up to bed given the late hour. Maxwell had shaken his head with a polite smile, talked of letters he must write, and walked away to his study. Yet again, Penelope had slept alone with only dreams for company.

Penelope sighed, hoping that she would have more success in persuading him to attend the fair.

“My place is confirmed now by Lloyds of London,” said Maxwell to his friend Adam with satisfaction. “At the request of the directors, I have already written out to several good men I know at key ports around the world inviting them to join this new intelligence network. Membership should confer great benefits for all.”

“Will this network be a separate legal entity or an offshoot of existing Lloyds structures?”

“What do you think, Adam? Shall I put you in touch with their legal men? I prefer to take the advice of experts in such matters.”

“Yes, do that, and we’ll speak again next week at the Walden Towers garden party if not before.”

Conversation between the two men was interrupted by a short rapping on the study door.

“Maxwell?” called Penelope’s voice. “Are you busy?”

“Do come in, Penelope. I’d like you to meet someone.”

Adam Finch swiftly rose to his feet and refastened the buttons on his jacket before the duchess appeared. He made her a polite bow, and Maxwell was pleased to see the expression on his friend’s face. He was impressed by the duchess’ beauty but not disrespectfully.

“I hear you have been a very good and long-standing friend to my husband, Mr. Finch,” Penelope said after initial introductions. “You must therefore be a man of reliability and substance.”

“Well, Maxwell certainly thinks so, and I have never done anything to change his mind,” Adam replied lightheartedly, although flushed with pleasure at the compliment. “Should I leave you, Your Grace? Our business for today has concluded, I believe.”

“No, do stay,” Penelope stopped him with a smile. “Since you are a friend of Maxwell and not only his principle legal adviser, there is a matter in which you might both have an interest.”

The Duke of Walden looked at his wife in puzzlement. Was there something he had forgotten to present to Adam? Or had something new arisen? He knew Penelope had been going over the guest list for their first garden party. Maybe there were some incompatible names or unwise associations.

“Victoria and I were wondering if you would accompany us to Highgate Fair this Sunday, Maxwell. It is only simple, lighthearted fun, but given how hard you work, I thought that might be good for you.”

A local fair? Maxwell did not immediately know what to make of such a request. He had been too busy to notice that such an event was scheduled and could see no immediate use he might make of attending.

“I concur,” offered Adam before Maxwell could respond. “Simple light-hearted fun would be good for you, old friend.”

Maxwell let his face crack into a smile.

“Very well, since you, Victoria, and Adam all appear to be of one mind, I will make time for the fair on Sunday. It must be years since I attended such an event, not since Victoria was a child in fact.”

“Yes,” Penelope said with a laugh. “She told me that you used to take her to the shooting gallery at country fairs when she was young. That’s why she is such a crack shot now. I shall look forward to seeing the two of you in competition.”

“As shall I,” agreed Adam with a grin at Maxwell and another bow to Penelope as she left the room.

“You’ve done very well there,” the lawyer told the duke quietly, with a nod towards the study door Penelope had just closed.

“I have, haven’t I?” Maxwell reflected with mixed feelings.

He was pleased that Penelope had invited him to the fair and genuinely seemed to want his company but also wary of the strong desire he knew would be provoked by her presence.

“Of course, you have. You always do. Beauty, brains, and seems to give a damn about you too… Not all men are so lucky.”

“Your day will come, I’m sure, Adam,” the duke laughed, slapping his friend on the back. “Let’s see who we might introduce you to at our garden party.”

“As a working lawyer, I think I’ll have more chance at Highgate Fair,” Adam remarked ruefully. “I have no inherited fortune, and no one is going to die and leave me a dukedom either. I must have a wife willing to live on my wits alone, rather as I do. In fact, if she has her own wits, that would be best.”

“Very well, I shall come to the fair to accompany my wife, chaperone my sister, and spot suitably enterprising young ladies for you.”

Chuckling together, they settled down to enjoy a cigar before Adam departed for home.