Free Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) by M. C. Beaton Page A

to see you.”
    His blue eyes danced and he held out his arm. “I think you deserve to enjoy yourself thinking about her disappointment. Shall we go?”
    She put her hand on his arm and he led her up the stairs.
    When they entered the sitting-room, Arabella’s eyes immediately searched the room for Mr. Davy. “He is not here yet,” said Lady Fortescue. “Why, my lord, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”
    “I was anxious to see Mr. Davy’s performance and Miss Carruthers was sure you would not mind.”
    “Delighted to have your company, my lord,” said Lady Fortescue smoothly, although her shrewd black eyes fastened on the transformed Arabella. The girl was a trifle young for Denby, she reflected, but Miss Tonks was looking as happy as if she had created this new Arabella herself and Lady Fortescue reflected that anything that made Miss Tonks happy these days was worth her indulgence. Not that she wanted to see anything of a romance between Miss Tonks and Sir Philip should the dreadful Budge creature disappear. Sir Philip had certain… em… appetites, thought Lady Fortescue, which might shock a genteel virgin.
    The door opened and Mr. Davy came in. “Splendid! Oh, how splendid!” said Miss Tonks, clapping her hands.
    Clothes had transformed the actor from a shabby player into a smooth and elegant gentleman. From his well-tailored evening coat to his silk breeches and clocked stockings to his new and fashionable Brutus crop, he looked like a wealthy man without a care in the world.
    “Your servant,” he said, bowing low before the colonel.
    “Jewels,” said the earl. “You must have jewels, Mr. Davy. That will attract Mrs. Budge’s greedy eyes. I will fetch something.”
    He left the room and returned some minutes later with a diamond stickpin, a large ruby ring and diamond studs. “The studs in your shirt,” ordered the earl. “Quickly now. Perhaps you would be so good as to help him, Miss Tonks; your assistance would be welcome.”
    Mr. Davy was bedecked just in time. Sir Philip entered with Mrs. Budge, holding her hand high above his head, as if the pair were about to perform a minuet.
    Sir Philip stared in surprise at the earl and said rudely, “What’s he doing here?”
    “Lord Denby,” declared Lady Fortescue repressively, “is escorting Miss Carruthers. My lord, may I present Mrs. Budge.”
    “So charmed,” fluted Mrs. Budge in a crimped-up sort of voice.
    “And Mr. Davy here is the son of an old friend of Colonel Sandhurst who will be residing with us. Mrs. Budge, Mr. Davy. Sir Philip, Mr. Davy. Mr. Davy, Mrs. Budge and Sir Philip Sommerville.”
    To Arabella’s surprise, Mr. Davy gave Mrs. Budge a low bow but did not show any signs of being interested in her at all.
    “Where are you from, Mr. Davy?” asked Sir Philip.
    “I now live in Buckingham,” said Mr. Davy, “but I like to visit the City from time to time to see my man of business.”
    “Business doing well?” asked Sir Philip.
    “Very well. I wish Colonel Sandhurst had told me of your venture at the beginning. I would have been glad to help.”
    “And why didn’t he?” demanded Sir Philip crossly, thinking the colonel had kept this rich friend well hidden.
    “Colonel Sandhurst and I had become disaffected owing to my behaviour,” said Mr. Davy. “I fear I was a very wild young man. But now I have made my fortune, I had an impulse to come to beg his forgiveness.”
    “Hey, sit by me,” said Sir Philip expansively, his eyes fixed on that diamond stickpin. “Any friend of Colonel Sandhurst is a friend of mine.”
    “I had heard of Lady Fortescue, Miss Tonks and Sir Philip from Colonel Sandhurst,” said Mr. Davy. “Are you a partner, too, Mrs. Budge?”
    Mrs. Budge had taken a place on his other side. She was reaching out one plump hand for a cake. “I am by way of being a friend of Sir Philip,” she said.
    Arabella saw Mr. Davy’s lips move in a whisper and then the actor said aloud, “Allow me to