Free La Petite Four by Regina Scott

once more in excitement. “Do you imply Lord Robert could be guilty of some crime?”
    He raised his brows. “Were you following him for some other reason? Good Lord, you don’t actually fancy the fellow!”
    “For shame, sir,” Daphne said. “He is her betrothed.”
    His jaw tightened, and he faced forward. “My condolences.”
    Emily stopped, forcing him to halt as well. “If you know something about him, sir, I demand that you speak plainly. As far as we’ve been able to tell, he is a gentleman.”
    “Which is why you chose to follow him all over London.” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “Have a care, Lady Emily. He may just turn out to be a scoundrel after all. For everyone’s sake, it would be better if you left the fellow alone.”

10
    Pearls of Wisdom
    James Cropper insisted on riding home with them to the Southwell town house and spent several moments in heated conversation with Warburton. When Mr. Cropper touched two fingers to his forehead in good-bye, Emily raised her chin and looked away. Priscilla nodded as if she were quite proud of her.
    Warburton, however, was far less complimentary. “I hope Mr. Cropper was able to impress upon you the seriousness of your actions,” he said, affixing them all with a hard-eyed look. “If your parents found out, Miss Tate, Misses Courdebas, I rather doubt they’d allow you all to visit Bond Street again.”
    Daphne and Ariadne hung their heads, and Priscilla’s expressive green eyes filled with tears.
    “We are sincerely sorry, Mr. Warburton,” she said tremulously. “And we would be most grateful if you could find it in your heart not to tell our parents. Surely we should spare them such worry.”
    Ariadne began looking for her pencil.
    Warburton gazed down at her. “I believe that can be arranged, Miss Tate. However, you must understand that London can be a dangerous place, whether you are on Bond Street or in Mayfair. Are you aware that a young lady from the Barnsley School was robbed the other day?”
    If he had not had their attention before, he had it now.
    “Who?” Priscilla demanded, tears evaporating.
    “Miss Acantha Dalrymple. Her pearls were taken. Her father is most displeased, and her maid has been sacked for not paying sufficient attention to the jewel case.”
    “I’m very sorry for the maid,” Priscilla said, “but I cannot be sorry for Miss Dalrymple. She flaunted those pearls at the least provocation. Is it any wonder she lost them?”
    Daphne was bouncing up and down on her leather half boots, her green skirts billowing with each movement. “Oh, oh, but she didn’t lose them in London! She lost them at Barnsley. While I was waiting for our carriage to be brought around, I heard her complaining.”
    Warburton raised his brows. “Interesting, but surely your headmistress would have investigated a theft at the school.”
    Most likely. Miss Martingale had strict notions of propriety. As, it appeared, did Warburton. “In exchange for not burdening your parents with news of your escapades,” he said, “I will have your promises that you will not be so foolhardy again.”
    Of course, they all promised to be more careful. The butler’s smooth face did not betray his feelings, but Emily thought by the quirk of his mouth that he was not entirely sure he believed them. “And as it appears that you lack ideas for appropriate activities for young ladies,” he continued, “allow me to provide you with entertainment more fitting to your stations.”
    “Cleaning the attic!” Daphne moaned as they stared into the dark recesses atop the Southwell town house.
    “We are not cleaning,” Priscilla said, running a finger along the top of the nearest trunk and shuddering. “Maids clean. We are looking for gowns that might be useful to Emily as she debuts.”
    “If I debut,” Emily reminded her. Her mood was nearly as dark as the shadows crowding the eaves, her thoughts as dry as the musty air. What was James Cropper doing? He followed