Free The Mercenary Major by Kate Moore Page A

Jack, I think your best course of action now would be to spend the day with him.”
    “Grafton and I were going to Jackson’s Saloon this morning . . . Jack. If you’d like to come along.”
    “Wonderful,” said Letty. “An entertainment that I could not offer you, Jack, and certainly one that no gentleman in London would pass up.”
    Jack regarded his cousin across the table. Reg seemed genuinely interested in having Jack accompany him. Other officers had mentioned Jackson’s, and Jack had to admit a certain curiosity about the place. And he was bound to hear more about the beautiful Miss Carr as long as he was in Reg Faverton’s company. He accepted the invitation.
    “Well then,” said Letty. “You two be off. I will call upon your mother this morning, Reg, to let her know that you’ve done everything your father could have wished and that you are continuing your investigation of Jack.”
    “But Aunt Letty, Mother will likely have the vapors if you call.”
    “Then who would be more helpful in such a case than I? Really, your father can do nothing in Wiltshire to control your mother, and I think it’s time she realized that. And we must plan an evening at the theatre tonight.” She smiled at them both equally and left the room.
     
    Silence reigned at the little cherry-wood table where Katie and Victoria and Lady Dorward sat looking at an array of fashion plates. For a few moments the plates—of an Angouleme pelisse in crimson velvet with a white sarsenet lining, a faun-colored walking dress with blue silk at the border, and a peach satin ball gown with a border of tulle and roses—had lifted their spirits. Then the countess had spoken in her sweet voice, saying with tragic emphasis, “But it is quite pointless to consider what you shall wear to this or that affair, girls, when you are not ever to go about in society at all.”
    Victoria and Katie traded glances. If Reg had any resolve at all, he had by now delivered the earl’s ultimatum to the impostor. However, recalling the easy courage of the purported Major Amberly in the face of an angry mob, Victoria doubted the earl’s threats would disturb the man. Yesterday she had been confident she could face him, but a night of trying to dismiss his image from her thoughts had made her willing enough to send Reg. She picked up the picture of the crimson pelisse and tried once again to put aside her recollection of Jack Amberly.
    Then Stook cleared his throat at the door, and without any announcement, Letitia Faverton breezed in.
    “Charlotte, dear,” she said, stretching out her arms to embrace her sister-in-law, “what a beast my brother is to send you off to town with such tiresome restrictions! Not receive me? Not call on me? Pooh!”
    Charlotte Faverton stood and dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. “Oh, Letty,” she said, allowing herself to be hugged, “we never meant to be rude, but how could we call with Dorward insisting you’ve been taken in by an impostor?”
    Letty moved to hug both her niece and Victoria, telling them with her glance that she thought an explanation due.
    “I suppose Reg told you we were here, Letty,” said Victoria.
    “You mustn’t blame him,” Letty replied. “He said everything Walter could have wished.”
    “He did apologize to cousin Jack, didn’t he?” asked Katie. “We were very rude to . . . him . . .yesterday.”
    “You saw this Major Amberly person yesterday?” exclaimed Lady Dorward faintly. “If your father should hear of this—oh, dear . . .”
    “Do sit down, Charlotte,” Letty urged, “and we’ll have the girls explain. I did not get a clear idea of yesterday’s encounter before Reg and Jack left this morning.” She guided her sister-in-law to a yellow- striped sofa.
    “They left?” said the countess. “Reg went off somewhere with Jack Amberly, with the man who says he’s Jack Amberly? What will Dorward say?”
    Letty patted the countess’ hand. “Charlotte, dear, if you think