Free Amanda Scott by The Bath Eccentric’s Son Page B

case to keep myself, do you?”
    “No,” he agreed. He fell silent again, but after a moment, he said slowly, “I believe we must have a serious talk, Miss Bradbourne. Can you extend your complaisance to allow us to accompany you inside when we reach your great-aunt’s house?”
    Nell stared at him. “Mr. Manningford, you are not still thinking that I shall assist you to deceive the gentleman with whom you made your outrageous bet. Even though I myself might have suggested such a thing …” Words failed her.
    Mr. Lasenby stared. “ You did, ma’am?”
    “Be still, Seppi,” Manningford commanded. “She did no such thing. Nor am I suggesting such a course. I do possess a certain amount of integrity, Miss Bradbourne, though I realize you have no cause to believe me when I say so.”
    Relaxing, Nell smiled at him. “I have every cause, sir. Oh, yes,” she insisted when he regarded her skeptically. “Just as I know beauty through having been acquainted with one, I know villainy, and you are no villain, sir. Mr. Lasenby chooses to think that you were merely careless, but I have talked with you a good deal this morning and have seen no indication of stupidity. Yet, despite what you claim to know about alternative routes, avoiding turnpike keepers, and such other obstacles as might have been encountered, I cannot believe you truly intended to abduct me. Not in a high perch phaeton, not all the way to Reading. I do believe you lost your temper, from some cause or other, and acted impulsively, but that is all I believe.”
    Manningford opened his mouth and shut it again. After a moment’s thought, he said, “No doubt you have the right of it. Sep is certainly correct in saying that I lost my wits. We must hope that had I not wakened with a sore head and my temper still in an uproar, I should more rapidly have recovered them.” He reined in his team. “Here we are now. Do we all go in, Miss Bradbourne? I believe I can safely promise it will result in your benefit, though not by so much as four thousand. Indeed, I do not know what amount I can offer, but if we put our heads together, perhaps we can find a solution to suit us both.”
    Nell made up her mind quickly. “Yes, do come in, the both of you. Only there is no one about to hold your horses, Mr. Manningford. Shall you have to tether them to the area fence? Or perhaps the wrought-iron fence ’round the fountain will do. It looks strong enough, does it not?”
    “Your porter will see to them, I expect,” Manningford said comfortably. “Go knock the fellow up, Sep, and then help Miss Bradbourne to alight. I cannot trust these fellows to stand.”
    Mr. Lasenby jumped down obediently, smoothed his coat, and ran a finger quickly around the edge of his neckcloth as if to be sure it was properly in place before ascending the three steps to rap authoritatively on the door.
    Nell waited with bated breath to see if any servant would appear. One never knew whether Sudbury, the butler, would be in the hall or down in the kitchen, since, except for a daily housemaid and Lady Flavia’s devoted dresser, Botten, he and his wife were the only two servants she had seen since her arrival. However, after a moment’s delay, the door opened, and Sudbury, looking as stately as though he served a ducal mansion, looked down his long nose at Mr. Lasenby, then past him at Nell.
    Mr. Lasenby spoke quickly, and the butler nodded without losing a jot of his dignity and shut the door, leaving Mr. Lasenby to stand staring at it. A moment later, it opened again, and at the same time, a thin, gangly boy of twelve or thirteen, in nankeen breeches and cap, shrugging on a well worn coat, came running up the area steps from the basement kitchen and hurried to the leaders’ heads.
    Manningford looked at the youth with misgiving. “Think you can hold them?” he asked.
    “Aye, guv. Bang up bits o’ flesh ’n bone, they be. Bit resty, but I’ll run ’em round yon fountain ’n they gits