A Bright Particular Star (24 page)

Peregrine greeted Grey
with amiability
and Theo with cool civility
.
H
e
only manage
d
a curt nod i
n Olivia
’s
direction.
While he
explain
ed
to the new
arrivals what had been decided
, Sophie responded to Theo and Oli
via
’s
bemused glances with a sceptical
look and
a tiny shrug.
Mr
Grey stayed
impassive throughout, a raised eyebrow his only
glimmer
of interest.

At the end of Peregrine
’s
discourse,
Mrs
Sloane said bluntly,

“
Olivia, you will be returning to Ludstone with
me.
P
ack your things immediately after breakfast.
”

Disappointme
nt shadowed Olivia
’s
features
.
“
But I don
’t
want to go back
—
”

“D
on
’t
argue
!
”
snapped Eudora.
“S
ophie
’s
behaviour was bad enou
gh
.
D
o not exacerbate a
difficu
lt situation which Peregrine
is do
ing his best to smooth over.
”

Olivia
’s
eyes sparked with anger
, but before she could reply,
Mr
Grey interjected.

“
Mrs
Sloa
ne, there is a suggestion
I would like to put before you.
”

Her
gaze swept over him.
“
And what, pray, is that?
”

“
Miss Sloane goes to London too.
You see,
I have decided to visit
there
myself
—
I have some pressing business to conduct. Sir Seymour Dinniscombe and his wife are good friends of mine.
They are in Mayfair at present and would, I am sure, be happy to welcome your daughter into their household for a time.
Lady Dinniscombe is a most generous hostess, as well as a willing and eager chaperon
e
.
She is always anxious to smooth the path of ladies newly arrived on the
ton
’s
doorstep.
Her connections are excellent, too
…
she counts most of the Almacks
’
patronesses among her acquaintances.
It would be an opportunity for Miss Sloane to experience London society and, although the place is thin of company at this time of year, enough of the rich and famous still attend the Dinniscombes
‘
soirees and card parties to make her stay an amusing one.
There can be no suggestion of impropriety on the journey now Peregrine is to be one of the group and, given th
at additional consideration, I
hope you will agree
.
”

By end of this speech, Olivia was gazing incredulously at Mr Grey.
Theo, who had given a start of surprise at the mention of Sir Seymour, wore a puzzled
look
, while Peregrine
’s
jaw had dropped.
Mrs
Sloane
looked as if she had been struck by lightning.

Moistening her lips, she was moved to stammer in a faint voice,
“D
-Did you say Sir Seymour Dinniscombe?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
T
he
Sir Seymour Dinniscombe
,
with a fortune of sixty
thousand pounds
a year
?
”

Lucius Grey
’s
lips twitched.
“T
here is only one, I believe.
”

Eudora
uttered a
gasp and observed
in an awed tone
to no one in particular,
“
But h
e is one of the richest men i
n England
!
The Dinniscombes are often mentioned in the
society pages
.
He is a pat
ron of the arts, too,
and moves in the
highest
circles.
”
Her gaze flicked
back
to
Mr
Grey.
“
Oh, but
surely it would not be right for Olivia to go without an invitation?
You may be a friend of the Dinniscombe
’s
, but they will not thank you fo
r foisting an unannounced guest
on them.
”

“
On the contrary, Sir Seymour has extended an open invitation to me in such matters.
Their household is renowned as a welcoming one and I know they would be delighted by Miss Sloane
’s
presence.
”
Turning
to
look
down at Olivia
, he added,
“She
is
delightful company
, after all
.
”

“
Well!
I
don
’t
know what to say—
”
began
Mrs
Sloane,

“
Perhaps we should ask your daughter
’s
opinion,
”
he murmured.

Sophie, who had been as taken aback as everyone else by
Mr
Grey
’s
suggestion, jumped up from he
r chair
and seized her cousin by the arm.
“D
o say you will go,
Livvy
!
”
she urged.
“
Being there together will be such fun, even if we are not staying
at
the same house.
”

Olivia was
still
staring at
Mr
Grey
.
“
Are you
certain
Sir Seymour and his wife will be happy to receive me?
”
she asked
.
“
It seems a terrible imposition.
”

“
You
have my word on it.
”

“
But I haven
’t
any suit
able clothing
.
”

“D
on
’t
let it
trouble you.
”
A rare smile touched his mouth, and there was the hint of amusement in his voice as he added,
“T
he London
modistes
fight for Lady Dinniscombe
’s
patronage and sh
e will
en
joy decki
ng you out in style
.
”

Anticipation gleamed in Olivia
’s
eyes, yet she still demurred,
“
But how
will I afford it? I have
little money.
”

“
You can draw on Peregrine
’s
bank.
”

Peregrine
protested
volubly at this, but
Grey cut him short with a wave of his hand.
“D
on
’t
be a bore, Perry
!
It will be for pin money only, of course
.
T
here will be no other costs for you to bear.
”

“
You seem to have covered every possible objection,
Mr
Grey,
”
said Olivia.
“
In that case, yes, I would like it very much
…
if Mama is agreeable.
”

T
here was no danger of
Mrs
Sloane
disagreeing
.
She was delighted
at the prospect of Olivia
enjoying an
expense
s
-
paid stay with one of the wealthiest, most respected, most
tonnish
couples in England.
Even
the prospect of losing Olivia
’s
services
was not enough
to put a stop to the scheme.
While t
here was a
possibility, albeit slight,
Olivia might receive an offer of marria
ge from one of Sir Seymour
’s
acquaintances,
Mrs
Sloane was not prepared to forgo such an opportunity
.

“
Of course
,
”
she replied,
wreathed in smiles.
“
Go with my blessing! I am only sorry I cannot accompany
you, for I should like
to meet Sir Seymour and his wife—
”

“
Another time perhaps,
”
interposed
Mr
Grey in a voice that brooked no argument
on the point
.

“
You
’
r
e a dark horse, Luc,
”
grumbled
Peregrine.
“
You
never told me you mixed in those circles.
”

“
Like you,
I think it wise
not
to divulge all my secrets.
”
Grey raised Olivia
’s
hand to his lips.
“
I am complete
ly at your disposal
, Miss Sloane
”

“T
-Thank you,
”
she replied
,
a becoming blush
ti
nting
her cheeks
.

Theo
was
both
pleased
and relieved by
this turn of events
.
T
he ugly scene he had anticipated had not materialised
after all
.
“
Wel
l, everything
appears
settled,
”
he observed
,
“
but
we
should be
underway as soon as possible if we are to make London by nightfall.
”

Mr
Grey nodded.
“
Best
be across the
Heath before dark.
”

No one disagreed
and, consequently,
a short while later
everyone was
ready to move out of
The Pelican
’s
courtyard.
Mrs
S
lo
ane
d
eparted first
.
She was still expressing her disappointment at not meeting Sir Seymour and
Lady Dinniscombe
as her carriage bowled off down the street.
Pere
grine set off next
at breakneck speed,
heading towards London
.
Olivia
, having
gratefully accepted
Mr
Grey
’s
offer to travel in his curricle,
found
her protests
that
Bowyer would
face
an uncomfortable journey
rejected
with a crooked grin
by that
gentleman,
who
proceeded to perch
hi
mself on top of the
bagga
ge.
Grey set his wheelers in motion
with a flick of his wrist
and they drove off in pursuit of Peregrine.