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“Have you worked at Balfour Terrace long, John?”

The man dropped his eyes for a moment. “Not long, milady. I arrived from one of the country estates recently.”

She hated to be rude, but a warning bell was sounding in her head. “Well … pleased to meet you … John.” With that, she continued her path to the sideboard with covered dishes.

Sophia was an observer of people—needs must, to avoid betrothal for three Seasons—so she had learned how to read people, especially men, in order to dissuade their attentions. She definitely would seek Richard out after she ate to ask about this bizarre footman who had turned up.

Chapter

Eleven

“A woman of delicacy and sensibility seldom receives much happiness from the generality of mankind.”

Dr. John Gregory, A Father’s Legacy to His Daughters

Richard sat at his mahogany desk, reading his neglected correspondence of the past few days. He was to meet with Halmesbury that afternoon at one of their mutual clubs, White’s. He could do nothing more about the note planted on his person at the musicale the night before. All he could do was attempt to address his mounting work before the meeting.

He heard Perry’s distinctive gait enter his study, then loiter near his desk. Richard bit back his irritation and looked up to find his brother looking disconcerted. Hades, has something else happened? He did not think he could handle any more surprises this morning.

Perry fidgeted in discomfort before opening his mouth to speak, then shutting it.

“What is it?” Richard asked in the most patient tone he could manage, not quite daring to hear the answer.

“You know those print shops? The ones that display caricatures in their windows, like the ones Rowlandson and Cruikshank draw?”

Richard closed his eyes, a wave of unease washing over him. Despite his less-than-virtuous past, he had largely managed to avoid being the subject of scurrilous drawings—unlike the new king, whose reputation often suffered at the hands of satirical illustrators. Judging by his brother’s lack of composure, however, Richard feared his luck might have taken a turn for the worse.

Perry continued. “I was walking past some of those shops this morning, and I saw a great quantity of these displayed.” He tossed a paper on the desk as if he wished to be parted from it as quickly as possible, then swiftly stepped away.

Richard opened his eyes and reluctantly glanced down at the colored print in his hands. The illustration appeared to depict him, dressed in nightclothes and surrounded by a tangle of scandalously dressed women. Across from his likeness stood a figure unmistakably meant to be Sophia, her flowing red-blonde hair a clear identifier.

He exhaled sharply, a mix of agitation and disbelief rising in his chest, before lifting the image to read the caption beneath it.

Somerset earls and their scandalous habits. “I swear I did not invite these women to our wedding night.”

Richard dropped the print like it was scalding hot. Exhaling heavily, he pushed his chair back to rise, running his hand through his hair in agitation.

Perry ventured a question. “Do you suppose one of the servants tattled about what happened?”

Richard paused, his thoughts turning to the threatening note he had found in his pocket. He shook his head, the pieces beginning to fall into place. “No, it must have been the man who let those women into the house. It must be him.”

Perry tilted his head. “What do you mean? This is another prank?”

Richard scowled. “Not a prank. I believe whoever let those women in wished me ill. I received a threatening note, so it must be linked because it is too many situations converging at once to be a coincidence.”

“But who?”

“I do not know. A jilted lover? A wronged husband? The possibilities are endless, given the foolish choices of my past.” He raked a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Why, oh why, could I not have exercised a shred of self-restraint?”

“May I read the note?”

Richard tugged it out of his coat and threw it at Perry, who caught it deftly. He resumed pacing, thinking about how he had decided not to tell Sophia about the note yet. He must alert her to the caricature, however. She might be a laughingstock, and it was only fair to warn her to expect trouble the next time she left their home.

Perry whistled after reading the page. “What will you do?”

“I am meeting with Halmesbury this afternoon to discuss it. This is beyond my experience, and I need an outside perspective. In the meantime, I increased security for Sophia and Ethan. The My wife married me for safety, and all I have done is bring her chaos!”

His brother came over to hand the note back. “Halmesbury is a good idea because I find myself quite unprepared for this. But what can I do to help, brother?”