so.”
“I did not harm him. I sure as hell did not go up on that damned roof that night. I was gone by then. We had met the evening before.”
“True, but you were there and not where it is thought you were. Do not speak of this with anyone else.”
Kevin looked him in the eyes.
“As for the money, can’t you find another source? Another partner?” Nicholas asked.
“Who? You know my father dislikes my involvement in such things. He was furious with his brother for encouraging me. His stupid automatons are all fine and good, but heaven forbid a machine has a purpose other than amusement. Nor do I have the right to take another partner now. The company is in limbo until my current partner is found and her agreement is required for everything. If she isn’t found, all of you will be my new partners and I will require all of you to agree to every step I take. I’ll be explaining machines to Aunt Dolores and, God forbid, Walter.”
“Now, that is a special hell that no man deserves,” Nicholas said.
“You would know, wouldn’t you?”
“I do indeed.” Nicholas looked around the tavern. “I am hungry. I remember they have acceptable meat pies here.” He gestured to the proprietor and sent for three pies.
“They are very good,” Chase said a while later, taking his third bite. “Sometimes simple food is needed.”
“I agree. That cook at the house makes fine meals in the French style, but too big for me alone. It is a wonder Uncle Frederick did not get as stout as Prinny.”
“He only ate one meal a day,” Chase said. “He made do with bread and cheese otherwise.”
“That sounds dull,” Nicholas said. “You know the oddest details about him.”
“It did keep him from getting stout, that is all I am saying.” Chase glanced at Nicholas’s middle section.
Nicholas noticed. He looked down. “Are you implying I need to follow Uncle in this eccentricity? How dare you. I am not stout.”
“Not quite yet,” Kevin muttered. He caught Chase’s eye and they both laughed.
“This not at all stout duke still wants to return to the subject of women,” Nicholas said. “I don’t want to sound callous, Kevin, but the whole time you explained your inopportune visit to Uncle, I was occupied thinking about them in scandalous detail. My interest in the entire subject has, shall we say, grown.”
“Not so much that you can’t ride a horse, I trust.”
“He has become damned impertinent, Chase.”
“Which brothel do you want to visit?” Kevin asked.
“I will let you choose. I daresay that any of them will suit me.” He stopped, and looked hard at Kevin. “Unless you frequent the ones that are favored by men with peculiar tastes.”
Kevin looked innocent as a lamb. “No French cuisine for dessert, you mean. More simple pie. We will visit one that will accommodate you.”
Chase stayed while they finished the last of their ale. He sent them off to their evening adventures, and turned his own horse toward home.
* * *
I need to see you tonight. I will send a carriage at nine o’clock. The letter had come in the early afternoon post. Minerva had debated what to do for at least two minutes before relinquishing any pretense that she did not intend to go.
No scolds came from Beth while she prepared after dinner. Rather the opposite. Beth insisted on redoing her hair. She laid out an almost fashionable dress, a deep green one with a tiny ruffle around the neckline. She kept watch at the window when they went below.
“It’s here,” she announced. “Does he not have his own carriage?”
“I don’t think so. He doesn’t have much use for one.”
“He’ll be needing one now, I should think. How else will he take you to the theater and such?”
“He has not said he wants to go to the theater, Beth. Perhaps he doesn’t even care for it.”
“Everyone likes the theater. If he doesn’t suggest it, you should. It isn’t fitting for you to only see him for—” She snapped her mouth shut.
Minerva went to the reception hall to find Jeremy waiting. “What are you doing here? Don’t you dare follow again.”
“I’m only here to be your footman. Someone needs to escort you down and hand you in like a lady.”
She muttered her annoyance, but actually was touched by their interest and concern. Under Beth’s watchful eye, Jeremy helped her into the carriage.
To her surprise, the carriage was not empty. Chase sat within.
“Prompt as always,” he said while he ensured she