Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) Read Free

my hair.”
    Monsieur André was the court hairdresser.
    Lady Fortescue looked surprised. “The decision is yours, Miss Tonks. The colonel showed you how to open an account at the bank some time ago and I believe you to be thrifty. If you wish to spend your money on such luxuries, it is your decision. But why? We have no important social engagements, although”—she gave a sigh—“the only social engagements we have these days is when we are asked to cater at some house.”
    “I felt like doing something,” said Miss Tonks, looking flustered.
    “I know you had a sad adventure where you shot that highwayman on the road to Warwickshire,” said Lady Fortescue. “But did something else happen? You have not been yourself since your return, Miss Tonks.”
    Miss Tonks thought briefly of the journey back with Sir Philip when they had been friends and when she had hoped that they might marry and that at last she would have the right to put the magic title of “Mrs.” before her name. But she said, “I am a little tired, that is all. Did you present Sir Philip with his bill?”
    “Yes, but I cannot seem to change his mind about Mrs. Budge. Dreadful woman. She eats like a horse. And her language? I swear she is related to half the costermongers in London. I wonder if Sir Philip is telling her to economize. That should be interesting.”
    ***
    Sir Philip was trying to do just that. Mrs. Budge was sitting before the fire in the sitting-room of the apartment which the poor relations rented. A table was spread with an assortment of pies and jellies and bottles of wine. Sir Philip, who enjoyed his love’s Falstaffian appetite, nonetheless shuddered at the thought of the cost.
    “But, my heart,” said Mrs. Budge between mouthfuls, “you told me this was
your
hotel.”
    “Well, it is, but in partnership.”
    “So who are the others?”
    “Why, Lady Fortescue, Colonel Sandhurst and Miss Tonks.”
    “But that’s only four of you, and you must be coining money in a place like this.”
    He took one of her plump hands in his despite the fact that it was holding a fork. “It costs a lot to keep a place like this going,” he pleaded. “You know what society’s like. Never pay their bills.”
    “So why bother about paying yours?”
    “Because they are my friends.”
    “Fine friends they’ve turned out to be.”
    “Now, my heart, I won’t let them criticize you, but I also won’t let you criticize them.”
    She leaned forward and gave him a smacking kiss on the mouth which tasted of apple pie from the crumbs on her lips. “You worry too much,” she said softly. “It’s just as well you’ve got me to look after you.”
    He smiled at her weakly and placed one of his small, white, well-cared-for manicured hands on one of her enormous breasts. She playfully slapped his hand away. “Let me eat first,” she said.
    He got to his feet. “Where are you going?” she asked.
    “I’m going to see if I can find a client to take the missing rooms. Limmer’s often has a few dissatisfied guests. I’ll go there.”
    “Wait until I finish eating and I’ll come with you.”
    “Limmer’s is not the place for ladies. I will not be long.”
    After he had gone, Mrs. Budge ate everything in sight. Betty and John, Lady Fortescue’s old servants, were supposed to wait on the poor relations, but Mrs. Budge knew from experience that if she rang the bell they would refuse to answer. Marriage was the solution. But perhaps first she should see if she could get Sir Philip to buy her some jewelry. Jewelry was better than money in the bank any day.
    ***
    Lady Fortescue and Miss Tonks showed Lady Carruthers and Arabella to their new quarters. “Don’t let any of these hotel servants put on airs,” Arabella’s mother had told her. “They may be of good background, but now they are in trade, and don’t you forget it.” So Arabella was amused to see that Lady Fortescue’s grand manner was reducing her mother to something approaching