The Royal Scamp Read Free Page B

excellencies of Joshua Ramsay and Heath Abbey. Esther was disappointed to realize her breakfast was going to be ruined by a lecture. “Did he remain long?”
    “No, not long.”
    “You should have called me. He is too nice to have prolonged his visit when you were alone. We don’t want to give him the notion you are behaving improperly.”
    To avoid the subject Esther said, “He didn’t mind, Auntie. Is there any news from the inn?”The servants visited back and forth often and kept the ladies informed of events.
    Lady Brown, being an excellent gossip, was diverted to this new subject with no trouble. “I was out for a little stroll along the Thames before you came down. Such a lovely day! I happened to bump into one of your guests.”This was French for saying she’d spotted an interesting client and gone tailing after him. Her niece required no translation. “He’s a navy fellow, a young lad just lately back from Canada. Fletcher is the name, Beau Fletcher.”
    “A decent-seeming sort?”Esther asked, jealous for her inn’s reputation.
    “Top of the trees. Well to grass. You need not fear Mr. Fletcher will lower the tone.”
    “What is a naval man doing here, I wonder.”
    “He is ex-navy, looking about for a place to buy, he mentioned. Or a business to put his money into. He must have plenty of it. He hired the west tower suite for a week, while he looks around the countryside.”
    “I didn’t realize the navy was so profitable. He must have made good prize money. What was his rank?”
    “Captain. He would have been admiral if he had stuck with it, I don’t doubt. He seemed very bright.”
    Esther poured coffee and asked, “How old is he?”
    “Youngish. His wealth is inherited, I believe. At least he didn’t mention prize money. He was regretting he had not been here two years earlier, and he would have bought your land, Esther. It is about the size he has in mind. We got chatting, you know, when he found out who I was. It would not do for you to chat to a young fellow, but when you reach my years, there is no harm in it.”Lady Brown never found any harm in ferreting out gossip.
    If Beau Fletcher had in mind a thousand acres of prime land and a home to be built besides, he was certainly well to grass. “Was Mrs. Fletcher with him?”Esther asked nonchalantly.
    “He’s a bachelor.”
    “It’s odd he would not set up his estate where he was born and bred. What part of the country is he from?”
    “Northumberland. He has some affairs in London that keep him from home. He imports furs and lumber from Canada.”
    “I see.”Mr. Fletcher became more interesting by the minute. Esther meant to discover his appearance for herself while at the inn. Any gentleman who had half his hair and was neither blind nor halt was considered young and handsome by Lady Brown, if he was civil enough to let her engage him in conversation.
    It was not long in occurring to Esther that a gentleman traveler would eat in her public dining hall. If she were there, it was possible she might have Mr. Fletcher presented to her, as he now knew Lady Brown. “What do you say we take dinner at the Arms this evening, Auntie?”
    “We’re about due for it,”she agreed. Lady Brown always enjoyed eating out, surrounded by a lively crowd, instead of sitting alone with only a niece for company. The chef at the Arms was unexceptionable, which was an added inducement.
    “What’s on the menu tonight?”Lady Brown asked,
    “Roast beef is always on. There might be some spring lamb—I’m not sure Buck ordered any. Then there will be seafood, if you prefer that.”
    “With a raised pigeon pie and a slice of ham, we shall be well fed,”she decided, considering the menu.
    After breakfast Esther went over to the Arms and had Flame saddled up. She didn’t make Mr. Fletcher’s acquaintance, but she did see a handsome young gentleman hopping into a dashing black carriage, and heard a groom say, “Shall I exercise your mare, Mr.