Page 50 of A Hint of Scandal

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Did you manage to ask your brother which church he was married in?” Serafina asked Max at breakfast. They were the only ones present save for a footman, but she kept her voice as low as possible, all the same.

Max, who was in the process of picking at a plateful of unappetizing devilled kidneys, nodded, his gaze flicking sideways towards the expressionless footman where he stood beside the breakfast buffet. “I did. We can talk about this later. When we’re alone.”

Serafina nodded back in understanding. If the servants picked up on any of this then it would fly around not just this estate but probably all the surrounding ones as well. That didn’t bear thinking about, especially as a little voice at the back of her mind was busy warning her that none of this rang quite true. Something about it wasn’t right, she was almost sure, but as yet she had no idea quite what. Hopefully, that would be made clearer as their investigations progressed. She returned to picking at the scrambled eggs and bacon she’d helped herself to from the huge variety of breakfast alternatives on offer in as desultory a way as Max was with the kidneys. She didn’t quite have the appetite for food.

Elsie, her newly acquired maid, was over the moon when Serafina informed her they were to make a trip to Oxford that day, and that she would have to come too. “Ooh, Miss, I’ve always wanted to see Oxford and them smart buildings, but never been. I’ve not been nowhere really, to tell the truth. I’m that excited.”

Serafina smiled at this double negative and pondered how she would manage to talk in private with Max with the voluble Elsie in tow. There must be a way to avoid this. She frowned. They might be about to be married, but it would not be the done thing to undertake this journey with just Max and his driver, especially as it would be necessary to spend a night in an Oxford hostelry. Whereas driving alone with Max had been acceptable in Town, in an open carriage, it would not be in the countryside in an enclosed vehicle.

Inspiration came to her as she and her maid descended the stairs into the hallway, Elsie hauling a bag for each of them. “If you want to see more of the countryside, Elsie, you may travel with Badger on the front seat. So you’d best be wrapped up warm as it’ll be cold.”

Elsie’s face lit up. “That’d be a rare treat, Miss. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

Serafina shook her head. “Not in the least. It’s a fine day and you’ll get to see all sorts of things, I’m sure. I refuse to stand in the way of your education.”

Max, waiting in the hall attired in great coat, hat and boots, smothered a smile. “Neatly done,” he muttered to her as they stepped out of the large front door and onto the front steps. Below them, drawn up on the gravel, stood a landau drawn by four perfectly matched grays, both hoods of the vehicle in the up position.

She couldn’t help but comment. “What beautiful matched horses.”

Max smiled, a touch of pride in his dark eyes. “My brother has always had a penchant for good horseflesh.” And he handed her up into the luxuriantly upholstered interior. This was how the other half lived. Araminta would be frowning at the extravagance of the whole equipage, particularly for a man who was housebound, but she would nevertheless have been almost overcome with envy. Let her be. Serafina had no intention of dwelling on what her sister-in-law would be thinking. Today she was going to enjoy herself being useful to the man she was rapidly beginning to think she cared a lot for. If she couldn’t have him care for her back, then she would accept his admiration, and the surest way to that was by helping him with this enormous problem.

He settled himself beside her on the forward facing seats and as soon as Elsie had been helped onto the seat beside Badger, the carriage moved off.

Serafina peeped out of the window at the wide expanse of parkland they had to cross before sinking back into her comfortable seat and turning to look at Max. “You said you’d tell me later.”

He was looking particularly dashing this morning, with his dark hair tousled and his eyes bright with anticipation. If only he could be wearing that expression because of her. “I did, but we’d best keep our voices down even though we’re alone.” He glanced out of the window as though gathering his thoughts. “I saw my brother this morning before breakfast. He was a little improved, perhaps because he thinks I might be able to get him out of this mess. I can only think his brain must be as addled as it was when he bigamously married Maria, knowing full well he shouldn’t be doing so. If this comes out, he would risk jail, or even transportation if he were not at death’s door.”

Max seemed to still be convinced of the veracity of this claimant. Serafina ignored most of what he’d said. “Which church do we need to find, then?”

“Saint Michael’s at the North Gate. I was up at Oxford myself before taking up my commission, and I know where it is. It lies where the old north gate used to stand in Oxford’s city walls. An ancient church but one much frequented by undergraduates seeking to marry, so I understand. Or that’s what Julian told me. Without a hint of shame about him.”

“We must go there first,” Serafina said, resigning herself to being the chief investigator in this affair. “And verify if a marriage truly took place.” She paused. “It’s possible your brother thought it a marriage when it might not have been a true one.”

Max’s brow unfurrowed. “I doubt it, but we can hope you’re right. He seemed sure a real priest had married them, and he’d only told the lie to the girl to rid himself of her.”

The carriage rumbled down the drive towards the twin gatehouses.

Serafina kept her gaze on Max. Not a difficult thing to do. “Where does your mother think we’re going today?” At least the dowager had not been up for breakfast so she’d not had to face her and tell the old lady a bare-faced lie.

A brief smile lit his face, and his eyes twinkled with mischief. “To visit friends of mine. The Callingtons. I told her we might stay the night. She was very annoyed as she wishes to lavish the attentions of her dressmakers on you to equip you for this hasty marriage. I fear she was feeling frustrated.”

“She will not think it rude of me to depart so precipitously? I wouldn’t want to offend her.”

He shrugged. “You won’t. She’ll blame it all on me. And who knows? We might find a trail to follow in Oxford and our return might be delayed for a second night.”

He might have told her this before they left. “I’ve only brought luggage for one night, as has Elsie.”

Another shrug, as though this rather important point didn’t matter. “As have I. If it becomes necessary, we’ll manage.” Elsie might find it a bit odd though.

They rumbled on for a few minutes in silence. From up above, came the indistinct hum of chatter, mainly by the sound of it from Elsie. She must be enjoying her sojourn into the big wide world. “Would you mind if I asked you about your time in Portugal?” Serafina said. “You’ve told me about Egypt, and now, as I’m to marry you, perhaps you’ll tell me how you came to lose the use of your arm.” A little daring, but she was curious.

He rubbed his freshly shaven chin. “How much do you know of the Peninsular War?”

At least he didn’t seem offended by her blunt curiosity. “Not a huge amount. Ogden has the Times every day, but he never lets me read it. Only what I’ve heard mentioned when I’ve been to church. When we’ve prayed for our soldiers.” She frowned. “We lead… led… a very reclusive life at Milford and attending church was one of the only times I was able to meet other people.”

“Good God. They kept you incarcerated? I surmised from what you’ve told me, and how Sir Ogden and Lady Gilbert behave towards you, that they don’t consider you of any importance, but I had no idea they kept you shut away.”