Behind her, Louisa opened the glass doors and stepped onto the terrace. “My lady, we have visitors.”
Diana turned, noting the sour expression on her housekeeper’s face. Never the most genial of women, Louisa looked as if she’d just drunk pure vinegar. “Is it the vicar?” He’d mentioned on Sunday the possibility of paying a call during the week.
“No, two men. One says he’s your brother, my lady.”
Cold chills raced along her skin. Her brother? Had he come with her father? Or had he been sent? Diana’s first instinct was to find Cian, to make sure he was safe. But the baby was in the new nursery with Beth, where he had been recuperating from his sickness. Though he seemed fully recovered, Diana had instructed Beth to keep him indoors and quiet.
“Where are they? And who is the other gentleman?”
“They’re in the drawing room. The other gentleman didn’t give his name, ma’am. The footman is seeing to their baggage. Should I put them in the south wing?”
“No!”
Louisa jerked, and Diana realized she’d shouted. Modulating her voice, she strove to sound composed. But the south wing would never do. The nursery was in the south wing, the room chosen to take advantage of the sunshine all day. The farther she kept Percival from the nursery, the better for her peace of mind.
“Please, put them in the east-facing guest rooms near the Royal Apartments.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She lifted her hem to return to the house, but Diana stopped her.
“Do you know where the earl is at the moment?” she asked.
“A new batch of horses arrived, and I believe he went down to the stables.”
She didn’t want to greet her brother on her own, especially if their father was with him, but would Evan be her ally or her foe if he joined her? Should she send for him or brazen it out alone?
The decision was taken from her hands as Percival nearly collided with Louisa in the doorway.
“I say, the view’s not bad.” He slouched onto the terrace, insolent as always.
Diana tensed, but she held her ground. Percival might have bullied and tyrannized her while she lived in her father’s house, but he wouldn’t be allowed such privilege at White Haven.
“What are you doing here?” She kept her voice neutral and flat.
“Thought it was high time I saw where you were hiding yourself. Rumor had it you wouldn’t be ready for the prince’s visit. Some bookmakers were laying odds, in fact.” He tapped the head of his cane into his palm. “I guess I lost a bet. The place looks shipshape now. Must have cost you a packet.” Percival sized up the back of the house, with pristine masonry and shining glass, not a bramble or cobweb to be seen.
“You found her.”
Diana started as another visitor strolled through the French doors. Her heart constricted. It wasn’t her father after all. She should’ve known who would be her brother’s companion. The two had been inseparable in London.
Viscount Fitzroy gave her a mocking bow. Tousled hair just right, Hessians polished to a shine, rust-colored waistcoat under a pale-jade jacket, and indecently tight breeches of deerskin. Up-to-the-minute fashion and suave charisma.
He repelled her like finding a garden slug in her lettuce. At the same time, she felt dismay. She turned back to her brother lest Fitzroy see her disgust. Cian’s father, in her house.
“Lady Whitelock.”
She didn’t respond. She well remembered his coarse and inappropriate comments to her in the art gallery, and the way he looked at her now said he was still of the same mind.
Concentrating her attention on Percival, she said, “My finances are none of your concern, if you remember, so how much we spent on the house is no business of yours.”
“We’ll see about that when Father arrives, won’t we?”
“He’s coming?” She couldn’t keep the dismay from her voice, but regretted not having better control when Percival grinned a wicked grin.
Her brother fingered the diamond-studded quizzing glass on a gold chain hanging from his lapel. Where had he gotten that expensive bauble?
“He’s coming with the Prince Regent. Two days from now. That’s why we’re here. We were sent as town criers, if you will, bringing you the news. I was with the prince this week, and I told him we’d let you know.” Percival preened, clearly expecting her to be impressed by his access to the Regent’s inner circle. “I have enjoyed quite a bit of Prinny’s company since you got married. Helps being his godson, of course, and the brother-in-law of his new favorite earl.”
Fitzroy took a seat on one of the stone benches, crossing his legs elegantly and leaning back. “There are many enjoyments to be experienced when one is close to the prince, aren’t there? He knows how to have a good time, I’ll give him that.” He flicked his wrist. “Too bad your housekeeper is such a cow. Too old and vitriol-tongued. Perhaps there are some prettier maids on your staff? I could use a bit of easy company.”
Her hands fisted. “If you trifle with my employees, I’ll have you thrown out like old dishwater.”
“Tut-tut, my dear. Such a temper. It wouldn’t do to go chucking the prince’s friends out of the house on the eve of his arrival, would it?” Fitzroy smirked. “What would the prince say?”
His smugness galled her. Diana would like nothing more than to show them the door, but she had no choice. They would be staying while the prince was here, because the Regent wished it.
But they’d better watch their steps.
She took a grip on her frustration and forced herself to say, “I’m sure your luggage is in your rooms, if you’d like to freshen up. I’ll notify the cook we’ll be four for dinner.” The thought of sitting down to a meal with these two made her stomach churn.
Percival wandered back inside, but Fitzroy approached her, crowding her. She stepped back, her skirts brushing an urn of flower seedlings behind her, cutting off her escape.
“Leave me alone. You’ve no right to accost me, especially not in my own home.”
He laughed, and anger burned her throat.
“Accost you? My dear, I’ve done nothing of the sort. I just wanted to remind you of a few things.” He touched her cheek.
She flinched. “I want to hear nothing from you.”
“And yet you must. First, I wanted to remind you that my offer remains. When you tire of Whitelock, I’ll be waiting for you. You’ll soon realize that though you can try to dress up mutton, it will forever just be a sheep. Evan is and always will be common as dirt. When you’re ready for a real gentleman, a true-born gentleman, I’m here.”
“My husband might be a commoner by birth, but he’s more of a gentleman than you’ll ever be.” She wanted to forget her status and smack his face. It wouldn’t be ladylike in the least, but it would relieve her feelings. “I despise you, and I don’t care who knows it.”
“Ah, but that brings us to the second thing of which I must remind you. I hold power over you, and I intend to wield it. If you let your—shall we say, disdain—of me show, even for an instant during the prince’s visit, I will let it slip that not only did I manage to seduce your naïve older sister but that I’ve bedded you as well.” He leaned forward to drip his oily whisper into her ear.