LITMIR.BIZ

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sharp squawk resounded from below stairs and he groaned.

      Intent on speaking to Maman and encouraging a Herculean effort to complete Penelope’s request so to be rid of her, Phin dressed for breakfast and entered the morning room with newly constituted resolve. Sunlight slanted through the windows with aggressive cheerfulness matched by the floral tapestries and scenic artwork that decorated the walls. Random artifacts, collected by his father during his travels and installed on a grand bookcase, was centered between the curtain-drawn windows. He crossed the tiled floor, his boots tapping a determined tempo.

      His mother sat at the breakfast table alone. Already the day proved promising. He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and settled in a chair, anxious to delve into the food and the subject at hand. Mon Ami, his mother’s parrot, eyed him derisively from the elaborate white cage perched near the far side of the dining table.

      “There you are.” His mother smiled grandly. “I worried I would have to eat without company this morning. I sent Penelope and Aubry to the modiste with two maids. They will not return for some time. Where have you been for the past day and a half?” Without pause, she leaned toward the cage as the parrot began to chatter. “Mon Ami, stop that ridiculous nonsense.” She clicked her tongue at the red macaw before returning her attention to her son. “So everything is in order in Brighton? You found your aunt and uncle well? The entire situation has left me beside myself with concern. I’m relieved Julia is removed, but I worry still. I hope the time away will ease her heart. One cannot be sure.”

      Phineas knew Julia would not be assuaged until he supplied the answers she sought, but Maman need not know those particulars. Before they’d departed for Brighton, he’d helped his sister send a missive to Winton’s residence and the envelope returned unopened. It added insult to injury the man would not explain his actions. No, he could never break his sister’s trust nor confide his intentions to his mother. Maman already worried over her daughter. He refused to add concerns.

      Mon Ami fluttered his wings and the unexpected sound interrupted Phin’s reflective musings. Nonplussed, his mother pursued her favorite subject with zeal.

      “So when are you going to make me happy and choose a wife? Every time we attend a function you dance a waltz or two, but never with the same female. Then like magic, you disappear. Mon dieu! How are you going to find a mate if you nary pay attention to the same lady and spend all your free time with horses? Wharncliffe has found happiness in marriage. You’ll be a fish out of water as soon as the rest of your friends follow suit. What is holding you back from making me a grand mere?”

      At sixty two years of age, Victoria Betcham remained a force to be reckoned with and Phin suspected it was the reason his father spent so much time out of house. By aristocratic standards, his parents shared a happy match, but that hypocritical misconception fed his discontent. With his father abroad for long stretches, his mother focused on finding him a wife and every conversation followed the same path. She accepted all invitations, schemed with anxious dowagers in dark corners of the ballroom, and prodded him with sentiments of disappointment whenever possible. Nevertheless, the thought of marriage caused his brain to twitch.

       No wife, happy life.

      “It’s too early for this conversation. I haven’t eaten.” Adjusting his cravat, he donned a tolerant expression and reached for a platter of food. He made no secret he held severe reservations about marriage, so where lay the purpose in attending society’s gatherings if not to meet a future wife?

      “As long as I’ve your undivided attention, I see no reason not to discuss what is most important. Besides,” Victoria Betcham spooned sugar into her teacup before she glanced across the table, maternal concern softening her expression. “I worry about you, and I know you do not wish to cause me sorrow.”

      Phin sliced the ham on his plate with thoughtful concentration. His mother possessed a talent for creating conversations provoking the participants to unintentionally bare their souls. He’d grown wise to her technique. Her English-French mixture proved a charming tool in her arsenal of information recognizance, as did her cunning utilization of self-distress; and while she offered innocence in her demeanor at first perception, it was always in one’s best interest to be on guard from her propinquity to achieve her goals.

      “Never would I wish you discontent, Maman. However, as I have no immediate thoughts of marrying, the season’s ever present schedule of masquerades and parlor parties holds little appeal. It makes sense to leave before the hour grows late.” He dared a glance in her direction. If anything, it appeared his mother accepted his explanations, reasoning and excuses with an elaborate show of ennui. A change of subject was in order, no matter how the two issues overlapped.

      “Now with Penelope in house, I will be forced to attend a string of events.” He paused, allowing the information to settle. For some strange reason his heart thrummed a rapid beat. “While not exactly what you desire, due to your meddlesome offer I’ll be present at social functions nonetheless.” The irony of the situation brought his words forth in a tetchy tone.

      His mother beamed. “How perfectly wonderful. Penelope is delightful, don’t you agree? A clever, lovely girl. Any man would be lucky to gain her attention. You should be giving more thought to your future.”

      Phineas scoffed as he loaded his plate with kippers and eggs. “You speak as though I’m at the end of my rope instead of one and thirty.” He slid a finger into the knot of his cravat. In his hurry he had tied the cloth too tightly, the accessory fast becoming a noose.

      His mother rose from the table and floated toward Mon Ami’s cage. As she stood, Phineas was inclined to do so and he walked to the sideboard to pour himself coffee. Tea just wasn’t the thing when battling Maman and her marriage lectures. “I’ll know the lady who’ll claim my heart when I meet her.” He pursued his goal. “By the by, have you garnered any information pertaining to the gentleman Penelope seeks? With the Pimbles’ masquerade this evening, I may solve her problem with alacrity if I possess purposeful information concerning the anonymous gentleman.”

      Maman stopped feeding seeds to Mon Ami and offered her full attention. “Penelope has not mentioned specifics. I’m overjoyed to have the sisters in house. With Julia away, it is a balm to soothe my spirits. Not only will we assist the ladies, but I’ll be able to spoil them for a spell. They’ve experienced horridly difficult times. Bringing them to London presents a rare opportunity for all of us.”

      Phineas quirked a brow at the troubling gleam in his mother’s eye. Considering her words with caution, he returned to the table. Surely she could not believe her veiled insinuations would go unnoticed. He watched her whisper enamored compliments to the parrot as she offered a sliver of fruit between the bars.

      “My sweet Mon Ami has a French appetite.”

      “That bird is from Africa.” It seemed necessary for him to point out the obvious. “Pity we can’t send it back.”

      Maman did not object to the latter mutter and continued a string of coos. Phineas scoffed. Who had the birdbrain in the room? Helping himself to another serving of eggs, he awaited his mother’s reply.

      “Alors, the English will never understand the French when it comes to food.” Her face reflected true pity. “Now, listen closely. We have a wonderful opportunity before us. Let us not waste it. Promise me you’ll work harder at finding a wife.”

      Phineas noted his mother’s tone, full of crisp precision. “Oh, I am aware of your impatience to see me happily settled.” Once again, he attempted to bring the conversation to rights. “If nothing else, attending social events as a favor to Penelope will also lend me to abide your wishes.” He placed his napkin on the table and left, discarding the food on his plate with the same alacrity as the wishes of his mother.

      Later that afternoon, Phin met his mother in the drawing room. He’d spent the day seeking information concerning Daniel Winton and had little to show for his effort, although Constantine uncovered a possibility and agreed to notify him if the rumour proved reliable. After meeting with Con, Phin went for a long ride to clear his thoughts. Rarely one to take life seriously

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