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

the hunting field. This daughter was befriended by Miss Tonks. Miss Carruthers is forced to dress as a school miss although she is nineteen because her mother is on the hunt for husband number two and wishes to look younger than her years.”
    “Like a play,” mused the actor as they strolled amiably together in the failing light under the flickering parish lamps. King Street, New Street, across St. Martin’s Lane, Cecil Court, Bear Street and so to Leicester Square and on to Piccadilly. London was at its best at this time of night, with the still-open shops glittering with treasures from all over the world and with the air full of the smells of fruit and spices. Traffic was quieter in the West End, as the various nobles who owned parts of this quarter of the Town had put posts and barriers at strategic parts so that they would not be disturbed too much by the rumble of any carriages other than their own.
    “Bond Street at last,” said the colonel.
    “I often come here,” said Mr. Davy. “It is a street of dreams. Here one can imagine one is rich, an adventurer, part of the fashionable throng.”
    The colonel led the way into the hotel, handed his hat, gloves and cane to Jack and led the way up the stairs.
    The three ladies had been waiting impatiently for his return, that is, Miss Tonks, Lady Fortescue and Arabella, with Lady Fortescue beginning to have serious doubts whether the colonel would succeed in his mission.
    They looked up in relief as the colonel entered the sitting-room and then curiously at the shabby actor who followed him.
    With an air of triumph, the colonel introduced Mr. Davy, who swept them all a magnificent bow.
    “Mr. Davy is prepared to play his part,” said the colonel, explaining that the actor was to masquerade as a rich Cit.
    “He will need to stay in his lodgings until suitable clothes are ready for him,” said Lady Fortescue.
    “I could rent some suitable clothes,” said the actor.
    Lady Fortescue shook her head. “No, Mr. Davy, stage clothes will not fit the part. Sir Philip is very sharp, and there must be no smell of grease-paint about you. Miss Tonks, give this dish of tea to Mr. Davy. A cake, Mr. Davy? They are our chefs best. His choux pastry is a miracle. You seem a kind and amiable man, Mr. Davy. But have you got it in you to woo a gross and vulgar woman such as Mrs. Budge?”
    “If Mrs. Budge is as Colonel Sandhurst describes her,” said the actor, “then she is greedy and after money, so my charms will not be much needed.”
    Miss Tonks leaned forward, her eyes shining. “The theatre fascinates me. I would love one day to go backstage and to see how all the scenery works.”
    Mr. Davy smiled. “I could easily take you any time you want. I may be out of work, but I am still one of
them
and can come and go in the playhouse during rehearsals as I please. Perhaps tomorrow afternoon, if you are not otherwise engaged…?”
    “I would love to go as well,” said Arabella.
    “Wait a bit,” said the colonel, alarmed. “Mr. Davy is going to have to keep clear of this hotel until his clothes are ready and then he is going to have to pay attention to Mrs. Budge and to no one else.”
    “But we could meet him at the theatre,” begged Miss Tonks.
    “There is the matter of Miss Carruthers’s hair,” put in Lady Fortescue. “Monsieur André will be here tomorrow evening.”
    “That’s tomorrow afternoon then,” said Mr. Davy. “I will meet both of you at the stage door in the Haymarket at two o’clock.”
    Arabella’s face fell. “Mama does not rise until two. She does not go out on her calls until three at the earliest.”
    “Then we will make it three o’clock,” said Mr. Davy easily, and helped himself to another cake.
    “I know who you are,” shrieked Miss Tonks suddenly, making them all jump. “You were Rosencrantz when Kean was playing Hamlet; let me see, that would be in 1802. I was in the gallery, but I marked you particularly. Jason Davy. Yes, and you