“I didn’t ask you, Horry. I planned it as a little surprise for you.”
“Then it was a great piece of impertinence!” said Horatia. “I suppose you b-bribed my coachman? Well, you may escort me out to the coach again, sir, at once!”
He laughed. “Your coach, my dear, has gone, and your coachman and groom are lying under a table in a tavern off Whitehall. My own men conveyed you here. No, do you not agree that I planned it very neatly?”
Wrath blazed in Horatia’s eyes.” I think it was m-monstrous of you!” she said. “Do you m-mean to tell me you had the audacity to overpower my servants?”
“Oh, no!” he answered lightly. “That would have been unnecessarily violent. While you were at Richmond House, my love, what more natural than that the honest fellows should refresh themselves at the nearest tavern?”
“I d-don’t believe it!” snapped Horatia. “You d-don’t know much of Rule if you think he keeps a coachman who gets d-drunk. You m-must have had him set upon, and I shall send for a c-constable in the morning and tell him! Then perhaps you will be sorry!”
“I expect I should be,” agreed Lethbridge. “But do you think the constable would believe that one tankard of beer apiece could have so disastrous effect on your servants? For you see, I didn’t have them overpowered quite as you think.”
“D-drugged!” Horatia cried hotly.
“Precisely,” smiled his lordship. “Do, I beg of you, let me take your cloak!”
“No!” said Horatia. “I w-won’t! You are quite out of your senses, and if you have not the civility to summon me a chair, I will w-walk home!”