Chapter Fifty-Six
It was midday by the time Perry returned from the emporium in Cheapside with a package that contained tooth powder and toothbrushes, boot blacking, handkerchiefs, and two new pairs of stockings.
He turned into the lane, rooted in his pocket for the latchkey—and found a highly polished footman loitering outside his lodging house.
“Mr. Wintersmith?” the footman inquired, when Perry halted at the door.
“Yes.”
The footman produced a letter.
Perry accepted it warily. It was either from Lady Violet informing him that he’d broken her heart or from the Marquis of Thane threatening to horsewhip him.
Whichever it was, he wasn’t going to read it in front of the footman.
“Thank you,” he said, and unlocked the door.
“I’ve been directed to wait for a reply, sir.”
Perry looked
