Clara flushed, embarrassed at Lady Hawley’s frankness. “Well, I assure you I’m not hiding.”
“Then join me for a drive in my phaeton. I purchased one last year and I must admit, I love being able to drive it myself. We can enjoy the fresh summer air.”
Clara couldn’t do that. There would be talk. Lady Hawley was Sam’s ex-lover, possibly still his lover. As if Lady Hawley could read Clara’s mind, she smiled as if amused by her.
“I assure you that driving with me is no worse or better for you. You may as well embrace your reputation.”
Clara should say no. It wasn’t appropriate for a variety of reasons, and they were not even friends but the urge to speak and spend time with someone outside of the townhouse was too much to resist. Clara nodded.
Lady Hawley clapped her hands excitedly. “Wonderful, now you must call me Addie and I will call you Clara.”
Before Clara knew it, she was sitting with Addie in her phaeton and driving through Hyde Park. It was the first time she was without her maid Deliah and escort Peterson in public. Peterson had wanted to follow behind the two-seater phaeton, but Addie had insisted they venture out on their own, leaving a sputtering Peterson and smiling Deliah in the foyer. Addie just rolled her eyes.
Clara glanced around as they made their way down Rotten Row. Lords and ladies looked at Clara and Addie with a mixture of shock and confusion. It took everything in Clara to keep her composure. Addie didn’t seem bothered at all. She drove sedately down the bridleway as if spending time with Clara was an everyday occurrence. Clara marveled at her ability not to care about what others thought of her. She knew her own posture was impeccable and added to her haughty reputation.
“So, your husband is off in Liverpool. What do you do to keep yourself occupied?” Addie asked.
What did she do? She flushed, embarrassed that it wasn’t much.
“I’m surprised he left so soon,” Addie continued.
If she were not embarrassed before, Clara certainly was now.
“He has business to attend to and our marriage is not one to suffer from trips away,” she said, not wanting to lie.
Addie studied her. “I have one of those marriages as well, but I can assure you my husband, when he is forced to be in the same room as me, does not look at me the same way Kincaide looks at you.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Addie arched a black brow at her and said, “Adderly’s house party, the day you fell in the Serpentine, and the night of your scandal.”
Clara flushed. “We’re friends.”
“I have lots of friends. It is more than that. He looks at you like you are the most fascinating woman he has or will ever encounter.”
Clara remained quiet, unsure what to say. Confused by Addie’s perspective.
“Do you know about Sam and me?” Addie asked.
Goodness, Clara thought. She didn’t realize how forthcoming Addie was.
“I don’t mention it to dredge up the past but to alleviate any awkwardness between us,” Addie explained.
Clara nodded, uncomfortable with the topic but also awed at how forthright she was.
“Again, I am intrigued as to why he is in Liverpool, and you are here?”
Clara sighed, unsure why she was sitting in a carriage with Addie and tempted to confide in her. “We are friends, and he stepped in to save me from marrying someone else. He has given me my freedom to do as I please and in exchange he keeps his as well.”
“Is that what you want?” Addie questioned.
“Why do you ask?” Clara asked, unsure why it would matter to a woman who was one of her husband’s lovers.
Addie smiled mischievously. “Curiosity.”
Clara took a deep breath and asked, “Are you still acquainted with my husband?”
Addie laughed and Clara cringed. It really was an atrocious laugh. “Heavens no. Who wants to be a man’s lover when he is infatuated with his wife?”
