“I wasn’t aware you knew Lord Southwell, Honora,” Loretta bit out, clearly displeased by the turn her little tea party had taken.
“We were introduced at Lady Pemberton’s ball, by Montieth as it happens,” Southwell informed her. “Imagine my surprise to realize there weretwolovely Mrs. Culpeppers.” He shot Loretta a charming smile.
“You are outrageous, my lord.” Loretta’s wrinkled cheeks pinked.
How disturbing.Honora hadn’t been aware Loretta was capable of blushing let alone had blood in her veins.
“I am here on a mission from Lady Trent, who seeks Mrs. Culpepper’s”—he tilted his chin in Loretta’s direction—“assistance.” A soft bit of laughter came from him. “Lord, how confusing this will be. I will never know who answers when I address them.”
Another blush washed over Loretta’s cheeks as she sipped at her tea, the color stark against her deathly pale features and the black bombazine draping her form. “Do continue, my lord.”
“Lady Trent wishes to entice your mother-in-law into a donation for the new wing being built at St. Agnes, a charitable hospital. I also come bearing an invitation fortheMrs. Culpepper to attend a tea hosted specifically for St. Agnes.”
“I’d be delighted to attend,” Loretta said, a biscuit snapping between her teeth.
Of course she would. Loretta rarely left the house, but the lure of being invited by Southwell on behalf of Lady Trent would be impossible to resist.
“I’ve been asked by Lady Trent to speak to those in attendance about my travels in South America.”
“As an inducement for donation, no doubt,” Honora said.
Southwell’s lips twitched. “No doubt, Mrs. Culpepper. But first, I tried out my speech on your mother-in-law. How have I done so far, madam?”
“Marvelous, my lord.” Loretta’s teeth flashed, lips pulled back in what one could only assume was a smile.
Honora thought she more closely resembled a rabid dog.
“I hadn’t realized Lady Trent held such sway with you, my lord. To have you act as her messenger,” Honora said.
“Lady Trent is like a mother to me, and there is no favor she could not request that I would not do for her. She wishedtheMrs. Culpepper to receive a personal invitation,” he said in a solemn tone.
What utter rubbish. But it was as good an excuse as any for him to wheedle his way into seeing Honora. “One wonders why she couldn’t be bothered to come herself,” Honora said under her breath.
This time, Southwell’s lips stretched wide, but he declined to reply.
A hum started along Honora’s arms at the sight of that smile.
“Ma’am.” Edward, the butler, interrupted their conversation with a soft clearing of his throat from the door.
Loretta turned toward the butler in annoyance. “What is it, Edward?”
“Forgive me for disturbing you, but a note has just arrived from Mrs. Robertson. The messenger informed me the news is quite urgent and he has been told to wait for a reply.”
“Bother. What in the world could Winifred need? My daughter in Surrey, my lord. I can’t fathom what could be so urgent.”
“Of course.” Southwell nodded.
Loretta glanced between Honora and Southwell, clearly not happy at the thought of leaving the two of them alone together. “I’ll return shortly.”
“So,” Southwell murmured once the door had shut behind Loretta and as he resettled himself. His forefinger gracefully traced along the arm of the chair, dipping into the crevices carved in the wood as he watched Honora.
She dragged her gaze from the movement. They were just fingers. A hand. Nothing special save they belonged to Southwell. “If I didn’t know better, my lord, I would assume you arranged my sister-in-law’s note.”
“I think you ascribe traits to me I do not possess, madam. Deviousness being one.”
“Possibly,” Honora replied tartly.
“Then it comes as no surprise to you that I did not come here solely for tea or a donation fromtheMrs. Culpepper. I consider myself resourceful, madam, but not so much as to have a letter sent from Surrey.” The dark sheen of his eyes lingered over Honora.
