“Quite gruesome of you. Lady Trent looked as if she would faint.” Anabeth made a clucking sound with her tongue. “Southwell, however, was intrigued by your morbid nature. I could tell.” She paused and gave Honora just the hint of a smile. “You managed to gain his attention. No easy feat. I find myself positively green with envy over the fact.”
A tiny thrill coursed through Honora at the thought. “You are mistaken, Lady Anabeth. I’m sure Southwell is quite taken with you.”
“True.” Anabeth flashed a smile. “But even I have trouble discussing dead bones and other dull topics.”
Dead bones?Honora opened her mouth to voice her opinion on Anabeth’s choice of words and promptly shut it. Her mother would be proud.
“Ialmostpurchased a dull tome on ancient Egypt, trying to stir up some sort of curiosity in Southwell’s hobbies. Can you imagine?”
“I cannot.” She didn’t think Anabeth capable of reading anything other than fashion magazines and the occasional novel. The very thought of her doing so boggled the mind.
“I think such reading to be the providence of elderly scholars. And bluestockings, Miss Davenport, much like yourself. My time is better spent learning the steps of a new dance, I think. At any rate, I doubt he remembers you from Lady Trent’s.”
Honora didn’t see how that was possible. Lady Parker and her niece had swooned at the mention of body parts being strewn about the Nile.
Honora had meant to ask about the Egyptian practice of worshipping crocodiles, something she found intriguing given the obvious danger involved with large, man-eating reptiles. She was fascinated with Sebek, the Egyptian god of fertility who was depicted as a crocodile.
Honora only wanted Southwell’s observations. Not even her father wanted to discuss Sebek with her.
Theimproprietyof discussing a fertility god in the company of London’s socially moral matrons hadn’t dawned on Honora until she’d opened her mouth to speak. And by then Southwell had been smiling at her, striking her dumb with his magnificence. Suddenly at a loss for words, a rare occurrence, Honora could only stammer out a question mildly less appropriate about murderous crocodiles. Blushing furiously, Honora had bravely ignored the startled and horrified gasps of the other ladies sipping tea.
Southwell, oblivious to her mounting embarrassment and the censure directed at Honora, had nodded solemnly, as if carefully considering her question. He’d related several pertinent facts about the Nile’s crocodiles, none of which involved them snatching people traveling the Nile on feluccas. He’d stated that hippopotami were much more feared by the ancient Egyptians and because of their vicious attacks, had been hunted nearly to extinction along the Nile.
Southwell had been incredibly polite. Not a bit condescending. She’d basked in his attention.
Nevertheless, it was not Honora’s finest moment. Mama, on the carriage ride home, had been livid. Honora was forbidden to read anything else from Papa’s well-stocked library. If she were to attend another of Lady Trent’s teas, Honora was not permitted to ask questions. She was to put such outlandish interests out of her mind and focus on finding a husband.
Southwell’s back was to her as she and Anabeth approached. He was in conversation with another gentleman standing to his left, with sandy hair.
Her stomach roiled.Oh dear.Tarrington.
Lord Tarrington and Honora did not care for each other.
She’d made the poor decision to correct him at a party given earlier in the season. Speaking of the United States, Tarrington had incorrectly informed the group surrounding him that Boston was in California.
Honora had gritted her teeth, swearing not to interrupt.
When the topic had changed to South America, Tarrington’s idiocy had become even more apparent. Honora had found she could not continue to remain silent. She’d merelysuggestedto Tarrington that Peru was located on the continent of South America andnotAfrica as Tarrington had proclaimed to the circle around him.
The snobbish lord had been livid. He was not appreciative of her timely interruption, nor of her correctly informing everyone that Peru was, in fact, in South America. How could Honora possibly know she’d embarrassed him in front of a young lady he’d been intent on courting?
His displeasure had been swift. For the remainder of that party and any others Honora had the misfortune to attend for several weeks, if Tarrington spotted her, he would follow her about, squealing and snorting like a pig. On one of the rare occasions she’d ventured to the park. Honora had encountered Tarrington. He’d walked by her, murmuring “here, piggy, piggy” until she’d fled. Since then, he had mostly ignored her, and she hoped the worst was over.
Tarrington smoothed down his carefully trimmed mustache as he greeted Anabeth. A look passed between them before he regarded Honora with mild interest.
Honora prayed he had forgotten all about her. Shewasforgettable. Everyone said so.
Anabeth nodded graciously. “Good evening, Lord Tarrington, Lord Southwell.” She bobbed prettily. “I’ve brought a friend to meet you. May I present Miss Davenport.”
“Miss Davenport. How nice to see you again.” Tarrington seemed polite enough except for the mispronunciation of her name, but possibly he was only repeating Anabeth.
“My lord,” she dipped unsteadily.
“Oh,” Anabeth laughed softly. “I didn’t realize you two were acquainted.”
“I believe we met briefly at a garden party hosted by Countess Malvern. Miss Davenport was kind enough to inform me of the location of Peru.” Tarrington’s tone was bland, his pale gaze flickering over Honora; he was dismissing her.
“Did you think it in Asia again?” Southwell said before turning to Honora. “The tutor his father paid for was a complete waste.”
