As soon as the liquid passed his lips, Nigel knew that something was wrong. Where he was expecting something citrusy with the faint sweetness of the orgeat syrup, he got something sour and sickly. His stomach turned.
He turned behind him and spat the lemonade onto the floor.That is utterly vile.“Do not drink that; clearly they have mixed it all wrong.”
“What on earth are you talking about? It’s perfectly fine.” Lord Briston took another sip of his drink, his eyes widening.
Nigel shook his head, sniffing his own drink and then holding it out to his cousin. “Can you not smell that? Go on taste it!”
“It smells perfectly normal to me.” Lord Briston looked concerned. “It is from the exact same batch as my own; I saw the servant pour it myself.”
Nigel felt a rising panic in his chest. “Come, cousin. Surely you jest?”
Lord Briston shook his head. “The drink is perfectly fine. I assure you.”
Nigel looked desperately into his cousin’s face, hoping to see some sign of humour, but there was none. His cousin took a sip of Nigel’s drink, but it seemed to cause him no offence.
“You see, there is nothing wrong with it.” Lord Briston frowned. “It is a perfectly drinkable. In fact, I was just going to say that I must get the recipe from Lord Mosby and order it for my next dinner party.”
Nigel felt an odd numbness spread through him. His hand started to shake, almost spilling lemonade.
“If you are concerned, why don’t we swap. I shall take your glass, and you may have mine.” Lord Briston swapped the two glasses and handed his own to Nigel.
Nigel smiled though blood roared in his ears.It is just your imagination. There is nothing wrong. You saw him drink it with your own eyes.“Thank you, cousin, for humouring me.”
Lord Briston smiled though Nigel could see the concern in the man’s eyes.
Nigel took a sip of his new drink, and once more, a sour, sickly taste filled his mouth.There is something wrong with me. God’s what is wrong with me. I must not cause a scene — what will everyone think.
Turning from his cousin, he spat the lemonade from his mouth, letting the liquid spray from his lips and onto the grass behindhim. He straightened, turned around, and found himself face to face with Olivia, Lady Cotswalts, and Miss Jane Pembleton.
Perfect. Just perfect.Putting on his best smile, Nigel bowed to the women and prayed for the ground to split in two and swallow him whole.
Chapter Seven
The Game Begins
“Ido not think I had quite realised how much I would benefit from staying with you for the season.” Olivia beamed at Lady Cotswalts and Jane.
“Whatever do you mean?” Jane tilted her head curiously at Olivia.
The three women were at Lord and Lady Digby’s garden party, and having greeted the hosts, Lady Cotswalts had steered them to what she called a strategic vantage point. This had been somewhere that she could look out over the members of the ton and carefully plan whom to approach.
How on Earth does one manage to think quite so many steps ahead?Olivia shook her head in wonder, occasionally nodding at a guest that Lady Cotswalts pointed out to her.
“Well… I do not want to sound ungrateful to my mother and her efforts; I know that she did her best to help me last season.” Olivia felt her cheeks redden. “But well, it never would have occurred to us to attend something like this, not with…”
“It can take some time to readjust to the rhythms of society after such a long time a way,” Lady Cotswalts said diplomatically. “Balls are seen as the staple of the season, and if situations require us to target our efforts, then they, of course, would be the natural focal point.”
“And of course, your mother also needed to re-establish connections after such a long absence,” Jane added kindly.
Olivia felt her colour deepen, but she knew that Jane had not meant any offence. After all, she was correct. Their eight-year absence from the ton had had repercussions — some more severe than others.
“What you both say is true. And I know Mother did and would do her best to support me.” Olivia sighed. “Though I do wish I had been able to attend more garden parties last season.”Perhaps my courtship endeavours would have been more fruitful.
“I would have thought balls far more enjoyable than something like this.” Jane frowned thoughtfully. “Why there is all that dancing and excitement!”
Olivia smiled. “Yes, the dancing and the music is all very lovely and exciting, but… well, it can also feel like rather a lot of pressure?”
“Pressure?” Jane asked.
