She should learn his name. Mayhap there was a mature willow to protect them from the rain.
After grabbing her cloak and requesting a footman and an umbrella, she took her meandering outdoors. Sadly, this footman was older and skinnier than her choice, but he was willing to hold the umbrella for her and venture outside, so she was satisfied. Following one of many paths around the estate, she held her cloak tightly around her against the chill and enjoyed the scenery.
At least tonight, she was likely to get relief. Meanwhile, she needed to burn some energy. Spying a smaller house with a pretty glassed-in conservatory in the distance and smoke coming from the chimney, she headed in that direction.
As Beth neared the smaller house, she saw two figures in comfortable wing chairs in the conservatory. When one of the women waved to her, she quickened her steps. “I think this calls for a visit.”
The footman mumbled something about Cheltie, but Beth ignored him. She never passed up a chance to meet new people. Behind orgasms, it was her favorite activity.
A stout woman who may or may not have seen thirty years answered Beth’s knock, nodding to the footman over Beth’s shoulder.
“Hullo. I am Beth Jenkins, one of Cheltie’s guests.”
“How can I help, miss?”
“That house is so crowded, I needed to stretch my legs. Then I saw smoke from the chimney.” Beth fumbled for words when the woman did not step back and welcome them inside.
“Lucy?” An older woman’s voice called from within. “Do we have guests?”
Lucy flashed Beth a warning look. “Watch how you step, miss. She doesn’t have many visitors.” Finally, she held the door wider and gestured them inside.
The footman lingered in the entryway, tucking the umbrella just outside the front door.
Beth followed Lucy through the kitchen and parlor to the conservatory.
“Lady Rose, may I present Beth Jenkins, a friend”—she shot Beth a look as she said the word—“of Evan’s.”
“Come, dear. Won’t you sit with me for a spell? I saw the carriages arrive yesterday. That son of mine and his parties.” The woman’s burnished gold and gray-streaked hair was pulled into a bun at the back of her head, and she wore a simple day dress. Despite that and the knitting in her lap, her resemblance to Evan and her posture told Beth that this was the Dowager Countess.
I can learn more about Cheltie and mayhap even find a way to ensure Althea gets her audience.
“’Tis lovely to meet you, my lady.”
“Oh, I am Rose, dear. We do not stand on formality here.” Evan’s mother smiled.
“Thank you, and I am Beth.”
Lucy called from the kitchen, “Tea?”
In unison, they responded, “Yes, please.”
“How do you know Evan?”
“A friend of mine married his friend, Lord Mansfield,” Beth stated, assuming Rose knew Michael as he and Evan had been friends for so long.
“Michael? He’s married?”
Lucy bustled in, despite the tea kettle not having boiled yet, and shot another warning look at Beth. “Yes, Rose. He married last winter.”
“Hmm.”
“And you? Where is your family?”
Beth regaled Rose with a few stories of her childhood with her free-thinking parents over tea until the older lady’s head nodded.
Standing quietly, she took her tea cup to the kitchen, where Lucy was pretending to wipe the counters within hearing distance of the conservatory. “How long have you been with Lady Rose, Lucy?”
“Almost two years.”
