“I will come,” Bella said. “However, I don’t promise to be lively.”
Gwinnie waved her hand dismissively. “It’s a concert. You are not meant to be lively. You are meant to listen,” she mock-scolded.
Bella laughed. “Quiet I can do.” She turned to walk to her room.
Lady Malmsby gently laid a hand on her arm. “We will see you soon.”
Bella smiled wanly and nodded.
* * *
Lady Malmsby cameout of the Lady Margaret Parlor just as Bella descended the stairs.
“There you are!” enthused Lady Malmsby. She raised an eyebrow at Bella’s dark blue gown. “But we need to take you to the dressmakers and get you out of dark colors,” she said severely. “I know you loved Sir Harry, but two years of mourning is enough.”
“I didn’t, you know,” Bella said.
“Know what?”
“Love Harry. I admired him, respected him, and he could be fun. But I didn’t love him,” she said simply. “Where are the others?” she asked, to divert the conversation.
“Gwinnie left early to see the group is set up properly. I had Ann, her stepmother Mrs. Hallowell, and Ellinbourne go on ahead. I did not see any reason to seat five in a carriage.”
“What about the Duke and Lord Lakehurst?” Bella asked. She’d only seen Lord Lakehurst at dinner the night before and the Duke at breakfast that morning.
“Arthur never comes to social events,” Lady Malmsby said, so clearly exasperated with her eldest son that Bella laughed.
“Generally,” she continued, her manner partially recovered, “Lake comes in his stead, but he says he needs to work on his next book as he promised it to his publisher at the end of the month and if he is going to take time off tomorrow night for Ann and Ellinbourne’s ball, he has to write tonight.”
“It bothers you that they aren’t with us,” Bella stated.
“Yes,” said Lady Malmsby. She sighed. “But I don’t know why it should, for they have ever been the same. Ann’s is the first wedding we’ve had in many years and for that I am in a party mood and want everyone to join the festivities.”
“They will. Tomorrow night.”
“I know.” She took her shawl from the waiting footman. “Thank you, Stephen,” she said as she settled it around her shoulders.
Bella followed her to the carriage.
As the carriage pulled away from the curb, Bella turned to Lady Malmsby. “While we are here, alone, I’d like to tell you some of what was in the letters.”
Lady Malmsby turned to her, her eyes shining in the dim carriage light, reflecting surprise and delight.
“The letters were from Lord Candelstone to Harry. I impressed Lord Candelstone with my cryptography skills.”
“I knew he would be,” Lady Malmsby said.
“He wanted me to work for the war effort.”
“Which you were excited to do, I assume.”
“Yes, but he didn’t want me to be employed by him,” Bella said carefully.
“What? How could you work and not be employed? Did he wish you to volunteer as you might to a charity?”
“No. He had another idea. He wanted me to marry one of his agents. To ensure access to me, I suppose. He was convinced Mr. Nowlton would not want me working for him, should he and I marry.”
Lady Malmsby considered the idea, then nodded. “That is likely true,” she said. “Aidan does not care for his brother-in-law. He doesn’t trust his methods, and by default, he doesn’t trust him.”
