* * *
“Eliza?”
The Viscountess smiled at her daughter, and also gave his sweet Catherine a kind smile and a gracious curtsey.
The blonde froze with her glass of orgeat halfway to her mouth and her eyes wide, looking quite similar to a startled animal, but she nodded and forced her lips into a polite smile.
“Yes?”
“This is the Countess of Bitterwood, and her youngest son, Lord Edward Melthorn.” The Viscountess smiled, and motioned to Eliza. “Lady Bitterwood, Lord Edward, this is my youngest daughter, Miss Eliza Wingfield.”
Eliza curtsied to them both.
“It is lovely to make your acquaintance, I’m sure.”
Lord Edward offered Eliza a genuine, jovial smile.
“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.”
He clasped his hands behind his back, offering Lady Catherine a polite bow, but no greeting, Eliza noted. She also noted that Lady Bitterwood did not even acknowledge that Catherine existed, and that Catherine seemed to be perfectly content to return the favour. Eliza was certain that there was something she was missing, but Lady Bitterwood drifted away, leaving the three of them to their own devices.
Eliza swallowed hard, looking back and forth between Lady Catherine and Lord Edward. She was missing something, of that much she was certain. Had the two of them been introduced to each other? Could they technically speak to one another without causing a scandal? She felt certain that there was an undercurrent here which she was missing, and she did not like feeling so out of her depth.
Catherine flushed and her breathing hitched strangely, but she did not greet Lord Edward, nor did he greet Catherine.
“So tell me, Miss Wingfield, are you ready to retire to the country for the summer, or will you miss London until the Season starts again?”
Eliza squirmed, shifting from one foot to the other, but she couldn’t very well get out of the conversation without seeming impolite, now could she?
“I enjoy the country.” Eliza gave a firm nod. “It is not as… diverting as the London Season, nor as busy, but it is peaceful and beautiful. I enjoy the quiet and the time to appreciate nature’s majesty. You cannot find truly unspoiled nature in a manicured park in London.”
The instant the words left Eliza’s lips, she regretted mentioning the park. It made her think of Lady Catherine’s brother, the Duke of Elkington. Against her better judgment, Eliza’s gaze wandered, searching the faces of those gathered at this small summer event, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
Not wanting Lady Catherine to be left out of the conversation, but uncertain of the situation between Lord Edward and Lady Catherine, Eliza cleared her throat.
“What about you, Lady Catherine? Do you prefer the London Season, or do you enjoy your time spent in the country more?”
Catherine seemed startled to have been addressed and looked up sharply, her brow furrowed and a strange, forlorn expression darkening her green eyes, turning them the colour of a forest canopy tossed in the gloom of a thunderstorm. Catherine’s smile was polite but tight and somewhat forced.
“How lovely of you to think to include me in your discussion, Miss Wingfield.”
Eliza straightened and frowned for just a moment. What on earth had Lady Catherine meant by that? Was that supposed to be a barb, and if it was, who had it been intended for? Had she done something to offend Lady Catherine, or had it been Lord Edward?
She took another sip of the over-sweetened orgeat and grimaced, forcing herself to choke it down because having a mouthful of the awful, cloyingly sweet drink was better than saying something stupid that she might later come to regret. She needed to give herself time to think.
“Of course, Lady Catherine. I adore your company and would not dream of leaving you out of the conversation, though I must ask—”
“It is best if you do not ask.” Lady Catherine offered Eliza a wobbly, pained smile, and a strange look passed between her and Lord Edward for a moment, but he nodded his agreement.
“She is quite right, of course. It is safest if we simply make the sort of light, meaningless conversation that usually passes for entertainment at these ton functions. If one treads lightly, one is far less likely to step in something unpleasant.”
Eliza bit her lip, burning with curiosity now. She shouldn’t pry, but she wanted to.
“Well, I suppose that settles that. If we’re going to avoid topics not usually spoken of at society functions, that only leaves us with idle gossip and inane observations about the other guests. Of those options, which would you prefer to pursue?”
Lord Edward barked out a surprised laugh at Eliza’s dry witticism, and after a moment, Lady Catherine laughed, too, a little of the gloom finally leaving her eyes. Several of the other guests turned to look at them, probably wondering what they were laughing at.
Lord and Lady Rosebury started sidling toward them like hounds on a scent, and when they moved, Eliza and Catherine both gasped. The Marquess and Marchioness of Rosebury had been blocking their view of Catherine’s mother and brother, the Duchess and Duke of Elkington.
