Eugenia bit her lip, and the corners of her mouth tugged up into a dreamy smile despite her best efforts to hide it.
“I must admit that I find the prospect of seeing him again to be a thrilling thought. He is so handsome and charming, it is all but impossible to dislike him.”
“I sense an unspoken ‘but’ at the end of your admission.”
Susan arched a brow at Eugenia, encouraging her to share the thought which had made her voice tremble with uncertainty.
“Well, I am nervous, too.” Eugenia leaned her forehead against the cool glass of her bedroom window and let her eyes fall closed as she spoke. “I don’t know whether or not he has seen that awful piece about us inThe Society Reporter. I know neither of us was named directly, but they made it too obvious for anyone to miss who the article was about. If he has seen it, how does he feel about what they said?”
Susan tugged Eugenia away from the window, turned her around, and pulled her into a fierce hug.
“Well, the only way that you can discover his feelings on the matter is by seeing him again, and the sooner the better. So go to this house party, despite Lydia, and find out his feelings on the matter for yourself.”
BELLINGHAM PARK
Eugenia’s stomach lurched, clenching with nerves as their carriage bounced to a stop before Bellingham Park, behind theline of other carriages which had already disgorged the small group of people who were greeting each other in front of the house, in preparation for the house party.
For a moment, she thought she might cast up her accounts, but at an encouraging glance from Susan, Eugenia swallowed hard, dismissing the nausea which tried to assault her nerves, and took a deep breath.
“Shall we?”
Neville’s tone was bright, his smile brighter as a footman opened the carriage door, ready to help them all out. Eugenia gave a jerky nod, but didn’t speak. Susan was the first to exit the carriage, then Eugenia, and Neville brought up the rear.
Several sets of eyes turned to survey them, and Lady Bellingham stepped forward with a broad smile.
“Eugenia! I’m delighted that you are able to attend our little fete. Now, if I am not greatly mistaken, your chaperones are the recently married Lord and Lady Seabury. Am I correct?”
Eugenia forced herself to return Lady Bellingham’s smile and nodded, glad that they were focusing on Susan and Neville, for the moment.
“Yes, that is correct.”
Their carriage pulled away to make room for another at that very moment, and Eugenia lost track of the conversation between Lady Bellingham and Susan amid the clatter of hooves and the creaking of the carriage. As if of one mind, they all shifted out of the way to make room for the newcomers.
“Ah!” Lady Bellingham chirped with a delighted, childish clap. “And this is Lord Greywood and his sister, Lady Henrietta, if I am not mistaken?”
Lord Greywood, a short, stocky fellow with dark hair and hazel eyes, offered Lady Bellingham a bland attempt at a smile. Lady Henrietta, however, froze, her blue-green eyes wide as she took in the company surrounding her. Her eyes locked on Susan and Neville, and she paled a little at facing them for the first time since the contretemps at Lady Mowbray’s Ball.
“Well, well! Isn’t this a delicious little vignette?” A voice spoke up behind them. All eyes turned to the take in the slightly doughy, beady eyed woman who’d spoken. It was Lydia Hawkins, the Marchioness of Rosebury, Eugenia realised. She was the gossip who’d spread the news of Lady Henrietta trying to trap poor Neville into a marriage he didn’t want, at Lady Mowbray’s Ball. The woman clung to her husband’s arm, her eyes glittering wickedly as she looked back and forth between Lady Henrietta and Susan. “Are we to be subjected to yet another scandalous drama, having a happy newlywed couple and the girl who tried to prevent their marriage at the same house party?”
“Are we to be subjected to your dull and useless commentary on the matter for the entire house party, Lady Rosebury?”
Lord Greywood had snapped a response, before anyone else could react, obviously feeling quite protective of his little sister.
“Easy there, Greywood.” Lord Rosebury offered the Viscount a grin almost as wicked as the one his wife had been wearing only moments ago. “It was just a bit of idle chit-chat. No need to get your dander up.”
Lady Henrietta shifted uncomfortably, her cheeks flushing a dark red as Lydia Errington appeared at her mother’s elbow, stifling a cough which might have been intended to cover a laugh. Eugenia winced, and despite knowing what Lady Henrietta had done to try to prevent Susan and Neville’s marriage, she couldn’t help sympathising with the girl’s current position, and obvious unease at still being a topic of gossip. She was horrified that Lady Rosebury saw fit to make commentary on it, right in front of the poor girl, too.
As Lady Henrietta turned her face away from the two Lydias flanking Lady Bellingham, one her daughter and one her friend, Eugenia made a point of catching her eye.
“Ignore them.”
She whispered the words, hoping that they would be a boon to the embarrassed girl. Lady Henrietta blinked, her mouth forming a small, shocked ‘O’ at Eugenia’s unexpectedly kind words after such a jarring greeting.
“Lord Greywood, how lovely to see you again.”
Lydia Errington’s voice was warm and honeyed when directed at Viscount Greywood. She dipped in a curtsey, and he offered a jerky bow in response. Their gazes caught and held for a moment, and Eugenia could have sworn that she saw something pass between them, but she couldn’t be certain what. Then, Lydia turned her gaze to Eugenia, and she felt her blood chill in response.
“Lady Rosebury, have you met Lady Eugenia Calthorpe? I could have sworn that I saw the two of you chatting at Lady Duncan’s Ball.” Lydia smiled sweetly. “I think it’s so brave of Eugenia to show her face after what happened at the Ball.”
