Eugenia’s head spun. Lydia had gone straight for the throat, of course, but she was crafty about it, damn her.
Eugenia wanted to swear, or run away, or both, but she could do neither.
So, she smoothed the front of her dress and looked away, trying to come up with something appropriate to say after Lydia had had the gall to bring up Lady Duncan’s Ball when she knew that Eugenia had never willingly spoken to Lady Rosebury a day in her life.
Lady Henrietta caught Eugenia’s eye, then, cringing with sympathy, and silently mouthed words of encouragement.
“Ignore them.”
Eugenia, startled, watched as Lady Henrietta’s brother steered her towards the garden at the side of the house, well away from Lady Rosebury.
Susan looped her arm through Eugenia’s and offered the women facing them a bright smile before turning her attention exclusively to Lydia.
“I don’t remember ever seeing Eugenia speak to Lady Rosebury before, Miss... Errington, is it? You must be mistaken.” Lydia’s cheeks reddened at the utterly polite, but thinly veiled insinuation that she was lying. She darted a glance at her mother, Lady Bellingham, as if to ask if she was going to let Susan talk to her like that, but someone else had captured the lady of the house’s attention, and she was already striding towards them. “Have we been properly introduced?” Susan continued, her gaze on Lydia never wavering. “If we have, I’m afraid I don’t remember it, but with a face as forgettable as yours, I suppose that’s to be expected.”
Susan then, very sharply, turned away, Eugenia turning with her, as their arms were linked. Eugenia nearly choked to death, holding in the laugh that wanted to burst out of her at Susan giving Lydia the cut direct. Still, she held herself together, steering Susan towards the garden, too, before the situation could escalate. Her mother wouldn’t be happy if they upset Lady Bellingham on their very first day at the house party.
Just then, more hooves sounded on the gravel, announcing the arrival of another addition to the party. Curious, Eugenia paused and looked back to see who it might be. Her heart stuttered and she forgot to breathe for a moment.
She would recognise Lord D’Asti’s carriage anywhere. He was here, and she could finally see him again!
Despite Lydia openly glaring at them after Susan had dared to defend Eugenia, Eugenia tugged her friend back towards the area where new arrivals exited their carriages. She was so eager to see Lord D’Asti again, after having to go so long without seeing him or being able to communicate with him, that she didn’t think, she simply moved. His carriage came to a stop and Eugenia’s steps quickened until the carriage door opened and Lord D’Asti’s footman helped a girl she didn’t recognise out of his carriage.
Eugenia’s steps faltered and she went still, stiffening as a barrage of questions assaulted her thoughts. Susan, perforce, was brought to a halt beside her.
Who was this girl traveling with Lord D’Asti? Were they courting? Where was her chaperone?
Eugenia burned to know the answers to these questions, but she didn’t dare approach him and ask them.
What if he’d seen the piece inThe Society Reporter?
Had he moved on, not wanting to be caught up in yet another scandal?
CHAPTER TEN
Feelingas if she’d been kicked in the midsection, Eugenia struggled to breathe as she stared across the lawn at the petite brunette beauty waiting beside Lord D’Asti’s carriage, as a woman who could only have been the girl’s mother alighted next to the mystery girl.
Well, that answered the question about her chaperone.
Eugenia’s chest constricted even tighter, as if trying to crush the life out of her racing heart as Lord D’Asti stepped out of the carriage and stood beside the women, acknowledging Lady Bellingham with a broad smile as she swooped down on them.
“I knew we shouldn’t have come,” Eugenia hissed, where only Susan could hear her.
Her legs felt as if they were encased in lead, and she stiffened further as the mystery girl and Lord D’Asti shared a look and a hearty laugh about heaven only knew what.
“Come, now.” Susan’s gentle scolding sounded almost motherly to Eugenia’s ears. She had no doubt that her friend would makea fine mama to her future children. “It is never a good idea to jump to conclusions, dearest.”
Susan’s murmur was barely audible, but she gave Eugenia’s arm a reassuring squeeze before, with an insistent tug, spurring Eugenia back into motion across the lawn. Towards Lord D’Asti, and the two women.
“What on Earth are you doing?”
Eugenia desperately tried to tug her arm free of Susan’s grip, without making a scene.
“We are going to greet Lord D’Asti, of course. I am sure that he will be delighted to see friendly faces amongst the party guests. We can speak to him, and perhaps uncover information about who his traveling companions are, and why they arrived together.”
Eugenia trailed slightly behind Susan, feeling like she was wading through mud as they crossed the lawn, and then the gravel, and came to a halt just a few steps away from Lord D’Asti and his companions.
Don’t jump to conclusions, Eugenia thought.
