“Very likely. You disapprove?”
“It doesn’t seem natural.”
“You’re a spinster,” Ariana pointed out.
“That doesn’t mean I’ll always be one.”
Ariana remembered Ethel suggesting that she’d like to wed. “You’d like to be married?”
“If the man was right.”
“Who would be right?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t met a right ’un yet.”
That made Ariana laugh, which was a good start to the day. “Off we go, to politely repel Lord Sellerden.”
She was at her bedroom door when a maid burst in, gasping, “Lady Langton wishes to see you in her boudoir, my lady! Now!”
No point asking a maid what was amiss. Ariana hurried there, mind jangling with possible disasters—Norris?— to find Lady Cawle installed and glaring at her.
“You,” Lady Cawle declared, “are a scandal!”
“I? What?Why?” Ariana looked to her mother, who seemed close to tears. “What’s happened?”
“In the papers!” her mother gasped, pointing to one that lay sheet-scattered on the carpet.
Ariana bent to start reassembling it, but then realized how pointless that was. She straightened to face Lady Cawle. “Tell me. I’ve done nothing.”
“It’s what people think you’ve done that matters, gel. And you’ve entangled my nephew.”
“Kynaston? What is he claiming?”
“Innocence, of course, but who’ll believe him?According to theLondon Intelligencer—a scandal rag of the lowest sort—you and he were fornicating in the cellar of that Peake’s house.”
Ariana was grateful for a nearby chair to collapse into. “It’s not true.”
“But who will believe that?” Lady Cawle demanded.
“You said it was a scandal rag. Who on earth reads that thing?”
“Not me,” said Lady Cawle, as if she’d been accused. “Someone sent me a copy with a weaselly note about my needing to know.”
“Because of Kynaston. If anyone believes the lies, it will be because of him, not me.”
“How does that matter? You’d best leave Town.”
“What?Why can’t he leave Town?”
“I’ve told him to do so. His estates need attention. But you cannot stay.”
Ariana looked toward her mother. “If I run, everyone will believe it’s true.”
“They’ll believe it if you stay, Ariana. It will be horrible.”
“Ethel was with me. We can make that clear.”
“Maids have connived at sin before now,” Lady Cawle said. “There’s nothing to be done but let it die down. Meanwhile, I and others can spread the word that it’s malicious nonsense, but it will take time to extinguish the last ember. The best thing would be for you to quietly marry in Hampshire.”
