“That little man? The one who chases after tall ladies?”
“The very one. Fortunately that means Kynaston doesn’t feel able to challenge him, and I assume Norris will be persuaded of the same.”
Ethel took another piece of bread and buttered it. “Doesn’t seem fair that big men can’t beat up little ones. My brothers wouldn’t hesitate if some inchworm spread scandal about me, even if it was true.”
“Inchworm,” Ariana repeated with a smile. “So appropriate. Gentlemen’s code, I suppose.”
“But that’s letting the worm get away with it.”
“Perhaps he depends on that.”
Ethel shook her head, but made no further comment on the odd ways of the highborn.
Ariana poured herself more tea, added sugar, and sipped at it. “I asked Kynaston how Inching knew we’d been in the cellar, and I still wonder. He wasn’t at Peake’s house.”
“There’d have been gossip.”
“By whom? Only the three of us and Mr. Peake knew we’d been down there, and he said he hadn’t mentioned it.”
“Servants.”
“Remember, at a meeting of the Curious Creatures the servants stay belowstairs unless summoned.”
“A proper puzzle, then.”
“Mr. Peake must have mentioned it to someone, and that someone must have related it to Inching. Let’s ignore the dismal subject. Kynaston and I are to appear at the theater tonight to show the world we’re not at all disturbed by the silly lies. What shall I wear?”
“The unaltered black?” Ethel suggested. “It’s still high in the neck, and you don’t want to look bold.”
“I don’t want to look penitential, either.”
“You won’t with the amber beads. I could weave your fine gold chain around them. That’d glitter a bit in the lights.”
“That might work.”
“It will.” Ethel rang for a maid to clear away the lunch, then turned from the bellpull to say, “May I have an hour, Ariana? I have an errand to run.”
Ariana was surprised, but she said, “Of course. I shall sit quietly with a book.”
She did that, but she didn’t take in much of the text. Her mind kept fretting around scandal and malice and Kynaston and desire with eccentric diversions to marriage and happiness and...
...leaking roofs,she reminded herself.
Anddrink.
All the same, she longed for Kynaston to be there now, perhaps even to be in his arms, where she’d feel safe and protected, if only for a moment. It was a blessing when Ethel returned, putting an end to all such folly. Ethel went into her tiny room to take off her pelisse and bonnet and returned to sit down. “Lord Inching got his information from Lord Churston. Lord Kynaston could call Churston out.”
“Churston! But I don’t want anyone calling anyone out. How did you find out?”
“I asked Lord Inching.”
“You went to speak to him?”
“Seemed the easiest way. I thought that with his interest in tall women I’d probably get in.”
Ariana was slack-jawed. “You simply went to his door?”
“And asked to see him. I suspect his footman—a very short footman—has orders to admit any tall woman.”
