“Then ask if he would visit me.”
Portia rose and smoothed her skirts. “Nerissa…”
Nerissa laughed, a rather throaty gurgle. “Oh do not fret so, my dear. Trelyn is your cousin by marriage. He will adore you as I do.”
When Lord Trelyn entered, he showed no sign of adoring Portia, though the look he gave his wife came close. Did he always wear gray? He was dressed rather plainly today in gray cloth trimmed with silver. He suited his cool, classical house rather better than he suited this ornate room.
What a strange match this was.
“Trelyn,” cooed Nerissa. “Dearest Portia has come to call.”
Lord Trelyn took Portia’s hand and raised it to within inches of his lips, as was proper.“Enchanté.But were we not to see you this evening, Cousin?”
Portia dropped a curtsy and looked to Nerissa for help.
“Poor Portia is in a plight, Trelyn. Her brother has been called suddenly out of Town. Would it not be delightful if she were to come and be my companion for a while? We could show her London.”
Lord Trelyn waved Portia to her seat, and sat in a chair close by his wife. “I do not care to see you tire yourself at this time, my dear.”
It was as good as a refusal and Portia was almost relieved.
Nerissa pouted and laid a plump hand on his gray sleeve. “It will not tire me to take Portia to a place or two, Trelyn, and I declare I am like to expire of tedium here alone. You are so engaged in government business, and you do not like me to go out with only servants in attendance. Please, dearest one.”
The look Lord Trelyn gave Portia was not particularly friendly, and he followed it with an interrogation. Oh, he disguised it as conversation, but Portia felt as if both her family and herself were being turned inside out. He certainly was very protective of his wife.
She was forced to admit that Oliver’s business had been the purchase of a commission, but managed to conceal all matters of debts.
“We must approve of those so keen to serve the king,” said Lord Trelyn, though Portia suspected that he considered Oliver a rash fool.
He went on to question her association with Bryght Malloren. “You were seen to walk about the park on his arm, seemingly on terms of great familiarity, Cousin Portia.”
“I did not know how to refuse, my lord,” she confessed. “As for familiarity, he paid me some attentions. I made it clear, I hope, that I did not welcome them.”
What a bare-faced liar she was becoming.
“He would be a match far beyond your expectations, Cousin.”
Portia met his colorless eyes. “Precisely.”
He nodded with a touch of approval. “You seem to be a sensible woman and of an age to be past foolishness.”
Portia wished that were true.
Lord Trelyn turned to Nerissa. “Very well, my dear. If it would please you to have your cousin here to keep you company, I am willing to have it so. I still do not wish you to indulge in too many social affairs, but those we do attend, Cousin Portia may attend with us.”
To Portia, it seemed a grudging agreement, but Nerissa smiled ecstatically and held up her hands. “Trelyn, you are thedearestof husbands!”
He took both hands and kissed them, and this time his lips did touch the skin. A suppressed passion in the gesture sent a shiver down Portia’s spine. It was clear that Lord Trelyn adored his wife, and yet she would not care to be adored like that.
He was cool again when he turned to look over Portia. “If Cousin Portia is to share in our life, my dear, we must order her some new gowns.”
“Oh, but I have enough clothes,” Portia protested.
Lord Trelyn smiled coolly. “I doubt it. You must permit me this small indulgence, Cousin. You are to be Nerissa’s companion, and we would want to repay you in some way.”
So it would be a form of salary, would it? He was neatly putting her in the position of servant rather than family, and perhaps was anxious that Portia not disgrace him.
So be it.
