Genova noticed then that various items belonged to Thalia. That explained the grandeur, but she’d hoped for a place of her own, no matter how plain. She’d not realized until the past three days how much she relished her privacy.
However, she said, “I’m accustomed to sharing a room with Lady Thalia.”
“She is delightful, isn’t she? Such a shame that Rothgar’s been cut off from his great-aunts all these years. Now the ice is broken, things will be different.”
Genova recalled a scene she’d witnessed once—ice breaking and people falling through it to their deaths. It was a strange saying, all in all.
The brisk countess opened an adjoining door. “There’s a closet attached, with a bed for the maid.”
It was a narrow dressing room, just large enough for a huge armoire, a chest of drawers, and a small bed. Even so, Genova envied Regeanne, who was puttingthings away. The maid looked around, startled, then dipped a curtsy.
Lady Arradale waved for her to continue her work and closed the door again. “I gather Ashart visits the great-aunts in Tunbridge Wells?”
“A few times a year, I understand, my lady, but not while I’ve known them.”
The countess cocked her head and Genova was aware of being studied. “A handsome rascal, is he not?”
“We’ve only just met, my lady.”
“A moment tells us if a man is handsome or not, Miss Smith.”
Genova knew she was blushing and shed her fur-lined cloak as excuse. “He’s certainly handsome in that way, my lady. But handsome is that handsome does, and his behavior toward his poor child isn’t handsome at all.”
“Molly Carew’s behavior would drive a saint to distraction,” Lady Bryght said. “Such folly to think a man like Ashart would marry her under pressure, and I do believe she started the affair with just that in mind.”
That fired Genova’s sense of justice. “It was certainly wrong of her to become his mistress, but wasn’t it equally wrong of him to take one?”
Both ladies gave her an identical look.
“We’re speaking of folly rather than virtue,” the countess said, not unkindly. “Virtue, they say, is its own reward, and as such, it provides a thin cloak in winter. Seek also to be wise, Miss Smith.”
“There’s nothing between myself and Lord Ashart.”
Lady Bryght chuckled. “Very unwise. Keep your clothes between you at all times.”
“Portia!” laughed the countess, but she added, “It’s good advice, Miss Smith. He’s an infamous rascal.”
Genova remembered the ridiculous betrothal. What would these ladies think of her words when they heard? What could she possibly say to make things better now?
Oh, I forgot I do know he’s a rascal. That’s why I’m engaged to marry him….
“I heard Molly Carew left Lady Knatchbull’s masquerade with Ashart without a hint of shame,” Lady Bryght said. “She was dressed as Salome.”
“What?” asked the countess. “In the seven veils?”
“And not a stitch on underneath.”
“The result is a lesson to all wise women.” Lady Arradale went to the washstand. “There should be hot water.” She raised the linen covering a jug, and steam rose. “Good.”
She indicated a bellpull by the fireplace. “That rings in the servants’ quarters and will bring somebody at any time. Please make yourself comfortable, Miss Smith, and join us in the Tapestry Room when you’re ready. We have a few guests already with us, but most will arrive tomorrow. I’ll send a footman to wait by your door to guide you. Please treat Rothgar Abbey as your home.”
The two ladies left and Genova put a hand to her head as if that could stop its whirling. This had seemed such a simple voyage once. It had presented escape from her stepmother’s house, along with an opportunity to mingle with the great and observe their follies.
She had not planned to be a folly, stuck like a fly in the center of a gilded web.
But no, she was not so helpless as that. She would think of herself as a ship navigating between Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla, the many-headed monster, was an excellent image for the Malloren family, and Ashart enswirled her like a whirlpool.
She felt the effect even now, when she knew he was exactly the heartless rake she’d thought. Even if Lady Booth Carew had set out to seduce him, he’d let himself be seduced and was now denying responsibility for the innocent result.
