She missed that man. Dreadfully.
Her lip quivered.
“Madame,” Lady Clarissa said quickly. “Would you be so kind as to bring us some refreshment?”
“Of course,” the modiste replied.
Katherine followed the modiste with her gaze until the woman disappeared into the back. Mrs. VanHeldt and Lady Darlington withdrew and then busied themselves exclaiming over a pile of fashion plates at the far corner of the room.
Lady Clarissa took the box of stockings from Katherine’s hands and set it down on a chair. Then, she looped her arm through Katherine’s.
“I must confess,” Clarissa whispered. “I recognized the carriage. This meeting is no accident.”
“I—I don’t know what to say,” Katherine stammered.
“I will speak for us both, then.” Lady Clarissa lowered her voice even further. “We would have met eventually, and wherever that meeting happened, all eyes—and ears—would have been fixed on us.” She slanted a grin. “I must say, I am glad I acted on impulse. If you blush that way now, I can’t imagine what you would have done in front of a room of gossiping biddies.”
Katherine frowned. “Forgive me, Lady Clarissa. I cannot tell if you mean to be kind or cutting.”
“Cutting?” Clarissa exclaimed. “Why would I be cutting?”
Katherine eyed Lady Clarissa for a long, silent moment. No guile shone in her eyes, only sincerity. “I—I know you were attached to Lord Bromton. I am sorry if I imposed.”
Clarissa blinked. Then, she laughed. “Oh heavens, no!” She smiled slyly. “Allow me to call a spade a spade and honestly admit you’ve saved me a lifetime of trouble.”
Extraordinary. She, too, decided to speak in truth. “I amveryglad to make your acquaintance.”
“Now that is over with,” Clarissa said, “you mustn’t allow us to keep you. You must be anxious to return home.”
Lady Darlington and Mrs. VanHeldt’s laughter wafted across the room. With a wave of homesickness for Julia, Katherine sent a longing glance in their direction.
Clarissa searched Katherine’s face. Then, she appeared to come to a decision.
“Lady Darlington, Mrs. VanHeldt, and I are going to the theater tonight,” Clarissa said. “You and Lord Bromton are more than welcome to join us.”
Katherine met her gaze. “Lord Bromton is otherwise occupied.”
“Well then,” Lady Clarissa said, “yousimplymustcome.”
“Is the play a comedy?” Katherine asked with a twist of her lips. “I could use a happy ending.”
Clarissa broke into a grin. “I have a feeling we are destined to be fast friends, Lady Bromton. I, too, love a happy ending, especially when I must arrange one myself.”
…
The sleeping quarters at Giles’s club had not been designed for an extended stay. By the end of Giles’s third night on the cot, muscles he did not know existed screamed in protest. By the end of the week, his stride had turned into a hobble.
He did not want to be at his club. Nor, he suspected, did the club’s manager wish to house him, though the man would never have been so bold as to forcibly remove a marquess. However, the man clucked with impatience every time Giles made a request.
Giles ignored the clucking and the significant looks and requested a light repast in “his” chamber. He gazed balefully at the cold beef before lifting a forkful to his lips.
He chewed the tough meat. And chewed. And chewed. And—
Farring burst through the door. “Not one more day, Spades.”
Farring? Angry? Giles forced a swallow. “What seems to be the trouble?” He set down his fork. Whatever the trouble was, he would not be able to eat another bite.
“Were Lady Bromton alone, I could manage.” Farring’s gaze narrowed. “But now, there are four of them.Four. All hell-bent on setting tongues a-wag. And if you fail to put a stop to this, you deserve whatever they dish.”
