The conversation at the table halted at their arrival. He pulled out the chair for Elizabeth and took the only empty seat which was right next to her. Sophia fiddled with the handle of her teacup and offered him a warning stare. Lady Nora and his mother exchanged telling glances. After the tea, he would pull his mother aside and nip her matchmaking scheme in the bud.
“Simon, Mrs. Adare,” his mother said. The silver in her hair blended into the blondness, giving her a Nordic air. Although she was much older now, his mother was still a great beauty. “I was just telling Lady Nora about my visit with the fortune teller today.”
Langdon rolled his eyes. She wrinkled her pert nose at him, great affection in her gaze.
“It was truly a thrilling story.” Lady Nora released a visible shudder, grinning as she did so. “Please share it with Elizabeth. I think she would enjoy it immensely.”
“Tell me, Mrs. Adare, do you believe in ghosts?” his mother asked.
“My mother thinks the fortune teller has channeled my great aunt,” Sophia said with a rare smile. She had been in a rather dour mood of late, her usual good humor gone. Like a mother hen, she had been chasing after Aimee since they’d arrived in London.
Aimee thrived in the London ballrooms and was very popular. He wished Sophia could enjoy herself more and stop worrying. Another pressure put on his shoulders. As head of the family, he was responsible for guiding his siblings. Instead, he had been out of the country on Tenet business.
“I am sure Mrs. Adare does not wish to discuss such an issue,” Sophia said.
“But I do, Miss Beaumont. I have seen a ghost.” Elizabeth was quick to disagree. Removing her glove, she lifted a truffle to her plump lips. White teeth showed as she closed her eyes for a brief second.
The sight stirred more than his imagination and he averted his gaze. He had to keep his mind on track. His mother and Lady Nora were sharp and could sense any sign of attraction between him and Elizabeth.
“See, you are kindred spirits,” Lady Nora said, leaning back in her seat. Exhausted heaviness rested around her eyes, and she blinked several times as if trying to stay awake. From what he’d observed of her the first day they met in front of her house, she was a new mother with a colicky child. Most ladies of her station would leave the child-rearing up to the nanny. It was more than apparent she was not most ladies.
His mother clapped her gloved hands. “Yes, we are. Now please, tell.”
“I believe Mrs. Adare is famished. Why don’t you allow her to eat?” Sophia said, shifting in her chair. She was tall and too thin under the drab grey dress that made her appear much older than she was. Of all his siblings, he was closest to her in temperament and personality.
“Yes, I suppose,” his mother frowned, the light of curiosity still bright in her eyes. Growing up with her as a mother was never boring. She always saw the brighter side of any situation. The only time he saw her down was after his father’s death. “I will let her eat, but don’t think I will be sidetracked. I have met no one who has met a ghost,” his mother said.
“I didn’t actually meet one.” Elizabeth wiped her fingers on the napkin. She had delicate hands, her nails short and blunt. The elegant finery enhanced her beauty but underneath the glamourous exterior beat the heart of a sensual woman.
“Can one meet a ghost?” He rested back in his seat, arms crossed. His mother had been obsessed with ghosts since his father’s death, and he’d indulged her whims. It was hard to deny her anything. He was not above teasing her about the subject. “I mean, do they speak? Bow? Shake hands?”
“Oh, cynical one,” Elizabeth said, crinkling her nose. “Are you going to allow me to tell the story?”
“Yes, do tell.” He waved a hand in her direction. Their initial meeting had been terse, and he had feared they’d never get along. Last night had proved him wrong. No matter how much he enjoyed her company, it was not sustainable. Soon he would investigate the smugglers, and once the mystery was solved, he would quit the Tenet for good.
One chapter of his life would be closed forever, and while necessary, it was bittersweet.
Chapter Nine
Elizabeth glanced at Langdon. He lifted a skeptical brow. The chairs were crowded together, and his thigh rested near her own. His heat infiltrated the thin material of her skirt, his closeness disconcerting.
“Please Mrs. Adare, tell my mother your fable so that we can move on to the topics of the living,” he said, the husky timbre of his voice sending goosebumps along her skin.
Popping another chocolate into her mouth, she allowed it to melt on her tongue. Heaven. The one thing she loved above all else about her trip to the city was the food. At Waverly, they kept to basic fare. Her uncle’s cook was a master with sauces. After she returned to the house, she would sneak down to the kitchen and indulge in whatever decadent dessert his cook left for her.
