Sophie suppressed a frown.
‘Well, how delightful,’ Mrs Haxby smiled showing her pearly-white teeth, ‘I am honoured, Miss Fairfax.’
She bobbed a swift curtsey that suggested entirely the opposite, while Sophie reciprocated, certain she was being inspected.
‘Oh Lord Rotherby, what a surprise,’ Aurelia gushed, holding out her hand and ignoring Mrs Haxby entirely.
‘Lady Aurelia,’ he returned with a barest of nods. ‘The pleasure is all mine, though I’m not sure it’s entirely advisable for you and Miss Fairfax to be here,’ he quizzed with a faint frown.
Aurelia only laughed coyly, making Mrs Haxby stare.
‘Oh, Lord Rotherby, you’re always such a rogue,’ she admonished. ‘As though you would expect me to miss this exhibition, when you have long known my interest in Parisian fashion!’
It was Sophie’s turn to stare as Aurelia smiled archly.
‘Indeed?’ he drawled, pan-faced. ‘I admit I had quite forgotten that, though having already benefitted from Miss Fairfax’s insights into corsetry design, I wonder if you’d care to share some of yours?’
‘Oh, you droll thing!’ Aurelia returned with a giggle. ‘My only insight is that I believe you would have us ladies traversing around inonlyour corsets given half the chance.’
‘Aurelia!’ Sophie muttered in a strangled tone.
‘I can conceive of nothing more entertaining,’ Mrs Haxby purred, her eyes glinting, ‘and I daresay I have more to choose from than a debutante, after all.’
Aurelia’s doll-like chin lifted instantly.
‘I’m sure none of us are in any doubt of that,’ Lord Rotherby placated swiftly, ‘and now if you’ll excuse us, ladies, I’m sure you have many other appointments to keep.’
He nodded abruptly as Sophie flushed, aware he was telling them to leave.
She swallowed, trying to suppress an inexplicable rise of fury. First, he’d all but dismissed her love match ambitions, and now he was offering moral judgement on her decision to attend a modern fashion exhibition with his…light-o’-loveon his arm? She drew a deep breath just as a grating voice rose above the general background hum.
‘But Miss Fairfax! What a surprise! Pray, is your sister, the delightful new viscountess here with you too?’
Sophie looked up to find herself being scrutinised from head to toe by the peacock-styled patroness from Almack’s. She was one of the worst matriarchal gossips of the haute ton, and exactly the type of person Phoebe had been determined Sophie should avoid.
She withered briefly, before gathering herself.
‘Mrs Hendercott,’ she said, forcing with a smile, ‘how delightful to see you! Alas, my sister planned to accompany us but had to leave for?—’
‘Oh, is that Lady Aurelia and Lord Rotherby as well?’ Mrs Hendercott cut in, her gaze narrowing dangerously. ‘What an unexpected pleasure to see so many familiar faces here.’ She turned to Rotherby’s companion. ‘And you are…?’
Sophie shrank a second time, as Mrs Hendercott’s question hung painfully on the air.
‘Mrs Haxby, ma’am, pleased to meet you,’ she returned in grating tone, bobbing another curtsey.
‘Indeed,’ Mrs Hendercott returned with one of her piercing gazes. ‘One can never be sure who one might bump into on these occasions, and it isalwaysa revelation.’
‘My sister left for her European honeymoon a full week ago,’ Sophie rushed, reading everything into the purse of Mrs Hendercott's lips. ‘And my aunt is indisposed today, which is why Lady Aurelia and I brought our abigails instead.’ She rattled on, praying Mrs Hendercott was far too interested in Mrs Haxby to notice their distinct absence from the gallery. ‘Tell me, how is the General, Mrs Hendercott, and all your talented progeny too? Is Cecily quite recovered from her cold? I daresay her morning hacks are assisting, though my sister said her groom clearly has a challenge in keeping up.’
She smiled innocently, praying her dart had found its target. Phoebe had chanced upon the young Cecily riding through Hyde Park, without her personal groom, on more than one occasion. No one would understand the urge to ride alone better than a Fairfax, but Sophie also knew the pastime was even less acceptable in London than Bath, and particularly as an unmarried debutante.
Mrs Hendercott’s thick eyebrows darted together in instant suspicion.
‘Cecily is quite recovered now, I thank you, Miss Fairfax,’ she returned icily, ‘and much too busy for morning hacks with the season underway. And now, as the ladies of the Bridge Club are here in an investigative capacity, we really must take our leave. Lord Rotherby, I must say it is muchlessof a surprise to find you here. Lady Aurelia, Mrs… Haxby,’ she concluded waspishly.
Both ladies inclined their heads as Mrs Hendercott took her leave, and Sophie slowly exhaled a breath. She was the victor for the moment, but only because of a fragile snippet of gossip. Yet she was sure she’d blotted her copybook too. Mrs Hendercott would be well aware she’d traded Cecily’s minor lapse in good behaviour for a blind eye to her own, but how long would it be before she found a way to penalise her?
‘Expertly done,’ Lord Rotherby murmured as soon as Mrs Hendercott and her vulturous Bridge Club were out of earshot. ‘Though I’m sure you must have been well aware of the risk of attending an exhibition such as this?’ He frowned before continuing. ‘In truth, while it is admirable to know your passion outweighs societal expectation inall things, I’m surprised your guardian permitted it at all.’
