Pippa took her teacher’s hand and was pulled smoothly to her feet.
“Thank you for the lesson, Mrs. Peabody,” she said with a bow.
The other Angels burst into the training room.
“Mr. Cullen has arrived,” Livy announced.
“He’s early!” Pippa clapped her hands to her cheeks. “And I look a fright.”
“Don’t worry. He just went into the study with Charlie,” Fiona said. “We’ll help you freshen up.”
Within a quarter hour, Pippa and her friends rushed into the main house. Hawker informed them that Cull and Charlie were still in the study.
“Lady Fayne said to wait in the drawing room.” Hawker pinned them with a one-eyed look. “And she said specifically not to eavesdrop.”
Sighing, Pippa and the others went to the drawing room, where refreshments awaited on the coffee table.
“I’m sure everything will be fine,” Livy said as she poured out the tea.
Fiona used silver tongs to select sliced fruits from a tray. “Or it will be a disaster.”
“You’re not helping matters,” Glory said under her breath.
“I’m merely being honest.” Fi arched her auburn brows. “Remember when Livy wanted to tell Hadleigh she was an Angel? Charlie does not like outsiders knowing about our society—especially male outsiders.”
Worry gnawed at Pippa. Fiona was right. Charlie did not trust men in general, and she’d voiced her concern about Cullin particular.
“That was a different scenario,” Livy said reassuringly. “Hadleigh didn’t know about the Angels, and given his overprotective nature, was unlikely to support my participation. Mr. Cullen, on the other hand, is fully aware of what we do. And he doesn’t have a problem with Pippa being an Angel, does he?”
A cool droplet trickled down Pippa’s spine. Her inner voice whispered that she didn’t need Cull’s permission, or any man’s, to do as she wished. She’d promised herself that she wouldn’t go down the same path as she had with Longmere. She wouldn’t give up her independence—herself—for anyone again.
She pulled her shoulders back. “Cull canbe overprotective as well. But I’ve been clear that I am my own woman and don’t have to answer to him or anyone.”
She had made her conditions clear. That she wouldn’t countenance any restriction of her freedom during their affair. And Cull had agreed to her terms.
Head angled, Glory asked, “How serious are things between you and Mr. Cullen?”
Pippa chewed on her lip. It was one thing to discuss what went on between a man and woman with Livy, but Glory and Fiona were both unmarried debutantes. Pippa felt protective of their youth and innocence.
“You are having an affair with him, are you not?” Fiona inquired.
Pippa’s cheeks burned. “Fiona Garrity, what do you know of such things?”
“Rather more than people give me credit for,” the redhead replied. “Being a debutante does not make me dim-witted. One cannot do the work we do and remain blind to the realities of life. It has been obvious from the start that Mr. Cullen has taken a special interest in you. Now it seems that you return it. Trust me, it would take far more than an affair to scandalize anyone in this room.”
Fi had a point. The Angels’ cases had taken them to London’s darkest corners, exposing them to every kind of sin and vice. Charlie’s philosophy was that empowerment came from education, not ignorance. To take charge of their destinies, women needed to know the facts. Pippa acknowledged with a twinge that innocence hadn’t done her any favors.
“We only wish for you to be happy,” Glory said earnestly.
As the cat was out of the bag, Pippa saw no reason to dissemble.
“Cull and I are enjoying each other’s company for now.” She succeeded in saying the words without blushing. “I’m still in mourning, after all, and not ready for anything permanent.”
“Wise choice,” Fiona concurred. “It’s always good to shop around a bit.”
“So says the perpetual browser,” Livy teased.
“Are you ever going to settle on a suitor, Fi?” Glory’s hazel eyes had a playful light. “Heaven knows you have your pick.”
