It truly was a shame alcohol wasn’t her forte, because she could really use a drink about now.“It’s all just a terrible misunderstanding—” Triana tried to explain, but Amelia would have no excuses.
The older woman threw her arms in the air in exasperation, as if her daughter had suddenly taken leave of her senses. “Misunderstanding? Did you even read this?” She threw down the paper on a nearby table and pointed at it, as if it were some hideous snake, coiled and ready to strike.
Triana had the grace to grimace. “Well, yes, I did, but—”
“So, I suppose you’re going to try and deny that you danced with the Duke of Chiltern?” Her mother filleted Triana where she stood, raising her eyebrows in obvious disdain.
Triana’s cheeks began to burn with her frustration. What would it matter if she admitted her supposed guilt? Her mother had already condemned her, along with the rest of her peers. One of the lessons she’d learned long ago was that people, her mother included, were going to believe what they wanted, regardless of the contrary. Of course, it didn’t help that she lived in a city that thrived on the misfortune of others, and overreacted on purpose, just for something to talk about over afternoon tea.
“I didn’t realize it was a crime for my little sister to share a waltz with a fellow member of the peerage — and a duke no less,” Travell muttered from the doorway.
Relief flooded Triana at her brother’s saving intervention.
“Why, I would have thought you might be jumping for joy, Mother. No doubt you wouldn’t have been so upset had Eastbury been the recipient.” He strode into the room with a nearly bored air.
“Hmph.” The countess assessed her son with irritation. “Be that as it may...” She paused to lift her chin a notch in defiance. “...the duke is practically engaged, whereas the earl is a worthy prospect. Furthermore, as a mother, it’s my duty to safeguard my daughter’s reputation—”
“As Chiltern has announced no betrothal,” Travell interrupted smoothly, a dark brow arching in challenge, “and as I see it, all that took place was a harmless dance, Triana has done nothing to deserve such censure. Besides, if I recall correctly, I am the head of this household in father’s absence, thus it’s my duty to take care of any issues that relate to this family.”
Amelia’s mouth abruptly shut with a snap, cutting off any haughty retort she might have made.
Travell smiled slowly. “I see that we’re on the same page now.”
But their mother would not be pacified so easily. “So what, pray tell, are you intending to do about this slur against our good name? Surely you must see, after this, that Triana needs the firm guidance of a husband!” Lady Trenton effectively ignored the fact that her daughter was in the same room, but it wasn’t as if Triana hadn’t heard it all before. Countless times, in fact.
Travell’s blue eyes narrowed slightly, but instead of commenting in kind, he turned his gaze on his sister and gave her a pleasant smile, as if he wasn’t in the midst of a heated argument. He nearly caught her off guard as he abruptly changed the subject. “I was just heading out for a ride. I don’t guess you’d care to join me?”
Amelia gasped in blatant outrage and placed her hands on her hips. She opened her mouth as if to dispute the sudden outing, but Triana recovered first and said brightly, “That sounds wonderful, Travell. Just give me a moment to change?”
His grin widened. “Capital. I’ll make sure your mare is saddled and ready to go when you are.” With a grand flourish of his hand, he gestured for her to leave and Triana gratefully accepted the opportunity.
She had barely reached the staircase before she heard her mother’s voice raised in disapproval. She suppressed a shudder, thankful that she was spared for the moment.
She scurried up the remaining flight of steps, and with the help of her maid, quickly changed into a midnight blue velvet riding habit. After tying a tidy bow underneath her chin to secure the matching bonnet, she cautiously made her way back down to the foyer.
Travell was patiently waiting for her by the front door, his hat and riding crop in hand. She anxiously accepted her own crop from the ever efficient butler, afraid that her mother might reappear at any moment, but already a hasty glance about had told her that the countess was nowhere in sight.
Travell had won the day again, and as always, his skill at pacifying Amelia never ceased to amaze her.
***
“I never knew what a kind nature Lady Gretfield possessed,” Lady Worthington noted, as the baroness’ carriage rattled away. “Then again, she has attended my salon several times and has always been a particular friend.” The older woman had paused for what appeared to be a brief exchange of pleasantries, when in truth it was nothing more than another slur against the moral character of Triana Abernathy.
Gabriel had managed to keep silent beside Cordelia for the past half hour of malicious attacks; nodding and murmuring a greeting here or there when it was expected of him, but his tolerance for the entiretonwas beginning to wear exceedingly thin. The smug expressions his companion continuously wore, as she played up her part of the poor victim, did nothing to absolve his anger. If anything, it merely intensified.
However, as he was a seasoned agent for the Crown and possessed of an outward passivity born of experience, he calmly focused on maneuvering his stylish phaeton through Hyde Park’s famed, Rotten Row. The only sign of his growing irritation being the slight tightening of his jaw, but even then, it was practically indiscernible.
In spite of his control, Gabriel admitted there had been a moment this morning when he’d nearly stalked into the main office of theTimeswith the intention of pummeling the daylights out of the reporter responsible for printing such blatant lies. But he’d come to the realization that to do so, would be like cutting his throat and that of the other agents assigned to this damnable case. Even Travell had agreed that to retaliate now would be foolhardy, although he’d said little else on the matter. But Gabriel knew what he’d been thinking. Hell, the same thing had run through his mind. While duty and honor were compelling them to solve this mystery, it was the Regent who was counting on their success. Thus, getting reprimanded for insubordination would ultimately accomplish nothing. And as irritating as it was, there were casualties in war — even those fought in secret.
Even so, that didn’t mean he wasn’t feeling a degree of guilt for causing more trouble for Triana. He could still picture her as clearly as if she were in his arms; that silky dark hair pulled up in an elegant coiffure, a few enticing curls left to dangle along that graceful neck. Those beautiful, sapphire eyes — wide and innocent — shimmering like chips of heaven, the spark of desire matching his own; and that luscious, pink mouth perfect for kissing…
Abruptly, Gabriel cleared his throat and shifted in his seat.
Last night, he’d meant to shock Triana so that she might relent with her suspicious nature, but now he feared he’d only made matters worse.
For both of them.
“You can’t mean tospeakto her?” Cordelia hissed.
