A short time later, Wilson returned with Mrs. Langford in tow. Her hands were clasped in front of her, her head turning this way and that as she surveyed the walls.
“Mrs. Langford,” Honora said, smiling. “How pleasant it is to see you again. Please, have a seat.”
Her guest smiled and took the proffered chair. “Thank you.” Mrs. Langford reached over and ran a hand over one of Honora’s many pillows before returning her hands to her lap. “I apologize if my visit is unexpected.”
“Not at all,” Honora assured her. “I mean, it is unexpected, but a happy surprise.”
Mrs. Langford bobbed her head, her mouth tilted up. “Wonderful.”
Honora called for tea, but then a slightly awkward silence hovered over the room.
“I had enjoyed meeting you the other day at the Shepherds’,” Mrs. Langford said.
Fanny rolled the tea cart in, and Honora stood to pour each of them a cup. She rarely hosted ladies for tea, other than Laura. But she was happy to practice her skills as a hostess.
“I enjoyed the evening as well,” she said, handing Mrs. Langford her cup. “Everyone was so kind.”
“We are quite the bunch,” Mrs. Langford said with a smile. “And it was nice to meet another woman who is, shall I say, a bit unconventional.” She lifted her cup to her lips.
For a moment, Honora wasn’t quite sure what to say. Shewasunconventional, but most people did not find that an admirable quality. Had she perhaps found a kindred spirit? “You speak as if you yourself are unconventional.”
Mrs. Langford chuckled, bringing her cup back down. “My studies in mathematics makes a bit of a wave with certain crowds, though that has settled some now that I am married and working in a different capacity.”
“Oh?” Honora leaned forward. “What are you doing now?”
A look of peace crossed the woman’s features. “Teaching. Or, I will be, whenever the school is finished.” She looked off, her gaze contemplative. “I had always loved it, but felt the need to prove myself and put myself into a position that only brought frustration. Once I decided to go back to teaching, everything fell into place. But enough about me,” she said, shaking her head. “Let us talk about you.”
“Me?” Goodness, what was Honora to say? She had so many secrets, and this woman was connected to Leonard. Depending on what Mrs. Langford asked, Honora would have to choose her words carefully. Trying to keep levity in their conversation, she gave a small shrug and smile. “I do not have much to entertain, I am afraid.”
Mrs. Langford’s lips lifted in a smirk as one eye narrowed. “I cannot deny that I am most impressed with your ability to intrigue Mr. Stanton.”
Honora’s grip tightened on her cup. “Intrigue him? Goodness, I would say more like drive him to the brink of madness. I fear he hardly tolerates me.” She took a drink, and yesterday flashed before her mind’s eye. He had certainly tolerated her then.
Mrs. Langford lightly rolled her eyes as her smile widened. “From what I’ve seen and what Andrew has told me, Mr. Stanton would never willingly show affection to someone. Not in a way as to be obvious, anyway. But the fact that he had you invited at all speaks volumes.”
“Oh?” Honora suddenly found herself holding out hope that this young woman’s words were true. “Surely I am not the only young woman he has spent time with.”
“According to Andrew, you are.” Mrs. Langford raised her brow. “Forgive my forwardness, but I fear if you are not told of his disposition, he will run you off.”
“If anything, I believe it will be me that runs him off.”
Both women shared a laugh, but then Mrs. Langford shifted in her seat and took a drink from her cup. She had every look of a woman who wished to ask a question but did not want to seem impertinent.
“Is something on your mind?” Honora asked. “I will not be offended.”
A surprised laugh burst from her guest. “Am I so obvious?”
“Yes,” Honora said, still smiling.
Mrs. Langford nodded again, as if summoning courage. Finally, she relaxed her shoulders. “It is only that Stanton has never once mentioned a woman to my husband and me. And then, quite out of nowhere, he has Caroline invite you to dinner with us all.” She paused, looking at the floor for a moment before lifting her gaze. “And then he reached out to me personally.”
Honora’s brow creased. “What do you mean?”
She swallowed, then set her cup down on the tray. “He came to dine with Andrew and I last night.” She paused. “Please understand I do not say what I am about to say to make you feel uncomfortable. I just feel you should know.”
“Know what?” Honora felt herself leaning forward.
“He asked me to call on you.”
