At half past six, with Billy left snoozing on a rug in her bedroom, Sutton conducted Tessa to a large, tastefully appointed sitting room.A fire blazed brightly.Marcus stood in front of it.Seeing him there, so solid and tall, caused a small ripple of relief to pass though her.She wasn’t quite so alone.
An elderly lady rose to greet her—his aunt, Tessa assumed.Tall and thin—apart from a generous bosom—she was dressed in the first stare of fashion, not showy, but the kind of elegance that money alone couldn’t buy.Her hair was silver and pulled back severely, highlighting both her elegant cheekbones and her proud Roman nose.
Marcus—she’d better start thinking of him as Lord Alverleigh: now that she’d recalled his title, it wouldn’t do to address him familiarly, especially in front of this grim-looking aunt—introduced them.
She regarded Tessa through a lorgnette, her eyes gimlet hard, her demeanor stony.
He’d told her his aunt was a little intimidating.Alittleintimidating?More like Attila the Hen.She raised her chin and held the old woman’s gaze.
Lady Gosforth scanned Tessa’s outfit from top to bottom, and raised one elegantly plucked eyebrow in a disdainful, sardonic arch, as if to say, What isthatyou’re wearing?
Tessa stiffened her spine.She would not be intimidated.
The old lady watched Tessa’s curtsy with a critical eye and then bade them both to be seated.“Will you have tea or sherry?”
Spotting the small glass at Lady Gosforth’s elbow, Tessa opted for sherry.She didn’t much care for sherry but when in Rome...
Lady Gosforth glanced at the butler, who looked at Lord Alverleigh but before he could say anything she said.“My nephew does not require refreshments.He’s leaving.”
“Aunt Maude,” he began in a warning voice.
“Marcus you know very well that while this ...lady continues to sleep under this roof you must sleep elsewhere.For the sake of her ...reputation,” she added with a faintly malicious smile.It was clear to Tessa that those pauses were deliberate, to throw doubt on what followed.The old witch thought Tessa had no reputation to lose.
Lord Alverleigh leaned back in his chair, crossed one leg over the other and said, “I’ll have a brandy, Peverill.”He turned to Tessa.“Don’t let my aunt alarm you, Lady Hewitt—I have already made arrangements to sleep at my club.”
“I’m not alarmed in the slightest,” Tessa said coolly.It wasn’t quite true but she was determined not to let this steely old woman rattle her.
There was a short silence, broken only by the clinking of crystal as the butler filled glasses, and set a small dish of almond wafers at Tessa’s elbow.
“That will do, Peverill,” the old lady said when the butler had finished serving.
Once the butler had left, she turned to Tessa.“Tell me, Lady Hewitt, what is it you want of my nephew?You clearly have a plan.”
“Aunt Maude—”
“Pish tush, let the gel speak for herself.Or are you worried about what she might reveal?”
“Not in the least.”
Tessa set down her untouched glass.“What do I want of your nephew?Introductions, that is all.It was his idea to bring me here, for which I’m very grateful, but—”
“Introductions?To whom?His friends?I’ll tell you now, not one of them has a superior fortune.”
Tessa glared at the old woman.“I want no introductions to his friends—or to any men.I have no wish to marry again, if that’s what you’re thinking.The introductions I sought were to elderly ladies like yourself—only perhaps to ones more open-minded.”
Lord Alverleigh gave a muffled crack of laughter.
Lady Gosforth raised her lorgnette again.“Elderly ladies?Oh hush, Marcus.This is important.Why do you want to meet elderly ladies, gel?”
“Didn’t your nephew explain?I am seeking a position as a lady’s companion.”
The old lady frowned.“Alady’s companion.To what end?”
Tessa rolled her eyes.“Isn’t it obvious?To earn a living, of course.”
Lady Gosforth stared at her for a long moment, then said in an incredulous voice, “You would choose to become a lady’s companion, to run endless errands and be at somebody’s beck and call, in preference to marriage?”
Tessa sent an apologetic glance to Lord Alverleigh.“Yes.”
