* * *
Back at the Atherton ball, Fletcher spoke with Owen and tried to pretend he wasn’t looking for Louisa. He’d seen her dancing with Rotherfeld earlier but had since lost track of her.
“…but then Ardsley said he was writing a novel, so…” Owen was saying. Fletcher wasn’t really listening. Owen had been telling some story about the Duke of Ardsley that Fletcher could not make himself care about.
Louisa appeared quite suddenly, as if she’d manifested out of thin air. “Greystone. May I have a word?”
“Yes, of course.”
Owen frowned. “This is good gossip I’m giving you, and you haven’t heard a word I have you?”
“I’m sure it was fascinating. Go dance with your wife. Tell me later.”
Louisa led Fletcher out of the crush of the ballroom. “You men gossip more than us women do.”
“Gentlemen certainly do. It helps us pass our idle time. But you did not come to me for gossip.”
“No.”
“I’d like to speak where we cannot be heard,” Fletcher said, ignoring the barb. “Do the Athertons have a terrace?”
Just then, Lady Atherton appeared. “Oh, Lord Greystone. Lady Louisa. Have you seen my garden?”
Fletcher glanced at Louisa, who had a glint in her eye. “We have not.”
“Oh, let me show you. It’s magic at night.”
It turned out to be serendipitous. Lady Atherton led them outside and gave them a tour of her small but quite grand garden. Gas lamps lit a path through the center, and a marble bench looked like a good place to have a conversation. And then, just as Fletcher was trying to work out how to get rid of LadyAtherton, a woman stuck her head out of the house and said, “Lady Atherton, I need your help at once.”
“Oh dear,” said Lady Atherton. “I suppose I must go then.”
“Do you mind if we sit in the garden for a few minutes?” asked Fletcher. “I’m finding the cool air to be a nice relief from the crush of the ballroom.”
“It’s truly a lovely party,” said Louisa. “We’ll return in a few minutes.”
“Oh, yes, of course. Stay as long as you like.” Lady Atherton smiled. “Oh, I remember when you two were children.”
“Oh,” said Louisa, sounding startled.
“The two of you were always best of friends.”
“Yes,” said Fletcher.
“And now, Louisa, I hear you are marrying the Duke of Rotherfeld.”
“Yes,” said Louisa. “I imagine you must have received your invitation by now.”
“Oh, yes, we did. I’m looking forward to it.”
“I am as well.” Louisa sounded like she was lying.
“I suppose I don’t need to admonish you to behave, as you are adults now,” Lady Atherton said. “But don’t think I’ve forgotten that time you replaced the water in the birdbath with tea.”
Fletcher chuckled. He’d been about eight at the time and had just wanted to see if birds liked tea. He’d pulled better pranks. But he appreciated that Lady Atherton remembered.
“Well, I must be off. Enjoy the night air.” Lady Atherton went inside, leaving Fletcher and Louisa quite alone in the garden.
They both began speaking at once.
