“Oh, indeed yes,” Adela exclaimed. “They make for such lovely tea time amusement.”
“Then I must be a regular attendant at your tea,” Jillian said ruefully.
The ladies laughed again.
“She’ll do, Bea,” Lady Burlington announced.
The others nodded approvingly.
Jillian relaxed in her seat. Eventually, the conversation turned to Lady Clarice Tupham and Jillian let loose a silent groan.
“Wonderful thing you did, Bea,” Adela commended. “That harpy has long overstepped her bounds. Perhaps a few days as a pariah will do wonders for her disposition.”
“Not bloody likely,” Jillian muttered under her breath. Her cheeks grew hot as she realized she was overheard. The ladies chuckled, enjoying Jillian’s comment and her slip in proper language.
“You are a refreshing change from most young girls,” Eloise complimented. “Not afraid to speak your mind. It’s too bad society punishes such an admirable quality in ladies.”
“Hear, hear, Eloise,” the ladies chorused.
“If we were men we could say what we wanted and no one would pay us any mind,” Adela said with a fervent nod of her head.
“We could swear and take a lover and everyone would applaud us,” Lady Burlington said sagely.
The others looked at her in shock then dissolved into a fit of laughter.
“What? What did I say?” Lady Burlington blushed furiously. “Wouldn’t it be nice to take our choice of the young bucks without public censure?”
“It would certainly be preferable to opening the doors to our husbands,” Lady Cecilia murmured, a faraway look in her eyes.
Lady Bea swatted Lady Cecilia on the arm. “Quit dreaming, Cece. I vow you are going to start drooling over there.”
They collapsed into laughter once more, Lady Cecilia looking abashed.
Jillian couldn’t be more surprised by the ladies. She had to force her mouth closed when her jaw gaped open over their outrageous conversation. Prude she wasn’t, but it astonished her that these straight-laced, exemplary models of society were gathered around a tea table discussing taking a lover.
“I think we have shocked Jillian,” Lady Bea said in amusement. “As I told you before, my dear, we aren’t all abominable. You just have to give us a chance.”
The tea broke up an hour later and the ladies said their goodbyes. They were horrified that Jillian had walked the distance from her townhouse, and Lady Burlington insisted on giving her a ride home.
Jillian reflected on the interesting day as she readied herself for bed that night. She was surprised to admit she had enjoyed the afternoon very much. The older ladies were a delightful surprise and had a wicked sense of humor. Jillian felt very much at ease in their company. She went to sleep smiling at the image of the proper Lady Burlington taking a lover to her bedchamber.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jillian hadn't been up long the next morning when a knock sounded. Rushing to the door, she flung it open. There was no sign of anyone. In fact, it was eerily quiet. She looked down to see the slip of paper with the telltale black wax. She hesitated before opening it, wondering if she wouldn’t be better served to toss it unread into the fire. Curiosity won out and she slowly tore the seal open. When she read the contents, she dropped the paper as if it burned her fingers.
Die
Her anger boiled over. This was going too far. Simple insults were one thing, but threats were quite another. Reaching down, she snatched the paper from the floor. She collected the other letters from her desk and stormed from the house. She walked the four blocks to Justin’s home, oblivious to the chilly morning air.
Jillian walked through the wrought iron gate and observed the uniformed footman standing just underneath the duke’s crest. She wondered at the absurdity of having a person whose sole job was to man the gate, closing it when the duke was gone from his residence and opening it upon his return. She rapped sharply at the door. Within moments it opened and a distinguished, solemn-faced man she assumed was the butler stared inquiringly at her.
“I am here to see the duke,” she said firmly.
“His grace is not accepting callers at this hour.”
“Indeed?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
“We shall see about that.” Pushing by the startled butler, she swept into the house. She paused in the hallway then headed in the direction of distant noise. She burst unceremoniously into the dining room where the duke was sitting. The butler hurried in behind her.
