“Why don’t you assist Mrs. Wells in the nursery, darling?”
“I’ll take Nathan, Lady Kimpton,” Irene said. “Oh look, he’s fallen asleep.”
Lorelei remained quite still while Irene took the baby in her small yet capable hands. Lorelei carefully rose on trembling legs.
“Ye did fine, my lady,” Bethie spoke gently. “Just fine.” Color was edging back into Bethie’s face. She seemed as surprised as Lorelei.
At the door, Lorelei paused, looking back at her vacated chair. “Yes. I-I did, didn’t I?” Outside the parlor, she drew in several deep breaths. Her pulse evened out. She pinched her cheeks, and with one last strong pull of oxygen, she forged her way through the door, put her practiced smile firmly in place.
Lady Dankworth sat with her frothy pink skirts spread out, a basket at her feet emitting suspicious noises.
“Lady Dankworth, how lovely to see you. I see Mr. and Mrs. Wriggles saw fit to accompany you.”
“I hope I haven’t caught you at an inconvenience, Lady Kimpton. It’s been so long, I wished to pay my respects.”
“Ah, yes. My husband and I spent a week in the country.”
“How lovely, dear. I was reminded last evening that I hadn’t seen you since…”
“Since I fainted in your drawing room after too much brandy?” Lorelei said wryly.
“Well, yes,” Lady Dankworth agreed bluntly.
Peg tapped at the door and rolled in the tea cart. “Thank you, Peg, I’ll pour.” Lorelei proceeded to do just that and handed Lady Dankworth a cup. “Now, what of last evening reminded you of me?”
“Well, it occurred to me that Lady Maudsley was too ill to accompany you to my tea, and, well, no one’s seen her since.” She lowered her voice. “I sent a note inquiring after her ill health but have yet to receive a response.”
Lorelei managed to keep her expression relaxed. “Perhaps she and Lord Maudsley were out of town as well.”
“I thought that very thing, you know. Until I looked up and saw Maudsley laughing with that idiot, George Welton, at the Gristons’ dinner.”
Lorelei coughed into her hand. “Idiot?”
“The boy is spreading it about that he’s to be married.”
“He’s of an age, isn’t he? What’s so strange about that?” Though Lorelei had no argument regarding the “idiot” remark.
“No. No, of course not. It’s just that the rumor is he’s marrying Maudsley’s daughter.” The shock in her tone would have been laughable if the thought had not been so horrifying. “The gel can’t be more than five.”
Spots swarmed Lorelei’s vision. “She’s nine.”
“Exactly. Much too young.” Lady Dankworth flung out a hand. “And there was Lord Maudsley, cornering Mauve Pendleton, Lady Alymer—”
“Er, yes, I get the picture.”
“Before the scoundrel could reach for her again, a young man jumped right out from behind one of those strategically placed potted plants. Heavens, I don’t know why that dowager countess places those ridiculous fake trees about. I told her they attract nothing but reprobates.” Lady Dankworth leaned in. “Personally, I thinkshewelcomes the notoriety they wrought.” She sat back again. “Imagine my surprise when Maeve was saved from one rogue only to be accosted by another. Lord Brockway.”
Lorelei straightened. “Lord Brockway was there?”
“Swept the gel away from Maudsley right into supper.”
Smoothing a hand over her thistle-colored muslin, Lorelei fought to hide her fury. “Is that so? I’m sorry I missed it,” she murmured. She reached for the teapot to refill her cup, but instead she pulled back, quickly curling her trembling fingers in her lap.
Lady Dankworth’s brows drew together in one long line above her eyes. “I’d always believed that man half in love with Virginia Maudsley, but I declare, I’ve seen him at more parties in this one week than I have in the whole of his two years since returning from the Continent. Chatting and flirting away with a different chit at every single one.” She held out her cup. “More tea, dear, if you wouldn’t mind?”
Lorelei slowly took her cup. “A different woman every night, you say?” She poured, mindful she didn’t spill the contents in her lap. She handed Lady Dankworth her tea. “Any one person in particular?”
“No. No. Young, old, eligible, ineligible. He spreads himself about, that man.”
