“Mother said I might find myself intrigued with the house party this year. It is why she insisted I come.” He waited a beat and then said, “I believe she is right.”
“Miss Lanscarr intrigues you, eh?” Lady Orpington said, coming upon them. She signaled for one of the Middlebury footmen in their deep-purple-and-silver livery.
The man approached as if wary of what she wanted. “Magpie needs a walk.” She shoved the dog into the man’s arms. Magpie snapped her thoughts on the matter; however, the servant was quick, or prepared. He held Magpie at arm’s length and made his way through the guests.
“Don’t let Magpie close to one of those male hounds,” Lady Orpington shouted to the man as if remembering a sudden concern. “You remember what almost happened last year.”
The footman kept walking.
Gwendolyn wasn’t going to ask what had almost happened last year. She was conscious of several of the guests hiding chuckles, whether at Lady Orpington’s imperial manner or because they knew what had transpired.
Oblivious to anything other than her own wishes, Lady Orpington turned to them, and Gwendolyn realized that Lord Ellisfield looked upon his godmother with true affection. The expression humanized him, and perhaps he wasn’t as arrogant as Gwendolyn had labeled him.
“Who intrigues whom?” a feminine, cultured voice echoed. Lady Middlebury joined their group. Lord Ellisfield’s three friends quickly stepped back.
“You just wish to hear me say you are right, Mother,” Lord Ellisfield answered.
“About Miss Purley?” she asked. “I came over here to let you know she and her friends have come down from upstairs.” She looked to Lady Orpington and Gwendolyn. “I’m certain you have made Miss Purley’s acquaintance in London. Her father is Archibald Purley.”
Gwendolyn did indeed know Miss Purley.
Archibald Purley was a wealthy banker held in high esteem by Society. His daughter had been one of those who had done her best to spread malicious gossip about the Lanscarr sisters. Gwendolyn looked around the room and caught sight of not only Miss Purley but also her friends Lady Julia and Lady Beth. They followed her around the way Lord Ellisfield’s friends trotted after him.
Without thinking, Gwendolyn let go a sigh of annoyance, and immediately regretted it.
“Is something the matter, Miss Lanscarr?” Lady Middlebury asked.
“The travel,” Gwendolyn improvised with a small wave of her hand. “I’m certain you understand, my lady.”
“Mrs. Nally, the housekeeper, will be over soon to lead you to your rooms.”
“That will be excellent,” Lady Orpington said. “After all, we want to be fresh for the cards this evening.”
“Ah, yes, Miss Lanscarr was to be your partner,” Lady Middlebury said before her expression turned carefully regretful. “Unfortunately, dear,dearEllen, we aren’t playing cards this year.”
Lady Orpington’s head snapped back as if she had been bopped on the nose. “Why not?We play cardseveryyear. It is what we do.”
“But there is nothing that says we must,” the marchioness answered serenely. She might have tried to move away to see to other guests, except for Lady Orpington sliding a step into her path.
“Franny, it is what we do. We come here and play cards. I brought Miss Lanscarr with me to play cards.”
The corner of their hostess’s mouth tightened. “We are not this year. Excuse me. I need to see to my guests.” She walked away.
Lady Orpington appeared ready to swoon from the outrage. She looked to Lord Ellisfield. “I can’t believe...?No, this can’t be true.”
“I know nothing about this,” he replied gently.
Her ladyship righted herself. Her eyes were still puzzled and angry, but she seemed to gather herself. “Well...” She paused as if ready to say something else, but then repeated, “Well.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Lord Ellisfield offered.
Lady Orpington nodded. At that moment, Lady Middlebury called her son over. “My son, I need you here for a moment.” She was standing with Miss Purley, her friends, and her father.
Now it was Lord Ellisfield’s turn to sigh heavily. “You will excuse me, but don’t move,” he said as an aside to Gwendolyn. “I will be back.”
He went to join his mother, his three friends marching behind him.
As he approached his mother, Miss Purley’s gaze swung to welcome him, and then widened as she caught sight of Gwendolyn. She acted surprised and then alarmed to see a Lanscarr here.
