Not everyone would be there, but a good portion of the ton would make the short journey. Most of the young men would attend for certain. That meant Theo would probably see her. He would have his suspicions confirmed. If he told their grandmother that she and Stratton had . . . were . . . Suffice to say there would be the devil to pay.
It entered her mind while she weighed what lies might work and whether she would be willing to use them, that the duke did not care much if everyone assumed the worst of them. Hadn’t he again mentioned that they would marry? As if he were actually serious about that? Perhaps he counted on pending scandal changing her mind about her answer.
She would not pretend she had not pictured marriage to him a few times during the last few days. She blamed it on the latent influence of their intimacy. However, whatever optimistic fantasies she conjured would quickly be dashed by realities she could not escape.
It would mean no control of her income. No independence. She could no longer subsidizeParnassusand it would cease publication. It would be sad to have to tell Althea and the others that the adventure was over. She would hardly be a person anymore, truth be told. With a few words she would have to become a woman she did not know.
She decided there was no way to go to the Derby Stakes with Stratton. That saddened her to a surprising degree, and not only because of her disappointment in not seeing the race. In order to dispel the melancholy, she decided to visit some of the bookshops to see if copies ofParnassuswere selling.
Her coachman had helped her purchase a modest coach and a matched pair, and she sent word for him to bring the equipage around. She would conquer this mood and write to Stratton in the evening to explain her change of decision.
She had not traveled far when she decided the company of a friend would help lift her spirits. She gave the coachman the direction to Althea’s home.
Althea lived with her brother on a street near St. James’s Square. Clara was brought to the drawing room, where Althea suffered in silence while her sister-in-law chatted with other callers. Althea’s eyes lit up when she saw Clara enter. She jumped up to introduce Clara to the ladies assembled. At the first opportunity, she took Clara aside.
“You are a saint,” Clara said. “I would go mad if I had to pretend her friends were my friends.”
“I do not mind most days, but right now I am very glad to see you.”
“Take your leave of them. I have my new carriage outside. We will visit bookshops.”
Althea proved extremely agreeable. Fifteen minutes later they stopped at the first shop and entered to count copies.
“Three are gone,” Althea said when they were back in the carriage. “Let us check Johnson’s on Oxford.”
The news there gave them both heart. All but one copy had sold.
As they left the shop, a voice hailed Clara. She turned to see Stratton closing the door on a shop four doors away.
Althea gave her a quizzical look.
“He and I have had some conversation at times,” Clara explained. “I should not cut him.”
“Of course not. It would be very wrong to cut such a handsome man.”
He appeared happy to see her. She could not hide that she was happy in return. She hoped that was all she revealed, and not the rest of what she experienced. Joy and warmth and echoes of sensual thrills suffused her.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Althea taking it all in.
She made introductions. Stratton knew Althea’s brother. Althea remembered Stratton’s mother. Finally, Clara turned to her friend. “I have something I must tell the duke. Will you excuse us for a short while?”
Althea smiled sweetly and strolled over to a shop window to admire the wares.
“I cannot go,” Clara said quietly. “I know I agreed, and I want to see the race very much, but no matter how I try to arrange it, I see only gossip spreading fast afterward. There is no way to be discreet.”
“Discretion be damned.”
“You cannot mean that.”
“No, I don’t. At least for your sake I don’t.” He looked past her. “Invite your friend. Have her come with you. Is that your carriage there? Plan to go down in it. I will arrange the rest.” He looked at Althea again. “You may have to confide in her. Can you trust her?”
“She may be the only person Icantrust. She is certainly the only person I know who keeps a secret.”
He cocked his head. His charming smile sent a tremble down to her toes. “You have secrets besides me? How intriguing. Now I will have to learn what they are.”
She called Althea back. “We should continue our errands, Duke. Good day to you.”
He took his leave. She and Althea climbed into the carriage. Althea stuck her head out the window to watch the duke walk away. Then she settled in, set her reticule on her lap, and looked right at Clara.
