I smiled at her. I wasn’t sure anyone would be able to stop that from happening.
“Oh, she’s stepping away now,” Victoria said.
I tried to hide my shock as I saw my aunt and uncle move into the hallway. Aunt Matilda had been hovering only a few feet away during our exchange. I turned back to the group, feeling lighter now that I knew she wasn’t watching me. “I suppose that means I can stay for a few more minutes.”
Caroline threaded her arm through mine. “I’m glad. We should go speak to Clifton and Fairfax.”
I turned to where I knew Lord Clifton was standing. I’d gone out of my way to avoid looking, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t acutely aware of his presence. Unfortunately, now that I finally felt free to talk to him, he was also leaving the dining room.
“We’ll have to catch up to Clifton later,” Caroline said. “But here is Fairfax. Have you met Miss Atherton?”
I tore my gaze away from Clifton’s retreating figure and smiled at Lord Fairfax. Many called him “the fairest of them all.” It was an unoriginal play on his title, but it was an accurate description of him.
I’d been assured that Clifton remembered me, but he clearly had no interest in speaking to me.
CHAPTER 3
CLIFTON
“The girl is becoming a problem.”
Ice slithered through my veins at the barely concealed hatred in the man’s voice. Diana’s uncle. I wasn’t on speaking terms with Baron Tuttleford, but I’d heard his voice often enough in the House of Lords when he was going on about some perceived slight. And the man seemed to have more than his fair share of grievances.
Diana’s aunt and uncle had escaped to the rear garden through the doors at the back of the house. Fortunately, I was well acquainted with Kendrick’s townhouse and knew all the nooks and crannies in which I could conceal myself. I was standing at the servants’ entrance at the side of the house. Tuttleford was so certain of their privacy that he hadn’t bothered to lower his voice.
Slowly, I moved toward the rear corner of the house. If they made their way to the back of the garden, I wouldn’t be able to hear them.
“I’ve been doing my best?—”
“You allowed her to befriend the Diamond.”
“Keep your voice down. You don’t want to be overheard.” Diana’s aunt stumbled over her words as she rushed to calm her husband’s temper. “I never imagined it would come to this. Standing next to Miss Edwards was supposed to highlight my niece’s deficiencies.”
“You failed. I shouldn’t have allowed the two of you to come to London. Too much can go wrong.”
Lady Tuttleford made a cooing sound, and I grimaced, imagining the obsequious expression I knew would be on her face. I’d seen it often enough today when she leaned close to her husband to whisper something to him.
“After we leave here, we can put our worries behind us. The couple will be leaving London for their wedding trip. When Diana is no longer spending time with the Diamond of the season, no one will pay her any attention.”
“See to it that happens. It would be tragic if an accident were to befall her as well.”
My heart pounded in my ears at the threat. Before I could think better of the impulse, I moved closer to the shrub that was planted just past the house. I’d just caught sight of the pair through the dense green foliage when a careless step caused a pebble to skitter away.
“What was that?” Lord Tuttleford turned to face the corner where I was, hopefully, well concealed.
I froze in place and prayed for a miracle. Some distraction that wouldn’t have the pair approaching to see if they’d been overheard by a servant. A loud crash sounded at the garden doors, and they spun in the opposite direction.
“Apologies for my clumsiness. I think I may have had one too many toasts.”
Fairfax. I took advantage of the distraction he provided and hurried back to the servants entrance, cursing myself for being so clumsy. Greyson met me just inside the door, one brow raised in question. I shook my head, and he nodded, understanding my need for silence.
We returned to the dining room, arriving before the Tuttlefords. Fairfax was also absent, and I assumed he was distracting Diana’s guardians.
I could feel Greyson’s eyes on me as I made my way over to Diana. We hadn’t spoken yet—her aunt had guarded her zealously—but now a sense of urgency prodded me to rectify that situation.
Kendrick smiled at my approach. “Clifton. I know that no introductions are necessary.”
Diana stiffened at my name, but she turned to face me.
