“Read it,” Bell prompted.
Lucas took a deep breath and spoke aloud the words he’d just hastily read to himself.
Lord Kendall,
We have not met, but I have something important to discuss with you as it pertains to your Employment Bill. I’ve been informed that you are joining the house party and would like to request a few moments of your time. I appreciate that you’re a busy man and I thank you for your consideration.
F. R. T. Wharton
“From Miss Wharton?” Bell asked, arching a brow.
“It must be,” Lucas replied. “I assume she used her initials so that I might believe she’s a male.”
Bell frowned. “What does she think you’d do when you discover you’re meeting with a young woman instead?”
Lucas shrugged. “My guess is that she intends to worry about that when the time comes.”
Bell shook his head. “Miss Wharton should take care. She has to know it’s inappropriate of her to ask for a meeting alone with a man.”
Lucas nodded. “No doubt that’s why she didn’t sign her Christian name. Blast. What am I to do with this?” He held the note aloft.
Bell pursed his lips. “I could meet her and pretend to be you.”
“No!” Lucas nearly shouted. “No more playacting. This entire affair is convoluted enough as it is.”
Bell laughed. “Very well. But if you change your mind, do let me know. I’m something of an expert at pretending to be people I’m not.”
Lucas glanced at his friend. “Yes, as to that, how’s it coming with the lady’s maid you mentioned?”
A low growl was Bell’s only answer.
Thatwas interesting. Bell never lost his cool. Lucas would have to poke into that story more when he had time to ask additional questions.
Lucas checked his pocket watch. He had to admit it was nice to wear his own clothing again, have his own items at his disposal. “I’m late. I must get downstairs to meet Sir Reginald.” He strode to the door. “Thea promised to take all the young ladies and their mothers out for a picnic this afternoon in order to clear the house of them while I’m downstairs.”
“Clever,” Bell replied, still putting away Lucas’s other set of clothing.
Lucas opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
“What do you intend to do about Miss Wharton?” Bell called after him.
“I’ve no earthly idea,” Lucas called back.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Frances was pacing in Lord Clayton’s conservatory when a trio of young ladies from the party came traipsing through.
“Miss Wharton, there you are. Have you heard?” the first young lady called.
“Heard what?” Frances replied. She’d been enjoying the solitude of the pretty space, but she quickly realized she’d made a mistake coming here.
“The Earl of Kendall is here,” the second young lady announced, her voice positively breathless.
“Oh, I do hope he’ll be coming to dinner,” the third conjectured, practically squealing.
That’s precisely why Frances had been pacing. She’d sent a note to Lord Kendall’sroom not an hour ago, but she’d yet to hear back. She’d skipped the picnic, somehow managing to convince Mama that she had a megrim. The appearance of the three young ladies obviously meant she wasn’t the only one who’d skipped the picnic.
She’d defied her mother in sending that note. She was in the wrong, no question, but she’d carefully weighed the arguments for and against speaking to Lord Kendall and had decided she might never have such an opportunity again. Lord Kendall did not often attend the same events she did. She’d made up her mind soon after her encounter with Sir Reginald in the corridor. Besides, what her mother didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. Frances did, however, promise herself that her talk with Lord Kendall would be the only time she broke her promise to her mother.
