“Perhaps he wants to be nice to you,” Cecily offered.
“Whenever we dance, he smiles at me. He asks me how my day was,” Gemma muttered under her breath.
“And?”
Gemma’s arms were tightly crossed over her chest. “And it’s obvious that he’s planning something.”
Cecily frowned. “But didn’t you say that’s how Griffin treats Meredith?”
“That’s precisely how Griffin treats Meredith, but GriffinlovesMeredith. Grovemont doesn’t love me. He couldn’t wait to get away from me, and he hasn’t been back a full fortnight.”
Cecily blinked and tilted her head to the side. “How long does it take to fall in love?”
Gemma shook her head. “I have no idea, but I’m certain one doesn’t fall in love with someone one doesn’t evenlike.”
Cecily bit her lip. “I’m not sure that’s true, Gemma. RememberMuch Ado About Nothing.”
“Oh, Cecily, Shakespeare won’t help this situation.” Gemma sighed and uncrossed her arms long enough to take another bite from her scone.
Cecily nodded. “Very well. What do you think he’s up to then?”
Gemma’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I don’t know. But I intend to find out. Of course, I’veconsideredthat itmaybe my change in appearance.”
“You are extraordinarily beautiful now,” Cecily agreed.
“But I justknowthat’s not it,” Gemma continued. “First, he hasn’t even mentioned my appearance.”
“He’d have to be blind not to have noticed,” Cecily pointed out.
Gemma shook her head and bit at the end of her thumbnail. “It’s something else. I know it. He’s worried about his reputation being ruined. He could have his pick of beautiful women to take as a mistress. We both know it.”
The door to the drawing room opened just then, and the Grundy’s manservant stepped into the room. Mr. Hampton was a jack of all trades at Cecily’s house. He served as butler, footman, and groom since the Grundys could no longer afford many servants. Cecily was the only member of the household who treated him with kindness. “Miss Cecily,” Mr. Hampton said, “you have another visitor.”
“Another visitor?” Cecily sat up straight and nearly dropped her scone. She blinked at Gemma. “No one visits me but you. Not after Mama sent all the suitors away.”
“Who is it, Mr. Hampton?” Gemma asked.
The man cleared his throat nervously and glanced away. “Lady Clare Handleton, Miss. If your mother was home, she would not want?—”
“Show her in immediately,” Gemma demanded, not allowing the man to finish his unwelcome statement.
At Cecily’s nod, Mr. Hampton left to do as he was told.
“Oh, can you believe it? She’s come to visit,” Gemma said, clapping her hands together with glee. “The most I expected was a letter.”
“And to think Hampton nearly didn’t allow her past the door,” Cecily said, shaking her head. “I suppose that’s one example of what scandal will do to you, Gemma.”
When the door to the drawing room opened next, Lady Clare came striding into the room. She was wearing a gorgeous sapphire-blue gown that hugged her curves and set off her pretty blond hair and dark eyes to perfection. Gemma had only met Lady Clare a handful of times, but each time she’d been impressed with the lady’s forthright demeanor and penchant for doing and saying exactly what she wished.
“My dears,” Lady Clare said as she strode over to the sideboard and began pouring herself a glass of brandy. “I’m so glad to have found you together. I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion, but I felt strongly that I have far more to impart than could be aptly done in a letter. Also, I’m always on the hunt for a reason to escape my mother. I did wait foryourmother and awful sisters to leave, Cecily. I expect they’ll be back soon, so I’d better talk quickly.”
Gemma and Cecily could not have been more delighted. They waited with bated breath for Lady Clare to take a seat. She kicked up one leg, revealing an indecent amount of stocking, and boldly sipped her brandy as she spoke. “So, you want to know how it feels to be the subject of a scandal?”
Gemma nodded, staring at the older woman with wide eyes. Clare was Meredith’s age, which made her nine and twenty. “Yes, and I hope you’ll do as I asked in my letter and not share my intention to divorce with Meredith.”
“The first lesson to learn about ladies who’ve been through scandals,” Clare replied, “is that they don’tevershareotherpeople’s secrets.”
“Stands to reason,” Cecily breathed.
