“But I was not speaking to you,” Carenza said. “You are intruding on a private conversation.”
Olivia sat down beside Maude and said, “Oh, for goodness’ sake, Carenza, will you please accept my apology and stop treating me like a pariah?”
“Why should I?” Carenza asked. “You’re behaving appallingly.”
Olivia sighed. “If you would just allow me to explain, I’ll tell you why I brought Lady Brenton with me.”
“Fine.” Carenza glared at Olivia. “Tell me.”
Olivia glanced around and then lowered her voice before speaking. “I believe Lady Brenton is heavily involved in this effort to blacken Julian’s reputation. She’s working with Percival Walcott and has been seen in Mr. Cox’s inn.”
“Have you told her about your part in all this?” Carenza asked.
“No.” Olivia had the nerve to look offended.
“I still don’t understand why you thought it a good idea to bring her here.”
“Neither do I,” said Maude, who had been kept well informed about events by Allegra. “It seems … cruel.”
“I brought her to talk to Julian,” Olivia continued. “I thought that if anyone could get her to confess her secrets, it would be him.”
“She’s hardly likely to betray Percival to the very man she wants to bring down,” Carenza argued.
“But I don’t think she really wants to destroy Julian,” Olivia said. “She’s still in love with him. He’s the first man who ended a relationship with her—that’s usually her claim to fame—that she leaves her lovers behind.”
“So, this is all about her hurt pride?” Carenza asked.
“And Walcott’s fury that Mr. Laurent inherited his money,” Maude added. “Don’t forget that.”
Carenza turned to Olivia. “Have you told Julian?”
“Yes,” Olivia replied. “He wasn’t very happy with me for spoiling his house party, but I felt I had no choice. You seem to forget that I was there with you in that inn, Carenza. My reputation is at stake as well.”
“You don’t care about your reputation,” Carenza said.
“And you care far too much about yours,” Olivia fired back. “You’re so afraid of being compared to your mother that you hide behind a bland exterior that must be stifling.”
Carenza wanted to argue, but what could she say?
“See?” Olivia pointed a finger at her. “You know I’m right.”
“It still doesn’t excuse your behavior,” Carenza said.
“Perhaps you both need to stop arguing and work together to prevent anyone losing their reputation,” Maude said firmly. “This really is ridiculous when you both care for each other.” Carenza and Olivia stared at Maude, and she shrugged. “I’m too miserable to be anything but honest this evening. The pair of you need your heads knocked together.”
“She might have a point,” Olivia said.
“But what can we do?” Carenza looked from Maude to Olivia. “Until someone comes out with actual accusations rather than gossip and innuendo, there is nothing to fight.”
“My main concern is whether Calloway or Mr. Cox told Percival and Lady Brenton about Julian’s appearance at the inn when we were interviewing the candidates for the advertisement,” Olivia said. “I’m sure they’ll use that information to make matters worse for Julian and inadvertently for us.”
Carenza sat back. “I have to agree, and gossip does say that Calloway has been seen in Percival’s company.”
“Percival never stops complaining about Julian, and if Calloway is attempting to curry favor, he’s bound to tell them about Julian’s presence at the Wheatsheaf Inn,” Olivia said.
“Then we’re doomed,” Carenza sighed.
“Don’t be so defeatist. All we have to do is work out what Lady Brenton and Percival Walcott fear most.”
