“Bless you.”Melody grinned.She stepped toward Samantha and gave her a quick embrace.“What a lovely surprise this is.I’ve already asked for a tea tray to be brought up.”
“Thank you.”Samantha swiped at her eyes with the heel of her hand.“I think it might be wise to open a window or two.It’s horribly stuffy in here.”
“I completely agree,” Melody whispered.“But Lady Heathbrooke won’t have it.She’s worried she’ll catch a chill.”
“Can’t you explain to her that fresh air can be brought in while she’s not actually in the room?”
Melody gave her a this-is-a-pointless-topic-for-us-to-discuss sort of look and gestured toward the settee.“Shall we?”
Samantha sighed.It looked like she’d just have to suffer the cloying smell that hung in the air.“Of course.”
A maid arrived with the tea as soon as they’d settled into their seats, with Samantha on the settee and Melody in an adjacent armchair.The tea things were distributed and the maid departed, leaving the two women alone.
“You look well,” Samantha said, while Melody poured the tea.“I realize keeping an old woman company isn’t what you envisioned for yourself, but I do hope you’re happy.”
“I’m comfortable,” Melody told her, “and I suppose some measure of happiness can come from that.”
“Harlowe believes you’re doing important work.”A lie.He hadn’t commented on Melody’s job at all.
Melody snorted.“I listen to gossip and then I relay it.Or I let information slip in a way that makes Lady Heathbrooke believe she’s made a shocking discovery on her own – one that must be related to others at once.”
“You find it too easy?”
“I find it too dull.”Melody blew out a breath and sipped her tea while Samantha followed suit.“Tell me why you’re here.Is it because you need my help with something?”
“Yes.I’ve received my own mission.As much as I’d like to, I cannot reveal the specifics, though it will require my presence within Society.If you’re able to draw me in and include me when possible, I’d be ever so grateful.”
“Harlowe’s connections surpass my own.Any particular reason why he isn’t helping?”
“It’s best if it looks like I have my own friends, people I can be seen going for walks with, for example.That way, my presence at various events will appear more natural – less suspicious to my target.”
“So there’s a target.”Melody smirked, but failed to conceal the dispirited look in her eyes.“Lucky you.”
Samantha held her gaze.“It’s not as exciting as it sounds.”
“Liar.”Melody actually grinned.Sobering, she paused for a second before saying, “I’ll see what I can do.As companion to Lady Heathbrooke, I have limited influence, though I have managed to make a few friends.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”Samantha’s gaze dropped to a side table covered in macramé.A matching pair of candlesticks stood on top, but it was the paper that had been left beside them that caught her attention.Most specifically the gossip column facing upward and the name that stood out.
Samantha scanned the words casting Evelyn Croft in a most unfavorable light, painting her as some kind of desperate wanton.She shook her head and picked up the paper, pulling it into her lap so she could more easily read it.
“This isn’t true.I don’t believe a word of it.I mean, I was there last night, at the Marsdale ball.Miss Croft and I spoke and she…” Anger on Miss Croft’s behalf swept the length of Samantha’s spine.“She didn’t strike me as someone who’d engage in debauchery while pretending virginal innocence.It’s preposterous to suggest it.”
“And yet it’s been published in print for all of London to read.”Melody gave Samantha a sad look.“Her reputation will be ruined over this.”
“But why?Who would choose to spread such lies about a perfectly wonderful person?”
Melody pursed her lips.“You’re certain there’s no truth to it?”
“Of course I can’t be certain but instinct tells me this is completely false.I just can’t imagine who’d be behind it.”
“Perhaps a jealous debutante hoping to marry the same man Miss Croft is after?”
“And what?The paper would buy such a story without triple-checking the facts?”
“I honestly don’t know, I… Samantha, please relax.That’s Lady Heathbrooke’s paper.It won’t do for you to rumple it.”
Despite wanting nothing more than to tear the paper to shreds, Samantha relaxed her hold and set it aside.Perhaps she should keep her appointment for tea with Miss Croft.The younger woman would need a friend in the wake of this injustice.Hopefully her brother would have the good sense to march into theThe Morning Post’s offices and demand a public apology.
