“Elmhurst’s youngest daughter, Susan, was forced to marry by special license last month,” Lady Glendale said. “Her new husband is a Mr. Peterson, who is from a decent family though not a very wealthy one. Word has it Susan’s father paid Peterson a massive sum to wed her, which surely means she’s been carrying on with someone. It certainly won’t be any surprise if she gives birth prematurely.”
“While this has been a delightful subject of conversation in various parlors these past two weeks,” said Lady Ottersburg, “I’m far more intrigued by the Duke of Wrengate’s return to Town.”
Samantha’s heart stopped for a second.
Wrengate.
A name that made her blood run cold while her fingertips twitched with the need to reach for a blade. Instead, she set her mind to selecting another of her iced cakes. It was either that or hurl the entire plate at the wall.
She closed her grip more firmly around it and focused on calming her breaths. The iced cake filled her mouth with tart sweetness. She swallowed the bite, then casually asked, “Why would his return be worthy of gossip?”
Lady Glendale sent a swift glance over her shoulder, as though she feared the duke might be there ready to reprimand her for talking about him without his permission. “He did not come alone.”
A weighty pause made Samantha wonder. Could it be the man had married? Duke or no, she couldn’t imagine any woman willingly tying herself to him for the rest of her life. Or any parent who’d press for such a union, unless they hated their child.
“He brought his sister,” Lady Ottersburg said, clarifying the matter. “Not the sickly one, of course, but the other one. Lady Edwina. The pair made quite a stir this evening when they arrived.”
“They’re here?” Samantha asked, tension coiling around her once more.
She swept her gaze sideways, attempting to catch a glimpse of the duke so she knew which part of the room to avoid. It was impossible to get a good look with these ladies crowded around her.
Thankfully, they were both so eager to share additional information, they stepped aside and assessed the room for a second before nodding toward Samantha’s left.
“Over there,” Lady Ottersburg murmured, her voice barely audible above the lively country tune being played. “You see the young lady dressed in the sage green gown? The one with the dark brown hair? That’s Lady Edwina.”
Samantha’s eyebrows shot upward. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected. A stern-faced woman with a frosty gaze, perhaps? The female equivalent of Wrengate?
Based on observation, however, Lady Edwina did not appear to share her brother’s dislikeable nature. Instead, she was all smiles and laughter while mingling with Miss Violet Greene and Miss Octavia Burley, both of whom Samantha knew as friends of Melody’s.
“Would you like an introduction?” Lady Glendale asked.
Samantha nodded and set aside the plate containing her uneaten cakes and shortbread. While Lady Edwina looked every bit the sort of person Samantha believed she could be friends with, the acquaintance could potentially help her discover more about Wrengate’s secrets.
Why had he associated with Wycliff?
Why had he ordered him killed?
Had he done the deed himself when the men he’d hired failed?
She believed the answer to this was a loud and resounding, “Yes.”
In which case, he had no qualms about taking the lives of others. But did that make him the man who’d arranged the murder of Adrian’s sister?
Possibly, but Samantha could not say for certain, meaning the duke was either an unpleasant person whom she and Adrian had to suffer, or someone upon whom they needed to seek revenge.
It was vital they figure out which. But with Wrengate rightly discerning that it was Samantha who’d broken into his home — after the warning he’d issued Adrian – they’d had to retreat. Even with all the months that had passed since the last time they’d seen him, Samantha was certain he’d be on his guard.
Lady Edwina, however, might not be aware of the threat Samantha posed. It would all depend on how astute she was and whether or not Wrengate had warned her.
She kept abreast of Lady Ottersburg and Lady Glendale as they swept toward the small group. Miss Violet Greene, who spotted Samantha first, offered warm words in greeting, which had the rest of the party turning toward her.
Lady Ottersburg then took over, making the introductions. This resulted in a lengthy summary of who Samantha was, how she’d married Adrian, the murder he’d been convicted of, how she’d subsequently stood by him through his trial, and would soon deliver his child.
Lady Edwina smiled for as long as Lady Ottersburg spoke. Only when she took her next breath did Lady Edwina hasten to say, “What a thrilling story, Mrs. Croft. I wonder if you’d be willing to tell me more while we take a turn of the room together.”
As much as Samantha regretted leaving Miss Violet Greene and Miss Octavia Burley alone with Lady Ottersburg and Lady Glendale, she could not give up her chance at escape. So she nodded her agreement and answered, “I’d be delighted.”
13
