Too late.
She pushed against his arms. “I wish to return to the house now, Mr. West. Are you quite finished?”
He released her shoulders. “As long as we understand each other, yes.”
“I understand you perfectly, sir.”
“Very well.” He held out his arm to escort her back in the direction they’d come, but she brushed past him without a glance, her back stiff, her head held high.
He let her go.
He’d done nothing wrong. He’d simply made her understand his expectations.
And threatened her. Her, and her sister. He’d told her she didn’t matter, that she was a means to an end, and nothing more. He’d made her despise him.
Hehaddone something wrong.Christ.He’d doneeverythingwrong, but he’d done it for the right reasons. For Amelia. Surely that counted for something?
“Lady Eleanor! Have you come from viewing the yellow roses?”
Cam joined Lady Eleanor at the end of the pathway. She was chatting with Lady Archer, who was headed in the opposite direction.
Lady Archer was an older matron popular among thetonfor nothing better, as far as Cam could tell, than losing at cards, and wearing large, colorful turbans.
“How do you do, Lady Archer? Yes, we’ve just come from there. The roses are in full bloom and their scent is divine. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.”
Cam could tell it cost her an effort to appear carefree, but Lady Archer didn’t seem to notice. “My dear.” She fixed gleaming eyes on her prey. “How relieved I am to see you looking so well. I’ve been terribly worried for you.”
Lady Eleanor looked taken aback. “Worried?”
“Oh my, yes.” Lady Archer twirled her parasol. “For you, and for poor, dear Lady Charlotte.”
Lady Eleanor stiffened. “I’m sorry to have caused you any concern, my lady, for as you can see, I’m quite well.”
She attempted to sidle around Lady Archer, but the older woman was having none of it. She stepped into Lady Eleanor’s way, her mouth curled into a tiny, malicious smile. “You left the Foster’s ball so early, my dear, and with no warning. As Lady Hastings said that night, it was as if you’d vanished. You and poor, dear Lady Charlotte. I do hope she’s recovered?”
Ah. Even Cam, who was not versed in the myriad ways in which the ladies of thetontortured each other, could see what Lady Archer was about. Thetonhadn’t excused Charlotte Sutherland’s behavior the other night. Instead they would bide their time and wait with bated breath to see if the whispers would become a full-blown scandal.
Well, bless Lady Archer and her snide gossip, for she’d just done more to help his cause than Cam could have managed with either word or deed. Try as she might, Eleanor Sutherland could no longer deny to herself the danger of her sister’s situation, and Julian’s appearance at Charlotte Sutherland’s side this morning would feed the flame nicely.
Cam turned to Lady Eleanor to see how she’d receive Lady Archer’s veiled threat. Surely she’d show some consciousness of it, some awkwardness—
No. She appeared utterly composed.
She turned a smile upon Lady Archer that was bland and glacial at once. “You’re such a dear to be concerned, my lady, but my sister is very well indeed. You can be certain she’ll suffernolasting effects at all from that evening.”
Cam hid a smirk. Well. That was neatly done.
Lady Archer looked as if she couldn’t understand how she’d been so thoroughly disarmed. “Wonderful news, my dear. I couldn’t be more delighted to hear it.”
“How kind you are, Lady Archer,” Eleanor said, with the air of one who meant precisely the opposite.
Lady Archer sniffed. “Yes, well, more than one person at the ball expressed their worry for her, you know. Now,” she added, turning to Cam. “Won’t you introduce me to your companion?”
“Certainly. This is Mr. Camden West, Lady Archer. He’s recently returned to London from India.”
Lady Archer looked him up and down, not sure whether or not she need bother with him. His clothing attested to his wealth, but then London was filled with wealthy nobodies far beneath the notice of an aristocrat. He had no choice but to wait while Lady Archer made up her mind whether or not to honor him with her attention.
God, he hated theton. He’d have nothing to do with them at all if it weren’t for Amelia.
