Julian peered over the edge of his paper, his lips quirking into a grin. “Shocking events seem to sprout from the ground at your feet, Lady Tallant, so I can’t say I’m surprised to find you’ve already stumbled across one. Go on, then. What is it? Did you see the butler kiss the housekeeper?”
Lady Annabel’s eyes widened hopefully. “No, indeed, but if they’re having a scandalous liaison, I’ll be sure to watch more closely.”
“Not so much a liaison as a marriage. Ten years now, I believe.” Julian gave Lady Annabel a teasing smile.
Lady Annabel rolled her eyes. “No talk of marriage if you please, Captain West. The only thing duller than a happy marriage is a country house party, and I refuse to suffer both at once. But back to this shocking development I’ve witnessed. Aren’t either of you the least bit curious to know what it is?”
“No.” Julian straightened his newspaper with a brisk snap, then retreated behind it.
“Go on, then. I’ll hear it.” Charlotte waved a desultory hand at Annabel, clearly more tolerant than she was interested.
Lady Annabel nodded toward the wide lawn just off the terrace, then leaned toward Charlotte and lowered her voice. “They’re all out there together, playing atbowls.” She whispered the last word as if it were too scandalous to speak aloud.
“Thatisscandalous.” Julian lowered a corner of his newspaper and squinted at the group assembled on the lawn. Violet was speaking to Lord Derrick, who was standing near the green, balancing a bowl in his hand as he waited his turn. Lady Honora was wandering at the edge of the garden with Lord Huntington, her arm in his, and Iris was laughing at Lord Wrexley, who was engaged in all manner of wild antics, tossing his bowls in every direction, and falling into melodramatic fits of despair when they invariably flew wide of the jack.
“Lovely day for bowls,” Julian said. “Pity we’ll have to put a stop to it, but we can’t let them carry on like that right on our back lawn, Charlotte. The servants will gossip.”
Charlotte watched her guests for a moment, then turned back to Annabel with a puzzled expression. “Is that all?”
“Well, it looks perfectly innocent at first glance, but there’s something strange—”
“Why, it’s indecent!” Charlotte interrupted with a gasp. She patted her fingertips against her chest in feigned shock. “My goodness, Annabel. The next thing I know you’ll be telling me they’re all taking tea together in the drawing room.”
Lady Annabel frowned at Julian, who was chuckling from behind his paper. “This is Hampshire, Charlotte, not London. I’d be delighted to offer a more salacious scandal, but I’m afraid this is the best I can do. But I assure you, it’s the most suspicious game of bowls I’ve ever seen. I tell you, something odd is going on.”
Charlotte shrugged. “I don’t see what. It all looks ordinary enough.”
Annabel tossed her head. “Fine. If you insist, Charlotte. I just find it curious Lord Huntington should be sneaking about the hedges with Lady Honora, when he’s meant to be betrothed to Miss Somerset.”
Julian folded his paper with a sigh, and tossed it onto the table in front of him. “Miss Somerset is engaged with Lord Wrexley at the moment.”
“Ateverymoment, Captain West.”
The three of them watched in silence as Lady Honora and Lord Huntington disappeared into the garden together. Iris didn’t spare them a glance, but carried on with her game with Lord Wrexley, who made no secret of his admiration for her, or his satisfaction at having her full attention.
“Lord Wrexley has been flirting with Miss Somerset all morning, and there goes Lord Huntington on a private jaunt with Lady Honora, and neither of you find that the least bit odd? Because it seems to me as though more than one party has misplaced their betrothed.”
“Now you point it out, it does look a little strange.” Julian’s eyes narrowed as Lord Wrexley slid his palm under Iris’s elbow.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Charlotte began, but then her brow furrowed. “Though I’ll grant you Lord Huntington and Iris don’t behave as if they’re betrothed. I don’t think I’ve seen them exchange more than five words since they arrived, and there’s something…not quite comfortable between them.”
Lady Annabel snorted. “No, indeed. They act as if each believes the other has the pox.”
“Annabel! Hush, will you?”
“Well, it’s the truth, Charlotte. I’ve seen barnyard cats who are friendlier than those two. What do you suppose is the matter? Perhaps Huntington has jilted her now Lady Honora is free of that odious Lord Harley. Dear God, what a scandal that would be. Did Lady Chase say anything about it?”
“Not a word, except Iris had been suffering from low spirits ever since Lord Huntington came up to scratch. She suggested the house party, thinking it would soothe Iris’s nerves if she became better acquainted with Lord Huntington before they wed. Lady Chase is anxious to see the business finished without any difficulties.”
“Yes, well, it looks as if it might be finished, indeed.”
“Oh, dear.” Charlotte gave her husband an anxious look. “Julian, do you suppose there’s anything we can—”
“Miss Violet! A word, if you please?” Lady Annabel called, rising to her feet and beckoning to Violet. “There’s how you’ll get your answer. Whatever the trouble is, you may be sure Miss Somerset confided it to her sister.”
A few moments later, Violet mounted the shallow steps to the terrace, and greeted them all with a smile. “Good morning. How may I help, Lady Tallant? Perhaps you’d like to join us for a game of…” She trailed off as she noticed three curious pairs of eyes fixed on her. “What is it? Why are you all staring at me?”
“Oh, it’s nothing at all, really. Do have a seat, dear.” Charlotte waved Violet into a chair, and passed her a cup of tea. “It’s just we were wondering—”
