“Whatever is going on between Lord Huntington and your sister?” Lady Annabel interrupted. “Has he jilted her?”
Violet’s head jerked toward Lady Annabel, the becoming pink color draining from her cheeks.
“If Huntington’s jilted her, then he has no business being at Hadley House.” Julian rose from his seat. “I’ll have an explanation from him this very minute—”
“No, Captain West!” Violet held out a hand to stop him. “It’s not…Lord Huntington didn’t—”
“I’m telling you, he’s jilted her.”
“Annabel!” Charlotte gave Lady Annabel a warning look, then reached out to touch Violet’s hand, her voice softening. “Violet, dear, we’re meant to be their chaperones during the house party. If something’s changed between them, you must tell us at once.”
Violet bit her lip as her gaze moved between them. “Oh, dear. I don’t like to tell Iris’s secrets, but I suppose you’ll have to know sooner or later. It’s rather drastic, I’m afraid.”
“How drastic? As drastic as being jilted by London’s most sought-after marquess mere weeks before your wedding? As drastic as that?”
Violet shook her head. “Lord Huntington didn’t jilt Iris, Lady Tallant, though in the end the result is the same.Shejiltedhim.”
There was a dumbfounded silence as they all looked around the table, as if each of them expected the others to offer some explanation for this shocking development.
Lady Annabel was the first to recover. “You mean to say after weeks of courtship, the Marquess of Huntington—amarquess, mind you—made Miss Somerset an offer of marriage, she accepted him, and now she’s jilted him? Butwhy?”
Violet gave a helpless shrug. “I don’t know. Iris refused to say.”
“Violet,” Julian began. “If you know more than what you’re saying—”
“Truly, Captain West, I only know what I’ve told you. Iris hasn’t ever kept secrets from me before, but the rift with Lord Huntington happened a week ago, and she only told Lady Honora and me yesterday, in the carriage. She wouldn’t say anything other than she jilted him.”
“Oh, dear.” Charlotte wrung her hands. “She’s encouraged his suit for weeks, and agreed to the match! What would make her jilt him now, and with no explanation?”
“I wish I could tell you, but Iris said only Lord Huntington didn’t care for her, and she’s jilted him. She wouldn’t say anything more.”
“She jilted a marquess becausehe didn’t care for her?” Lady Annabel’s voice was incredulous. “Oh, you can be sure there’s more to it than that. No lady refuses the chance to become a marchioness on such a flimsy excuse.”
“Yes, I think that’s true of most young ladies, but then Iris has never been much like most young ladies.” Violet paused, considering this, then added, “At least, she never was before we came to London.”
Charlotte exchanged a look with Lady Annabel. “What do you mean?”
“The shock of our parents’ deaths, then the move to London a year later…well, it wasn’t easy for any of us, but it was particularly difficult for Iris. She became a celebrated belle almost overnight, with all of London scrutinizing her every move, and, well…there are so many rules for unmarried young ladies, aren’t there? She’s been so terrified she’d make a misstep and disappoint our grandmother, I think she’s quite lost herself.”
Charlotte made a sympathetic noise, but then raised a hand to her forehead as if to hold off a sudden headache. “But Lady Chase must not know Iris has jilted Lord Huntington, or she never would have suggested I invite him to Hadley House.”
“No, Iris hasn’t told her. I don’t excuse Iris—it’s very wrong of her to keep it secret—but as much as our grandmother loves us, she can be a rather stern taskmistress.” Violet shook her head. “She’ll go mad when she finds out.”
There was another silence, then Lady Annabel sighed. “Jilting a marquess with no explanation? This will end badly for Miss Somerset, I’m afraid.”
“Iris told us yesterday she plans to encourage Lord Wrexley.”
“Lord Wrexley?” Lady Annabel asked, her tone sharp.
Violet glanced at her, her brow furrowing when she noticed Lady Annabel’s sudden frown. “Yes. It will help smooth things over with our grandmother if she has another suitor to replace Lord Huntington, and Lord Wrexley admires Iris.”
A tense silence fell over the table, then Charlotte forced a smile and laid her hand over Violet’s. “Thank you for telling us the truth. You may return to your game now. It looks like Lord Derrick is waiting for you.”
Once Violet had gone, Charlotte turned to her husband with a groan. “Goodness, what a muddle. Iris has broken with Lord Huntington, and now Lord Huntington looks as if he’s chasing Lady Honora, and Lord Wrexley is chasing Iris, and she’s encouraging him!”
“Yes, it looks as if she is, doesn’t it?” Lady Annabel was watching Iris and Lord Wrexley, a frown still marring her brow.
Charlotte exchanged a look with Julian. “You look as if you don’t approve of Lord Wrexley, Annabel.”
