Verity willed herself not to look at Mr. Cole. He certainly was full of surprises! “It would appear so,” she answered. “What a generous gesture! Then again, it seems to be more and more the norm for that particular friend.”
Charlotte Trenton, having also looked away from her brother for likely the same reason, now tapped Verity on the arm. “Look, there are Lord and Lady Howell. And they have Miss Kinsey with them. Let us make introductions before they are surrounded by entomologists hoping to fund a favorite project.”
Mrs. Trenton walked toward the Howell party at once and Verity was obliged to follow. She was a little annoyed. She had not come to make conversation with strangers. When would she have a chance to browse the displays with Dr. Westbridge?
The Messrs. Cole did not join them, which Verity thought odd. William Cole seemed himself once more. There was no reason for him not to greet an old friend. Then again, it would have been rude for them to all abandon Dr. Westbridge just as he had arrived.
Verity decided to give it no further thought, focusing instead on the party they were approaching. A quick introduction, she hoped, would free her to admire the specimens she had specifically come to see.
Lord Howell cut a fine figure—tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair curling into an alluring forelock. His wife was no less handsome, her intelligent eyes already tracking them from across the room.
“Lord and Lady Howell,” said Mrs. Trenton, reaching out her hands to take the viscountess’s and planting a fond kiss upon her cheek. “May I introduce Miss Verity Lockhart, a friend frommy hometown? She is probably the only woman here who is genuinely interested in today’s subject matter.”
Lady Howell’s perfect skin creased into a warm smile. “Miss Lockhart, a pleasure to meet you. This,” she said, indicating to her left, “is my very dear friend, Miss Jillian Kinsey. We are country folk, like yourself—more familiar with the denizens of the meadow than our counterparts of the city would be. Though I doubt we will recognize any specimens from today’s talk. Unless they have stag beetles in Egypt.” She finished with a half-wink at Miss Kinsey.
The lovely Miss Kinsey, golden-haired and cheerful, took Verity’s hand at once. “Miss Lockhart, how happy I am to make your acquaintance! Ellena assures me that Munro is not all pomp and pretense, but I have not met many folk who suggest otherwise, unless they are handpicked by the viscount to visit Munro House. He has impeccable taste in people’s character, don’t you, Lord Howell?”
Before the gentleman could answer, she had tripped merrily along in her conversation. “I hope I shan’t be bored today. I am so easily bored in the city. It’s a pity I can’t ride. Never learned how, you see. And I must always have a maid running after me if I leave the house. It is very droll, you know. The theater is all right. And I do enjoy dancing. But Ellena is attempting to educate me, though I cannot say it has been a success. The greatest lesson I have learned is that a lady’s life is altogether dull. Unless you have a lovely husband like the viscount. Then it’s not so bad. Do you have a beau, Miss Lockhart?”
Miss Kinsey’s monologue ended so abruptly that Verity was caught quite off guard. “Oh, I… er… no, not as yet.”
“Well, good luck, say I. Chances are you won’t find him here. The gentlemen are far too occupied with six-legged creatures to notice the two-legged ones.” She laughed brightly, the soundechoing across the heads of the very many people she likely thought needed some laughter in their lives.
Lady Howell leaned to the side and said quietly, “Jilly, I think you might want to give Miss Lockhart a moment to assimilate all that you have said.”
While Miss Kinsey obliged by taking a breath, Mrs. Trenton asked the viscountess, “Do you know who else is here today? I shall give you three guesses.”
Lady Howell cast her eye across the room. Her smile faltered. She looked up at the viscount quickly, taking his arm as if to keep him close. “I see your brothers are both in Munro, Charlotte,” she said. “It must be a special blessing to have the whole family together.” Her voice was light and friendly, but her fingers were wrapped tightly about the solid muscle of her husband’s upper arm. His eyes found what she had seen, and he also stiffened.
Verity twisted her body to catch sight of what had so visibly disturbed them, but all she could see was Dr. Westbridge and the Messrs. Cole, all three of whom were chatting in a pleasant manner, seemingly oblivious of the attention.
“You will come and sayhullo, won’t you?” Mrs. Trenton asked. “It has been more than a six-month since you and William have last spoken to each other. I know he will want to wish you well since he was not at the wedding to do so.”
“Alas,” came the formal tones of the viscount, “the lecture is about to begin, and we will be in a hurry to leave when it is done.”
Mrs. Trenton blinked, the rest of her features momentarily frozen. “It will take but a moment.” She tried to reset her smile, but it wavered uncertainly.
“Perhaps another time,” Lord Howell said firmly. “Come, ladies, let us take our seats.” He stepped forward at once, his wife still on his arm.
“I’ll join you in a minute,” said Miss Kinsey to her friend. “I would like to talk to Miss Lockhart a little longer. Everyone else here is so stuffy and serious. But your little ensemble look like fun.” Before Lady Howell could stop her, Miss Kinsey had headed in the opposite direction, with Mrs. Trenton and Verity trailing helplessly after her.
“She’s something of a hurricane,” breathed Mrs. Trenton as they hurried to catch up.
“A friendly one, thank goodness,” replied Verity. “Look, she’s actually starting introductions already! Lady Howell must be beside herself. Miss Kinsey is such an unlikely friend for a viscountess.”
Mrs. Trenton answered in bursts as she puffed along, sucking in a breath where she could. “For many years… she was her only friend… Ellena… will therefore likely… forgive her anything.Hallo again, Miss Kinsey. My, but you walk quickly!”
“I am used to running across the fields at Trenton Grange,” Miss Kinsey answered, her eyes sparkling as of one who is in their element. “What lovely brothers you have, Mrs. Trenton. I myself have three. Little mischief makers, every one of them, but I love them so. And Dr. Westbridge here reminds me of dear Papa, whom I miss with all my heart. I know it is a privilege to visit in Munro, but there is nothing quite like home, is there, Miss Lockhart?”
William Cole, who had recovered soonest from the onslaught that was Miss Kinsey, quickly replied, “I imagine Miss Lockhart misses her opportunities to paint the most. She has quite the talent for it.”
“You paint, Miss Lockhart?” cried the delighted Miss Kinsey, her eyes crinkling as a broad smile lit up her face to a fullness of cheer. “Then you must visit us at Munro House. There is a lake on the grounds that offers the most beautiful views. It will be such fun. Better than sitting around and drinking tea yet again.The aristocracy could learn a thing or two about money not buying happiness.”
“I…I…” stammered Verity, flustered by the raging energy that poured from Miss Kinsey. “I do not paint landscapes,” she managed at last.
“You don’t? Then whatdoyou paint?”
Verity fumbled with the ribbon at her bosom. “Insects. I study them. I sketch and paint each one that I have observed as a kind of scientific record.”
