Since Prudence didn’t mind Georgie considering them equals, their travels had worked well. Georgie stayed in her room during social outings, slowly reading her novels or mending clothes. Which was to say, Georgie was slow, but she wasn’t unintelligent. The opposite. But one could not make her go any faster than the pace she went.
“I’d like to give you some space,” Prudence said. “To let you explore London and find your own society, and be a young woman in an exciting place. Your pay should be adequate to find some amusement somewhere.”
“And I need my own room for this?” Georgie asked.
“You need to be untethered from me. I’ll be busy with the alpine training at early hours of the morning. I shouldn’t need to disturb you for that. You aren’t my maid.”
“I can close my door. I’m a heavy sleeper.” Georgie slipped the bookmark into her novel and set it aside, giving Prudence her full attention, which was precisely what Prudence didn’t want.
The two women stared at each other, a good-natured and generous stand-off that could not be ended until the truth was out. Georgie looked at her expectantly.
Finally Prudence caved. There was no other way around Georgie than the truth. “There’s a man.” Prudence confessed, her lips throbbing in memory of Mr. Moon’s kiss.
Georgie gave a faint triumphant smile, but said nothing.
“I’m trying to be discreet.” Because she wanted so much more than a kiss, if she were honest.
Georgie still said nothing, not offering judgement nor opinion.
“I’m not even sure I want to begin an affair, but this was the entire reason I came across the ocean. To have an affair with a man who wouldn’t know me. Wouldn’t know Gregory. Someone I wouldn’t worry over, pine over—”
“Love?” Georgie suggested.
Prudence pointed at her as if she’d just said the most brilliant thing in the history of the world. “Exactly. A fling. Anaffair de coeur. The kind men have all the time with no consequences to their reputations and professional and business lives.” Except, if all that were true, she would have an affair without putting it off by arranging rooms and appointments.
“That I understand.” Georgie pulled her novel back onto her lap. “Tell me which room to move into, and I will pack my bags.”
Her companion’s statement left Prudence wondering about her—what was it that Georgie wanted that made her understand Prudence’s desire for a love affair? Not that it mattered at the moment, anyway. She would find out later. Now, she had a room to rent, maids to notify, and then, when she was feeling bold enough, an appointment to make.
*
LEO ARRANGED Aluncheon for his mother. She would go to Verrey’s for her meal, and then to Charbonnel et Walker’s for drinkingchocolate and truffles. Since she’d be on Bond Street, he also suggested treating herself to a new frock.
Mrs. Moon was no fool, unfortunately. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Why are you kicking me out of my own home? Do you have some kind of... strumpet coming?” She spat out the word with all the force of her disdain.
“No. Not at all, mother.” Leo gave her the sternest look in his arsenal, which was nothing compared to his mother’s. She didn’t so much as bat an eye. “If you must know, I have a client arriving who demands secrecy. He doesn’t wish anyone to know we are working together.” With that one pronoun switch, he lied to his mother. He hadn’t lied to his mother in decades.
“Who is this supposed client?” she demanded.
“If you must know, it’s an old school acquaintance,” Leo said, remembering his encounter with Eyeball in the park.
“No, absolutely not. Those blue-blooded nincompoops treated you terribly. I’ll not let you alone here without anyone to defend you!”
“Mother. I’m no longer a schoolboy, instructed to not use my fists. I can handle this.” Leo was surprised and even touched by his mother’s vehemence. Decrepit in body now, she still had the vigor of the tigress she once was.
“Who? Which one is it? I’ll write to their mothers if they abuse you.” His mother shook her arthritic fist.
“For your information, it’s Eyeball, so you needn’t worry.”
“Pah,” she said, waving her hand. “He’s fine, then. He understood money better than all the rest of them. What does he need of secrecy? Especially from me?”
“He is in search of a wife and doesn’t want there to be talk of his former poverty.”
“Ah,” his mother said, nodding her approval. “There are quite enough other rumors going about of him anyway. He’snever been a stranger to the ladies. That will no doubt help him secure a wife just as well as a flush pocket!”
“Mother!” Leo’s stomach lurched. The idea of Eyeball being pursued by his mother was the most nauseating thought he’d ever heard of.
She shook her head. “The gossip is consistent, if nothing else. But fine, pass my regards along, while I go enjoy myself and spend all of your money. That’ll show you.”
