“I can teach you how to throw a dagger, assuming Lord Chatsworth approves. I do not wish to make an enemy of him,” Simone responded.
“He will approve,” Miss Sutherland said matter-of-factly.
“Then we shall start right away,” Simone stated. “Throwing a dagger isn’t overly complicated, but it will take a lot of practice to become somewhat proficient.”
Miss Sutherland stepped closer and lowered her voice. “What is it like being a spy?”
Simone blinked, taken aback by the unexpected question. “Why would you think I am a spy?” she inquired.
With a knowing look, Miss Sutherland replied, “It wasn’t hard to deduce since you are acquainted with Fredrick and Lord Roswell.” She hesitated. “Was I wrong to assume so?”
Simone had a choice. She could lie, just as she was accustomed to, or she could confirm what Miss Sutherland had so easily deduced. Very few people knew of her secret, but she knew enough about Miss Sutherland to know that she was trustworthy.
“No, you weren’t wrong,” Simone replied, keeping her voice low, “but no one knows about me here.”
Miss Sutherland nodded her understanding. “Say no more.”
Simone gestured towards the settees. “Would you care to have a seat?” she asked. “I can request a tea service to be brought up.”
Miss Sutherland made a face. “No tea, please,” she said. “All I seem to do is work on my needlework and drink tea.”
“What about spending time with Lord Chatsworth?” Simone asked.
A very telling blush came to Miss Sutherland’s cheeks. “I do enjoy spending time with him when he comes to call.”
Simone sat down on a settee and placed the basket onto the table in front of her. “I am glad since you two are engaged.”
“I don’t think I will ever tire of being in Fredrick’s presence,” Miss Sutherland shared as she sat across from her. “He completes me in a way I didn’t even realize I needed.”
“I am truly happy for you,” Simone said.
Miss Sutherland clasped her hands in front of her. “I must admit that I had an ulterior motive in coming today.”
“You did?”
With a bob of her head, Miss Sutherland continued. “I was hoping we could become more acquainted with one another, and perhaps, if you are willing, become friends. I could use some more friends. I have three now.”
“Three?”
Miss Sutherland held up three fingers. “Lady Roswell, Lady Lizette and Lily, my lady’s maid. I know some might not count a lady’s maid as a friend?—”
“I would, wholeheartedly,” Simone said, cutting her off. “My lady’s maid is one of my dearest friends, as well.”
“Lily and I became friends when we both started working at the same boarding school,” Miss Sutherland revealed. “I convinced her to come work for me as a lady’s maid and now she works as a teacher at the boarding school I just opened.”
“Yes, I heard about the boarding school. I think it is a remarkable feat on your part. You should be proud.”
Miss Sutherland dismissed her praise with a wave of her hand. “It is rather easy to do good things when one has the funds available to do so.”
“Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same as you,” Simone said.
“Regardless, I only finished what my father envisioned.”
Simone leaned against the back of the settee. “How are you adjusting to life in high Society?”
Miss Sutherland shrugged. “People have been much more accepting of me now that I am engaged to Lord Chatsworth.”
“Marrying a lord will do that, especially one that declared he wasn’t going to fall prey to the parson’s mousetrap,” Simone joked. “People are curious as to how you ensnared him.”
