Page 139 of A Story of Love

“I will order some tea,” Freddie explained.

Lori nodded.

“Feeling better?”

“Yes. Thank you for listening to my sniveling.”

“That is what friends are for. You can tell me why you had to snivel once we have tea. I suspect we will need it.”

Lori gave a watery chuckle. “As always, you are right. I will need to fortify myself before I commence my confession. In the meantime, why don’t you tell me what has happened while I’ve been gone.”

Freddie was in the middle of describing the most recent scandal—two well-known widows who’d actually come to blows over the same man—when the door opened, and Mrs. Brinkley entered carrying a tea tray.

The housekeeper laughed when she saw their startled faces. “I saw you when you came in, Miss Lorelei. I knew what you’d need before her ladyship even rang.”

“Oh, Mrs. Brinkley!” Lori said, yet again choked up. “You two are both so good to me. You’re going to make me start blubbering all over again.”

Freddie patted her shoulder and said, “You cry as much as you want. Everyone needs a good blubber on occasion.”

It was so like Fast’s words from the other night that her eyes prickled dangerously.

Once the housekeeper had departed and they each had a cup, Lori begged Freddie to join her in splitting a cake.

“I know you are still out of sorts when you can’t even eat a whole one,” Freddie chided, dabbing her lips delicately after a bite of the decadent cream cake. “Now. Tell me what happened.”

Lori tried to organize her thoughts—as if she were pitching the idea for a story to David—but the moment she opened her mouth, it all came pouring out in a rush.

Not just everything that had happened these last two weeks, but even her mortifying history with Lord Dorian.

She ended her tale of woe with the article in today’s newspaper.

“Is it true about Lord Severn’s betrothal to Miss Pascoe, Freddie?” Lori asked. ‘Or could I have misunderstood the announcement?”

“I’m sorry, Lori, but I’m afraid it is the truth. That wretched Mr. Pascoe approached me again. He offered me so much money to plan the wedding breakfast that I couldn’t turn him down.” She saw Lori’s look of horror. “Of course, now that I know about you and his lordship, I shall cry off and tell Pascoe—”

“No, you most certainly will not!” Lori interrupted. “That will do nothing for me and will only ruin your reputation. Please,” she added when her friend opened her mouth to argue.

Freddie finally sighed but nodded. “Very well.”

“When are they to marry?”

“In three weeks’, time. As soon as the banns have been read.”

Any hope that Lori had been clinging to disintegrated. “Three weeks,” she repeated hollowly.

“Lori, darling?”

“Yes?” Lori said, barely able to squeeze the word out.

“Am I wrong in thinking that you would like to marry Lord Severn?”

Lori bit her lip, struggling to get control of her emotions, which were rioting like a flock of chickens being savaged by a fox.

“I love him, Freddie,” she said, her voice breaking. “Even now that I know what a vile, duplicitous rat he is.” Thankfully, she didn’t dissolve into tears again. “I—I’m ashamed to say that I would have abandoned all my so-called principles in a heartbeat for him.” She gave a bitter laugh.

“Oh, Lori. I am so sorry. I used to envy you for your position on marriage. It seemed so—”

“Safe?” Lori guessed.