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“My point,” he said, “is that institutions keep society together. To that end, we owe them our loyalty.”

“Is that why you wouldn’t ruin me? Because you respect the institution of marriage?”

“I told you, I respect myself too much.” He paused. He ought not to bring this up yet again, but he couldn’t help himself. “What are you going to do?”

“I have a plan.”

“You keep saying that, but I would like to know what that plan is.”

“You’ll forgive me, my lord, but I don’t owe you an accounting of my plan.”

He wanted to protest, to say that she did owe him an accounting, but on what grounds could he make that argument?

Abruptly, tersely, she sat forward on her chair, as if she were about to rise from it, and said, “I should go. Miss Morgan is sitting with Lady Harcourt for me. She won’t have expected me to be gone this long.”

He wanted to object. He wanted to entreat her to stay, to talk with him around the fire until the sun rose. A startling thought landed. “We quite forgot about the comet.”

“Oh! Yes!” She tipped her head back, and he did too.

The sky was very beautiful, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.

“I always wanted to learn about the constellations,” she said. “My sister and I used to stargaze, but the only one I know is the hunter. He’s not here, though, is he?”

“Orion,” Simon said. “He will become visible toward morning. It isn’t until winter you can see him this time of night. But there are several here now.” He pointed out Andromeda and Pegasus.

“Pegasus, born of the blood of Medusa when Perseus beheaded her,” Miss Brown said.

“Yes.” He chuckled. “And wasn’t Andromeda chained to a rock at some point, in sacrifice to some angry god or other?”

“Yes, but I think Perseus rescued her.” She paused. “Perseus was rather busy, it would seem.”

They shared a laugh. She was so witty.

“I should go,” she said again, but this time the phrase wasn’t fraught, as it had been after she’d informed him she didn’t owe him an accounting of her plans. Now, she was merely taking her leave. She stood and performed an abbreviated curtsy, which was rather comical given the blanket that was still shrouding her. “I hope I haven’t made you miss the comet.”

“I am sure you haven’t,” he said, when what he meant was It was worth it. “Regardless, my understanding of comets is that when they visit us, they are around for a time.” He stood and angled his head so he could look right in her eyes. He would freely admit that he was attempting to send her a message. “I shall try again tomorrow.”

13

The Patroness of Journalism

September 18, 1823

Earls Trip, day 11

Diantha spent most of the next day wondering if what had transpired the night before had in fact transpired. Had she developed delusions? An imagination the likes of which the world had never seen? Perhaps she ought to start writing novels rather than merely reading them.

The worst part—the best part?—was that she had almost told Lord Marsden the whole story. Meaning, about the blackmail. Meaning, about what damage she might have inflicted upon Lady Harcourt—and the entire family.

She was glad she hadn’t, of course. She was keeping it secret for a reason. But it had felt so natural to confide in him. For a moment there, she had been teetering on the edge of confessing everything. It would have been so easy. It would have been such a relief.

Lady Harcourt had slept uncharacteristically late, which suited Diantha, because she had gotten very little sleep. She’d been out late, of course, but she’d had a terrible time settling once she’d spelled off Miss Morgan and gotten into bed.

The dowager’s tardy awakening meant they had missed Lord Marsden in the breakfast room. That afternoon, they spent some time with the ladies, dipping their feet in the pool. Everyone, including the younger Lady Harcourt, joined.

“Oh, it is as cold as you all say!” she exclaimed, retracting her legs as soon as her toes hit the water.

Everyone else, including the dowager, sat on the pool’s edge with their dresses hiked up and their lower legs submerged. It wasn’t the all-consuming sensation that full-body immersion incited, but it was refreshing.