Page 8 of The Scholar's Key
“Of course,” Percy said, forcing a smile on her face. Her cousins were… friendly, but not the sort of women with whom she usually chose to spend her time. They were always extremely preoccupied with the gossip of thetonand the eligible gentlemen. Most women were not interested in scandalous romance novels and brandy. Fashion was the only thing she had in common with most other women.
The butler – who had accompanied them from London, filled the doorway, distracting Percy.
“My lady, your guests have arrived.”
“Splendid!” Percy’s mother said, clapping her hands together, her eyes flicking nervously toward Percy. “Please show them in.”
“Mother,” Percy said slowly, placing her teacup back down on the table in front of her. “Who have you invited?”
“Now, Persephone, please be polite,” her mother said in a hushed tone, and Percy raised a brow.
“When am I not polite?”
“Just… be cordial.”
This was a rather ill sign.
“This isn’t Aunt Agnes, is it?”
“Ah, my dear Lady Fairfax!”
Percy stared her mother down as she rose to her feet. She would be polite, sure. But she was going to have a lot to say to her mother once their guests departed.
“Lady Lecher, how lovely to see you,” Percy said from between gritted teeth when it was her turn to greet the new arrivals, her stomach dropping when she saw that Lady Lecher wasn’t alone. “And Lord Stephen. I didn’t know you were going to be in Bath.”
Lord Stephen Algate stepped into the room with a smug expression on his face and a privileged air around him. Percy wondered if his stiff, pompadour-styled hair would have moved at all out of place if even the strongest of breezes whisked through the room. She thought not.
“Lady Fairfax, how lovely to see you,” he said, bowing low before Percy’s mother, who smiled serenely. “And Lady Persephone. You have grown into such a lovely young woman.”
His words were cordial, but Percy didn’t miss that look in his eyes – nor the way they ran up and down her body as though he was taking in all of the ways she had grown up indeed.
“One does tend to grow over the years,” she said before she could stop herself, dipping her gaze when her mother loudly cleared her throat from across the room and stepped forward to intervene, likely before Percy had the opportunity to say anything else.
“Will you have a seat and take tea with us?” her mother asked, stretching her hand out before them. Percy chastised herself for not realizing earlier that there were far too many cakes for just the two of them – and then there were those two additional teacups. It seemed she had to be far more observant when her mother was about.
Lady Lecher took the other chair in the room and Percy’s mother sat right in the center of the settee, leaving only the longer sofa where Percy had been sitting. Lord Stephen remained standing, and Percy took a seat on the farthest end as possible as she rearranged her pale yellow skirts, studying him as best she could out of the corner of her eye.
He had a strong jaw, broad shoulders, and could, she decided, lift her and throw her on the bed. Yet the thought of him doing so caused a shudder of aversion to race through her. What was the matter with her?
“Where have you been over the years that I have not seen you at a great deal of societal events?” Percy asked him when the mothers began to make their pleasantries.
“I spend most of my time here in Bath,” Lord Stephen said, turning the full vibrancy of his smile upon her. Interesting. Bath was usually reserved for those who could not afford to spend their time in London. “I also enjoy my country home. It is not often that I find myself in London.”
“I suppose someday you will have to be more present in London, once you must take your seat in the House of Lords.”
“Perhaps,” he said distractedly, giving Percy the idea that he was not a man who adhered to much responsibility.
They talked about nothing for longer than Percy would have liked, although she made sure she was on her best behavior for the remainder of the visit. She wasn’t above admitting that it would give her a higher ground upon which to stand when she confronted her mother.
As they stood to leave, Lord Stephen leaned in close toward her. “I do hope to spend a great deal of time with you while you are in Bath,” he said. “Perhaps we will have the opportunity to become better acquainted.”
Percy tried to determine whether there was a hidden meaning in his words, but from what she could tell, he appeared genuine.
“Of course, my lord,” she said. “I’m sure our families will enjoy spending time together.”
The moment they were out the door and out of earshot, Percy whirled around to her mother, who was standing rather contritely before her.
“Mother!” she said in as even a tone as she could manage. “How could you?”
