Page 51 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
That he’d jump to the word while trying to evade her questions on any lady he might be particularly interested was no secret.
“And are you trying to tergiversate my questions, Lord Newhurst? For I know there must be at least one young lady to whom you wish to be introduced,” she’d said.
He’d been trapped in a corner with no other option than to cease his evasiveness. “There is none, your Ladyship. I am already acquainted with the only lady of interest to me.”
If he’d thought the woman’s matchmaking interest impertinent before, her insistence on a name became downright invasive. But he had his voucher and a ticket with very little inconvenience to himself, and perhaps an ally in Lady Jersey.
Pulling out his time piece, he noted the hour. The ladies at Kendall House would receive visitors for three quarters of an hour more. If he hurried, he could offer his apology before he needed to ready himself for Parliament.
At the door of the four-story structure, he straightened his coat and adjusted his cravat. Three taps of the knocker brought the butler who took his card to present it to his mistress. The practice seemed odd considering how many times he’d walked about his friends' houses without the staff even noticing his presence, but he wanted to do things right today.
“Lady Stanford will see you now.” The butler motioned toward the open door.
When he entered, only Melior and Javenia occupied the room.
“John.” Melior rose. “How lovely of you to call on me, but why the card?”
“I…” He looked around the room, somehow hoping Susannah was hiding in the shadows. “That is, I’d hoped to…” He stopped. How could he say he did not wish to see either of them? It would be abominably rude. “I’d hoped to ask after your h-health.”
“My health.” Melior cast Javenia a wayward glance, amusement pulling at her lips. “I am well. And you?”
“I am well… as well.” He sounded like an imbecile.
Silence filled the room until Javenia finally took pity on him. “She is not here, John. She is out driving with Mr. Wallace and his sister, remember?”
The fire of excitement that had burned in him since receiving his voucher for Almack’s sputtered and died. Hehadforgotten.
“Please have a seat.” Melior gestured to the same blue settee he’d shared with Susannah two days ago. “Would you like some tea?” she asked once they were all situated.
“Yes, please.”
“Same as usual?”
“If you please.”
Javenia was unusually quiet as Melior poured the tea, her eyes flicking to the door every few seconds.
“Are you well, Javenia?” he asked.
“Have you seen Algenon lately?”
“Not since Sunday, why?”
“No reason.” She picked up a biscuit and began to nibble.
There certainly was a reason, but her nonchalance communicated her unwillingness to talk about it. Javenia had always been like that. Even as children, she’d act like nothing was the matter even when her little world was falling apart from the loss of a favorite animal or even worse, her beloved grandmother.
The rumor she’d questioned him about weeks ago came to mind. Had she found cause for alarm?
He held his cup of tea close to his nose, allowing the smell to calm him. Kendall House had one of his favorite blends. His cook had tried to duplicate it, but to no avail. And the Kendall House cook refused to share her secret.
The butler entered again with a card, holding it out to Lady Stanford on a silver salver.
She frowned. “Why have they come?”
“Who?” He and Javenia asked simultaneously.
“The Guthries.”
