Page 79 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
Susannah sighed inwardly. Could this day get any worse?
Her ears were still ringing with John’s final word when the butler announced her aunt. Why, after a whole week’s peace, had he let the woman in now? She supposed her intention to go out tonight made it seem she was available to visitors, but not this one. Anyone but this one.
Her presence was like pouring salt into an open wound, with angry glares and her impertinent questions.
“Answer me, girl. I know you have more insight into Lord Newhurst’s comings and goings than you have admitted.”
Susannah clamped her teeth shut, not willing to give away any of John’s secrets for this woman to use against him. If her aunt wanted to force John into a marriage she’d have to find her information elsewhere. Susannah was done causing him pain.
Her aunt leaned forward. “Fine, but Lord Newhurst did not arrive this morning for the ride he’d planned with Harriet. If you have done anything to dissuade him from seeking her out…”
The threat hung in the air.
Susannah’s eyes smarted. Why did Melior have to still be abed? If she was in the room, or anyone for that matter, her aunt would not stoop to threatening her.Please someone interrupt us, she thought.
As if he’d heard her very wish, the butler arrived at the door again and announced a pair of visitors.
“Lady Plum and Mrs. Cline.”
Not the visitors she had hoped for, but she’d take any distraction at this moment. The two women, complete opposites in appearance, entered the room and stopped.
“Where is Lady Stanford?” Mrs. Cline asked, her hand coming to rest over her ample bosom.
“Yes, we have come to commiserate with her.” Lady Plum’s stony face looked anything but compassionate.
More likely they had come for a bit of gossip. Over the weeks she’d been in London it had not been hard to see where the majority of rumors spread from.
Susannah stood. “Might I offer you some tea? You find only me”—she glanced at Aunt Guthrie and swallowed the bile rising in her throat— “and my aunt today.”
Aunt Guthrie smiled and gestured to a few open seats as if she were the hostess. “What a lovely thing to meet you both here. Do sit down.”
The matrons readily agreed. Tea was brought and conversation passed easily among the older women. Susannah, however, chose to remain silent.
Her mind wandered as the ladies traversed the usual polite topics. In the half hour she’d sat alone after John’s removal a letter had come for her. One she was even now hiding on her person, knowing if any of these ladies knew an unmarried man had written to her, their wagging tongues would have no restraint.
That Mr. Wallace had written, implied the intimacy that he believed existed between them—a closeness she now regretted. He’d asked her to meet him on the balcony at nine, only one hour after the ball began. She could think of no other reason for his request but that of a proposal. Her stomach still churned at the thought. Yes, it had been the direction she’d expected their relationship to progress, but she wasn’t ready.
Would she ever be ready?
Talk turned to how often her cousin had been seen with a certain lord and her attention snapped back to the conversation. The way her aunt gushed about her happiness and hinted at her expectations nearly drove Susannah to walk out. But the last thing she needed was to have two of London’s biggest busybodies spreading rumors of her rude behavior.
The door opened again and she expected to see the butler with another announcement. Instead Mr. Kendall entered with Mr. Roberts close behind, but Lady Braithwaite was nowhere to be seen. Had she left already?
Mr. Kendall and Mr. Roberts greeted the older women in a friendly manner and took up seats about the room, asking after their health. When everyone had answered with positive reports, Aunt Guthrie resumed her earlier topic.
“Lady Plum, did I tell you how kind Lord Newhurst has been to my girls, especially my Harriet? He’s taken them driving several times these last few weeks. Is that not good of him?”
Susannah fought to keep a scowl off her face. So her aunt would try to force John to propose by subterfuge, creating such an expectation that he’d be labeled a rake for not offering for Miss Guthrie’s hand.
“I had heard rumors,” Lady Plum said.
Mr. Roberts leaned back. “Yes, Newhurst extends his kindness to many young ladies. Why, just last week I saw him walking Miss Wallace home from the shops when her maid grew ill.”
Aunt Guthrie frowned, but Susannah cast Mr. Roberts a grateful smile. He gave a subtle nod in return. Thank heavens she was not the only one who had seen her aunt's intentions.
Five minutes later, Lady Plum and Mrs. Cline stood. Mr. Kendall and Mr. Roberts did as well and Susannah glanced at the clock to see it had been exactly fifteen minutes since the women had entered.
She rose to her feet and bid them a good day, hoping her aunt would also take her leave, but she made no move to go. When she tried to return to her seat after, however, Mr. Kendall stepped close enough to impede her.
