“How is your lady mother?”
“She’s well, thank you for asking.”
“Lady Hartley, how do you like your tea?” Harriet asked.
“One lump of sugar and a splash of milk.”
Harriet prepared the tea and handed her the cup. She was shocked to see Hartley’s mother here, and apparently, the earl was as well, judging by the look on his face when she’d walked into the parlor.
She was an attractive older woman with hints of gray streaks in her blond hair, and her eyes were green, though not as stunning as the earl’s. There also seemed to be an air of sadness around her, and Harriet wondered why that might be. In all the weeks she’d known Hartley, he’d never mentioned his mother. She should have asked, but it hadn’t seemed important at the time.
“What brings you to Bath, Lady Hartley?” Marian asked.
“I came to see my son.”
“Have you been to the town, my lady?” Harriet asked, trying to draw the countess out.
“I have not.”
“It’s quite different this year than in past years,” George chimed in. “So many more of the ton are here this year.”
“Is that so?”
After an awkward thirty minutes of stilted conversation, Marian stood. “My thanks, Lord Hartley, for the invitation to tea. I’m sure you’d like some time with your mother.”
Hartley stood. “The pleasure was mine, my lady.”
“Good day, Lord Hartley,” Harriet said with a curtsey.
“Good day, Lady Harriet, Lady Collin,” he said with a bow.
“Hartley, good to see you again,” George said with a nod.
“Spenser.”
Harriet wanted to stay and talk with Hartley and his mother more, but she dutifully followed her grandmother, mother, and Lord Spenser out the door.
“Well, that was most unexpected,” Marian said once they were all seated in the carriage. “I’ve not seen Lady Hartley in years. Last I heard, she was residing at the Hartley country seat.”
“It was clear that Hartley didn’t expect her,” George said.
“I could sense that by the look on his face,” Marian said. “I do wonder how long it’s been since they’ve seen each other.”
After his guests left,Hartley stood in the parlor looking at his mother. “Mother, how long do you plan on staying?”
“I’ve only just arrived. Are you asking me to leave already?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“I’ve known Lady Dalling for years, but this is the first time I’ve met Lady Collin and Lady Harriet. I like them both. Lady Harriet is a delightful young woman.”
“Is there a purpose to this?”
His mother frowned. “Hartley, there’s no reason to be rude. I was merely making conversation.”
“Is that so? Since when do you merely make conversation? We haven’t had a conversation in years, and yet you show up here unannounced, and for what, you’re merely here to make conversation? What do you want, Mother?”
“Why are you making it so difficult for me to apologize?”
