Stomp, stomp, stomp.
Patter, patter, patter.
She headed back toward the spindly library table where she preferred to work. Gwen mused that she did not sound like a spotted giraffe when she walked back and forth. Rather, she was a herd of elephants trampling the undergrowth in her frazzled state.
“Lady Moreland is here.”
She halted so quickly she nearly lost her balance. “What?”
Octavia repeated herself. “Lady Moreland’s here.”
Gwen glared at her, but Octavia just threw up her hands as if to say she had no more information to impart—a viscountess had come to call and Octavia could do naught to change it.
Huffing, Gwen considered the news. Truthfully, she had nothing useful to do but worry over where Aidan was. How could she mend matters between them, while waiting for the time when they would leave to start their new life together?
Perhaps a distracting visit was just the thing to occupy her agitated thoughts. Perhaps Lady Moreland might provide some insight that would assist Gwen in understanding Aidan better. Perhaps she had no choice but to receive her new mother-in-law, so why was she still standing about considering her lack of options?
“Where is she?”
Octavia scowled, as if talking to a fool. “In the drawing room, of course.”
“Bring a tea tray?”
The servant nodded. “Come, Buttercup.” She patted her leg to encourage the dog to walk with her, the two of them sweeping out of sight.
Gwen drew a fortifying breath, smoothed her hair and then her gown, and when she was certain she was not a sight, she left the library. Out in the hall, she stopped in front of a gilt-framed mirror, one of the few left in their home, to verify she was put together, then headed into the drawing room.
Lady Moreland was standing by the fireplace, evidently lost in thought. Her mother-in-law was an astute dresser, wearing fashionable colors that suited her complexion and coloring to perfection. Saffron, Egyptian Brown, Carmelite … all perfectly matched to an impeccable woman of fashion.
The older woman had been confident and composed in all their earlier encounters, but she seemed to be woolgathering at that moment.
“Lady Moreland?”
Aidan’s mother started, then turned to Gwen. A smile spread over her handsome face. “Gwen, please. Call me Mama Abbott. We are family, dear.”
“I have a tea tray coming, Mama Abbott.”
“Then I suppose we shall sit and talk.”
Gwen smiled politely, not sure what she was doing here, but she moved to take a seat across from her.
“I am not sure what I am doing here.”
Gwen blinked. It was like having her thoughts pulled out of her head. She waited.
“Lord Moreland and I are leaving London, and I have been thinking about you and Aidan.”
Gwen nodded in acknowledgment. She was aware thatAidan’s parents were headed to their country seat now that the wedding was afait accompli.
“Perhaps when I return to London, you will have good news for me.” Lady Moreland gestured to her belly. Gwen felt the heat of a blush spreading over her face.
“It is just that since Lily’s attack, I feel that my family is keeping secrets from me and I cannot stop thinking about what the future might bring.”
Gwen straightened, certain she had misheard her mother-in-law.
“Lily’s attack?”
Lady Moreland had been staring down at her hands as she spoke, smoothing her skirts in a distracted manner. She raised her head at Gwen’s question. “Last month. Lily was attacked by one of the footmen after she discovered his involvement in the baron’s murder.”
