Lifting her brow, her mother asked, “You haven’t noticed he has come to call the last few days?”
Enid knew she had been caught in a lie so she attempted to save face by saying, “Yes, well I have noticedthat.”
Her mother was not so easily fooled by her attempt to pacify her. “What are you keeping from me, Child?” she asked forthrightly.
“Nothing,” Enid rushed to reply.
“I just worry that you and Lord Rushcliffe are growing too close and that would only end in tears.”
“Why is that?”
Her mother unclasped her hands, and her eyes grew compassionate. “I do not wish to speak of such things but your reputation has been tarnished and I daresay that most gentlemen of thetonwon’t be able to look past that, especially when seeking a wife.”
“A wife?” Enid repeated.
“Yes, I do not wish to be a naysayer but—”
Enid spoke over her mother as she rushed to correct her. “Lord Rushcliffe doesn’t want me for a wife,” she declared. “I can assure you of that.”
“Then why is he coming to call so frequently?”
Enid bit her lower lip as she tried to think of something that would appease her mother. She couldn’t reveal that he worked as a Bow Street Runner or that she asked him to investigate his brother’s murder. It wouldn’t make sense why he would do so unless she knew all the facts. And that was not her secret to share.
“I’m afraid I cannot say,” Enid said.
Her mother frowned and lowered her voice. “Lord Rushcliffe doesn’t want you for a mistress, does he?”
“Heavens, no!” Enid exclaimed. “Lord Rushcliffe is a kind, honorable man. He would never ask such a thing from me.”
A look of relief came to her mother’s face. “I am glad to hear you say that. I have been so worried.”
“You need not worry about Lord Rushcliffe. We are just friends.”
“You must be careful, then,” her mother said. “You wouldn’t wish to tarnish Lord Rushcliffe’s reputation.”
“I have no intention to.”
Her mother nodded in approval. “Very well. You mustn’t keep him waiting for long,” she encouraged, holding her arms out. “I shall finish Marigold’s walk.”
“Thank you, Mother,” Enid said as she relinquished her hold on her daughter.
As she approached the townhouse, a footman opened the door and she stepped inside. After she walked down the corridor, she passed the open door to the study and she heard her father say, “A word, Enid.”
Enid closed her eyes. What now? What could her father possibly want to say to her? Well, she should be grateful he was speaking to her today.
Begrudgingly, she took a few steps back and entered the study. “Yes, Father,” Enid said as cordially as she could. She had no doubt that he was going to yell at her for something that she had done or even thought about doing.
Her father placed the quill he was holding down on the desk and stared up at her. “I have spoken to Lord Pendle and you are to stay away from his son.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You are to stay away from Lord Rushcliffe,” her father replied sternly. “Do I make myself clear?”
Enid was not done with her questions and asked one of her own. “Why does it matter to you or Lord Pendle who Lord Rushcliffe associates with?”
Her father looked at her like she was an imbecile. “Are you so cruel and selfish that you would have others impugn Lord Rushcliffe’s honor by associating with him?”
“I would not, but—”
