Cassandra patted her hand. “I expect so. At least, the good humored of us do. Lady Blakeley was delighted with you both.”
“She is very kind,” Lily said. “We received an invitation to her half-mask.”
“I will be very sorry to miss it,” Cassandra said, “but I am off to the country on the morrow.”
“So you have told Lord Hampton?”
“I have, and the dear man is over the moon,” Cassandra said, “though he claims he guessed weeks ago. He barely consented to my making calls this morning and I overheard him telling Dreyfus to instruct the servants that everything is to be done quietly, lest the mistress be disturbed. I will be cossetted to distraction.”
“How fortunate that he is so considerate!” Lily said.
“He is a darling of a man,” Cassandra said, nodding. “Now, to you. I have not the slightest fear for you. I have only heard very complimentary notions about the idea that you defeated Lord Ashworth at cards. I suspect most people do not mind hearing that Lord Ashworth has been taken down a peg. Hecanbe a touch arrogant on occasion.”
“He most certainly can,” Lily said.
“All that’s come of that silly wager is the gossips say you are prettyandclever.”
“Well,” Lily said, “I cannot say if that is true, but I am grateful the talk is no worse.”
“Never mind,” Cassandra said. “It was only a card game and it is not as if you plan on making a career of it.”
Lily felt the slightest flush, as she had so recently conferred with her aunt about visiting Lady Carradine’s club. Though she did not think there was anything wrong about such a visit, she also did not feel inclined to mention it to Cassandra. She wondered if that meant it might not be perfectly right. After all, she should not be ashamed of anything she chose to do. And certainly, her aunt would not encourage her in anything to be ashamed about.
Ranier brought in the tea and Lily ceased her wonderings about it. At least, for the time being.
As Lily poured, Cassandra said, “Penny Darlington has arrived to town. She will call on you as soon as she is settled. You will find the lady fairly horse-mad, but a dear all the same. She’s already offered to drive me in her phaeton. My poor lord was prepared to rail against it, until I pointed out we need not decide, as we will be off on the morrow.”
“She drives a phaeton!” Lily said.
“Indeed, she does. It does not sit as tall as what one might see with a gentleman at the reins, though I’ve yet to see a fiercer tiger than one of Lord Mendbridge’s hanging off the back of it. Nobody really comments on it—her father is rather renowned as an expert on horses and so if he condones it, it must be right.”
Lily was rather cheered by the notion. She did not suppose anybody would stay talking about her wager with Lord Ashworth while a lady driving a phaeton sailed by.
“I shall be sorry to miss watching your season unfold, Lily,” Cassandra said, “though I shall also be happy to return to Derbyshire. You must write often and tell me everything.”
“Of course, I will,” Lily said. “You never did tell me how you found Weston Hall. It must be a great change to be the mistress of your own house.”
“Not so very much, as I always acted as such for my father and as it turned out my lord and I had quite a lot of help,” Cassandra said. “Edwin had not paid much attention to the estate and there were not many servants employed. While we were in Italy, the dear dowager and my aunt fell upon the place, hired servants, and marshalled them into order. It was quite arranged when we came home. Both will be there when we arrive, neither Lady Marksworth nor the dowager have any intention of missing the first grandchild to come on the scene. We shall be quite the party, as the dowager will have brought her dog and I am certain that fierce little Pomeranian will spare no effort to rule over our own Mayhem and Havoc.”
“You will be surrounded by those that love you,” Lily said, wistfulness creeping into her voice.
“So I shall,” Cassandra said, rising. “I ought to be off, the house is likely to be at sixes and sevens getting ready for our departure and I suspect my dear husband of hiding in his library to avoid the chaos. He is all energy when it comes to my own comfort, but Dreyfus will be left to struggle on alone.”
Cassandra kissed Lily on the cheek. “Do enjoy yourself and write me every detail.” She shook a playful finger at her friend and said, “And no more gambling, if you please.”
After Cassandra had taken her leave, Lily sat for some time considering her friend’s words. Perhaps, in light of the talk of her wagering against Lord Ashworth at Lady Blakeley’s dinner, it would not be wise to be seen in a club that was known for its gambling. At least, not so soon.
Before she could come to any real conclusion on the matter, her aunt bustled into the drawing room, waving a card in her hand.
“I’m afraid our little excursion to Lady Carradine’s is quite off, at least for this evening. I received a summons we dare not ignore.”
“Goodness,” Lily said, “we are not ordered to Carlton House?”
“That might be a deal more pleasant than where wearesummoned,” her aunt said mysteriously.
Lily waited with some trepidation. She was not accustomed to see her aunt ruffled, and ruffled she certainly was.
Mrs. Hemming sat down with a huff. “Harriet Montague, of all people.”
