She was a professional actress. Or, if not professional, then something very close to it.
The rest of the carriage ride was not overlong, as Lord Harveston lived on Bedford Square. Cordelia was quiet for most of it, as she was delighted to listen to Lady Rawley and Miss Mayton rehash the events of last year’s theatrical.
When they arrived, they found a line of carriages and Lady Rawley posited that intellectual types were likely tied to their clocks. If Lord Harveston said eight o’clock, then they would turn up at the precise time.
Fortunately, Lady Rawley had sent Lady Agatha and Mrs. Robinson ahead to arrive at seven and assist Lord Harveston’s arrangements. Lady Rawley was determined to provide the lord with any little service he might find useful.
They were helped down from the carriage and Cordelia thought it was a very fine house Lord Harveston lived in—quite bigger than she would have imagined for a bachelor. She supposed it must be part of the family’s estate, rather than a house rented for the season.
A rather serious-looking butler escorted them to the drawing room. “Lady Rawley, Miss Mayton, and Lady Cordelia Bennington,” he intoned as they went in.
The crowd of people in the room turned like a school of fish and appeared very surprised to see them.
“Ah,” Lady Rawley said very quietly, “they see they have new members and feel the compliment of it.”
Cordelia was not certain what they felt about it. She was dubious over the idea that they appeared complimented. Some of them looked confused, some of them rather dismissive. Then there was the stern-looking mien of a very tall man. A very handsome tall man, were he not quite so serious.
If there were any faces that appeared unreservedly enthusiastic over their arrival, it was Lady Agatha and Mrs. Robinson. They hurried over.
“Miss Mayton,” Lady Agatha said, “we are so pleased you will join our little troupe.”
“And we understand Lady Cordelia will too?” Mrs. Robinson said.
Cordelia nodded. “Lady Rawley has been very gracious.”
Lady Agatha leaned in close and said quietly, “Now, my dear Lady Rawley, you will know that we did as you asked and came at seven. Unfortunately, poor Lord Harveston refuses to admit that he requires help.”
“He is quite stoic about it,” Mrs. Robinson said, “and I think that butler of his supports his wrongheaded ideas. We did point out the lack of vases of flowers and they both looked at us as if we’d just arrived from the moon.”
Cordelia glanced at the sideboard, which looked very well put together, and the general air of the room, which was perhaps more masculine than she would like but well done all the same. She could not think what the ladies would have modified beyond their idea of flowers.
“The point is, you tried,” Lady Rawley said graciously. “Now, here he comes.”
The “he” Lady Rawley had referred to was the tall and serious gentleman. The handsome gentleman.
Goodness, she would not have thought that was Lord Harveston. She imagined a person running a literary society and helping Darden with the club’s books would be a short and bespectacled sort of person.
“Aunt, Miss Mayton,” he said, delivering an elegant bow.
“Dear nephew,” Lady Rawley said, “do be introduced to the latest member of our little acting troupe—Lady Cordelia Bennington. Lord Darden’s sister, if you will recall.”
Cordelia curtsied. She felt nervous. Why did she feel nervous?
“Lady Cordelia,” he said, his voice oddly deep but with a silken tone to it. It practically sent a shiver over her.
“Lord Harveston,” she said. “You are very gracious to allow us to attend your literary society.”
The lord laughed just a little and said, “My aunt was so good as to simply inform me that she and her friends would be coming.”
Cordelia willed herself not to redden over the realization that they had crashed their way in. From the comment, it did not appear that Lord Harveston rejoiced at their arrival.
“Pay no attention to my nephew, Lady Cordelia,” Lady Rawley said. “He is a great one for jokes.”
Cordelia glanced at the lord and could not at all see that he was joking.
“Perhaps you will avail yourselves of the sideboard,” Lord Harveston said. “We will be set to begin in a few minutes.”
Another party had come in after them, two very old and scholarly-looking gentlemen. Lord Harveston bowed and moved off to greet them.
