“…and he is so very handsome, too. Isn’t he, Mama?” Lilian’s eyes glowed, and she had two hectic spots of red on her cheeks.
“Who did you say he was?” Viola managed once she had recovered enough to speak. She set down the teacup with excessive care.
“A nonpareil.” Lilian clasped her hands. “In the very image of George Brummel.”
Viola shook her head. “I mean, his name. What was his name again?”
“Lockwood. A most charming name.” Georgiana said. “But he is most difficult to catch.”
“Oh dear. He is in London?” Blast it, but she had no idea. Why hadn’t she known that he was here?
“What do you mean, Viola? Of course he is.”
“I shall catch him, Mama. I most definitely will,” Lily declared.
“I would be most obliged if you could.” Her mother watched affectionately as Lily twirled in her new pearl-white dress.
Viola opened and closed her mouth, but not a word would come out. She tried one last time after having thoroughly cleared her throat. “Lockwood? But…isn’t he married?”
Both heads swivelled towards her.
“Nonsense.” Georgiana waved a hand. “Where did you pick up that piece of untrue gossip? He is the most eligible bachelor this Season. Everyone knows that.”
“I thought he lived estranged from his wife,” Viola murmured. She traced the pattern on the tablecloth with one finger, wondering whether she ought to say more, and deciding, upon reflection, that she most certainly ought not.
Not that it mattered, because neither of the two heeded her. Mother and daughter proceeded to dissect Lord Lockwood’s virtues, both physical and in character, in minute detail, but Viola was barely listening.
How excessively inconvenient if he were here! She’d wanted a peaceful visit to London with no fear of having to run into him at every turn. Confound it. What was she to do? She could hardly return to Inverness. Not when she’d so looked forward to being here.
“What do you say, Cousin? Will you join us?”
Viola blinked. Georgiana’s and Lily’s faces were turned to her, both inquisitive, expectant.
“Err. Where?”
“Almack’s.”
“Almack’s?” Viola bleated and felt like a sheep.
“Well, naturally. We shall all go tomorrow, then, shall we? It is decided. Wonderful.” Georgiana rose without giving Viola the chance to respond.
“But—”
“But is it the thing for spinsters to go to Almack’s?” That was Lily. “Isn’t Viola too old for the marriage mart?”
“That. Precisely. Just the question I was about to ask,” Viola said weakly. “Thank you, Lily.”
“How old are you?” Lily placed her hands on her hips as she studied Viola.
“Positively ancient. I’m twenty-seven.” She let that tremendously advanced age sink in. “And, as you can see, hopelessly on the shelf. I agree with Lily that Almack’s is not at all the place for me to go, not when it’s the hub of the marriage mart and the holy temple of theton.What would I do there other than be a wallflower and sit by the wall and do nothing at all?” She had better uses for her time, like scampering about St Pancras old churchyard hunting for ghosts. “Besides, I have no interest whatsoever in getting married.”
Georgiana’s gaze swept over Viola as if she were seeing her for the first time. “Lily has a point.” She frowned. “We would not want to appear as though we are trying to marry off an ape leader. Yet having a spinster in the family is not the thing at all.” She pursed her lips. “It might reflect badly on Lily.”
Stung, Viola retorted, “That would be terrible, indeed, if my spinsterhood were to be an obstacle in her landing a wealthy, titled husband.”
Georgiana waved a hand. “But no. I trust Lily’s ability to haul in someone suitable, regardless. But it does not sit well with me to know that you, Cousin, sit alone at home knitting, or whatever it is you’re doing with your ample time.”
“Writing,” Viola muttered, “and my time isn’t all that ample. I’m a very busy woman.”
