“Viola,” Georgianna hissed, tugging at her sleeve.
He regarded her with a cool, condescending smile. “Madam, if you have the means to conjure asylums from thin air, by all means, do so. Until then, we shall proceed with law, not sentiment.”
The crowd surged again, bodies pressing in, voices rising, and Viola was pushed back as he turned away and disappeared into the crush.
“Well. I never.” Georgiana stared alternately at Viola and the departing carriage, mouth agape. “What on earth were you thinking, Viola? That got you a taste of The Slayer.”
“Yes, well,” Viola cleared her throat. “I couldn’t resist.”
“How do you know about these things, anyhow? Ireland. Asylums. Goodness me.” Georgiana fanned herself with her hand. “One would think we have enough madness in England alone, as well as badly led asylums. Why concern yourself with Ireland, of all places?”
“Indeed. Why would one?” she echoed.
“Let us go to Gunter’s for some ices. It might do us both some good to cool our heads a little. Debating with The Slayer in the middle of the road, indeed. Oh, my nerves!”
Viola agreed and gladly followed Georgiana to the prestigious ice salon.
After two ices, several meringues and lemon tartlets later, Georgiana leaned back with a sigh. “This reminds me. I havereceived an invitation to Lady Beringbroke’s for dinner. Since Lily is ill, she won’t be able to come. It is a shame, for there will be some eligible gentlemen there for sure. Why don’t you join us instead?”
“I really don’t have the time,” Viola began, but Georgiana interrupted.
“Nonsense. Why wouldn’t you have time? Don’t, for one moment, think that I have forgotten what we have agreed.”
“What have we agreed?” Viola said weakly.
“Why, that I would find you an eligible party, of course.” She looked satisfied. “That can’t be accomplished if you hide yourself away. You must show your face a little in society. But please, Cousin.” She made a pained expression. “I beg of you! Leave off that dreadful cap and those spectacles! It ages you at least twenty years. I shall lend you another one of my dresses.”
Viola sighed. “If you absolutely must, Cousin.”
Chapter Ten
Viola had expecteddinner at Lady Beringbroke’s to be an intimate affair. Nothing had prepared her for the sumptuous, glamorous event that awaited them. And all those people!
It appeared half thetonwas invited.
Viola felt decidedly ill at ease, and was, for once, relieved that she’d followed Georgiana’s advice and put on a forest green dress with a matching shawl, and her hair was once more braided and tucked upward. She’d left off her cap and her spectacles, as Georgiana had demanded, and now she had nothing to hide behind.
She’d entered with Georgiana and her husband, Lord Fenleigh, and now she stood about, holding a glass of champagne in her hand, knowing absolutely no one.
Until Peregrine sauntered into the room.
Viola choked on her champagne.
He paused, smirked upon seeing her standing awkwardly beside a massive blue-white porcelain vase, yet thankfully pretended not to know her, and turned to talk to a gentleman with a striped waistcoat who looked every bit the dandy like him.
“Lockwood,” Georgiana sighed next to her. She was wearing a mauve dress with a gigantic peacock feather that was said to beall the crack. “It turns out he is married, but has his wife hidden away in Scotland.” She waved her matching peacock fan slowly.
“That’s what I tried to tell you that very first day, but you barely listened,” Viola told her. Peregrine rarely mentioned his wife. Theirs had been an arranged marriage, and they had a similar agreement as she and Sebastian.
“We have agreed to live separate lives,” he’d told her once. Married but strangers.
Viola understood that arrangement only too well.
“So many eligible gentlemen,” Georgiana sighed. “And all of them so unapproachable. Earlier, I saw Greenwood and Conway and Metcalfe, all perfectly eligible. Oh, and Fane, too. Here he is now.”
“What! He is here?” Viola looked up just in time to see him striding into the room, and the hostess, Lady Beringbroke, fluttering towards him, taking his arm and leading him to a group of gentlemen who stood at the other side of the room. She did not know he’d be here.
“Naturally. It is a Tory gathering here if I ever saw one.” She fluttered her fan. “Lord Beringbroke is a tremendous Tory supporter, you know.”
