Page 16 of Waiting for Love

“But he does intend to be back by Christmas?”

“So he said. Why?”

Alice shrugged. “Just curious. Did he invite Hazard?”

Olivia peered at her friend a moment longer. Was she longing for more diverting company? She was bored.

“Probably,” she chirped, to be encouraging. “But even if he didn’t, Hazard will invite himself.”

Alice smiled, then abruptly changed the subject back to billiards.

Reginald, Georgiana, and Mama were already in the parlor. The teapot, cups, plates, and a platter of buns and dainties sat untouched on the tea table. A glance at the wall clock showed that she and Alice were a few minutes late.

“I’m sorry, Mama. We were in the middle of a game, and I didn’t notice the time.”

Mama accepted the excuse and apology with a terse nod, then began to pour. The conversation centered on baby names, as had far too many conversations in the past few weeks. A daughter would be Mary, for Georgiana’s mother. Unless it was one of ten other names. For a son, they were thinking of Crispin. But Georgiana thought that Crispin might, just might, want to reserve the name for a son of his own. Olivia had suggested asking him, but had been roundly accused of insensitivity. So she kept her mouth shut.

They were nibbling and sipping and talking, when the butler, Peters, entered with a few cards and a letter on a silver plate which he handed to Reg.

Reg flipped through the cards then passed them to Mama. He glanced at the letter.

“From Haz,” he said, puzzled, breaking the seal.

Everyone saw a folded slip of paper fall out of the letter and drop to the floor. Reg scooped it up and scowled, his eyes going to Alice. “This is not acceptable.”

Now everyone stared at Alice, whose face went pink. “We didn’t arrange this between us. Good heavens, Reg. What can you be thinking?”

Mama said, “Reginald is right. Prearranged or not, you may not engage in a clandestine correspondence with Viscount Haslet.”

Alice was an unmarried lady currently under the Taverston roof. Of course Mama could not permit any impropriety. It would ruin Alice and harm Olivia’s prospects too. Poor Alice looked mortified.

“Oh, bosh!” Despite the growing tension, Olivia laughed. “How secret is it when he sends the letter through Reg?”

“What does he say?” Alice asked, chin tucked down, eyes peering up. “In your letter, I mean, Reg.”

He lifted his own page and read aloud.

“‘Good day to you, Taverstons. I’ll make no comment on the weather in London, though I understand that is how letters usually begin. I hope Georgiana is well. And the rest of you. I am writing to tell you that I am not shirking. A large box of fabrics and ribbons, and etc., will arrive before long, along with several sketches that should show Mrs. Byrd the height of next Season’s waistlines, the depth of the necklines, the placement of baubles, and the size of the bows. But I will not be there to deliver these myself. A friend has invited me to the country to sit before a roaring fire, pat his large shaggy hounds, eat biscuits, and drink tea. And I have taken him up on the offer. Normally, I expect you all to be goggling over that news, but I suspect you are more concerned about the missive I included.’”

Reg looked up, still scowling. “What is he up to?”

“Continue, Reginald,” Mama commanded. “So that we may find out.” She looked even more annoyed than Reg did.

“‘There is nothing improper in Miss Fogbotham’s letter. I invite you to read it aloud, as you are no doubt’”—Reg barked a laugh—“‘as you are no doubt doing with this one. I merely wished to mention a few things I heard at Brooks’s that might be of interest to her. If you don’t wish to bore everyone else, you may simply pass the letter along.’”

Reg flipped the letter over, noted the seal, then held it out between two fingers for Alice. He returned to his own letter.

“‘You need not fear I will ask you to facilitate the exchange of billet doux as I will be out of the city and unable to receive any reply from Miss Fogbotham in any case. Your obliged and affectionate friend—Viscount Haslet.’”

This was met with a moment of silence before Alice said, “Would you like me to read my letter aloud?”

“No,” Olivia said, before anyone else spoke. There would be nothing improper in it. And as Hazard did not engage in casual gossip, the content would very likely be political and dull. Alice had a peculiar interest in such things.

Mama lowered her eyes to her folded hands and said, “It isn’t necessary. But Alice, dear, don’t encourage this sort of behavior. We may all find Hazard very amusing. But not everyone does.”

Chapter Seven

Benjamin watched Olivia from a third-story window of Chaumbers’ south wing. Where was she going today?