Page 59 of How to Start a Scandal

‘It is.’ Seth didn’t bother to stifle the indulgent puff of pride from his chest. ‘She has agreed to let me escort her to Hyde Park this afternoon.’

‘Indeed.’ His mother replaced the teacup on the saucer with such grace, it did not so much as clink.

He awaited her praise like an overeager hunting dog. After all, finding a wife was also what an earl did. Courting her and bringing their relationship to the public notice in a very socially acceptable way was also what earls did.

‘Mind you’re careful,’ Lady Dalton said slowly. ‘Not all ladies are as they seem.’

Caroline cleared her throat and popped up from the table before Seth could question what his mother meant.

‘I must be off,’ Caroline said quickly. ‘I’ve promised to help roll bandages with some of the ladies to send to Brussels to aid the wounded soldiers who are still recovering.’ She came around the table and pressed a kiss to Seth’s cheek. ‘We are terribly grateful to have you returned home safely to us.’

Her tone was pointed and sharp and appeared to be aimed directly at Lady Dalton.

‘Is there something I ought to be aware of regarding Lady Violet?’ Seth asked once Caroline had departed.

Lady Dalton didn’t bother to look up from the scandal sheet she was skimming. Not the Society Journal, he noted. One she’d carried in with her. One which clearly had more detail in it than the Lady Observer had detailed in its column if she already knew about his time on the veranda with Violet.

‘Of course not.’ Lady Dalton’s reply was brusque and cool.

Which meant that there was indeed something he ought to be aware of and Seth would get to the bottom of it.

For all the contents of her wardrobe, Violet had absolutely nothing to wear. Poor Susan was red-cheeked and glistening with a sheen of sweat from her efforts of pulling gown after gown from the wardrobe.

The one with the pink roses was too large, the lavender one was too small, the muslin gown’s bows weren’t quite right and another had stitching across the sleeves that was far too silly.

‘What are you doing, Aunt Violet?’ an all-too-familiar voice enquired.

Violet nearly cringed. The last thing she had time for was Felicity’s antics.

‘I thought my door was closed,’ Violet said.

‘Oh, it was.’ Felicity flopped on to the edge of Violet’s white-lace canopy bed and patted the empty space next to her. Hedgehog leapt up to her side like an obedient dog. Though how the cat could see where he was leaping with his large, beribboned blue hat was beyond Violet.

‘Are you dressing for your first public outing with Lord Dalton?’ Felicity kicked the back of her heels against the bed frame.

Clack-clack, clack-clack, clack-clack. ‘You’re going to marry him,’ she said in a sing-song voice.

‘Not necessarily,’ Violet protested. ‘We’re simply deciding if we’re compatible.’

Clack-clack, clack-clack, clack-clack.

Felicity gave a knowing smile that revealed a missing tooth. ‘You’ll be wed before the end of the Season.’

Her certainty knocked at Violet’s heart. It was a ridiculous reaction to the claim of a little girl. What did a child know of love or marriage?

‘Do stop that.’ Violet indicated Felicity’s feet. ‘Why would you possibly say something so bold?’

Felicity hopped from the bed and approached the pile of gowns. ‘Because I’ve seen how you look at Lord Dalton.’

‘And how do I look at him?’ Violet demanded, responding to Felicity’s taunts despite herself.

When would she ever learn?

‘It’s how Father used to look at our governess.’ Felicity said it so matter-of-factly that Violet was shocked into silence.

The girl continued. ‘She was the one we had before all the others. She was plump, like you. We liked her. Father loved her. That’s what Mother said once.’

Susan gave a sound somewhere between a grunt and a squeak.