Page 13 of A Wicked Business

“What dreadful woman?” Lord Kilbane asked.

Belinda glanced up at him, a little nervous of Cat’s wicked looking husband and his outrageous reputation, despite everything Cat had told her about what a pussy cat he was. He looked more like a hungry panther that might eat you in one bite.

“The one Felix is seeing,” Cat said in an undertone.

“What have I told you about gossiping?” Montagu told his daughter, giving her a stern look.

“To save all the juiciest bits for you,” she replied tartly, making the stern-faced man’s strange silver eyes twinkle.

“Oh, you mean Mrs Norbury,” Kilbane said, regarding Cat with interest. “And who were you keeping from her, pray tell?”

“Only Felix, darling,” she said, patting his sleeve reassuringly. “I know he’s only passing the time with her, but still, she’s so… so…” Cat waved her free hand, apparently unable to come up with a word.

“It’s her laugh,” Kilbane said. “I think she would not be so abrasive if not for the laugh. Like a donkey, but then I suppose if Felix keeps her too busy to speak or laugh, perhaps she’s easier to take. She’s certainly got a magnificent—”

“Yes, thank you, that is quite enough about Mrs Norbury,” Cat said, giving her husband a playful rap on the knuckles with her fan. He grinned at her, white teeth flashing in the dim light.

“Who is Mrs Norbury?” Belinda asked in an undertone.

“A ravishing merry widow,” Cat said with a shrug. “And Felix’s latest chère amie. Don’t worry, they never last long. He’s too busy to pay them much attention and they usually give up on him once they realise they can’t hold his interest.”

“I wasn’t worried,” Belinda replied, perhaps a little too sharply for her own good, for Cat’s attention was immediately piqued.

“No?” she said, waggling her eyebrows at Belinda. “You never did tell me what that business you wanted him for was about.”

Belinda shook her head. “I can’t tell you. Not here.”

“Oh, very well. Meet me at Gunter’s tomorrow? We’ll have ices and go for a walk, and you can tell me everything.”

“I’d like that,” Belinda said, perking up. “It’s been so dreary in town.”

“Your darling papa is still trying to marry you off to some dreadfully dull man?” Cat asked with sympathy.

Belinda nodded. “Doris says I should sell all my jewels and run away to Paris to have some fun.”

Cat burst out laughing, clutching at Belinda’s arm. “Oh, I adore that woman. You will bring her tomorrow?”

“Of course. She’ll murder me if I don’t and then she discovers you were there. I assure you, the adoration is mutual.”

“I would steal her away from you if she didn’t cluck over you like a mother hen. She’d never leave you, not if I offered her a million pounds.”

Belinda smiled, nodding. “She’s the worst maid I have ever had, and yet she’s quite the best, too.”

Cat nodded, understanding at once having spent some time in Doris’ company.

Belinda sipped her champagne, wondering why Mr Knight had given it to her. It must mean that he had not had a drink this evening, the poor man. Still, she smiled, a little heartened that he had been so kind when he’d did not need to do so.

“I had better return to the box, the performance will be starting again shortly,” Belinda told Cat regretfully, the last thing she wanted was to return to her father and his friends.

“We’ll see you back there,” Cat said, slipping her arm through Belinda’s. “Won’t we, Ciarán?”

“Your wish is my command, love,” Lord Kilbane said, and Belinda sighed inwardly, wondering how it must feel to have a man say such things to you and mean them.

9th July 1850, Gunter’s, Berkeley Square, London.

“Well?” Belinda asked impatiently, but Doris would not be hurried as she perused the list of ices. They were sitting in Cat’s luxurious open barouche, under the shade of the trees and enjoying the breeze that ruffled their hair and stirred the heavy warm air.

Belinda could not entirely blame Doris for taking so long over choosing her treat for there was a daunting list of choices, including maple, bergamot, marshmallow, pineapple, pistachio, jasmine, orgeat, white coffee, chocolate, vanilla, elderflower, Parmesan, and lavender.