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And then, Holly reported, she’d heard from Ernest that Sir Walter’s man had asked Lord Hardbury’s man about his lordship’s habits at night. “That is,” Holly said that Ernest said that Sir Walter’s man said, “if Sir Walter wanted to find his lordship at night, where might be a good place to look?”
And then the other Eliza—the Treadgolds’ Eliza, that was, not the Larkes’ Eliza—well, Mrs. Ramsay said that the Treadgolds’ Eliza said that Lady Treadgold said that Miss Treadgold would not need her that night, and, as Holly said that Mrs. Ramsay said, “Whoever heard of a young lady not needing her maid at night?”
Who indeed.
Arabella praised Holly for the intelligence gleaned through the remarkable network. “I shall petition Mama to give the whole household an extra bonus,” she added.
Holly thanked her. “We won’t say no to that, but… We like Miss Treadgold, she’s always pleasant and polite, but it’s just not right, is it?”
No, indeed.
So it wasn’tjealousybut perfectly justifiable suspicion that made Arabella pay special attention to Miss Treadgold that evening, as their much-reduced party sat in the drawing room. Miss Treadgold was reading, and Lady Treadgold and Mama talked quietly as they sewed. Guy was writing a letter, Sir Walter and Freddie played cards with Mr. Larke and the last of the ornithologists, and Arabella played pianoforte, a simple piece she knew so well that she didn’t need to think. From this excellent position, she could see everyone else.
Then Guy finished his letter, stood, and started across the room.
Arabella looked at Lady Treadgold, who shot a look at Miss Treadgold, and Miss Treadgold rearranged her shawl. The movement dislodged something in her lap, something shiny and green, which slithered onto the floor.
A ribbon.
A ribbon falling right at Guy’s feet.
Guy stopped walking. Miss Treadgold kept reading. Lady Treadgold shot a look at Mama.
But Mama was studying her sewing and did not see.
Arabella glanced back just as Guy scooped up the shiny, green ribbon.
Of course he did.
He twirled it in his fingers, shot a glance at Arabella, and dangled the ribbon in front of Miss Treadgold like she was a kitten and he wanted to play.
“Miss Treadgold,” he said. “I do believe you have dropped a ribbon.”
“Oh, did I? Thank you for picking it up, my lord.”
“I am honored to do you a service.”
Oh, good grief.
Miss Treadgold reached for the ribbon and Guy jerked it away as though she really were a kitten, and he grinned, and she smiled and said, “Oh, Lord Hardbury, you are too wicked!”
Still grinning, Guy flicked another glance at Arabella, but Arabella looked away, which was why she saw Miss Treadgold shoot a look at Lady Treadgold, who passed the look on to Mama.
But Mama was studying her hands and did not see.
“This is a very pretty ribbon.” This time, Guy let her have it. “But the color does not match your gown. What is it for?”
Arabella hit the wrong key. If he was that interested in the girl’s ribbons, he should just jolly well marry her!
“I am using it to mark my place in my book.”
“And what is your book?”
Arabella hit another wrong key but no one seemed to notice. Miss Treadgold kept her eyes lowered, and yet again Guy glanced at Arabella, so Arabella looked away. Which was why she saw that Lady Treadgold seemed set to have a fit, her gaze was shifting so rapidly between Guy and Matilda and Mama, and then Lady Treadgold saw Arabella looking and turned away, and Arabella looked at Mama.
But Mama was studying a teacup and did not see.
“It is a book on Italy, my lord,” Miss Treadgold said.
