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“Shh…” Leticia hushed her, “the whole of London is already talking of our impropriety, would you like to urge them on further?”
“No.” Eliza shook her head, but her eyes remained brightened. “I have no wish to bring you discomfort, but if you have been kissing the Duke, perhaps there is some more to the story than you have let on previously.”
Leticia let her hand drift away from her lips then and fall to her side. As her aunt and Mrs. Phillips ducked into another shop several paces ahead, she tugged on Eliza’s arm, pulling her into one of the quaint corners made by the storefronts. “The thing is…” Leticia began, “Richard and I have kissed several times, and yet…each time is a little different.”
“How do you mean?” Eliza inquired.
“Well…” Leticia said as she searched for a way to explain her thoughts, “at first, we never seem to get it right. It always takes at least two tries for us to find our footing. In your experience, is that the way things usually work?”
Eliza smirked. “So, the two of you have been practicing your kissing technique?”
“No,” Leticia whispered as she gave a covert glance over her shoulder. “We have not been intentionally meeting and falling into each other’s arms. But there have been occasions when we have found ourselves alone, and our lips have touched.”
Her friend giggled. “And you do not like the way the Duke kisses you?”
“It’s not that,” Leticia admitted, “He always does a smashing job of it on the second go round.”
“Yes,” Eliza tittered once more. “They do say practice makes perfect.”
Leticia groaned. “Do be serious with me for just a moment. I need to know what I’m supposed to feel when Richard kisses me.”
Eliza gave up on grinning then, and a more contemplative look crossed her face. Her eyebrows lowered, and her lips drew into a small pucker. “I’m not sure you’re supposed to feel anything. Or at least, I can’t tell you whatyoushould be feeling. Your body will react to the Duke however it pleases, and if you are truly developing feelings for him, I imagine that your insides will be aflutter.”
“Yes,” Leticia murmured. “I’m all aflutter.”
“And you may even feel a warm sensation or perhaps a tingle.”
“Yes,” Leticia cried. “Just the other night when our hands touched, I felt a very pronounced jolt. It was like a little spark floated from his hand to mine.”
“Oh.” Eliza lifted her free hand and fanned herself as she feigned swooning. “It sounds as though you are well on your way to falling in love with the Duke.”
“But…” Leticia protested, “what if I don’t want to fall in love with him?”
Eliza looked even more befuddled by the comment. She leaned back against the shop window and asked simply, “Why wouldn’t you want to fall in love with him?” An answer rested on Leticia’s tongue for just a half-second too long as in the brief silence, she caught the sound of a lady gasping.
Oh no…not another.
She turned slightly so that she could see who the lady was approaching from behind her, and as she did, she caught sight of Miss Loery. She was flanked by her faithful friends, Miss Walch, and Miss Drawlington, and directly behind her, there lurked Mrs. NeVille, her lady’s maid. For a moment, Leticia thought of lowering her head and leading Eliza away from this gaggle of women, but then, she remembered that her aunt and Mrs. Phillips were still in the shop, and they would be worried if she disappeared.
“Miss Loery,” Eliza said crisply then she addressed the other ladies as well. “Miss Walch and Miss Drawlington.” She nodded her head almost imperceptibly. “How are you today?”
“Mrs. Hoffingbrooke,” Miss Loery replied, giving her a charming smile. She ignored Leticia altogether. “Wewerehaving a rather pleasant afternoon.”
“Yes, as were we,” Eliza returned. She inclined her head toward the chandler’s shop where Aunt Amelia and Mrs. Phillips were continuing their shopping. “Were you heading in to see Mr. Taubleston? I always say he makes the best candles in town.”
“We had intended to go inside, but I think I’d rather not now.” Miss Loery cast a fierce look at Leticia, and she felt as if those cold blue eyes were piercing her.
“Don’t let us keep you,” Leticia murmured willing herself not to say any more. She very much wanted to confront Miss Loery about the continued gossip that ran in the papers, but she did as Richard would have instructed and held her tongue.
Miss Loery snorted and lifted her chin. Just then, the door to the chandler’s shop opened, and Aunt Amelia and Mrs. Phillips joined the group on the sidewalk. “Hello, Ladies,” Aunt Amelia said politely.
Miss Walch huffed, and Miss Drawlington rolled her eyes, but it was Miss Loery who spoke. Her words were hardly audible, but they were loud enough so both Leticia and her aunt heard them perfectly clearly. “Allthe husband thieves are here today.”
Aunt Amelia’s jaw dropped in astonishment, but Leticia, who had been expecting at least as much from the waspish menace in front of her, lurched away from Eliza and stood so that she blocked her aunt and the rest of her party from Miss Loery. “You should not say such things,” Leticia threatened.
I know something about her, and if she does not watch herself, I may be tempted to share my knowledge with the members of the ton.
She tried to convey her thoughts by giving Miss Loery an intimidating stare, but it was unclear whether her message was received as Miss Loery was already opening her mouth to reply.
