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He barreled on as if I’d not spoken. “I’m sorry, Cleopatra, but he bowed out. Not only that, he had the gall to claim that you’d made your feelings clear and weren’t interested in him.” He suddenly threw his hands in the air. “The nerve of him, after everyone who saw the two of you together could see how much you enjoyed his company. You danced at least three dances with him at the ball. You smile whenever he’s near, and the look on your face this morning when he handed you that book…he’d become dear to you, I could tell.”
He was even less adept at reading signs than I thought him to be. But it wasn’t his misunderstanding that interested me. There was something more pressing at stake.
“It’s kind of you to worry on my behalf, but it’s not necessary. I had no feelings for Mr. Miller.” I watched him carefully so thatIdidn’t misread any signs. “Uncle, who told you about Mr. Miller’s broken engagement and financial situation?”
“That’s confidential.”
That was a convenient response. It was also a familiar one, that I’d heard a few times just that morning.
He cleared his throat and reached for a folder that had Cobbit’s name on it. It must be his employee file. “This automobile business needs to be addressed with the coaching staff. You have a good grasp of the situation, Cleopatra. Do you have any suggestions?”
I rose, stiffly. My entire body ached with tension. “I have a luncheon engagement.”
“Of course, of course.” He offered me a sympathetic smile. “Enjoy yourself. Talk to Florence about…” He waved his hand in the air. “I’m sure she’ll offer a sympathetic ear.”
“Yes,” I said flatly.
“I know you feel as though you’ll never recover, but I assure you, someone better suited will come along and you’ll forget all about Miller. You’re a wonderful girl. It’s a shame he couldn’t see that.”
I thought about telling him again that I felt nothing for Mr. Miller, but he probably wouldn’t believe me. I was indeed feeling both sad and angry over a betrayal, but not the one he assumed. Harry must have come straight in to see Uncle Ronald after he’d informed me, while I was at the post desk.
It was one thing to investigate Mr. Miller without my knowledge, but it was quite another to speak to my uncle. He had no right to intervene, and no right to assume I couldn’t handle the situation in my own way and in my own time.
I would tell him as much when I saw him again.
Chapter11
Luncheon would have been more pleasant if Aunt Lilian had been up to it, and I’d been in a more cheerful mood. But she was suffering from a headache, and I remained cross with Harry.
I hoped a vigorous walk with Flossy on Rotten Row in Hyde Park would help release some of my frustration, but unfortunately the walk was a slow one. We stopped frequently to talk to friends who’d gone with the same aim as my cousin—to be seen. Some of the men certainly saw her. With her pretty looks and curvaceous figure, she was openly admired by several gentlemen, many of whom I recognized from the balls we’d attended over the previous weeks. She showed no particular interest in any of them, however.
The sudden arrival of Floyd put an end to their interest. It wasn’t anything he said or did, it was simply the fact he was there. None of them were interested enough in Flossy to go through her older brother first.
Floyd didn’t seem to notice. In fact, aside from a cursory lift of his chin, he barely acknowledged his sister at all. He wanted to talk to me.
“I’ve been asking around about Rosa,” he said.
“Who’s Rosa?” Flossy asked.
He hushed her. “Keep your voice down. This doesn’t concern you. It’s information about one of Cleo’s suspects.”
Flossy stormed off ahead, twirling her parasol so fast it was in danger of creating its own weather pattern.
“What did you learn?” I asked Floyd.
“It’s very unlikely she had other lovers. Despite being an outrageous flirt, she was faithful to Rigg-Lyon.”
“It’s hypocritical that a mistress is admired for being faithful to hermarriedlover.”
“That’s a debate I’m not having with you today.”
“Because you know you can’t win.”
He dismissed the issue with a flick of his wrist. “Rigg-Lyon was also a flirt, but he tended to follow through, if you understand my meaning.” He winked, just in case I was unsure.
“You mean he was unfaithful to both his wife and mistress?”
“Precisely.”
