Paragon Walk - Anne Perry [73]
Emily lowered her eyes for a long moment; then looked up at George. He turned from Aunt Vespasia, going out of the door, and back at Emily.
“Poor Aunt Vespasia,” Emily said carefully. “It is most trying. Grace is so very self-righteous, but one has to admit that on this occasion she is right. I dislike speaking ill of my own sex, especially of a friend, but Selena has behaved in the past in a way to—not quite invite.” She hesitated. “Misunderstanding as to her—” She stopped, her eyes holding George’s, staring across at him. His face was pale, stiff with apprehension.
“What?” He asked in the silence.
“Well—” She smiled very brightly, a cool, wise little smile. “Well, she has been a little—free—with herself, hasn’t she, my dear? And that sort of person attracts—” She let it go. She knew from his face that he had understood perfectly. There were no more secrets,
“Emily,” he began, knocking his teacup with his sleeve.
She did not wish to discuss it. Excuses were painful. And she did not want to hear him make them. She affected to suppose he was going to criticize her.
“Oh, I don’t doubt you are going to say I should not speak of her in that way when she has had such a dreadful experience.” She reached for the teapot to have something to do, but her hand was not as steady as he would have wished. “But I promise you what Aunt Vespasia says is quite true, and I know it for myself. Still—I’m sure after this it will not happen again. Everything will be quite changed for her from now on, poor creature!” She composed her face sufficiently to smile across at him and hold the teapot with hardly a quiver. “Would you care for some more tea, George?”
He stared at her, a mixture of incredulity and awe in his eyes.
She viewed it with a warm, delicious tingle of satisfaction.
For a moment they stayed motionless, understanding working through, completing itself.
“Tea?” she repeated at last.
He held out his cup.
“I expect you are right,” he agreed slowly. “In fact I’m sure you are. It will definitely be quite different from now on.”
Her whole body relaxed, she smiled at him dazzlingly and let the tea pour right up the cup, far too full for good taste.
He looked at it with a slight surprise, then smiled as well, a wide, intense smile, like one who has been delightfully amazed.
Miss Laetitia said nothing about the affair of Selena, but Miss Lucinda more than made up for it, spilling opinions out like shopping from a burst basket, every color and shape, but all adding weight to her conviction that there was something incredibly wicked going on in the Walk, and she would devote every ounce of courage she possessed to discovering what it was. Lady Tamworth reinforced her volubly, but took no action.
Afton Nash was also of the opinion that the only women who get molested are those who invite such things and therefore deserve little sympathy. Phoebe wrung her hands and grew even more terrified.
Hallam Cayley continued to drink.
Immediately after the next event, Emily called her carriage in the morning and rushed around unannounced to regale Charlotte with the news. She almost tumbled out of the door onto the pavement, ignoring the footman’s help in her excitement, and forgot to give him any instructions. She thumped on Charlotte’s door.
Charlotte, apron up to her chin, dustpan in hand, answered it, her face blank with surprise.
Emily burst in past her, leaving the door open.
“Are you all right?” Charlotte pushed it shut and followed after her as Emily swept into the kitchen and planted herself on one of the kitchen chairs.
“I’m marvelous!” Emily replied. “You’ll never imagine what has happened! Miss Lucinda has seen an apparition!”
“A what?” Charlotte stared at her in disbelief.
“Sit down,” Emily commanded. “Make me some tea. I’m dying of thirst. Miss Lucinda saw an