Part 50 (2/2)
Before she had time to think further, Lord Asterley strolled up.
”My dear Mrs Babbacombe--can't tell you how thrilled I was to learn of your interest in our little gatherings.”
”My interest?” Lucinda swallowed her amazement and politely if coolly raised her brows.
Lord Asterley smiled knowingly; she half-expected him to wink and nudge her elbow.
”Well--perhaps not especially in our gatherings, but in the type of entertainment we all find so...” his lords.h.i.+p gestured expansively 'fulfilling. ” He looked down at her.
”I do hope, my dear, that, should you feel so inclined, you won't hesitate to call on me--to help enliven your stay here?” Clinging to polite form, Lucinda inclined her head; as she could find no suitable words in which to answer his lords.h.i.+p, she left him to think what he would.
He beamed and bowed; to her chagrin, Lucinda found it very hard to feel indignant with one so openly cheery.
She nodded and drifted to the pool. There was a seat vacant beside Mrs Allerdyne, a tonnish widow who, Lucinda now realised, was probably not quite as virtuous as she appeared.
Mrs Allerdyne turned as Lucinda subsided onto the wicker seat.
”Good afternoon, Mrs Babbacombe--or can I dispense with formality and call you Lucinda?”
Lucinda blinked at Henrietta Allerdyne's charmingly gentle face.
”Yes, of course.” Feeling as if her eyes had just been opened to yet another aspect of tonnish life, Lucinda, somewhat dazedly, glanced about her again.
”This is your first time here, isn't it?” Henrietta leaned closer.
”Marguerite mentioned it,” she explained when Lucinda switched her gaze back.
”No need to feel awkward about it.”
Henrietta patted Lucinda's hand.
”We're all friends here. of course. The very last in discretion--no need to fear any comments once you're back in town.” Henrietta glanced around with the air of one entirely at her ease.
”It's been like that for years, ever since Harry started it.”
”Harry?” Lucinda's breath stuck in her throat.
”Harry Lester?”
”Mmm.” Henrietta was exchanging none-too-idle glances with an elegant gentleman across the room.
”As I recall, Harry was the one who thought of the idea. Alfred simply implemented it to Harry's directions.”
Harry--who had sent her here.
For an instant, Lucinda felt as if she would faint--the room receded into a dark mist; a chili spread through her. She swallowed; clenching her fists in her lap, she fought back the dizziness. When she could, she murmured, ”I see.” Henrietta, engrossed with her gentleman, had not noticed her difficulty--nor her sudden pallor.
Her cheeks felt icy; Lucinda grasped the moment to recoup, to let her senses Settle. Then, with what nonchalance she could, she asked,
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