Page 11 of Rakes & Reticules
Athena would not be the one to give them that reason…
She doubted Maeve would, either. Isla kept herself separate from everybody on purpose. She hoped that no one actually noticed her long enough to find anything troubling about her. There was no scandal to be found if she didn’t actually speak or do much more than hug a wall at every social event they attended. They all did everything they could to not only appear respectable, but their very actions were beyond reproachable.
None of that aided in what they needed most…
Rumors were still spreading faster than they could ever be squelched. Their very presence instigated their formation and as long as they remained in London, they would continue to grow. The latest whispers to reach their ears had been about the Earl of Kendal and how Athena had somehow woven some wickedness to lure his attentions.
Athena had, of course, done nothing of the kind.
She couldn’t, and wouldn’t, explain any of that. No one would listen or believe her if she did. Her real dilemma concerned the earl himself. Athena didn’t want his reputation harmed because the ton refused to believe her to be respectable. She was starting to understand Isla’s reluctance to attend the season. The earl had come to mean a great deal to Athena in a short time. Her heart ached at the thought of never seeing him again.
“Lady Athena,” a woman said. “How lovely to cross paths with you and your sisters.”
Athena glanced up and met the gaze of Lady Atherton. Her daughter had her debut this season as well and she did not like that Athena and Maeve had caught the attention of some of the most eligible gentlemen looking for a wife. “The pleasure is ours,” Athena said, then pasted a smile on her face that she didn’t feel. The viscountess demonstrated an unpleasantness with every word and deed she presented to the world. What did she hope to gain by approaching them?
Maeve froze next to Athena, and Isla held her breath. Her sisters knew something awful was about to descend upon them. They would not like whatever Lady Atherton had planned… Athena held herself still and waited.
“You’re familiar with my daughter, Miss Bethany Smythe?” Lady Atherton gestured toward the woman at her side. “She had her debut the week before yours.” Why was she addressing Athena and practically ignoring her sisters?
“We’ve been introduced,” she replied carefully. Athena nodded toward Miss Bethany. “It’s good to see you again. I trust you’re well.”
Miss Bethany smiled. “I am Lady Athena. It’s a lovely day, is it not?” The viscountess’ daughter was a shy girl and doomed to become a wallflower. Athena actually liked her. She was nothing like her mother.
“Indeed, it is,” Athena agreed and returned her warm smile with one of her own. “Are you attending the Covington musicale tonight?” Isla had complained about going to it earlier, but Maeve had been the one that wished to attend. Maeve was the more artistic of the three of them and the only one that had any musical talent. She favored the pianoforte, but they heard the Covingtons were proficient in string instruments. It might be entertaining. She prayed they wouldn’t leave with an earache of some sort.
“Is it true what we’ve heard,” Lady Atherton asked, ignoring Athena’s question about the Covington musicale.
“I couldn’t possibly say,” Athena answered. “As I have no way of discerning what you heard to confirm any truthfulness of it.” She barely refrained from rolling her eyes. What Lady Atherton had overheard or whatever gossip she had readily gathered was most likely inaccurate. But Athena could only guess at the contents of the falsehood, and she really didn’t wish to add any additional fodder for them to pick over.
“Then you haven’t heard?” Lady Atherton practically gleamed, and not in a good way. She was like a scavenger bird about to pick their bones clean with glee. “It concerns your earl.”
Maeve moved closer to Athena, but didn’t say a word. It was her show of support for what was to come. Isla became stiff next to her. She’d had her own problems with society and it appeared as if Athena was about to experience a bit of her own unpleasantness. “I’m afraid I don’t understand your meaning. What earl do you refer to?” She refused to give the viscountess any satisfaction in admitting her connection to the Earl of Kendal. Roman was indeed her earl. He’d all but declared himself already. That woman didn’t need to know any of that, though.
“You can act innocent, but we know the truth.” Lady Atherton leaned in closer. “Everyone is talking about it. You charmed him into submission already, and a betrothal is imminent.” Lady Atherton winked. “The only thing everyone is uncertain about is if you seduced him already or not.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Though does that truly matter? He is yours now, and no one will be able to steal his attention from you. That is the magic of your family line, is it not?”
How dare she… “There is one thing you’re correct about Lady Atherton. Everyone talks, and no one takes the time to wonder if what they speak about, should be. Good day.” With those words, she spun on her heels and headed out of Hyde Park. She didn’t stop to wonder if her sisters followed. It was unnecessary to do so. They would never abandon her.
One thing was obvious. She couldn’t stay in London. Isla had been right. They were not worth her time, and she had to protect Lord Kendal. He deserved better than to have his name attached to hers. She would beg her father to allow her to return home. Her horse was there, and that was enough comfort for her. The season and the ton had lost all of its appeal to her.
* * *
Roman missed Athena.He had hoped to pay a call on her much sooner, but his mother had decided to come to London. She’d decided it was time for him to marry and he couldn’t possibly choose a wife without her assistance. He didn’t have the heart to tell her he’d already met the woman he hoped would become his wife. If he had, she might have insisted on meeting her and the last thing he needed was for his mother to frighten Athena away before he had a chance to win her hand.
He liked his chances of her already agreeing, but he didn’t want to assume she’d say yes. A woman deserved to be wooed and he would continue to court her. Roman whistled as he walked to the entrance of the Earl of Harwood’s townhouse. He lifted the knocker on the door and rapped it twice, then waited. The door opened and a tall man with salt and pepper hair greeted him. “May I help you?”
“I’m here to call on Lady Athena,” he told the man and handed him his card. “Is she receiving?”
The man stared at the card and frowned. “Please come in.” Roman entered and stood inside the foyer waiting for the man to tell him where to go and wait for Athena. The man continued to frown at his card. “Give me a moment.” The man didn’t wait for Roman to agree. He bustled out of the room and left Roman in the foyer alone. How odd. Was he uncertain if Athena was available?
A few moments later, steps from the hallway caught his attention. He smiled and then frowned. He had thought it was Athena, but instead her twin headed toward him. “Lord Kendal,” she greeted him. “Please come into the sitting room with me. I’ve ordered refreshments. You will have tea with us, yes?”
“Of course,” he said. Roman hadn’t thought he’d be left alone with Athena. There had to be a chaperone of some sort, but he had a bad feeling in his stomach. Why had she not come to escort him into the sitting room? What was Maeve not saying?
They entered the sitting room, and their other sister, Isla, waited inside. She sat on a settee with a book in her lap. She glanced up when they entered, and frowned. Isla stood and greeted them. “Lord Kendal,” she said in a surprised tone. “How good to see you.”
Where was Athena? He smiled. “I trust I have not come at an inopportune time.”
She glanced down at her book. “Not at all.” Isla set it on a table and glanced at Maeve.
