Page 20 of The Truth about the Earl
It took Norah a moment to understand what such a statement meant for her. Shock grasped at her heart and she struggled to take in air, seeing the dark shadow in her friend’s eyes. The question she had to ask forced itself into her mind, pushing itself forward but still, Norah could not bring herself to ask it.
“As I have said, it does not say anything with any great certainty but there will, unfortunately, be rumors that follow what has been said. I am quite sure that Mrs. Fullerton is mistaken and I confess myself surprised that she has written of this at all, given that she has never written anything untrue before. Indeed, she has always made certain that whatever is said is quite true and cannot be questioned.”
Norah closed her eyes, steeling herself inwardly. “I shall have to ask what it is that has been said, I suppose,” she murmured, reluctantly. “Pray, do be honest with me, Lady Adlay.”
“Sophia, please.”
Norah drew in a deep breath, opened her eyes, and tried to smile, appreciating Lady Adlay’s attempts to draw a closer friendship between them. “Only if you will call me Norah.” Seeing her nod, she spread her hands. “Sophia, pray tell me what was written about me.”
Her friend pressed her lips flat together for a moment, then nodded. “It stated that a lady, who appeared much like Lady Essington, had been seen leaving a gentleman’s townhouse in the early hours of the morning.”
A cold wind seemed to blow about her and Norah shivered, her fingers twisting together in her lap. “Goodness.” Her voice was low but she kept her gaze trained on Lady Adlay but saw,much to her relief, no flicker of doubt in her eyes. “That is most confusing.”
“A terrible lie to spread, certainly,” Lady Adlay agreed. “Again, Mrs. Fullerton has taken great pains to present a picture of uncertainty but that does not mean that thetonwill not spread rumors about you. I came at once to offer you my support, for I certainly do not believe it.”
A half-smile tugged at Norah’s lips but her mind was whirring furiously. “Thank you, Sophia. It is not true at all and I cannot imagine why someone would say such a thing!”
“And to have Mrs. Fullerton state such a thing is very confusing indeed!” Lady Adlay exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air, just as the door opened and the maid came in with a fresh pot of tea, followed by the butler. “That is not at all the sort of thing she writes about.”
Norah thanked the maid and then caught the butler’s eye. “Yes, Clarke?”
“My lady, you have had a flurry of invitations. Should I place them in the drawing room or at your writing desk in the parlor?”
“Invitations? So early?”
Lady Adlay shook her head. “There will be more interest in you now and thus, those who have soirees or the like in the next few days will wish for your presence so that it will be of a little more interest in those who attend.”
A flash of anger crossed Norah’s brow. “You mean to say that their event will gain a little more prominence if I attend, simply due to my supposed notoriety?”
“That is it precisely.”
“Then you may put them all on my writing desk, Clarke, so that I might leave them for some days until it ismuchtoo late to attend and I must beg off,” Norah stated, firmly. “And if there are any further invitations, then you may do the same with them also.”
The butler nodded and made to depart but Lady Adlay stopped him with a word.
“And you will make certain that none of the staff speak ill of Lady Essington, Clarke.” She spoke with more authority than Norah had ever managed herself and she noted how the butler’s eyes flared for a moment. “If they do, there will be dismissal.”
The butler glanced toward Norah but she gave him only a nod which, after a murmur of agreement that he would do as he had been asked, quickly withdrew.
“I apologize for speaking so forwardly to your butler but in your shock, I feared you would not think to do so.”
Norah shook her head. “I did not. Thank you for doing so.”
“The worst rumors and gossip always come from the staff, unless one is quick to make certain that any attempts to whisper as squashed.” Lady Adlay spoke with an air of confidence, as though she knew from experience that such a thing would occur if she had not spoken in such a way. “They will not yet be loyal to you.”
“My brother-in-law insisted that I have a new complement of staff,” she murmured, passing one hand over her eyes as she began to consider what it would be like for her now to step out into society. “Good gracious, everyone will be looking at me!” The thought of going out into town was now a most unpleasant one and Norah shied away from the idea. It would be almost unbearable to have so many people stare at her, to know that they would be talking about her the moment she had her back to them.
“You must not hide away!” Lady Adlay thumped one hand down flat on the table, startling Norah. “To do so will make thetonbelieve that youarethe lady that Mrs. Fullerton saw.”
“She did not see me. She could not have done.” Norah spoke without thinking and saw Lady Adlay’s eyes flare. The color began to drain from her face but Norah quickly leaned forward,reaching out to grasp her friend’s hand. “That is not what I meant. I did not stay at a gentleman’s townhouse.”
Lady Adlay blinked. “I – I see.”
Norah closed her eyes tightly and let out a long breath. She would have to tell Lady Adlay the truth. “Forgive me. I spoke hastily. This circumstance has confused me greatly and I have spoken without thinking.”
“Of course, I quite understand.” The way she blinked and looked away told Norah that she was still rather troubled by what Norah had said. Biting her lip, Norah hesitated and then squeezed Lady Adlay’s hand.
“I must beg of you to keep entirely to yourself what it is that I wish to tell you.”
