Page 21 of The Truth about the Earl
Lady Adlay’s eyes widened but she nodded fervently.
“The reason I know that Mrs. Fullerton could not have written that about me is because….” Taking another long breath, she closed her eyes.This is very difficult indeed.“It is becauseIam the one who writes for the society pages.”
Silence filled the room and Norah fought the urge to say anything more, opening her eyes to see Lady Adlay’s face suddenly very white. Releasing her hand, she sat back and waited for her to say something, while allowing the silence to continue to settle across them both.
“You –youare Mrs. Fullerton?” Lady Adlay’s voice was hoarse with shock and Norah nodded.
“I have not been so for very long, however,” she said, feeling the urge to make a further explanation. “I have recently taken on the responsibility.”
“Good gracious.” Lady Adlay’s eyes widened as she stared suddenly at Norah, as though she had only just seen her. “But then who is….?”
“I could not say,” Norah replied before Lady Adlay had asked the question. “But I am certain that it was not I who wrote such a thing!”
“That would make very little sense, I agree.” A tiny smile began to push at Lady Adlay’s lips, her shock seeming to dissipate somewhat. “Goodness, I would never have expectedyouto be the lady!”
Relieved that Lady Adlay was not about to explode with anger nor simply remove herself from Norah’s presence over what had been revealed, Norah returned her friend’s smile. “I am glad you are not furious with me.”
“Why should I be? The articles have always revealed the truth about someone or some situation that is to the benefit of society. There has never been any untruths and certainly never anything cruel written.”
“I am very glad you think so. I have been determined not to write anything that would cause upset or shame to those who do not deserve it.”
“Except now,” Lady Adlay continued, her brows furrowing, “you have someone writing an additional piece about you without having any knowledge as to who that person might be.”
“Orhowthey went about it,” Norah added, her frown growing. “I always send the articles with the greatest care, so that they will not be intercepted and so that there is very little chance that I will be suspected.”
Lady Adlay nodded. “Perhaps someone has been waiting for a letter to arrive at the newspaper’s premises and, upon seeing it arrive, has taken it and added a little to the end.”
“That may be so. I shall have to be a good deal more careful.”
“What can you do?”
Norah nodded slowly to herself, an idea forming in her mind. “I could make certain that the person who delivers my letters gives them directly to one Mr. Gordon and have a note from himreturned to me, to make certain that it ishishand that has taken the letter.”
“That would certainly prevent this from occurring again if that is what they have done. They might also merely be sending their own letter in the name of Mrs. Fullerton, adding in a little postscript.”
“Then I shall inform Mr. Gordon that I have never sent and never will send a postscript. He will have to be informed that this was not my work.”
Lady Adlay reached to pour the tea, settling into their discussion. “One must wonder why someone has done this to you. Why would they attempt to injure you?”
A sudden fear grasped Norah’s heart. “Mayhap they have learned that it isIwho writes such articles.”
“I highly doubt that to be the case,” Lady Adlay returned at once, softening Norah’s fears as she handed her a cup of tea and pushed the milk toward her. “I believe they will have simply done one of the two scenarios we have already considered. If you take steps to make certain they cannot do so again, then we must hope the matter is resolved.”
Norah nodded, lifted her teacup, and took a sip in the hope it would settle her stomach somewhat. “Although I must still face thetonover whathasbeen written of me.”
“Then you must not allow it to shame you,” came the firm reply. “Thetonwill be looking to you, wanting to see your reaction to such gossip. If you remain steadfast and just as you have been before, then the rumors will soon die away. There will, no doubt, soon be something of greater importance for society to talk about!”
A sudden thought hit her and Norah’s chest tightened as she set down her tea with a rather loud clink onto the china saucer.
“Norah?”
“I – I was….” Giving herself a slight shake, Norah tried to smile. “Forgive me, Sophia. The thought of facing thetonhas given me a good deal of trepidation.”
Lady Adlay nodded, although her eyes narrowed just a fraction around the corners. “Is there someone in particular that you now are more anxious to face?”
Lord Yardley.
She did not speak his name aloud but instead merely shrugged one shoulder in a most indelicate fashion, turning her head away from Lady Adlay’s for fear that she would somehow see his name written in her eyes.
