Page 6 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
“How wonderful! A new baby must make even a woman as contrary as Mrs. Thorne happy.” Charlotte got to her feet with a glance at her husband. “We have plenty to do before the dinner tomorrow evening.” She smiled affectionately at the other two women. “I missed you, my friends.”
Once Charlotte and Ashford had departed the shop, Louisa grinned at Edith. “Perhaps you will see Lord Cecil on the morrow.”
“Perhaps.” She smiled sweetly in reply.
Louisa cocked her head to one aside and studied Edith’s appearance. “You really do look lovely in the new dress I chose for you.”
Edith wondered if Louisa’s sudden interest in her wardrobe was to help her attract the attention of the viscount. If so, she feared she was going to need more than a few new dresses to do so.
Chapter Three
The next evening atAshford’s townhouse in Grosvenor Square, no one was more surprised to see Cecil stride into the drawing room than Nathaniel.
After greeting his host and hostess and declining a glass of port, the viscount stood beside Nathaniel, his back to a corner of the room.
“I haven’t seen you in a fortnight,” Nathaniel said to the other man when Cecil remained silent. “I’m glad you’re still alive.”
“After the violence the Rogue’s Alliance committed attempting to acquire the land in Berkeley Square, I believe the organization will be less overt in their schemes in the near future.”
He asked quietly, “Does that include retaliation against myself and Ashford for scuttling their plans for the lending library?”
Cecil nodded. “Coercing that fortune hunter Lord Meers into kidnapping Charlotte and then drowning the man in the Serpentine was beyond the pale. If the RA chooses to act on their displeasure at our interference, they will choose more subtle measures.”
“I don’t like waiting to see what the alliance might do,” he replied with a grimace.
Cecil made a rude noise. “Neither do I.”
Lady Edith stood across the room, sending surreptitious glances their way. Or more precisely, Cecil’s way. She tugged at an earbob with one hand, a gesture he’d determined reflected her uncertainty in a situation.
The lady wore a pale silvery gown with capped sleeves. The color of the dress enhanced her look of fragility, the short sleeves displaying her shapely arms. Her light-colored hair was in an upswept style, the shiny locks shimmering in the candlelight. Nathaniel attempted to concentrate on his conversation with Cecil, afraid he would be caught staring overly long at the pretty young woman.
The dinner gong sounded, and Ashford’s guests trooped into the dining room.
Nathaniel was seated across from Lady Edith, who was placed next to Cecil; he imagined Lady Charlotte was doing some matchmaking. His sister Alicia was home with a head cold. In addition to Lady Edith, Charlotte’s brother William had the most patience with Alicia, but the boy had already departed for the country.
Charlotte was seated on Cecil’s other side. “Diana tells me you are now an uncle. Congratulations!”
