Page 39 of Sinfully Wanton
Lady Bryanthadseen Aurora and Aunt Lottie leaving the maze at Lady Berriwell’s garden party. At the time, she hadn’t given it much thought. She’d obviously been waiting for Worth to appear. But—
She hurried over to the apothecary just as Aunt Lottie strolled out, a smile on her face and a small package clasped in her hands. “There you are, Aurora. I was just about to seek you out at Tate’s.” Glancing down at Aurora’s empty arms, she said, “I expected an entire stack of books. Did one of the footmen already put them in the carriage?”
“No,” Aurora said, linking their arms. “I didn’t find anything of interest.” A bit of warmth crawled up her cheeks. Or rather she had, but it wasn’t a book.
“You’re a bit flushed.” Aunt Lottie raised a brow and turned toward Tate’s. “Did you find something scandalous? Please don’t tell me you were reading penny dreadfuls. I should never have allowed Odessa to introduce such things to you. Or was it a novel and you are afraid to purchase it?” Her brows raised. “Tell me the title and I’ll march over and retrieve it for you. Every soul in London already knows I’m improper. I’m reading it first.” Her eyes twinkled. “And we won’t tell Emerson, will we?”
Aunt Lottie’s mood wasgreatlyimproved. Mr. Healey must have informed her about Kenebruke’s illness.
“No. I told you there was little of interest today, though Mr. Stevens assured me another shipment of books will arrive next week.” Aurora steered the older woman toward the waiting carriage. Getting away from Tate’s would be in Aurora’s best interests. The last thing she wished was Worth or Lady Bryant to find her outside. Not in her current state. She waved at one of the footmen to open up the carriage door.
“Trollop,” Aunt Lottie muttered as the footman bowed at their approach.
“What?”
“Oh, not you, dear.” Aunt Lottie tilted her chin toward Tate’s. “ThatdreadfulLady Bryant. She’s over there preening like some flirtatious peacock. I’ve had my share of dalliances, but I’ve always been discreet.”
Not entirely true. But Aurora didn’t correct her.
“But that woman,” Aunt Lottie shook her head, “is a viper. Discretion is not in her vocabulary. She hops from man to man at every house party she attends. Is it any wonder that Lord Bryant has taken up with Lady Pearse? Malicious gossip. Much like her cousin, Lady Longwood.” Aunt Lottie nodded. “Except that Lady Longwood isn’t a trollop. I can’t fathom any gentleman ever wanted to dally with her. Might be why she’s always in such a terrible mood.”
Oh. Dear.“Lady Longwood?”
“Distantrelation. But birds of a feather.” Aunt Lottie gave a small laugh. “Which is appropriate given the feathers Lady Longwood likes to wear. Atrocious things. I can’t recall how they are related, exactly. Doesn’t matter. Best to give her wide berth, as we did at the Berriwell garden party.”
“Why didn’t you mention their connection when we saw Lady Bryant at the party?” There was no sign of Worth outside of Tate’s. Either he was still inside, or he’d left by by the back door where the bookseller took deliveries. She didn’t want to see Worth just now, especially after Aunt Lottie’s revelation.
Aunt Lottie gave a tiny shrug. “Did I not? I suppose in the excitement of seeing Kenebruke I forgot.” She turned toward the carriage, just as Worth exited Tate’s.
Lady Bryant hurried to him, taking his arm.
Worth’s former paramour—well, Aurora reasoned with sickening dread—Lady Bryant mightstillbe his paramour.She was also the cousin of Lady Longwood. The very woman responsible for nearly everything terrible in Aurora’s life. She’d pushed Bentley to banish them all to Dunnings. Mama haddiedbecause of Dunnings. Tamsin had nearly been destroyed by that woman’s vile nature. Drew was Worth’s closest friend. His business partner.
How could he?
Aurora gave one last glance at Worth. How was it possible Worth didn’t make the connection between the one lady in all of London whose sole purpose seemed to be the destruction of the Sinclairs? Or did Worth simply not care? For a time, inside Tate’s, Aurora would have said Worth felt something for her. Maybe not love, exactly. But the seed of it. That kiss had given her hope.
Her stomach pitched unpleasantly.
The truth was that Aurora had no way to know whether Worth was still involved with Lady Bryant. There had been no understanding between them. He was well within his rights to satisfy his needs elsewhere, no matter how much the thought pained her.
Aurora only hadn’t thought—
Another wave of nausea rolled through her. She pressed a palm against her stomach and turned her chin, not willing to observe Worth and Lady Bryant a moment longer.
“What is it, Aurora?”
“Breakfast might not have agreed with me,” she said without so much as a tremble despite her distress. “The eggs were undercooked. Nothing more.”
“I’ll inform Mrs. Cherry when we return.” Aunt Lottie gave her a skeptical look.
One of the footmen hurried forward to assist Aurora inside the carriage.
“Oh, I forgot to mention, Mr. Healey was at the apothecary.” Aunt Lottie leaned forward. “Lord Kenebruke has been ill.” That beautiful glow filled her lovely features once more. “A terrible cough has sent him to bed. So weak he has been unable to even answer correspondence. Had I known I would have been at his side.”
“I thought it must be something of the sort,” Aurora settled next to her. “That he was ill or had to unexpectedly depart London for business.”
“In truth, I—” She waved her hand. “Well, it no longer signifies. Only that I feel terrible for Kenebruke. At the very least I could have read to him. I don’t imagine Mr. Healey does.” She nodded. “His eyesight is quite awful. You must encourage him to see an oculist, Aurora. I had to march right up to him before he saw me. Mr. Healey was so intent on relaying his order to the apothecary he barely spared me a glance until I raised my voice. He apologized profusely, of course.”
