Page 45 of Seducing a Frigid Lady
“Lord Sinclair took it upon himself to defend your honour and the two came to blows before Lord Sinclair was asked to leave.”
Priscilla felt the colour draining from her own face at the news. Her heart hammered so hard in her chest that she felt like it might be trying to escape.
“This can’t be happening,” she gasped, stepping even further back into the shadow of the statue. As if she saw how ill Priscilla had begun to feel, Sophie turned the fan on her and started to waft it at her face instead.
If not for how astonished and off-kilter she was feeling, Priscilla might have thanked her friend. Instead, she waved her friend’s fan away, in no mood to have anything being wafted in her face. “What am I supposed to do about this?”
“Well, if I were you, I would go and ask Lord Sinclair what he means by defending your honour,” Sophie suggested.
Priscilla was immediately horrified by the suggestion. She scowled back at her friend and declared, “I shall do no such thing! The last thing I need to be doing is go anywhere near Lord Sinclair!”
Though she did have to admit to herself that the thought of his defending her honour had caused her heart to race a little. In fact, she sort of wished that she had been there to see the look on Mr. Kenyon’s face when someone had actually stood up to him and not allowed him to get away with saying whatever it was that he wanted to.
Forcing away any romanticised feelings she had about the entire thing, she told Sophie, “He should never have presumed to defend me at all.”
Sophie’s lips quivered, and she looked as though she meant to protest, but Priscilla was in no mood to hear it. She was feeling entirely unlike herself, and the last thing she needed was for her friend to talk her into forgiving Lord Sinclair for such a thing. He had already taken enough liberties with her.
This is becoming too dangerous,Priscilla decided.I must put an end to it.
It was then that over Sophie’s shoulder she noticed Lady Caroline arriving just behind her mother, Lady Montgomery. Remembering the conversation that she had once shared with Lady Caroline in the hatmaker’s shop, a plan began to form in her mind.
“Please, excuse me, Sophie,” Priscilla said distractedly, “I find there is something I need to do.”
“Cilla, wait, I really think you should…” Sophie said.
But Priscilla was already walking away from her. Determination would not allow her to stop and listen to whatever it was that her friend had to say. It was time for her to put an end to her feelings for Lord Sinclair by giving him exactly what he really needed, an intelligent and kind and wealthy young lady that his family would be pleased with. Maybe then he would forget about her and she could go back to her simply and peaceful life.
“Miss Lloyd,” Lady Caroline greeted her warmly as she approached. From the smile on her face, Priscilla guessed that she had yet to hear the news of the rumours that were spreading. Even Lady Caroline was not so great an actress that she wouldn’t have seen it written plainly on her face. “It is wonderful to see you.”
“And you, Lady Caroline. I was wondering if perhaps we might talk?”
“Mama, why don’t you go on ahead and I shall catch up once Miss Lloyd and I have had a chance to speak,” Lady Caroline suggested to her mother who was already looking around the room to see whom she should socialise with first.
“If you are alright,” Lady Montgomery responded, eyeing Priscilla in a way that suggested even if her daughter had not heard the news, she most definitely had. It made Priscilla’s gut churn, and she suddenly wondered whether she ought to go through with the plan she had just come up with or not.
I have to try something!Priscilla insisted to herself. And so far, Lady Caroline might be her only hope. She was the only other woman that Lord Sinclair appeared to tolerate within theton.
“I am sure I am perfectly safe with Miss Lloyd, mama,” Lady Caroline said with musical laughter in her tone. Lady Montgomery did not look entirely convinced, but she did not protest.
“Miss Lloyd,” she said curtly, dipping her head in farewell.
“Lady Montgomery,” Priscilla responded, watching the lady walk away before she turned to Lady Caroline and forced a smile. “I trust you have had a fine day so far.”
“Yes, I have, thank you. I trust that you have also,” Lady Caroline said with a genuine and friendly smile. She clasped her hands before her, looking every bit the innocent, beautiful and lady-like daughter that a noble family deserved. Not like Priscilla at all. And her appearance only solidified Priscilla’s decision.
“What was it that you wanted to talk to me about?” Lady Caroline asked and Priscilla realised that she had been staring at the admirable woman for far too long, considering what it was she wished to say.
“Oh, yes, well…” she cut off, still unsure as to how to begin. “I was just wondering how you were finding the Season.”
Lady Caroline looked intrigued and perhaps even a little suspicious at that, though if she remained so, she did not say. “I am finding it just like any other Season. It has been filled with wonderful events and the gentlemen this year are quite exceptional.”
Priscilla struggled to stop herself from scoffing. It was the kind of answer that was well rehearsed among the women of theton,the women who hoped to be amenable to all. Yet another thing that made Lady Caroline so perfect for what Priscilla intended. Still, she did not quite know how to broach the subject.
“Yes, I must admit, there are a few interesting characters about this Season,” Priscilla admitted, nodding. “As usual, Lord Frost has been the talk of town with his party.”
Lady Caroline chuckled, clearly remembering the week before with fondness. “Yes, it was quite the party indeed.”
And it was then that Priscilla saw her chance. She knew better than to hesitate and so she said, “You know, I could not help but notice that you and Lord Sinclair were growing close that night.”
