Page 45 of Educated By the Earl (Second Sons of London 1)

Lord Ellington smiled. “I look forward to it. I will have my carriage call at your townhouse. We can travel there together.”

“I look forward to it.”

Tessa saw the gleam in Lord Middlefield’s eyes and thought Lord Ellington might be in for trouble. It wasn’t her place to warn Ellington, however, even though she recalled the swiftness with which Lord Middlefield had struck Abra. Then a thought occurred to her.

Did Lord Middlefield wish to spar with Lord Ellington because the earl had asked Tessa to ride in the park with him?

Surely not.

Certainly not.

Unless he did.

“Where have you gone in London, my lord?” Miss Allen asked.

Lord Middlefield turned his attention across the table. “When I had tea with Lord and Lady Uxbridge last week, I learned their daughter and niece were attending a lecture at the British Museum. I invited myself along and we visited the museum for two hours before going to the lecture.”

Tessa thought it gentlemanly of him not to mention that Adalyn had dropped out of the excursion and that only the two of them had gone together.

“Are you inclined to be bookish, my lord?” Miss Allen asked coquettishly.

“I do enjoy history,” Lord Middlefield said. “I found the limited exhibits we visited fascinating.”

“I believe there is another lecture being held there the day after tomorrow,” Miss Allen said. “One I planned to attend.”

Tessa highly doubted that and spoke up. “You are interested in Roman sepulchral antiquities?” she asked sweetly. “I know my cousins and I will be at this lecture.”

She hadn’t planned on going but hoped Adalyn and Louisa would vouch for her now.

“Oh, yes,” Louisa said. “We are eager to attend. What is your special interest in this topic, Miss Allen?”

The young woman smiled brightly. “Why, the entire topic interests me, Miss Goulding.” She glanced to the guest of honor. “Perhaps you would like to escort me to the lecture, my lord.”

“I would be happy to,” Lord Middlefield said affably. “And since we know of others’ interest, we should go together.” He turned to her. “Would you mind, Lady Tessa?”

“Not at all, my lord.”

Tessa could feel Miss Allen’s glare and avoided looking across the table.

“I say, I’ve never been to this museum,” Lord Wethersby said. “Would you mind if I came along?”

“You would be most welcome, my lord,” Tessa told the viscount. He had been very polite when she met him and he was also very charming.

“I don’t want to be left out,” Lord Ellington proclaimed. “Any objection to my coming along?” He smiled at Tessa.

“I think it’s marvelous so many people are interested in Roman sepulchral antiquities,” she declared with a straight face. “Of course, we would enjoy having you attend the lecture with us, Lord Ellington.”

When dinner ended, the ladies rose to leave the men to their port and cigars. The group of over a dozen women retreated to the drawing room. Tessa refused a sherry offered by a footman, not particularly liking the taste of it and believing she needed to keep her wits about her.

Miss Allen approached her. “Would you care to take a turn about the room with me, Lady Tessa?”

Being in the woman’s company was the last thing Tessa desired but good manners dictated she refrain from saying so.

“I’d be delighted to, Miss Allen.”

---