Page 75 of Empowered By the Earl (Second Sons of London 3)

“Certainly not,” she huffed. “I would hope you wouldn’t think to spread that kind of misinformation.”

“Perhaps Lord Hurley fell and broke his nose,” Miss Peterson suggested, trying to look helpful. “That could account for his injury and any others he might have suffered.”

“Louisa, would you like to take a turn about the room with me?” Tessa called. “I want to ask your advice on something”

Relief swept through her as she rose. “Of course, Tessa.” She looked to her companions. “If you will excuse me, ladies?”

She hated leaving Miss Peterson with such a viper but was happy to escape Miss Rexford’s company.

Linking her arm through Tessa’s, they turned away from the women gathered and began to move about the perimeter of the room.

“You looked as if you needed rescuing,” her cousin said.

“Miss Rexford was telling us that she saw Lord Hurley before he left. She claimed his absence wasn’t because of business, noting that his nose looked to be broken and he moved carefully, as if injured.”

“You didn’t mention anything about hitting him in the face.”

“That’s because I didn’t,” Louisa said. “I fear someone may have witnessed the incident in the gardens between me and Lord Hurley and doled out a bit of punishment.”

“Well, it wasn’t Spencer,” Tessa declared. “He would have told me if he had seen you in distress, as well as what he had done to Lord Hurley.” She thought a moment. “Do you think it was Everett? He is the one who mentioned Lord Hurley leaving for business?”

“I think that was just Everett’s way of being kind. I think it might have been Owen. He has been protective of me.”

Tessa frowned. “I don’t wish to discuss Owen.”

“Did he apologize to you as Spencer demanded?”

Her cousin nodded. “He did. I told him I would think about forgiving him once I thought him properly contrite.”

“Should I ask Owen if he is responsible for Lord Hurley’s absence?” she fretted.

“Do you truly care that Lord Hurley is no longer a part of our company?”

“No.”

Tessa nodded wisely. “Then the less said about him, the better.”

They continued their stroll about the room until the gentlemen appeared in the doorway.

Adalyn rose. “You can see that I have had tables set up for us to play whist. We will play in foursomes and then have one pair move to the next table after their rubber is completed. Keep track of your points. The couple with the highest total after four rounds of play will name the dessert they wish Cook to prepare for tomorrow’s picnic by the lake.”

Lord Boxling met her and Tessa. “Lady Middlefield, I am afraid I must steal Miss Goulding away. She has promised to partner with me for this evening’s card play.”

Tessa smiled graciously at the viscount. “Then you have claimed the best partner in the room, my lord. My cousin is terrific at whist and most competitive.”

The viscount smiled at Louisa. “I look forward to our play together.”

He escorted her to one of the tables, where her aunt and uncle were their first competitors. Though she loved them both dearly, Uncle Uxbridge wasn’t the brightest of men and her aunt could be a featherhead at times. As she predicted, she and Lord Boxling easily won all three games of the rubber.

They squared off next with Lady Sara and Lord Marksbury. The earl was as clueless as her uncle when it came to play but Lady Sara was a good strategist. Louisa had written off the younger woman as unsophisticated but she now saw a different side to Everett’s cousin. Still, she and Lord Boxling won two of the three games they played.

Their third opponents were Everett and Adalyn. She had played whist both with and against each of them and knew they were formidable opponents. Having played with them before, however, would give her insight into their play.

“Follow my lead, my lord,” she told her partner as the Camdens took their seats.

“I am happy to do so, Miss Goulding,” the viscount replied.

Louisa knew Adalyn always led with her strongest suit and used that knowledge to her advantage. Lord Boxling played brilliantly, allowing her to take the lead and capture several tricks. She nodded to him twice and he understood that he was to take that hand’s trick. They won that game handily.

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