Garden of Lies(52)

“Lord Fulbrook does not share your passion for gardening?” Ursula asked, trying to make the question sound as innocent as possible.

Valerie paused at the far end of the leafy tunnel and smiled. For the first time since they had met, Ursula got the impression that she was amused.

“My husband avoids this place as if it were filled with poisonous substances—which it is, at least for him.”

Ursula was halfway through the green tunnel. She stopped, eyeing some tropical flowers with a bit of trepidation.

“You grow poisonous plants?” she asked.

“Calm yourself, Mrs. Kern. I doubt that there is anything in here that could harm you. If you were as unpleasantly affected by the atmosphere as Fulbrook is, I’m sure you would be aware of it by now. After all, you were here on a prior occasion.”

“I see.” Ursula relaxed and resumed making her way through the tunnel. “Your husband is one of those who suffers from the symptoms of a head cold when he is near certain plants and trees?”

Valerie chuckled. “His nose becomes so congested that he is forced to breathe through his mouth. His eyes turn red. He sneezes and coughs and is generally quite miserable.”

“No wonder he does not like to enter your conservatory,” Ursula said. She hesitated, knowing she had to tread carefully. “You are fortunate.”

The amusement faded from Valerie’s eyes. “In what conceivable way, Mrs. Kern?”

“Some husbands would have insisted that a conservatory that induced symptoms of a head cold be removed.”

Valerie surveyed her green realm. “My husband sees some small value in my conservatory. Like my poetry, it keeps me entertained and therefore makes me less of a nuisance to him.”

“I see.”

“Do you take an interest in gardening and horticultural matters, Mrs. Kern?”

“Oh my, yes,” Ursula said. She did not have to pretend enthusiasm for the subject. “Indeed, I would be thrilled if I could ever afford such a place as this.”

“That is not likely, is it?” Valerie’s smile was cold and crushing. “Considering your circumstances.”

I suppose that puts me firmly in my place, Ursula thought.

“No, Lady Fulbrook,” she said, “it’s not likely.”

“You appear to be prosperous in a middle-class sort of way, but a fine conservatory such as this one will always be beyond the reach of a woman in your position.”

The cool edge of the words iced Ursula’s nerves.

“You are quite correct, Lady Fulbrook. Only a woman possessed of great wealth could afford this place or your lovely mansion.”

“Very true. The only possible solution for you would be marriage to a man far above your station.”

“I suppose so.”

“But such dreams are merely illusions for a woman like you, Mrs. Kern.”

Ursula tightened her grip on her satchel. “Are you trying to tell me something, madam?”

“I am trying to warn you, Mrs. Kern. I have been informed that you have been seen in the company of Mr. Slater Roxton. Yes, I’m aware that it is his carriage that delivered you here today and that the same carriage will be waiting for you when you leave, just as it was on the previous occasion. There was also some chatter in the newspapers about you and Roxton putting in an appearance at a certain museum exhibition. I will be blunt. It is obvious that you are Roxton’s mistress.”

Ursula smiled a steely smile. “For a while there, you had me concerned, Lady Fulbrook. I was afraid you were about to accuse me of trying to seduce your husband, which would have been quite silly.”

Lady Fulbrook flinched as if she had been struck. Astonishment flashed in her eyes. It was followed by rage. She was not accustomed to taking return fire from someone who occupied a much lower rung on the social ladder.

“How dare you talk to me of such things?” she snapped.

“I would remind you that you were the one who raised the subject by saying that it was obvious that I was Mr. Roxton’s mistress.”

“I was trying to give you some sound advice,” Lady Fulbrook said tightly. “A man of Roxton’s wealth and connections will never consider marriage to a woman of your sort. Even though he’s a bastard son and his mother was an actress, he can nevertheless afford to look much higher—and mark my words, he will—when he decides it’s time to marry. But I doubt that you will take my warning seriously. Just as Anne Clifton failed to abide by my advice.”

Curiosity overcame Ursula’s temper. “You gave Miss Clifton similar advice?”

“The foolish woman thought she was so clever seducing a man who is far above her reach.” Valerie started drifting along the aisle formed between two workbenches. “That’s what killed her in the end, you know.”

Ursula followed at a cautious distance. “No, I didn’t know. Please enlighten me.”

“She must have concluded that her dreams could never become reality.” Valerie reached out and snapped the bloom off a flower stalk. “I’m sure that’s why she took her own life.”

“You seem to know a great deal about Anne’s state of mind at the time of her death.”

“Miss Clifton and I spent a great deal of time in each other’s company during the past several months. We often spoke of love and passion because my poetry deals with such matters. She got in the habit of confiding in me.”