An Unexpected Pleasure (The Mad Morelands #4)(53)

“I am sure that is most remarkable,” Lady Scarle replied coolly. She smiled in a girlish way at Theo, her eyelashes sweeping down provocatively. “Personally, I have never been much of a bluestocking. I find that men rarely prefer a woman of great education.”

“I cannot imagine why a man would wish to marry a numskull,” Thisbe retorted. “Unless, of course, they intend to deceive them and find it easier with a woman of limited understanding.”

Megan sneaked a glance at Theo and found him gazing off into the distance, his lips pressed tightly together. He glanced at her, as if feeling her gaze, and his eyes danced devilishly. He turned quickly away.

Fortunately, at that moment the servants wheeled in the tea cart, and the next few minutes were taken up with the serving of tea and cakes.

Megan watched Lady Scarle as she sipped daintily at her cup, her gaze often turning to Theo. The woman kept up a determined line of chatter, often calling Theo by name to draw him into the conversation. As most of her conversation consisted of talk about people and places Megan had never heard of, she found it terribly boring. Her attention wandered to the other occupants of the room. Con and Alex were busily stuffing themselves with cakes. Most of the others looked bored. Kyria, Megan noted, was watching Lady Scarle speculatively.

“Why don’t you tell us more about your trip to the museum, Miss Henderson?” Kyria said into a brief silence in the midst of Lady Scarle’s patter.

“It was quite interesting, Mrs. McIntyre,” Megan began. Lady Scarle glanced over at her disdainfully. She was, Megan thought, a thoroughly disagreeable woman—and her opinion had nothing to do with the fact that Lady Scarle was obviously pursuing Theo Moreland. “It primarily holds a collection of artifacts from the Inca, Mayan, and Aztec cultures.”

“There’s a replica of an Aztec pyramid. And this feathered cape,” Con put in. “You’d like it, Kyria. They have jewelry—these peculiar big earrings. Men wore them, and they played these games—“

“You’re talking about the Cavendish?” Lady Scarle asked, surprising Megan. From her earlier comments, Megan would not have expected the aristocratic woman ever to have set foot inside a museum.

“Why, yes, I am. Have you been there?”

“Of course.” Lady Scarle barely glanced at her as she answered. “It is a lovely place. It was one of Lord Scarle’s pet charities, you know, and of course I continued his patronage after his death. Lady Cavendish and I are holding a benefit for it next week. I am sure that you have received invitations to it.”

That explained it, Megan thought sardonically. There was a party involved.

“I hope you will come to our little ball, Lord Raine,” Lady Scarle went on, casting a flirtatious look at Theo. “We have decided to hold it at the museum itself, so that everyone can see the excellent work that Mr. Coffey has accomplished there.”

“Um, I—I had not really thought…” Theo began, and cast a quick look around as if for inspiration.

“Of course he is coming,” Kyria spoke up. “We are all coming, are we not, Olivia? Anna?”

Both women looked faintly surprised, Megan noted, but they nodded gamely.

Kyria went on, a devilish twinkle in her green eyes, “Miss Henderson is accompanying us, as well, of course.”

Megan choked on her tea, but Kyria ignored the interruption, smiling blandly at Lady Scarle.

“Miss Henderson?” the other woman said, her eyebrows rising. “But, really, Lady Kyria, this is a ball, not an excursion to the museum. It is by invitation only.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was under the impression that all of us had received an invitation. Is it only Theo?”

“No, of course not.” Color touched Lady Scarle’s cheeks. “Of course you are invited, and the duke and duchess. I am sure all of you received invitations.”

“If the Moreland family is coming, then of course Megan will, as well. We consider her quite one of the family, don’t we, Mother?”

“Of course, dear.” The duchess favored her daughter, so much like her in looks, with a gracious smile. “The duke and I would not think of attending without Miss Henderson.”

Lady Scarle looked chagrined, but she said only, “Of course. Miss Henderson must come as well.”

She did not spare a glance at Megan as she said this, and a few minutes later, when Reed and Theo excused themselves and left the room, Lady Scarle took her leave, as well.

For a long moment, the women remaining behind said nothing. Then Kyria exchanged a look with Thisbe, who responded with a grin, and a moment later, they were chuckling.

“Kyria, you wicked thing,” the duchess said without heat.

“Lady Scarle looked as if she had swallowed a bee,” Olivia added.

“I cannot like the woman at all. She is so blatantly pursuing Theo. Can’t she see he is not interested?” Kyria exclaimed.

“Lady Scarle is the sort who sees nothing but herself,” Thisbe retorted. “I am sure she would never believe that any man might not be interested in her. She certainly had her choice of beaux when she came out.”

“Yes, and she married the oldest and wealthiest of the lot,” Kyria added dryly. “Now that he’s gone, she is hoping to move up to duchess.”

“She’s very beautiful,” Anna commented.