The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(21)

“Cap … Captain Swift,” she finally managed.

Lucy clapped her hands. “Do come inside, Captain Swift. The footmen will take your things up to your rooms. I expect you’ll want to relax before the ball this evening.”

“There is to be a ball this evening?” Julian asked, falling into step behind the ladies, his arms crossed behind his back.

“There is to be a ball this evening?” Cass echoed, turning to look at Lucy, fear clutching at her insides.

Lucy’s smile never faltered. “Oh, you know, not a ball actually. More like a small dance. I do love to dance, don’t you, Captain Swift?”

The footmen were already busily unloading the trunk from Julian’s coach.

Julian cleared his throat. “I can’t say I’ve had much occasion to lately, my lady.”

Lucy looked a bit chagrined. “Oh, no, of course not. But I do hope you’ll enjoy yourself once everyone is here.”

“Yes, as to that, Lady Worthing, I assume Penelope has arrived. It’s quite important that I speak with her.”

Lucy’s eyes went wide with an innocent look she’d perfected for just such occasions when she was up to something. Cass knew it well. “Oh, no, Captain Swift. She’s not.”

Julian’s forehead furrowed. “She’s not? I thought you’d said she’d already left to come here.”

Lucy waved one gloved hand in the air. “Yes, well. I wrote to her and told her we’d mixed up the dates and the party wasn’t to begin for another three days. I believe she returned to London. I thought perhaps you’d heard from her and could tell us when she’d be arriving.”

Cass winced. It was fortunate that Julian was behind her and couldn’t see her face. She was certain it would give away the entire ruse. It was just like Lucy to add that little extra bit about thinking perhaps Julian had heard from Pen. A perfect detail, actually. Lucy was no amateur.

Cass dared a glance back, attempting to keep her face carefully blank. Julian shook his head. “London? You mean to say that Miss Monroe is still in London? Where I just came from?”

Lucy sighed. “I’m afraid so, Captain Swift, but you must stay here with us and wait for her. She’s sure to arrive any day now.”

Lucy stepped back and entwined her arm through Julian’s. She pulled him past Cass, and they walked into the house. Cass followed them. “We’ll have such fun while we await her.”

There was no mistaking the disappointment on Julian’s face. Cass’s heart dropped. He was obviously eager to see Penelope.

Julian quickly recovered, however, and smiled at his hostess. “Of course. That reminds me, Lady Worthing. I have some friends in the area, and I’d be ever so grateful if I might invite them over for a visit. Their country house is only a few miles’ ride from here.”

Cass gulped.

Lucy tugged at the neck of her gown. “Friends of yours, you say? Wh-who might they be, Captain Swift?”

Julian’s smile was wide. “Lord Owen and Lady Cassandra Monroe.”





CHAPTER EIGHT


“Oh, Janie, you’re here. Wonderful!” Lucy nearly did a dance of joy when Jane Lowndes came striding into Cass’s bedchamber later that afternoon. Cass glanced up. She and Lucy had been busily trying to decide which gown Cass should wear for the dance. That is, after they’d had a giant row about why exactly Lucy had told Julian that inviting Owen and Cassandra Monroe to the house party was a lovely idea.

“I had to,” Lucy explained. “What would he have thought if I’d acted as if I didn’t know you? Or if I’d made up some excuse as to why I was reluctant to invite you?”

“You’re supposed to be quick with your tongue, Lucy. Now he’s sure to invite Owen and we’ll be ruined,” Cass had pointed out.

“Inviting and arriving are two quite different things,” Lucy replied. “Your brother is certain to be in London, and you obviously cannot come. Write Julian a letter in your own hand and tell him so. It’ll be explained away easily enough.”

That last idea had given Cass some hope, but the entire scheme still didn’t sit easily with her.

Jane’s arrival was a welcome respite from Cass’s constantly swirling thoughts. “I’m here to help,” Jane declared. “And to watch this debacle, of course.”

Cass rushed over to her friend and gave her a hug. Jane had dark brown hair and dark brown eyes that sparkled with intelligence. She normally wore her favorite color, blue, and she was constantly pushing her silver spectacles up her nose. “Thank you so much for coming,” Cass said. “I’m certain I’m going to need you.”

“Are you jesting? I wouldn’t miss this for all the tea in London.” As usual, Jane held a book in one hand. Her reticule dangled, forgotten, in the other. She wasted no time plopping down in a chair near the window to watch the two other ladies as they dug through the wardrobe.

Lucy pulled out a soft pink gown and presented it to Cass. “This one?”

“Too demure,” Cass replied, shaking her head.

Setting her book aside for a moment, Jane pulled off her gloves and stuffed them into her reticule. “What are you waiting for? Tell me all the details, your invitation was quite devoid of them.”