Chapter 22 #3
Loretta watched the exchange quietly while the laughter faded. “You two really have known one another for your whole lives.”
Adelaide nodded. “Near enough.”
“Our fathers were close friends,” Theodore explained. “We spent most holidays together.”
“And summers,” Adelaide added.
“And Christmases.”
“And more afternoons than my poor governess ever appreciated.”
Lord Talbot smiled faintly from farther down the table. “I gave up attempting to separate them years before either reached adulthood.”
Loretta rested her fingertips lightly against the stem of her glass. “That must be a rare sort of comfort.”
“It is,” Adelaide answered simply.
“To know someone who remembers every version of your life.”
Theodore smiled. “She remembers the embarrassing versions best.”
“They’re generally the funniest.”
“I disagree entirely.”
“You would.”
Another round of gentle laughter passed through the room, and Loretta joined it easily enough. “How fortunate His Grace is,” she said after a moment, “to inherit such a devoted friend along with a wife.”
The remark sounded harmless, and Adelaide thought nothing of it. Neither, apparently, did anyone else.
Atlas reached for another roll while Eric resumed his story, eventually arriving at the inevitable conclusion of Brutus depositing him squarely into the estate pond after three remarkably determined attempts to remain mounted.
“I still maintain,” Eric said, “that I stayed in the saddle longer than anyone expected.”
“You remained attached to the horse,” Atlas corrected, finishing the wine in his glass. “That is not quite the same thing.”
“It is if one lands in the water together.”
Theodore laughed loudly enough to draw a smile even from Lord Talbot. “I wish I had witnessed it.”
“You would’ve laughed then as well.”
“I am sure that I would have,” Theodore continued through laughter.
Atlas shook his head. “You’ve become terribly outnumbered, cousin.”
“So it seems.”
“And yet,” Loretta observed pleasantly, “I imagine you’ve grown accustomed to it already in such a short period of time.”
“I have.” Eric answered without hesitation. “I’ve discovered Wolverton is considerably livelier than it once was.”
“I’ve noticed that too,” Atlas said.
“So have I,” Loretta replied. She paused just long enough for another servant to remove the dinner plates.
The brief interruption settled naturally over the conversation, allowing fresh courses to be placed before them. When the footmen withdrew once more, Loretta looked thoughtfully toward Adelaide. “I suppose that explains why one sees so very much of the duchess about the house.”
Adelaide smiled politely. “I should hope so.”
“A mistress ought to know her own home.”
“Precisely.”
“And yet,” Loretta continued with another pleasant smile, “I sometimes wonder whether the servants know where to find you better than His Grace does.”
Eric looked up. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, nothing important.” She laughed lightly. “I merely seem forever to hear someone mention that the duchess has been seen in one corridor while Mr. Holbrook has been seen in another, only for both of them to emerge together shortly afterward.”
Theodore frowned slightly. “We’ve been discussing Lord Talbot.”
“I assumed as much.” Her answer came gently enough. “It simply amused me.”
Adelaide’s smile faded by a fraction. “There is nothing amusing about visiting my father’s condition.”
“Of course not.” Loretta’s expression remained warm. “I only meant that the household seems wonderfully incapable of keeping track of either of you.”
Atlas glanced toward his wife. “Loretta.”
She looked at him. “What?”
“You’re wandering into dangerous ground.”
“I don’t believe I am.” She turned back toward Adelaide. “I’m placing no criticism whatsoever.”
“Then I’m afraid I don’t understand your point,” Adelaide said, head tilted inquisitively to the side.
“My point?” Loretta looked almost surprised to have one. “I don’t suppose I have one.”
Silence settled briefly around the table as she lifted her wineglass. “I simply happened to overhear Abigail remarking yesterday that she’d sent one maid to the portrait gallery looking for the duchess while another had gone searching the schoolroom for Mr. Holbrook.”
The mention of the housekeeper made Adelaide’s stomach tighten.
Theodore’s brows knit together. “And?”
“They both returned empty-handed.”
Adelaide stared at her, and Loretta smiled almost unapologetically as she continued. “A few minutes later, someone discovered the pair of you coming from the west corridor together.”
Atlas set down his knife. “That proves very little now… W hat are you trying to say, Loretta?”
“I quite agree.” Loretta nodded immediately. “I told Abigail exactly the same thing. She wasn’t accusing anyone —” She gave an almost dismissive wave. “She merely observed that servants do enjoy making stories where none exist.”
No one spoke, and Loretta sighed softly. “It’s unfortunate, really.”
“What is?” Eric asked.
“That people notice such things.”
The room had become unnaturally quiet. Even the servants lingering near the walls seemed suddenly interested in the silver rather than the conversation.
Loretta looked almost apologetic. “I reminded Abigail that the duchess and Mr. Holbrook have known one another since childhood.” She smiled toward Theodore. “Though I confess not everyone possesses my charitable imagination.”
Adelaide felt something cold settle beneath her ribs because Loretta was not speaking to her; she was speaking to Eric. Allowing every innocent observation to collect into something far uglier without ever once voicing it herself.
Atlas spoke first. “I think that’s enough.”
“I quite agree,” Lord Talbot added quietly.
Loretta lowered her eyes. “I meant no harm.”
“No,” Adelaide said, holding her gaze. “But you meant every carefully chosen word.”
Another silence followed, and she noticed then that Eric had still not moved. He had not looked at anyone until finally, slowly his eyes found Adelaide’s. There was no anger in them, only confusion, and she immediately felt the pang of hating to see this look her husband now wore.