“You are glaring at people.”
“I am not.”
“Yes, you are,” Mirabel insisted. “You are giving a cold, hard stare.”
“You are being ridiculous.”
In answer to that charge, Mirabel went away in a huff.
But the exchange did make it clear to Thea that she was not fit company. She and Mirabel never argued. She excused herself and retired to her room, aware as she climbed the stairs that, yes, she was a bit tipsy—and she missed her sons. They kept her grounded.
Of course, wine made one maudlin. As she wandered toward her room, she wondered if alone was how she would always be. She didn’t regret it. She was happier alone than in her marriage, but still ... didn’t life have more to offer?
“Apparently not,” Thea murmured to no one in particular. She didn’t wait for a maid but undressed herself, not bothering to braid her hair as was her custom, and climbed into bed.
She was half asleep when there was a knock at the door.
Thea rolled over on her back, annoyed. “Yes?”she said, half expecting to hear Mirabel’s voice, probably on some mission to chastise her more.
“It’s Nessa, Mrs. Martin. I need to speak to you.”
Assuming the maid wanted to help her undress for the night, Thea said, “I am already in bed, Nessa. That’s fine.”
“I need to speak to you.”
The hushed urgency in the maid’s voice penetrated Thea’s wine drowsiness. She came up on her elbows. “Come in.”
The door opened, letting in light from the hallway’s lamps. Nessa hurried to Thea’s bedside and knelt. “I’m sorry to disturb you,” she said, her voice low, as if she was afraid of being overheard, “but there is something afoot that you should know.”
“What is it?”
“Lady Lila’s maid has become fast friends with one of the footmen. He told me she was bragging not five minutes ago that Lady Lila is determined to marry Lord Lyon.”
This was not news. “And?” Thea asked.
“She’s going to his bedroom this night and place herself in his bed. When Lord Lyon comes up to bed, her father will enter the room and accuse him of taking advantage of his daughter.Lord Lyon will have no choice but to marry her.”
“What of his valet?” Thea asked.
“He didn’t bring one. He’s been using one of the house servants. The maid said they’ve bribed him to make himself scarce while this all takes place.”
“Not on my watch she won’t,” Thea said, anger bringing her wide awake. She jumped out of bed, tossing her hair over her shoulder and grabbing her dressing gown.
“What are you going to do?” Nessa asked.
“I’m going to toss that little hussy out of his room,” Thea answered. “And then I am throwing both herandher conniving father out of Lady Palmer’s house. You might wish to distance yourself from this,” she advised Nessa as she went marching out the door. “Itwillbecome ugly.”
Chapter Nine
Thea nodded at the footman already at his station at the top of the stairs as she turned down the connecting hallway. But before she’d gone too far down the hall, a precaution struck her. She reapproached the servant.
“Is everyone still downstairs?” she asked, knowing that he would answer because of her close friendship with Mirabel.
“All but yourself, ma’am, and one of the young ladies.”
“Which young lady?” Thea tried to smile and take the edge off her question.
“I don’t know her title, ma’am, but she had dark hair.”