Free Persistent Earl : Signet Regency Romance (9781101578841) by Gail Eastwood Page B

who convinced Phoebe to take Goldie instead of Mary Anne as her escort to tea at Lady Follett’s. In the several days that had passed, Phoebe had rather forgotten about the lurker in the park, but Judith had not. Aware that her sister’s fears were now mirrored in her own anxiety, Phoebe was inclined to dismiss as pure imagination her feeling that someone was following them when she and Goldie walked the short distance to Lucy’s gracious town house in the heart of Mayfair.
    Phoebe had taken extra pains with her appearance, ferreting out the best articles of mourning dress in her wardrobe for this occasion. She had made Mary Anne fuss with her hair quite uncharacteristically, and she knew it was from nervousness at the upcoming encounter.
    Upstairs in Lucy’s elegantly furnished drawing room, Phoebe felt awkward. How out of practice she was at making conversation! However, she had given some prior thought to the meeting and had resolved to set things straight with her old acquaintance. Nurturing a friendship from a base that was tainted by misconceptions would be like trying to grow seedlings in soil filled with rocks and weeds.
    â€œLucy, you were very kind to invite me to tea,” she began politely. “It will surprise you to hear that I have not been in the habit of going out at all for some time now. I actually feel quite nervous. Please, you must not think it is on your account.”
    â€œOh, my dear, I feel honored that you’ve come,” Lucy responded sympathetically. She settled Phoebe into a chair beside the tea table and proceeded to pour, passing her guest a steaming cup made of the thinnest porcelain. Everything in Lucy’s drawing room was of the latest style, as was Lucy’s lemon-yellow muslin gown. “I had no idea. Of course, you are in mourning . . .”
    Phoebe shook her head. “There is something I would like to clear up between us, Lucy. I am in mourning again, as you say. But I am not just arrived in London for my father-in-law’s commemorative. I have been here through the entire Season.”
    â€œThe entire Season?” Lucy was dumbfounded. “But no one knew! What a terrible waste! Why would you hide like that? You are so beautiful and charming; you would have been such a welcome guest. However did you manage to keep your presence such a secret? Your servants must be the rarest souls of discretion. I can scarcely credit it.”
    Phoebe smiled sadly. “Nonetheless, it is true. I have become a recluse. I appreciate your confidence that I would have been welcome everywhere, but I do not share it. Do you not remember all the scandalous things people were saying after Stephen’s death? I doubt you have any idea the number of people who gave me the cut direct after all that.”
    Lucy set aside her tea and rose from her chair to come to Phoebe. She took Phoebe’s hand between hers and looked earnestly into her eyes. “Phoebe Brodfield, have you no idea how short a memory the
ton
is subject to? You missed the entire Season after Stephen’s death, when the scandal was fresh in their minds. By the time this year’s Season began, all sorts of new scandals had occurred to take up their attention.”
    Lucy gave Phoebe’s hand a little pat and released it, moving to the tea table to pass the plate of cakes.
    â€œYou may be right,” Phoebe replied, sighing, “but I cannot help feeling that it is partly because I stayed out of sight. You know, out of sight, out of mind? I am afraid that will not continue to be the case, however. I am very grateful, despite the heat, that it is August and that most people are gone from Town.”
    â€œHeavens, Phoebe. Whatever do you mean?”
    Phoebe took a deep breath. “The Earl of Devenham is staying with us while he recuperates from his war wounds. If it is not already common knowledge, I am sure that it will be soon. I am afraid there is no way the rest of