Surprised, Lila and the viscount looked at her. “You’ve read this book?” the viscount asked.
“Yes. We all did. It was assigned in school.”
“Then perhaps you will be kind enough to explain it to me. How can it be about unrequited love and marriage in the same breath?”
“It’s about a wife who was unhappy in her marriage. And a husband determined to do whatever he could to prove to her that she was not.”
“Really? Why, because he knew her feelings better than she did?” Lila drawled.
“I think because he so desperately wanted it to be so,” Hattie said. “Desperate desire can cause people to do desperate things.”
Both the viscount and Lila looked once again at Hattie with some surprise.
Hattie shrugged. “That was my reading of it, anyway. I beg your pardon, I’m speaking out of turn.”
“Not at all,” the viscount said. “I welcome your viewpoint.”
Hattie blushed.
That was the moment Lila realized these two were speaking another language altogether, and not about books. “It would appear we have a reading club!” she said grandly. “If you will allow me to pass on an invitation, my lord, I shall take my leave.”
He gestured for her to continue.
“Lord and Lady Iddesleigh are hosting a garden tea later this week. Lord and Lady Raney and their lovely daughter will be in attendance.”
Lord Abbott said nothing. He had retreated back behind his private internal screen. Frankly, Lila had never seen him come out from behind that screen except to speak to Hattie. How very interesting.
“In addition, Lady Mabel Stanhope, the daughter of the Earl of Stanhope, will be in attendance. She has thirty thousand pounds a year from an inheritance.”
“A king’s ransom,” the viscount said dryly, and looked at Hattie. “Are you acquainted with Lady Mabel Stanhope?”
“No, my lord. I know her only by name.”
He shifted his gaze to Lila.
“There will be others in attendance as well, including myself.”
“I’d be astonished if you were not, Lady Aleksander.”
Lila smiled thinly. “I will take that as your express desire to have me on hand,” she said airily. “And, Miss Woodchurch, I think you ought to come, too.”
“What? Why?”
“Why not? Lord Iddesleigh is quite fond of you and will be delighted to see you.”
“I don’t think... I’m sure he’s seen quite enough of me.”
“You wouldn’t mind, would you, my lord, if your scribe was in attendance?”
His gaze narrowed slightly. “Not at all, madam.”
Oh, but he was a difficult,difficultclient. But she would not be beaten at this game.
He glanced at his pocket watch. “I beg your pardon, but I am expected across town.”
Lila stood up. “That’s all I have. Thank you for your time, my lord. I look forward to the garden tea.” She swept out of the room, her mind already racing ahead.
She suddenly had a new mission, and that was to find out everything she could about one Miss Harriet Woodchurch.
