Secrets of Sloane House(91)

Now Reid realized that he hadn’t had the confidence in himself to trust his own judgment. He’d also been forgetting some very important tenets about who—and what—truly mattered in life.

Hodgeson led them into the formal drawing room. Then, with another curious look at Rosalind, abruptly turned and left. Reid could only imagine how he would approach each family member. After a few minutes, he said, “Rosalind, who do you think will join us first?”

“Mr. Sloane. He is always up first.”

“Do you think Douglass and Veronica will grace us with their presence?”

After a moment’s thought, Rosalind nodded. “They will be too curious not to. Your appearance is rather unusual. I have a feeling by now—even after only a few minutes—every person in the house is wondering why the Armstrongs have paid a visit so early. With a former maid in tow,” she added with a grimace.

After looking at a collection of silver kaleidoscopes, his mother perched on the edge of a dark eggplant-colored velvet settee. “Come sit down, Rosalind.”

“I’d rather stand.”

She clucked her tongue. “I think not. Now’s not the time to waver, dear. You wished to join us? Then join us you will. Please sit.”

With obvious reluctance, Rosalind sat next to his mother.

Reid took one of the chairs on their right. They sat in silence. He supposed each was lost in their thoughts. He, for one, couldn’t help but keep returning to his finding Eloisa in the shadows the night before. He doubted he would ever forget the look of pain and humiliation on her features.

Hodgeson returned. “The family will receive you within the half hour.” His disapproving tone conveyed the disdain both he and the family felt for the timing of their visit. “I was told to ask if you would care for refreshments while you wait?”

“I think not,” Mrs. Armstrong replied.

“Very well.” The butler bowed slightly before retreating.

When they were alone, Rosalind leaned back against the cushions with a sigh. “Oh, he is not happy.”

“Good,” Reid snapped.

“I hope this is the last time I’m ever in this home. Something feels off, don’t you think?” his mother mused. “I don’t want to come back.”

Twenty-eight minutes later by Reid’s count, they heard footsteps and the low murmuring of voices in the foyer. “Here we go,” Reid said as the double doors to the room opened and all four Sloanes entered the room.

He rose to his feet.

His mother straightened but remained sitting. She pressed a hand on Rosalind’s thigh when she made a move to stand up as well.

“Armstrong,” Mr. Sloane boomed. “Carlotta.”

“Hello, Clayton,” she replied graciously. “I apologize for the timing of this visit, but I’m afraid it couldn’t be helped.”

“Hmm.” Mr. Sloane, his wife, and Douglass all took chairs facing Reid. Each wore varying expressions of curiosity and boredom. Veronica sat down on the settee opposite his mother and Rosalind, looking vaguely amused.

None of them acknowledged Rosalind.

“Reid, Carlotta,” Mrs. Sloane said with a patently fake smile. “Now that we are all settled, perhaps you would care to share to what we owe this honor?”

“At this ungodly hour,” Veronica said under a yawn.

“And why do you need to see all four of us?” Mr. Sloane groused.

Douglass looked at Rosalind. “And why is she here?”

“Is someone in trouble?” Olympia Sloane asked.

Douglass eyed Reid curiously. “I must admit that you have us all intrigued.”

An expectant pause descended over their group. Reid knew it would be up to him to begin and to put out the story about Eloisa as circumspectly as possible.

He’d gone over several ways of breaking the news in his head, each one sounding more jumbled and convoluted than the next. Finally, he let his heart and instincts guide him. “Over the last several months, rumors have been circulating about you, Douglass.”

“Me?” His dark eyes narrowed.

Reid folded his hands together. “I’m sure you’ve heard them. Your behavior has become more volatile. Your activities and proclivities more dark. More shocking.”

To Reid’s surprise, it was Veronica who came to her brother’s rescue. “And?” she asked in her trademark bored way. “I fail to see how Douglass’s affairs affect you at all.” She raised a brow. “Unless the two of you now make it a habit of calling on homes for the sole reason of spreading malicious gossip?”

“It is not mere gossip,” Reid retorted.

Douglass glared at Rosalind. “If you are referring to a little harmless flirting with housemaids . . .”