It was the most innocent of conversations, designed to put them at their ease. He was confident he could maneuver the discussion around to something more useful. Unfortunately, Miss Templeman was not particularly helpful.
"I love music," she replied fervently, though her smile was sad. "I must admit, however, that hearing it makes me regret that I never learned an instrument."
"You missed nothing," Miss Collins put in quickly. "My mother had me take lessons on the harp for ten years, and my thumb still persists in pointing upward when I hold out my hands. Be thankful you have such a sweet singing voice."
A lovely voice was another accomplishment he should have expected from the beautiful Miss Templeman. He had a harder time envisioning Miss Collins at the harp. She looked far too earthy to play such a heavenly instrument.
Her stepsister blushed becomingly. "Thank you, Katherine, but you know I do not like such attention as singing alone gives me. I quite prefer our duets."
Now that was something he'd like to see. "I imagine the two of you are delightful together. Perhaps you might favor me."
Miss Templeman immediately demurred, blush deepening. Miss Collins merely smiled. He watched her lips curling in satisfaction and wondered if they were as soft as they looked. Before he could chide himself for such wayward thoughts, her gaze darted once more to her stepsister, drawing his eyes there instead. Confound the woman! Why did she persist in throwing Miss Templeman at his head?
"Did you have a particular purpose in calling on Sir Richard today?" her stepsister asked. "Perhaps we might be of assistance."
The question recalled him to his duty. He was here for information, after all. "I understand we may have mutual friends in the same regiment," he offered. "Has he perchance been trying to make my acquaintance?"
Miss Templeman frowned. Miss Collins' eyes narrowed as if she were trying to see through the holes in his story.
"We have heard nothing in that regard," she answered for both of them. "But surely you are far too busy to spend time reminiscing with old soldiers. Did I not hear you recently purchased an impressive mount, my lord? The foal of an Ascot winner, I believe?"
Before Alex knew it, he was prosing on about his stables, his horses, and their upcoming races. Miss Templeman was a rapt audience, but he gradually became aware that Miss Collins steadfastly refused to join the conversation unless it was to subtlety point out her stepsister's finer characteristics. Try as he might, Alex could not get them to discuss their guardian or anything else of import.
And he quickly found himself growing bored. The only thing he had managed to learn was that Miss Templeman was not the snob Giles Sloan had suggested. Indeed, she was rather cloyingly sweet, unlike the interesting spice of her older stepsister.
He would have to try Sir Richard directly if he wanted answers. That had been his intention all along, but Miss Collins was too good at diverting his attention, in more ways than one. He was about to find an excuse to take his leave when the butler hurried in to whisper in Miss Collins's ear. She immediately jumped to her feet, forcing Alex to rise as well.
"A small problem downstairs," she explained. "If you will excuse me a moment." She flew from the room. The butler took up sentinel at the door.
Alex would have thought it a ploy to get him alone with Miss Templeman, except the girl seemed oblivious to the fact. Her conversation was no more pointed than before. In fact, without Miss Collins's guiding influence, it seemed sadly lacking. Besides, with the butler in the background, Miss Templeman could hardly claim to be compromised. Before he could wonder further, Miss Collins returned with a rotund older gentleman at her heels. That she was less than pleased by the fact was evident in the tight set of her mouth.
Alex rose again as she made the introductions. "Viscount Borin, may I present Weldon Amory, Lord Templeman."
"Miss Templeman's cousin," the man added with a heavy wheeze. He stuck out a meaty hand, which Alex accepted. "Good to meet you, Borin. I heard you had taken to visiting. It is best that we talk before matters go any further."
Alex frowned. How did the man know he had been visiting? He peered closer at the fellow, noting the narrowed blue eyes and the stubborn chin. Suspicion might have been forgiven. What was impossible to overlook, however, were the dabs of congealed gravy dotting the fellow's rumpled cravat and dusty brown coat and trousers. Miss Collins saved him from an ungentlemanly response.