The Unlikely Lady(35)

“Yes, the library.” Wasn’t her philosophy to solve one problem at a time? That was all there was to do now. Lie and stand firm. Even though Lucy and Cass obviously suspected something, they had no proof. Did they? Had they gone to the library and not found her?

“The library?” Cass echoed.

Jane considered the possibilities. It was all or nothing. She had to see this through. “Yes, the library. You do know where the library is, don’t you?”

“Of course I know where the library is.” Cass plunked her hands on her hips.

“Did you count the teacakes?” Jane asked, her lips twitching from suppressed laughter.

“What a silly question,” Cass replied. “Of course I didn’t count the teacakes. You’re free to eat as many teacakes as you like.”

“I’m glad to hear it because it seems the two of you are accusing me of something. Perhaps something duplicitous, involving teacakes?”

“Accusing you of something? Whatever do you mean?” Cass put her hand to her throat, but she was a rubbish liar. It was obvious she was attempting to play ignorant.

“What might we be accusing you of?” Lucy interjected.

“I don’t know,” Jane answered. “You tell me.”

They faced off, staring at each other, Jane daring Lucy to ask a bold enough question to get to the bottom of this interrogation. Surprisingly, Lucy broke first. “We merely came up to ensure you were well, Janie. We were quite worried about you when we couldn’t find you last night.”

Jane breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for checking on me. I’m quite fine.”

Cass crossed over to her and gave her a quick hug. “I’m so glad.”

Lucy whirled and narrowed her eyes on Jane. “Did you, ah, happen to see Garrett last night?”

Jane pressed her palms together to keep them from shaking. She counted three and took a deep breath. They knew something. But she’d come this far and she refused to back down. “Upton?” she said in the most disinterested voice she could muster. “Are you asking if I saw Upton in the library? Because the answer is most assuredly no. I doubt Upton even knows what a library is.”

Lucy’s smile was catlike. “You didn’t see Garrett at all then?”

“If you’re interested in Upton’s whereabouts last evening, you might try asking Mrs. Langford. She seems to be quite taken with him, though goodness knows why.”

Distraction. It usually worked on her mother. Would it work on Lucy?

Obviously dissatisfied with that answer, Lucy opened her mouth to speak, but Cass patted Jane’s hand. “We’ll see you later for the picnic on the lawn, won’t we, Jane?”

Lucy plunked her hands on her hips and glared at Cass.

“Yes, of course.” Jane smoothed her hand over her hair. “I think I’ll just pop back to bed for a bit more sleep. I’ll be down for the picnic around noon.”

“Have a good rest,” Lucy called as she made her way to the door, Cass trailing behind her.

The two disappeared nearly as quickly as they’d come, leaving Jane staring after them perplexed. Just what did they know?





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Garrett had been summoned. Summoned to the gold drawing room where Lucy and Cassandra were apparently holding court. The entire house party—or at least those who were inclined—were to have a picnic lunch in a meadow on the estate at noon. While most of the guests were assembling in the foyer to make their way out together, a footman had delivered a note asking Garrett to meet Lucy and Cassandra in the salon directly before the group departed.

Thank God that hideous concoction of Colton’s had done its work. Garrett’s headache was gone. The sick feeling in his stomach was now caused only by the knowledge that he’d done things with the most unlikely lady in the kingdom last night. He could only hope she hadn’t realized it was him. Or had she? No. That wasn’t possible. First, it was surprising that Miss Lowndes would ever do any of the things they’d done last night. Garrett wouldn’t have guessed she had it in her. He wouldn’t believe for a moment she would have done them had she known she was doing them with him.

He opened the door to the gold salon and strode inside. Lucy was at the window staring across the front lawn. Cassandra was perched on the settee near the fireplace.

“Garrett,” Lucy said, spinning around. “Don’t you look handsome today?”

He glanced down at what he was wearing. Gray trousers, white shirt and cravat, black boots, burgundy waistcoat. Nothing particularly different from any other day. “Thank you, Lucy.”

He made his way over and kissed her cheek. Then he made his way to Cassandra and leaned to do the same.