me as a quiet couple, inclined to stay together."
"Oh, they do. Boringly so." She took a sip of coffee. "But enough about them. What I really want to talk to you about is the Marquis of Conisbrough."
"Oh?" Lady Elsbeth said carefully, absently moving a slice of meat about on her plate.
"I could not believe it when he walked through that door last evening! The audacity!" Lady Serena reached over, laying her hand on her sister’s arm, halting Lady Elsbeth’s idle shuffling of food on her plate. "But I also wanted to tell you how proud I am of you, sister dear. The way you handled him. Oh, not the faint, of course. Any woman of sensibility would have fainted from the shock if they’d been in your position. No, what I found exceptional was your behavior afterwards. You were properly cordial, yet you displayed just the right degree of constrained friendliness. Perfect, perfect," she enthused, letting go of her sister’s arm. She leaned back in her chair, her expression reminiscent. "Ah, seeing you last night, I wish I’d seen you fifteen years ago when you turned down his marriage offer. And also later—in Vauxhall Gardens—when you told him what you thought of his manners and morals. Imagine a man maintaining two mistresses in separate establishments and offering marriage to a woman of exceptional birth! What could you do but turn him down?"
Lady Elsbeth froze. Carefully she laced her fingers together, placing her hands in her lap. "How did you know what occurred at Vauxhall Gardens?" she asked neutrally, though her pulse beat faster.
"Why—why you told me, of course."
"Did I? I seem to have forgotten ..." She had not told anyone about the encounter at Vauxhall. It was too private and painful to be shared. She cocked her head to one side. Strange. She’d all but forgotten the source of the tales that had led her to renounce the Marquis of Conisbrough. She did not forget now.
"Tell me, do you think him changed much?" she asked, raising her hands back to her plate and utensils.
"Conisbrough? Gracious, no. If anything, the man is worse. No doubt he engineered the entire scene last evening just for your discomfiture. Wasn’t that the first time you’ve seen him since you said good-bye?" Lady Serena asked.
"Yes, yes it was. Strange, isn’t it, that circumstances should be such that we wouldn’t meet again for fifteen years? Tell me, whatever became of those two mistresses?"
"Elsbeth! I’m surprised at you. What a question to ask me! As if I would pay attention!"
"I only thought as it was you who told me about them, you would know what became of them."
"Well, I only listened and learned because I knew you considered yourself in love. I thought it my duty as your elder sister to look out for your interests. After you promised not to see him again, I dropped the matter, of course. But what is this? I feel I am undergoing an inquisition!"
"I’m sorry, Serena. I suppose seeing Lord Conisbrough again brought back too many memories and too many unanswered questions."
"I don’t know what unanswered questions there might be. It all seems straightforward to me."
"Yes, I suppose it would ..."
"What? Oh, no matter. What I also wish to discuss with you, sister dear, are your plans once dear Jane is safely wed." She leaned toward her sister, her expression serious and her lips pursed in a tight bow.
"My plans?" Lady Elsbeth parroted back to give herself time to think.
"Excuse me, Elsbeth," Jane said, appearing at the doorway. Her knowing smile revealed she’d heard Lady Serena’s last statement. She ventured to interrupt to give Lady Elsbeth time to gather her obviously scattered wits. "Cook said there would be no problem, and I’ve ordered the structure swept clean. "
"Oh, an excellent idea," Lady Elsbeth said. She smiled at Jane, exchanging amused appreciation with her niece for whatever notion Lady Serena was about to bring forth, along with a thank you for the timely interruption.
Jane nodded and went down the hall in search of Mrs. Phibbs.
Lady Serena pursed her lips and shook her head at Jane’s interruption.
"I’m sorry, Serena. I believe you were asking about my plans?"
"Yes. For you know, it won’t be too much longer before Jane is wed. It can’t be. She is far too wealthy and attractive— in a dark way—to remain a spinster all her life. And what will you do when that happy event transpires? Please do not tell me you shall remain here at Penwick Park