Murder on Charles Street - Leighann Dobbs Page 0,54
Lord Westing’s box. She had a reputation for clumsiness and wasn’t opposed to using it to achieve her goals. Unfortunately, as the players left the stage, Lord Westing stood and offered to fetch refreshments for his companions.
“No,” Katherine mumbled under her breath.
To her right, Wayland echoed, “No? You aren’t thirsty?”
She blinked, realizing that he had been asking her the same question. She offered him a bland smile. “Yes. Go. Try to speak with Lord Westing.”
His smile widened, and he gave her a half bow. “As my lady wishes.”
She fought the urge to roll her eyes at his theatrics. Fortunately, as he left the box, Lady Dalhousie and Miss Ball decided to stretch their legs.
Miss Ball hesitated as she turned toward the scarlet curtain leading away. “You don’t mind, do you, Lady Katherine? I don’t wish to leave you without company.”
“Please, go. If I were able to stand, I would be circulating as well. I won’t be the least bit lonely, I promise.”
When Miss Ball hesitated, her aunt ushered her away. “We must circulate if you’re to meet your future match.”
“Precisely,” Katherine agreed with feeling. “Circulate, and do tell me if anyone meets your approval. For later, when I’m healed.”
Satisfied for the moment, Miss Ball smiled. “I promise.”
When the two women at last left her in peace, Katherine turned toward Lord Westing’s box. He had been sitting in the seat nearest her. With him absent, she had a better view of the pretty young woman who had so captured his attention. The heiress had delicate, coy features belied by a shrewd look in her eye. She fiddled with the handkerchief on her lap.
“Good evening, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Lady Katherine Irvine. And you?”
The girl sent a furtive glance to her parents, who spoke to each other in hushed tones, before she shuffled closer on the edge of her seat. “I’m Abigail Finch. Lovely to meet you. I don’t know many people in London. You see, Papa has only brought me here this season.”
She seemed so shy and uncertain that Katherine couldn’t help but smile at her. “The season won’t begin in earnest until the snow melts, so I imagine you’ll find making friends far easier in a month or two. How do you know Lord Westing?”
Color turned the young woman’s cheeks a fetching shade of pink as she confessed, “It feels like such a whirlwind. You see, I’ve scarcely been in London two days! Before then, I was with Lord Westing at a house party halfway out to Bath. I suppose Papa thought a week in the lord’s company was not enough, because Lord Westing convinced him very easily to travel to London.” She paused then, flushing with an even deeper color, rushed to add, “We aren’t staying with him, of course. We let our own house for the season.”
Katherine wasn’t the least bit concerned with Miss Finch’s sense of modesty. She frowned, thinking aloud. “A house party, at this time of year?”
Her eyes wide, the young woman nodded. “Oh yes, our friends put one on for Valentine’s Day every year. It ran a bit longer than anticipated this year. The snow, you see. We had fresh snowfall the day before departure, and we were left mired at the party until the roads were cleared for the carriages.” She simpered, sheepish. “I suppose it was fortunate. I don’t think Papa planned to venture to London if not for Lord Westing’s insistence. I’ve wanted to come for years.”
Katherine dug in the reticule hanging from her wrist and produced a calling card. “If you need an introduction, chances are I’ll be able to provide one. I’m not able to leave the house for the next week or two, but if you call after that, I’ll be happy to do what I can.”
“Thank you,” Miss Finch exclaimed, her delight shining from her eyes. She hugged the card to her chest, grinning.
Had Katherine ever been so eager for a season? She’d been raised in London, no stranger to being paraded in front of peers and the stifling oppression of acting the proper young lady. Certainly, her sisters had enjoyed their fame as eligible earl’s daughters. Katherine had even helped along their romances. However, she had never precisely been eager to mingle with polite society. She had always preferred a good puzzle at her father’s elbow. Perhaps that was why she remained unmarried while her sisters were happily in love. She didn’t crave companionship; she craved a challenge to exercise her mind.
However, she usually