cut out his spleen in front of Angelo’s fencing salon.”
A flush rose to Kate’s cheeks. “I fear that your brother may have misinterpreted my meaning. In any case, be assured he has greatly exaggerated the incident.”
“It may have been his liver rather than his spleen.” Lady Duxbury tapped her fan to Kate’s wrist. “Still, I found the story rather delicious. I admire boldness in a lady.” Lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, she added, “Gilbert mentioned that you sent in a note which summoned a nearly naked Lord Ghiradelli into the middle of Bond Street.” A throaty laugh. “Now that is a sight I should like to have seen.”
“From what I understand, it is not such a difficult thing to arrange,” replied Kate dryly. “The conte is apparently willing to shed his clothing at the slightest encouragement.”
The countess laughed. “And from what I understand, that is not such an unpleasant experience. I imagine he’s rather skilled at…” She finished with a knowing wink.
Kate found the lady’s manner far too presumptuous for a stranger. Mimicking the duke’s imperious look of hauteur, she drew back a touch. “I am not quite sure what you mean,” she intoned, though she knew exactly what the other lady was implying.
“Oh, have I offended you, Miss Woodbridge?” The countess assumed a contrite expression. “It was meant as a little girlish teasing, so please do not take it amiss. Do say that you forgive me.” She fluttered her lashes. “I have a feeling we could be very good friends.”
“Really?” replied Kate coolly. The countess’s overfriendly advances struck a false note. “Yet you don’t know me at all.”
“Oh, but we ladies have a natural camaraderie,” said Lady Duxbury. “After all, don’t we all love to gossip and share confidences?”
That was just the sort of behavior Kate loathed—spreading rumors and savaging one’s so-called friends behind their backs. Polite Society was anything but.
“Actually, I find such frivolous pursuits a waste of time,” she replied.
Lady Duxbury’s eyes narrowed slightly at the obvious rebuff, but she forced a smile. “Yet you take pains to encourage the attention of Ghiradelli and Von Seilig.”
Kate couldn’t quite believe her ears. To be accused of blatant flirtation was absurd. “You misinterpret my actions. Von Seilig and I are conversing on scientific subjects. And Lord Ghiradelli is the cousin of one of my closest friends.” She rose. “Now, if you will excuse me, I had best help Lady Fenimore prepare the tea service.”
“Of course.” The countess fixed her with a venomous look. “Please do not let me keep you.”
Kate rose and returned to where Charlotte was arranging the gold-rimmed cups and saucers. “There will soon be another disparaging ondit about me making the rounds of the drawing rooms,” she said under her breath. “In addition to being called a bluestocking and a recluse, I will also be called a rude and humorless harpy.”
After hearing the gist of the exchange, Charlotte frowned. “You really should not go out of your way to make enemies.”
“I didn’t,” she protested. “I just made it clear that we are not going to be friends.”
Her friend arched a brow.
“Can you blame me?” asked Kate after a fraction of a pause.
“Not in the least. I just think it would be wise to be more subtle in your sarcasm. Especially with Lady Duxbury. I have heard that she’s someone who likes to stir up trouble.”
Kate shrugged. “What harm can she do me? I couldn’t care less what is whispered about me by the tabbies.”
Charlotte didn’t answer right away, and when she did, there was a note of concern in her voice. “Don’t underestimate the power of rumor and innuendo. We have seen how dangerous they can be. Look at what Ciara and Alessandra went through when a mistake from their past came back to haunt them.”
Despite the steaming heat of the teapot, Kate felt her palms turn a touch cold. She carefully placed it down beside the cups and busied herself in arranging the silver spoons in a precise row.
“I… I can’t imagine that happening to me. In my former life, I was a completely different person—there is no connection between Kate Woodbridge, the vagabond American adventurer, and Katharine Woodbridge, the English granddaughter of the Duke of Cluyne.”
“You are no doubt right, my dear. But as scientists, we should always remember that one should never take anything for granted.”
The arrival of the gentlemen forestalled any further discussion of the matter. Turning to the ritual of serving tea, Kate put the unpleasant encounter behind her.