Wicked Again (The Wickeds #7) - Kathleen Ayers Page 0,14
much more convenient than if we were to retreat to the country.”
Her niece cocked her head. “Really? You are simply thinking of cooked Christmas goose and a seating chart for dinner?”
“Don’t be silly. Whatever else should I be thinking of?” A pair of silvery eyes above striking cheekbones floated to mind. Marissa pushed such thoughts aside.
Arabella set down her teacup with a small clatter. “Brendan has written me.”
Marissa took in her niece’s smug little grin. It was no surprise her younger son would write to Arabella. The two cousins had been close for most of their lives. But had Brendan written her concerning Reggie. . .or his discovery of Marissa with Haddon?
“I didn’t think you found his searching for fossils to be so entertaining,” she hedged. Brendan, much like his father, adored fossils and rocks. He’d studied geology and spent most of his time in caves or scaling cliffs and had led a primarily solitary existence until meeting Petra. “I suppose you’re disappointed you won’t be able to torture Petra any longer without him objecting.”
“I’ll still torment my sister-in-law, only much more discreetly.” Arabella gave her a prim look. “Petra and I have reached an understanding of sorts.”
“I’m happy to hear it.”
“Brendan told me about Reggie.”
Marissa swished the tea around in her mouth, thinking carefully about what she should say to her niece, uncertain as to what Brendan had told her. The family had been informed of the discovery of the late Earl of Morwick’s remains and his burial. But not of how he’d died, exactly. Or why.
“I see. And what did Brendan impart?”
“Everything.” Arabella’s dark eyes flashed as she popped a biscuit into her mouth. “No wonder you and Lady Pendleton are no longer friends. She had your husband murdered for a bloody mine full of Blue John.”
Marissa’s hand trembled slightly at Arabella’s assessment of the situation. It was still difficult, at times, for her to hear the truth spoken out loud. The sheer treachery of her former neighbors boggled the mind.
“I see he has told you everything. And since he has, then you must be aware Brendan promised he would not retaliate against Viscount Pendleton or his family,” Marissa said.
“But you made no such promise, Aunt Maisy, did you?”
Marissa took another sip of tea. “No, I did not.”
“Brendan left you a loophole. Intentionally, I think,” Arabella said. “Unlike Viscount Pendleton or his mother, I am not so foolish as to assume you would not take matters into your own hands. Doesn’t Lady Pendleton know who your family is?”
“Lydia has never been especially impressed by my heritage, I don’t think, daughter of the Duke of Dunbar or not.”
“Then she’s very foolish. You’ve done a good job at hiding your true nature from her. Much better than I hide mine.”
That was surely true. Arabella was a cunning little thing, though much less dangerous than before she’d married. And her niece was correct; Marissa was her father’s daughter. She’d learned well from Henry how to slowly destroy an adversary in the most excruciating way possible. An education Marissa was putting to good use on Pendleton.
“I know Brendan made a grand gesture for Petra’s sake—”
“He did,” Marissa said.
“Brendan loves Petra very much,” Arabella said. “I’m not sure exactly why—”
“You just said you reached an understanding with Petra. I would think as part of that, you would have a better opinion of her.”
“I have. But it doesn’t detract from the fact I think her weak-willed at times and far too obedient. A true milquetoast. Still, I don’t begrudge Brendan for wanting to protect her.”
“Petra is far less demure and well-behaved than you remember her, Niece. You should watch your step in the future,” Marissa warned. “Brendan worried far more for Petra’s reputation than she did herself, but then, he knows Lydia. Lydia maintains a large network of friends here in London who would be only too happy to destroy Petra in retaliation for her throwing over Lydia’s precious son. It brings her joy to ruin others. There are many ladies and indeed some gentlemen who can testify to the fact.”
“I find it ironic given her own daughter’s reputation.”
“Indeed, but Lydia doesn’t believe she has to play by the rules others follow. She managed to keep the worst of Catherine’s peccadilloes out of the gossip columns. A distant relation at the newspaper was her key to doing so. Lydia exerted undue influence over him.”
Not any longer. The Honorable Mr. Kensington has recently left for other opportunities.
Marissa allowed herself a small gleam of satisfaction.