“Why, yes, I am. Have you been there?”
“Of course.” Lady Scarle barely glanced at her as she answered. “It is a lovely place. It was one of Lord Scarle’s pet charities, you know, and of course I continued his patronage after his death. Lady Cavendish and I are holding a benefit for it next week. I am sure that you have received invitations to it.”
That explained it, Megan thought sardonically. There was a party involved.
“I hope you will come to our little ball, Lord Raine,” Lady Scarle went on, casting a flirtatious look at Theo. “We have decided to hold it at the museum itself, so that everyone can see the excellent work that Mr. Coffey has accomplished there.”
“Um, I—I had not really thought…” Theo began, and cast a quick look around as if for inspiration.
“Of course he is coming,” Kyria spoke up. “We are all coming, are we not, Olivia? Anna?”
Both women looked faintly surprised, Megan noted, but they nodded gamely.
Kyria went on, a devilish twinkle in her green eyes, “Miss Henderson is accompanying us, as well, of course.”
Megan choked on her tea, but Kyria ignored the interruption, smiling blandly at Lady Scarle.
“Miss Henderson?” the other woman said, her eyebrows rising. “But, really, Lady Kyria, this is a ball, not an excursion to the museum. It is by invitation only.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was under the impression that all of us had received an invitation. Is it only Theo?”
“No, of course not.” Color touched Lady Scarle’s cheeks. “Of course you are invited, and the duke and duchess. I am sure all of you received invitations.”
“If the Moreland family is coming, then of course Megan will, as well. We consider her quite one of the family, don’t we, Mother?”
“Of course, dear.” The duchess favored her daughter, so much like her in looks, with a gracious smile. “The duke and I would not think of attending without Miss Henderson.”
Lady Scarle looked chagrined, but she said only, “Of course. Miss Henderson must come as well.”
She did not spare a glance at Megan as she said this, and a few minutes later, when Reed and Theo excused themselves and left the room, Lady Scarle took her leave, as well.
For a long moment, the women remaining behind said nothing. Then Kyria exchanged a look with Thisbe, who responded with a grin, and a moment later, they were chuckling.
“Kyria, you wicked thing,” the duchess said without heat.
“Lady Scarle looked as if she had swallowed a bee,” Olivia added.
“I cannot like the woman at all. She is so blatantly pursuing Theo. Can’t she see he is not interested?” Kyria exclaimed.
“Lady Scarle is the sort who sees nothing but herself,” Thisbe retorted. “I am sure she would never believe that any man might not be interested in her. She certainly had her choice of beaux when she came out.”
“Yes, and she married the oldest and wealthiest of the lot,” Kyria added dryly. “Now that he’s gone, she is hoping to move up to duchess.”
“She’s very beautiful,” Anna commented.
“Hmph.” Kyria raised an eyebrow. “Did you like her, though?”
Anna laughed. “No, not at all. I certainly would not choose her for Theo.”
“No, nor would I,” Olivia agreed in her soft voice. A small woman, with soft brown hair, large, intelligent eyes, and a surprisingly mischievous smile, Olivia was a warm person whom Megan could not help but like. Quieter than her two sisters, she struck Megan nevertheless as having a great strength of will.
She went on now, “But, you know, Kyria, perhaps you should have asked Miss Henderson before you committed her to going to the charity ball.”
“I’m sorry.” Kyria turned toward Megan contritely. “I did not mean to be impolite. Sometimes I get a little carried away.”
“But I—surely you do not mean for me to actually go with you,” Megan said, surprised. “I thought you only said that to put Lady Scarle’s nose out of joint.”
Even as she said it, Megan realized that her words were far too blunt for an employee to deliver to a titled lady, and she clapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I should not have said that.”
Kyria laughed, joined by the other women in the room. “Don’t apologize. You are exactly right. I did want to put her nose out of joint. But I certainly intended for you to come. Please say you will. It should be quite lovely. Lady Cavendish is getting rather old, but she still has a wonderful sense of style. Her parties are always quite fun. You would enjoy it.”
Megan was a little surprised by how much she would indeed like to go to the party. She had never been one who had envied the wealthy their glittering galas and elegant balls, but as she thought now of sweeping out onto the floor in a lovely ball gown, she was aware of a rush of longing. She decided not to consider why the man in whose arms she saw herself dancing was Theo Moreland.
With an inward sigh, however, she pushed aside that dream. “I’m sorry. I would love to go, but I have nothing appropriate to wear to a ball.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Kyria waved away her objection. “We shall come up with something for you. My maid can alter one of my dresses. She is a wizard with a needle.”
“No, one of mine,” Olivia put in. “We are nearer the same size.”
“We are, as well,” Anna said. “And I just bought a whole hoard of gowns when I came to London. You are most welcome to wear one.”
“There, you see?” Kyria said triumphantly. “I am sure we will be able to find something quite lovely.” She studied Megan, her head to one side. “A warm color, gold or—no, perhaps that rust-colored satin that you wore last summer, Livvy.”
Megan looked at them, warmed by their generosity. “I—I don’t know what to say. You are so kind.”
“Why, say you’ll come. That is all,” Olivia told her.
Megan smiled at her, unable to resist. “All right. I will go with you.”
*
MEGAN SPENT MUCH of that evening pacing in her room, worrying about what she was doing. She felt increasingly guilty. She hated the fact that what she was planning to do would hurt the Morelands. They had been terribly kind and generous to her, and she knew that when she revealed what Theo had done, they would all regard her as a traitor.
On the other hand, she felt as if she were letting down her own family by even worrying about Theo’s family—and how could she let herself join in their activities, even enjoy them? She should be searching for evidence about Dennis’s death, not eating meals that melted in her mouth with the family of his killer, or jaunting off to charity balls in a dress that probably cost more than her entire year’s salary.