By the end of the meal it was safe to look nowhere but at my plate. I breathed a sigh of relief when the women were excused, leaving the men to their port and talk of politics.
Before I’d gone even two steps, Lady Ellen was at my side, interlinking her arm in mine. “Well, that was quite the scene. Come now, Miss Graham. You do not strike me as one who keeps secrets,” she said in her straightforward manner, turning probing eyes on me.
I ducked my head.
“You shall not have a moment’s peace until you tell me what is going on.”
It would do little good to pretend ignorance of what she spoke. Truthfully, I was grateful for someone to confide in. “Perhaps you can advise me on a rather sticky situation,” I said at last, “involving your grandmother.”
Interest flickered in her features, and she looked around, making sure the dowager was nowhere nearby. “Come, sit with me.” While her words indicated an invitation, her strong pull on my arm suggested I had little choice in the matter. She dragged me over to a small rose sofa near the card tables.
Once we were seated she turned to me expectantly. “Well?” She leaned in. “Start by telling me about Grandmother.” Her voice remained hushed yet still managed to be demanding. It seemed there was not a single muted personality in this entire family.
I adjusted one of the pins in my hair, stalling. “She cornered me after church and asked if I would assist her with something.”
“Oh dear,” Lady Ellen said under her breath. She nodded for me to continue.
“She asked me to help with your brother.”
She gave me a piercing gaze not so very different from the one the dowager had given me on our walk. Perhaps they looked nothing alike, but there was a striking resemblance to their mannerisms. “Help with Halstead? What kind of help?” I tried to read her expression as she spoke, but her face remained carefully neutral.
“She wanted me to . . . draw him out. I think she harbors some frustration at his lack of interest in rejoining society.”
“Yes, that much is clear. It’s a frustration she shares with Mother, though they have different ideas about how it is to be achieved. What exactly did she mean—draw him out?”
“I cannot say I know what exactly she had in mind.”
She waved away my lack of knowledge, and her barrage of questions continued. “But why you? And why now?”
My gaze fell to my lap, for my mind burned with the same question—why me? Every time I made some progress with Halstead, invariably something sent us sprawling backward. I found myself growing exhausted by the effort.
Lady Ellen trampled over the silence. “There is something you are not telling me.” She ticked a glance toward her grandmother, her gaze swiftly coming back to rest on me.
“I am sure your grandmother has her reasons, but I am not at liberty to discuss them.” I traced my finger along a seam in the settee. “I only know she is concerned about your brother’s refusal to . . .”
“Ahh, Halstead’s refusal to marry. Yes, he has been rather vocal about that. But did she say what exactly she expects you to do?” The puzzlement on her face mirrored my own feelings.
I fiddled with my glove. “Well, not in so many words, because I refused the task.”
Lady Ellen’s mouth fell open. “You did?”
I glanced over at the dowager, who was speaking with Aunt Agnes. After her interference tonight, I didn’t like that one bit.
Lady Ellen shook her head as if recovering from a great shock. “It takes someone with a great deal of backbone to put off my grandmother. Was she furious?” Her lips curved up with delight.
“Surprised, I think. And, well, yes.” I lowered my head. “She was furious.”
A giggle escaped her, which she did not even try to stifle. “Oh, I only wish I could have seen it. No one says no to Grandmother. My father never did. Not mother, not I. Halstead is the only one of us who dares.” She looked at me with something new in her eyes. “I suppose I can see why Grandmother thought you might be of some help with Halstead.” She tapped her thumb against her leg. “But why now? That is what I must know. Why can you not speak of it?”
“We struck a bargain, and I agreed not to mention it.”
Lady Ellen pursed her lips and nodded. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.” She looked up. “But then, why were you seated next to Halstead at dinner?”
“I’d like to know that very thing.” I raised my brows. “Apparently my refusal meant nothing to your grandmother.”
Her mouth twisted a little. “She does not like to be told no; that is certain. And she isn’t opposed to being underhanded.”
“Yes, I see that.” I looked over at the dowager once more, still chagrined at her audacity. “But what can I do when she clearly does not play by the rules? I can’t exactly refuse her in such public matters.”
“Can’t you? Perhaps she needs to hear your answer loud and clear.”
I shook my head forcefully. “I couldn’t. If Aunt Agnes discovered I had been so impertinent . . .” I shuddered.
Lady Ellen tilted her head, studying me. “Do you like spending time with my brother, Miss Graham?” The amusement from her expression had disappeared, and her voice had taken on a note of sincerity.
I hedged, for it was not even a question I could answer satisfactorily
