For just that moment, he hadn’t a clue as to how he’d manage.
“How do you know Lord Roland?”
“How do you suppose? He and I had a torrid affair.”
Libby glared at Fish and said, “You might have warned me.”
“Why would I warn you? It’s not as if it happened yesterday. It’s ancient history and has no bearing on anything.”
“This entire party will be awkward enough. I don’t need to have you stirring extra drama.”
“Why would I stir drama?” Fish looked innocent as a nun. “He and I have both lived a thousand lifetimes since then.”
“He’s still a handsome devil.”
“I agree. He’s definitely aging well.”
“How old is he?”
“I believe he’s forty-six.”
“And you’re forty.”
“Yes, so? If you’re worried our romance will heat up again, you’re mad. I’m not interested in a quick fling, and his type likes his paramours to be quite a bit younger than me.”
“His type?”
“He’s an aristocrat, and there is always a line of women out the door, hoping to snag one of them. They grow prettier, younger, and more debauched every year.”
“Where do you fit in that scenario?”
“I was desperately in love with him, but he would never have married me. I walked away so it wouldn’t become horrid. I left him before he could leave me.”
“So you hooked your wagon to Uncle Harry instead?”
“Harry and I had a satisfying decade together. With him, what you saw was what you got. I never deceived myself into thinking I could have a happy ending with him. I had no misconceptions about what was possible.”
“Please don’t seduce Lord Roland.”
“I doubt there’s any chance of it,” Fish said. “That shrew, Millicent Pendleton, seems to have dug her claws into him, but why would you care if he sets his sights on me?”
“We shouldn’t stay here, so I don’t want you to start any mischief that would delay our departure.”
They were in the bedchamber provided to Libby, and she’d been hiding so it was evening already, supper over and the festivities beginning in earnest.
Hers was a charming suite, with bright yellow wallpaper and big windows that offered a view of the park. It came complete with a sitting room, bedroom, and dressing room behind. She was being treated like a princess, but so far, the visit had been much more stressful than she’d anticipated.
She’d presumed she could arrive with her usual aplomb, but the whole episode was extremely taxing. She hadn’t thought she’d meet Lord Roland immediately, and she’d expected to have more time to prepare for the encounter. Nor had she realized she and his daughter would look so much alike. The discovery was disturbing in a myriad of ways she hadn’t considered before deciding to attend.
Now that she was ensconced in a bedchamber, she was kicking herself for her lack of planning, and she was trying to figure out how she could slip away without it being noticed. But that probably wasn’t feasible. She’d deliberately shown up in grand style, so people were watching her every move.
“Why wouldn’t we stay?” Fish asked. “And why are you so despondent? Is it that bounder, Lord Barrett? Don’t permit him to chase us away.”
“He’s about to betroth himself to Lady Penny!”
“So? He’s thirty. Of course he’s about to become engaged. I can’t fathom why he hasn’t been wed for years.”
“Last week in London, he was begging me to be his mistress! He’s a cad and a cheat, and I’m so disappointed.”
“Why are you surprised to learn this about him? You’ve frittered away plenty of hours where rich scoundrels doted on you. You’re aware of what they’re like. Don’t pretend to be shocked.”
“I liked him. I thought he liked me too.”
“I’m sure he’s wild for you, but you can’t be so naïve that you assumed it mattered. Don’t tell me you were silly about him. I’m the woman who taught you about men and their motives, so I know you were repeatedly cautioned.”
“He claimed he had problems to deal with at his estate, but he conveniently neglected to mention that he would actually be at Roland, getting himself engaged.”
Fish shrugged. “Why would he have admitted it to you? He wouldn’t deem it to be any of your business. Besides, aren’t you over him? Haven’t we fled London because of him? You gave up your booking at the theater so you wouldn’t be there when he returned to town.”
“Yes, but I didn’t intend to run into him in Lord Roland’s driveway!” Libby threw up her hands in frustration. “This is a disaster!”
“Only if you let it be. I think it will be harder on him than on you. He is the one who’s about to marry. He’s the one who’s in an awkward situation. Not you. If I were you—”
“Well, you’re not me,” Libby caustically interrupted.
Fish ignored her. “—I’d flaunt myself every second. I’d wear my most stunning gowns, and I’d preen and flirt with all the gentlemen to make him jealous. By the time we depart, his calm façade will be totally shattered.”
“I just craved a quiet sojourn in the country.”
“There’s no chance of that. Not with him lurking and glowering. Would you stop feeling sorry for yourself? It’s exhausting.”
Fish strolled to the door, and Libby asked, “Where are you going?”
“I’m going down to dance and socialize. You can hide in your room if you like, but I traveled to Roland to have some fun. It’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”
“I suppose,” Libby grumbled.
“If you don’t come with me, everyone will wonder about you.”
“I don’t care. Tell them I’m indisposed.”
“I won’t tell them that. I’ll say I have no idea what’s wrong, and they can gossip over whether you’re snubbing them.”
“Would you find Simon for me? Send him up. He and I need to confer about the best locations for a show away from London.”
“The last I knew, he was in the card room, waiting for the games to start.”
“Could you drag him out? Inform him that I forbid him to
