Chapter 6

Six

S unlight bathed over Athena as she strolled with her sisters in Hyde Park. They had decided to partake in the afternoon promenade with the rest of the ton. Not that Isla had been enthusiastic about their decision to take a walk in the park. Isla wanted nothing more than to hide in their townhouse or, better yet, return to their father's country house. Athena couldn't really blame her older sister for her desire to remain outside of society. None of them had been welcoming. They were invited to social events, but they were not truly welcome there. The matrons of society had no real reason to exclude them. They were all waiting for that reason to be forthcoming and make the Thompson girls' pariahs.

Athena would not be the one to give them such a reason…

She doubted Maeve would, either. Isla kept herself separate from everybody on purpose. She hoped that no one actually noticed her long enough to find anything troubling about her. There was no scandal to be found if she didn't actually speak or do much more than hug a wall at every social event they attended. They all did everything they could to not only appear respectable, but their very actions were beyond reproachable.

None of that aided in what they needed most…

Rumors were still spreading faster than they could ever be squelched. Their very presence instigated their formation and as long as they remained in London, they would continue to grow. The latest whispers to reach their ears had been about the Earl of Kendal and how Athena had somehow woven some wickedness to lure his attentions.

Athena had, of course, done nothing of the kind.

She couldn't, and wouldn't, explain any of that. No one would listen or believe her if she did. Her real dilemma concerned the earl himself. Athena didn't want his reputation harmed because the ton refused to believe her to be respectable. She was starting to understand Isla's reluctance to attend the season. The earl had come to mean a great deal to Athena in a short time. Her heart ached at the thought of never seeing him again.

"Lady Athena," a woman said. "How lovely to cross paths with you and your sisters."

Athena glanced up and met the gaze of Lady Atherton. Her daughter had her debut this season as well and she did not like that Athena and Maeve had caught the attention of some of the most eligible gentlemen looking for a wife. "The pleasure is ours," Athena said, then pasted a smile on her face that she didn't feel. The viscountess demonstrated an unpleasantness with every word and deed she presented to the world. What did she hope to gain by approaching them?

Maeve froze next to Athena, and Isla held her breath. Her sisters knew something awful was about to descend upon them. They would not like whatever Lady Atherton had planned… Athena held herself still and waited.

"You're familiar with my daughter, Miss Bethany Smythe?" Lady Atherton gestured toward the woman at her side. "She had her debut the week before yours." Why was she addressing Athena and blantantly ignoring her sisters?

"We've been introduced," she replied carefully. Athena nodded toward Miss Bethany. "It's good to see you again. I trust you're well."

Miss Bethany smiled. "I am Lady Athena. It's a lovely day, is it not?" The viscountess' daughter was a shy girl and doomed to become a wallflower. Athena actually liked her. She was nothing like her mother.

"Indeed, it is," Athena agreed and returned her warm smile with one of her own. "Are you attending the Covington musicale tonight?" Isla had complained about going to it earlier, but Maeve had been the one that wished to attend. Maeve was the more artistic of the three of them and the only one that had any musical talent. She favored the pianoforte, but they heard the Covingtons were proficient in string instruments. It might be entertaining. She prayed they wouldn't leave with an earache of some sort.

"Is it true what we've heard?" Lady Atherton asked, ignoring Athena's question about the Covington musicale.

"I couldn't possibly say," Athena answered. "As I have no way of discerning what you heard to confirm any truthfulness of it." She barely refrained from rolling her eyes. What Lady Atherton had overheard or whatever gossip she had readily gathered was most likely inaccurate. But Athena could only guess at the nature of the falsehood, and she really didn't wish to add any additional fodder for them to pick over.

"Then you haven't heard?" Lady Atherton practically gleamed, and not in a good way. She was like a scavenger bird about to pick their bones clean with glee. "It concerns your earl."

Maeve moved closer to Athena, but didn't say a word. It was her show of support for what was to come. Isla became stiff next to her. She'd had her own problems with society and it appeared as if Athena was about to experience a bit of her own unpleasantness. "I'm afraid I don't understand your meaning. What earl do you refer to?" She refused to give the viscountess any satisfaction in admitting her connection to the Earl of Kendal. Roman was indeed her earl. He'd all but declared himself already. That woman didn't need to know any of that, though.

"You may feign innocence, but we are all well aware of the truth." Lady Atherton leaned in closer. "Everyone is talking about it. You charmed him into submission already, and a betrothal is imminent." Lady Atherton winked. "The only thing everyone is uncertain about is if you seduced him already or not." She waved her hand dismissively. "Though does that truly matter? He is yours now, and no one will be able to steal his attention from you. That is the magic of your family line, is it not?"

How dare he… "There is one thing you're correct about Lady Atherton," Athena began. "Everyone talks, and no one takes the time to wonder if what they speak about should be spoken aloud. Good day." With those words, she spun on her heels and headed out of Hyde Park. She didn't stop to wonder if her sisters followed. It was unnecessary to do so. They would never abandon her.

One thing was obvious. She couldn't stay in London. Isla had been right. They were not worth her time, and she had to protect Lord Kendal. He deserved better than to have his name attached to hers. She would beg her father to let her leave London and return to the country. Her horse was there, and that would be her solace. The season and the ton had lost all of its appeal to her.

Roman missed Athena. He had hoped to pay a call on her the day before, but his mother had decided to come to London. She'd decided it was time for him to marry and he couldn't possibly choose a wife without her assistance. He didn't have the heart to tell her he'd already met the woman he hoped would become his wife. If he had, she might have insisted on meeting her and the last thing he needed was for his mother to frighten Athena away before he had a chance to win her hand.

He liked his chance of her already agreeing, but he didn't want to assume she'd say yes. A woman deserved to be wooed and he would continue to court her. Roman whistled as he walked to the entrance of the Earl of Harwood's townhouse. He lifted the knocker on the door and rapped it twice, then waited. The door opened and a tall man with salt and pepper hair greeted him. "May I help you?"

"I'm here to call on Lady Athena," he told the man and handed him his card. "Is she receiving?"

The man stared at the card and frowned. "Please come in." Roman entered and stood inside the foyer waiting for the man to tell him where to go and wait for Athena. The man continued to frown at his card. "Give me a moment." The man didn't wait for Roman to agree. He bustled out of the room and left Roman in the foyer alone. How odd. Was he uncertain if Athena was available?

A few moments later, steps from the hallway caught his attention. A smile touched his lips, but quickly faded. He had thought it was Athena, but instead her twin headed toward him. "Lord Kendal," she greeted him. "Please come into the sitting room with me. I've ordered refreshments. You''ll have tea with us, yes?"

"Of course," he said. Roman hadn't expected to be left alone with Athena. There had to be a chaperone of some sort, but he had a bad feeling in his stomach. Why had she not come to escort him into the sitting room? What was Maeve not saying?

They entered the sitting room, and their other sister, Isla, waited inside. She sat on a settee with a book in her lap. She glanced up when they entered, and frowned. Isla stood and greeted them. "Lord Kendal," she said in a surprised tone. "How good to see you."

Where was Athena? He smiled. "I trust I am not intruding at an inopportune time."

She glanced down at her book. "Not at all." Isla set it on a table and glanced at Maeve.

"I ordered tea and biscuits sent in." She gestured toward a nearby chair. "Please have a seat, Lord Kendal."

Isla and Maeve sat on the settee and stared at him expectantly. He didn't know what to say. Roman wanted to demand they fetch Athena. She was the reason he'd come to visit. He cleared his throat. "What social engagement are you attending this evening?" He wanted to ensure he saw Athena later and hopefully dance with her again.

"We are staying in tonight," Isla said. "The last few days have been rather trying."

What could have happened? "Has it?" He lifted a brow. "I trust it hasn't been too difficult." Roman wanted to glance toward the door, but somehow refrained from doing so.

Maeve fidgeted in her seat, and Isla twisted her hands together in her lap. Neither of them met his gaze. Finally, Maeve glanced up. "I understand you have come to pay a call on Athena."

"I have," he agreed. "Is she delayed?"

"It's not that simple," Isla said, then sighed.

He was about to ask her to clarify when a maid walked in with a tea tray and set it on a nearby table. "Do you wish me to pour?" the maid asked.

"No," Isla told her. "We will take care of it. Thank you, Sarah."

The maid curtsied and then left the room. Isla turned her attention to him. "Tea, my lord?"

Isla stood and poured tea into the cups and handed one to him, then Maeve, and took her own back to the settee. He sipped the tea, but he didn't actually want it. Roman frowned and waited. Surely they would explain where Athena was now.

Maeve blew out a breath, then set her teacup down on the table. "As we were saying…" She frowned. "We know you wish to see Athena, but she's not here."

"She's not?" Why didn't they say that already? What did he fail to understand? The butler could have told him that at the door. Why did they invite him in and make him wait to impart that news?

Isla shook her head. "She has returned home. To the country."

He felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. "I don't understand." They had a good night. He'd kissed her. Roman wanted to kiss her again, and soon.

"It's hard to explain," Maeve began. "Suffice to say the ton isn't welcoming. They make us all feel…inferior, and Athena decided to end her season early."

What the bloody hell had happened? "I see…" Roman didn't quite understand, but he could guess. He had heard some of the rumors. He would have to go to Athena. There was only one solution to this dilemma. She thought it best to withdraw from society, from their budding relationship. Roman didn't accept that. He set his teacup down. "If you'll pardon me." He stood. "I must take my leave now. Thank you for your hospitality."

"You're going after her, aren't you?" Isla asked as he reached the door.

He turned and smiled. "Of course I am." There was no other answer to give her.

"Good," she said and gave him a sad smile. "At least some men are brave enough to claim love when it is freely given."

Roman sighed. His friend had made a grave error when he had set aside his own feelings. One day he'd tell the duke how much of a fool he had been, and if Thornridge was lucky, he wouldn't be too late to claim the woman that held his heart.

"Have faith," he told Isla. "One day, he might surprise you."

"It's too late for that," she said. "Go. Athena needs you."

Roman nodded and left the townhouse. He had a trip to plan for, and the love of his life to find.