Chapter Thirty

CHAPTER THIRTY

Four Days Later, The Grundys’ Drawing Room

“ H e asked me to dance three times. He brought me two glasses of champagne. And then, when we arrived home, he inquired as to what I wanted to be served for breakfast !”

Gemma imparted all of this while sitting on the burgundy settee in Cecily’s drawing room. Gemma was wearing a light-yellow gown. Cecily was wearing a sky-blue one. And both of them were eating far too many scones while drinking far too much tea.

“That all sounds quite lovely,” Cecily said from her perch on the matching settee across from Gemma’s.

“It all sounds quite suspicious ,” Gemma insisted. “Last night he asked me if I wanted to go riding in the park today.”

Cecily took a sip from her teacup. “What do you mean? You love to go riding in the park.”

“I know I do, but he doesn’t know that I do. And I don’t think for one moment the man wants to ride in the park with me.”

Cecily frowned. “Why wouldn’t he?”

Gemma shook her head. “That’s just it, Cecily. You’re thinking of this from your perspective. You would like to ride in the park with me. But he doesn’t like me and thinks I’m a cheating, lying ne'er-do-well.”

“But you aren’t a cheating, lying ne'er-do-well,” Cecily pointed out loyally.

“Of course, I’m not, but he thinks I am. Which is my entire point. I told him I wanted a divorce, and now he’s being nice to me. He clearly wants something.”

“Perhaps he wants to be nice to you,” Cecily offered.

“Whenever we dance, he smiles at me. He asks me how my day was,” Gemma muttered under her breath.

“And?”

Gemma’s arms were tightly crossed over her chest. “And it’s obvious that he’s planning something.”

Cecily frowned. “But didn’t you say that’s how Griffin treats Meredith?”

“That’s precisely how Griffin treats Meredith, but Griffin loves Meredith. Grovemont doesn’t love me. He couldn’t wait to get away from me, and he hasn’t been back a full fortnight.”

Cecily blinked and tilted her head to the side. “How long does it take to fall in love?”

Gemma shook her head. “I have no idea, but I’m certain one doesn’t fall in love with someone one doesn’t even like .”

Cecily bit her lip. “I’m not sure that’s true, Gemma. Remember Much Ado About Nothing .”

“Oh, Cecily, Shakespeare won’t help this situation.” Gemma sighed and uncrossed her arms long enough to take another bite from her scone.

Cecily nodded. “Very well. What do you think he’s up to then?”

Gemma’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I don’t know. But I intend to find out. Of course, I’ve considered that it may be my change in appearance.”

“You are extraordinarily beautiful now,” Cecily agreed.

“But I just know that’s not it,” Gemma continued. “First, he hasn’t even mentioned my appearance.”

“He’d have to be blind not to have noticed,” Cecily pointed out.

Gemma shook her head and bit at the end of her thumbnail. “It’s something else. I know it. He’s worried about his reputation being ruined. He could have his pick of beautiful women to take as a mistress. We both know it.”

The door to the drawing room opened just then, and the Grundy’s manservant stepped into the room. Mr. Hampton was a jack of all trades at Cecily’s house. He served as butler, footman, and groom since the Grundys could no longer afford many servants. Cecily was the only member of the household who treated him with kindness. “Miss Cecily,” Mr. Hampton said, “you have another visitor.”

“Another visitor?” Cecily sat up straight and nearly dropped her scone. She blinked at Gemma. “No one visits me but you. Not after Mama sent all the suitors away.”

“Who is it, Mr. Hampton?” Gemma asked.

The man cleared his throat nervously and glanced away. “Lady Clare Handleton, Miss. If your mother was home, she would not want?—”

“Show her in immediately,” Gemma demanded, not allowing the man to finish his unwelcome statement.

At Cecily’s nod, Mr. Hampton left to do as he was told.

“Oh, can you believe it? She’s come to visit,” Gemma said, clapping her hands together with glee. “The most I expected was a letter.”

“And to think Hampton nearly didn’t allow her past the door,” Cecily said, shaking her head. “I suppose that’s one example of what scandal will do to you, Gemma.”

When the door to the drawing room opened next, Lady Clare came striding into the room. She was wearing a gorgeous sapphire-blue gown that hugged her curves and set off her pretty blond hair and dark eyes to perfection. Gemma had only met Lady Clare a handful of times, but each time she’d been impressed with the lady’s forthright demeanor and penchant for doing and saying exactly what she wished.

“My dears,” Lady Clare said as she strode over to the sideboard and began pouring herself a glass of brandy. “I’m so glad to have found you together. I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion, but I felt strongly that I have far more to impart than could be aptly done in a letter. Also, I’m always on the hunt for a reason to escape my mother. I did wait for your mother and awful sisters to leave, Cecily. I expect they’ll be back soon, so I’d better talk quickly.”

Gemma and Cecily could not have been more delighted. They waited with bated breath for Lady Clare to take a seat. She kicked up one leg, revealing an indecent amount of stocking, and boldly sipped her brandy as she spoke. “So, you want to know how it feels to be the subject of a scandal?”

Gemma nodded, staring at the older woman with wide eyes. Clare was Meredith’s age, which made her nine and twenty. “Yes, and I hope you’ll do as I asked in my letter and not share my intention to divorce with Meredith.”

“The first lesson to learn about ladies who’ve been through scandals,” Clare replied, “is that they don’t ever share other people’s secrets.”

“Stands to reason,” Cecily breathed.

“I’d like you to be quite candid, if you please,” Gemma urged. “A divorce is certain to cause as big a scandal if not bigger than…” She bit her lip. Oh, she shouldn’t have started that sentence.

“Than what happened to me?” Clare finished for her, laughing.

“I beg your pardon,” Gemma murmured.

Lady Clare gave them both a bright smile. “The second lesson to learn about ladies who’ve been through scandals is that there’s nothing you can say behind our backs that surprises us. We’re quite forthright. It’s not as if we think our scandal is a secret. It’s quite the opposite. Out there for all to see and discuss. Quite freeing in a way.”

“It seems to me that being free is the best part of being attached to a scandal,” Gemma pointed out.

“There are good parts,” Lady Clare agreed. “And there are bad. Quite bad.”

More than an hour flew by as Clare regaled them with stories of how she’d been ostracized, diminished, ignored, un-invited, and essentially treated with a complete lack of manners for the last decade. None of it was news to Gemma, but hearing some of her tales did make Gemma gulp.

“But…but won’t your true friends, your good, real friends, remain by your side even after a scandal? Like Meredith did for you?” Gemma prompted. She had to hear another bit of good news after hearing all the bad. The bad had been quite discouraging.

“I’ll stay by your side, Gemma,” Cecily promised, grasping Gemma’s hand and squeezing it. “No matter what Mama says.”

“I know you will, Cecily,” Gemma replied, returning her friend’s pat.

They both waited for Lady Clare’s answer.

“It’s true,” the older woman said. “Your real friends will remain steadfast.”

Gemma breathed a sigh of relief.

“But you must ask yourself,” Lady Clare continued, arching a brow. “Are you prepared to find out how few of them there truly are?”