he said. “You understand, don’t you, that a complete accounting of events is in order.”
“An accounting? But I have told you everything.”
“You have told me what you know. At the risk of insulting you, that is hardly everything. It would be shortsighted of me to accept your perspective alone. It is but one aspect of the whole.” He paused. “Do you agree?”
Emma found it difficult to dismiss the notion that he could see through her veil. His gaze was frank, expectant, and above all, piercing. “I am engaging you for your expertise in these matters, Mr. Gardner. It would be foolish of me to instruct you to act in opposition to what you believe must be done.”
Restell was of a mind to tell her it would be foolish of her to instruct him in any matter, but in the interest of arriving at his appointment on time, he kept this to himself. “Very good. I will see you out.”
Emma stood and waited for Restell to step aside before she retrieved her reticule. Clutching it in front of her, she thanked him for his invaluable time without any hint of sarcasm.
Restell stood just inside the entrance to the town house while Hobbes helped Emmalyn into the carriage. He noticed she did not cast a look in his direction once she was aboard. Her determination to act as if nothing extraordinary had taken place amused him, and for that reason alone he would have accepted her case with or without the promise of a favor to be returned.
Still, it was always better to have the favor.
“I trust you found something to divert you while you waited.” Lady Gardner swept into the salon where Restell had been left to cool his heels in anticipation of her arrival.
Restell turned away from the painting he had been studying and regarded his stepmother with equal parts affection and wariness. “You are looking in fine health this afternoon. Solomon informed me you had gone to the park. I imagine you found your stroll agreeable.”
“Let us say that I found it more enlightening than agreeable,” she said, offering her right cheek, then her left, for his kiss. “But we will come to that.”
Restell was all for coming to it now, but apparently Lady Gardner wanted to fit the noose snugly before she released the trapdoor. He had an urge to loosen the folds of his neckcloth.
“Have you been offered refreshment?” she asked.
“Yes.” The condemned’s last meal. “I declined.”
Lady Gardner removed her pelisse and bonnet and held them out to the butler who had followed her into the room. “I will have tea, Solomon, and some of those iced cakes that Mrs. Trussle made this morning. Restell? Are you quite certain you will not join me?”
“Thank you, but I am not hungry.”
“What has that to do with anything? I am attempting to foster civility.” She threw up her hands as though she had quite given up on imparting good manners, then pivoted on her heel and addressed the butler. “Restell will have tea and cakes also, Solomon.”
Restell was careful not to catch the butler’s eye, fearful that one of them would be moved to sniggering, if not outright laughter. Lady Gardner would not appreciate either response if she believed it was at her expense. Restell doubted she could be persuaded to understand that he was the object of the jest.
As soon as Solomon vacated the salon, Lady Gardner gave her full attention once more to Restell. “Is that a new frock coat?” she asked, casting her gimlet eye on the cut of his garment. “It suits you.”
“It is new,” he said. “And thank you. I will extend your compliment to my tailor.”
“It would be better if you would introduce your father to the man. I despair that Sir Geoffrey will never find a cut that flatters his figure.”
“His figure is decidedly more round these days, Mother.”
“Is it? I confess, he seems much the same to me as the day I met him.” She paused, much struck by hearing herself say so. “Is that the nature of love, do you think?”
Restell smiled. “I suspect it is but one facet.”
“Yes, well, it is good of you to venture an opinion when you have little enough experience with it.”
“On the contrary, Mother, I find myself in love with irritating frequency.”
“Oh, no.” She shook her head with enough force to dislodge a lock of silver-threaded auburn hair. Sweeping it aside, she went on, “We will not have that argument. You cannot be in love with opera dancers and actresses.”
“Not at the same time, certainly.”
“That is not what I meant and you well know it.”
“Someone should be in love with opera dancers and actresses. I have always found them so deserving.”
“I wish you would not use that reasonable tone when you are being deliberately provoking. You know I find it confusing.”
“I’m very sorry. I shall endeavor not to excite your nerves or your gray matter.”
“You are all consideration.” Her light blue eyes narrowed slightly as she regarded Restell askance. “You are all consideration, aren’t you? I shouldn’t like to discover that you are having me on.”
“I shouldn’t like you to discover that, either. It cannot possibly bode well for me.”
Lady Gardner rolled her eyes. “You are a rascal, Restell. A dear one, to be sure, but a rascal nevertheless.” She took his hand, drew him over to the upholstered bench set a few feet from the window, and urged him to sit when she did. He obediently sat. “You cannot conceive of whom I happened upon in the park this afternoon.”
Restell remained silent, waiting, hoping that he looked appropriately interested. His neckcloth seemed extraordinarily tight again.
“Will you not at least venture a guess?” Lady Gardner asked.
“You said I could not conceive it.”
“Well, certainly you cannot, especially if you do not make the attempt.”
Restell chose not to educate his stepmother as to the accepted definitions of “cannot” and “conceive.” He offered a guess instead. “Lady Armitage.”
“No. Oh, heaven’s no. Do you take no notice of what goes on around you, Restell? She has been dead these last three months.”
“Then she is unlikely to enjoy a turn in the park.”
Lady Gardner was saved the effort of a rejoinder by Solomon’s arrival. She bade him place the service on the table in front of her and sent him out, then she poured tea for herself and Restell. Handing him his cup, she said, “It was Lady Rivendale. She is just arrived from the country.”
“She is well?”
“Very well. She spent a fortnight with her godson and his wife at Granville Hall and another fortnight with Ferrin and Cybelline at Fairfield.”
Restell
