"Is there anything you need to do before we leave, Mr. Pagett? I keep a coach in London—there's room for you if you'd like to leave your horse here. ” Lina's voice was cool again. Odd, when she was usually so warm and flirtatious, even with those who disapproved of her.
"I prefer to ride," he said.
"Then I'll simply have to send Sir Percy on his way, change my clothes and we'll be ready. " She disappeared out the door, and they could hear her voice just beyond the door. "Percy, my love, I'm afraid I've been called out of town, but Jenkins will see that you're properly looked after. "
"I wouldn't think of interrupting your lovers’ tryst," Pagett said.
Sir Percy hobbled in, aided by one of the sturdy footmen. "Demme, afraid I twisted me ankle," he wheezed. "Just call me a carriage, love, and I'll be fine. ”
"Percy, your house is more than an hour out of town. You'll stay here. It's horribly rude like this, but I know my servants will take most excellent care of you. "
Amid much protestation and fuss Sir Percy was aided up to one of the second-floor bedrooms by three footmen and the austere Jenkins, and then Lina turned to the vicar, who was watching her out of half-closed eyes. "I'll be ready in less than an hour. "
"Isn't he a little old for you?" Pagett drawled, deliberately provocative.
Lina turned to Charlotte. "You see why I told you he's an odious human being?" she said brightly. She looked back over her shoulder. "Indeed, you need to ride your horse, Mr. Pagett. There's only room for three in the carriage and we'll need to take Meggie. I can only hope the weather will change and there'll be a nice, icy rainstorm to accompany our journey. "
"We're not likely to have ice in April, and I doubt you'd enjoy traveling by coach in that kind of weather anyway. I have one more call to make, and then I'll be ready to accompany you. "
"Another social call? At this time of night?" Lina said archly. "There are other people you treat as rudely as you do me?"
"Would you have preferred I wait until morning. Lady Whitmore?" he asked in his steady voice.
She glared at him. "Point taken. We'll be ready within the hour. If you're not here we'll go ahead without you. " She swept from the room without another word, not even looking at Charlotte.
Simon Pagett met her curious gaze with a wry smile. "She doesn't like me, I'm afraid. "
"Perhaps you might get along better if you didn't criticize her. "
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea," he said, half to himself. "By your leave, Miss Spenser. "
After he left, Charlotte found Lina rushing around her rooms, flinging clothes around as Meggie and one of the upstairs maids tried to keep up with her. "Do you need help, dearest?" she called out to Charlotte as she paused in the doorway.
"It won't take me that long," she said. "You didn't tell me that Mr. Pagett was so young. "
"Didn't I? Well, I suppose he is. Younger than he looks, apparently. But he's got the soul of a crabby,
Charlotte remembered his wry, charming smile and the odd expression in his eyes when they rested on Lina. "If you say so," she said doubtfully.
Lina already had a trunk mostly filled, with enough on her bed to fill another.
"How long are we planning to stay?" Charlotte asked. "You're packing enough for the entire season. ”
"Well, one never knows what might come up. I need to bring my new dresses, but I wouldn't want to be without some of my other clothes. I wouldn't want Mr. Pagett to think my new colors and necklines have anything to do with him. "
"Why should they?" Charlotte asked, momentarily mystified.
Lina's laugh was brittle. "Indeed, why should they? Are you packed, dearest?"
"It won't take but a moment. No, Meggie, you stay and help Lina. You know it won’t take me more than a minute or two to get what we'll need, and Sussex is not at the end of the world. We can always send back to London if we've left too much behind. "
"Of course we can," Lina declared feverishly. She came over and gave Charlotte an exuberant hug. "I'm glad we're leaving, aren't you? You don't want to risk running into Adrian again, and I'm dreadfully, dreadfully tired of town right now. The countryside will be perfect. "
Charlotte looked at her askance. "But Lord Montague. . . " she said doubtfully.
"He's not going to die, Charlotte. I refuse to let such a dreadful thing happen. He's got years left, I've been assured of that. "
"Who assured you?" she asked, remembering Lord Montague's pale, frail appearance. "A doctor?"