A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde Page B

of a crisis!” She favored him with a glance that mingled annoyance with tepid apology.
    Lord Blanchard bowed. “Not at all, not at all. In fact, let me take myself out of here so you ladies can tend to your business. You will excuse me, Jane? Lady Jersey? Mrs. Drummond-Burrell?”
    All necessary courtesies were exchanged, and as soon as the door closed, Lady Jersey dropped into the chair directly in front of Lady Blanchard. “I have sent messages to all the other patronesses. We must convene an emergency meeting at once, but I wanted to come to you personally!”
    Lady Blanchard remained standing. When she spoke, her voice was perfectly even and disinterested. “Lady Jersey, Mrs. Drummond-Burrell, I believe you know Miss Rosalind Thorne?”
    Lady Jersey turned in her seat, frowning. By the rules of strict propriety, she should have stood, but then, by the rules ofstrict propriety, she should not have sat down until introductions were completed. As if she were a servant, Rosalind dipped a curtsy to the seated lady, but she was not going to be seen as anything less than polite. If she was, it would reflect badly on her hostess.
    In return, Lady Jersey lifted the quizzing glass that hung on the chain from around her neck, and looked Rosalind up and down. Rosalind knew this sort of look. Lady Jersey wasn’t taking note of her face. The lady patroness examined Rosalind’s plain, cheap dress, her hair, which was entirely devoid of fashionable ringlets, and the simple gold necklace at her throat. By these signs, Lady Jersey added up Rosalind’s taste and level of
ton
and rendered her judgment accordingly.
    â€œMiss Thorne,” Lady Jersey drawled. “Sir Reginald Thorne’s daughter, I believe? I have perhaps heard Mrs. Holywell speak of you? A friend of her daughter’s or something? And of course, you were . . .
there
yesterday?”
    â€œI am Sir Reginald’s daughter, Lady Jersey, and yes, I was there yesterday.” Doubtlessly, Mr. Whelks had informed her of this, and all the other details. “As to what you have heard from Mrs. Holywell, I could not say.”
    â€œWell. Well. This is very good.” With a great rustling of brocade, Lady Jersey turned to their hostess again. “How clever of you, Lady Blanchard, to bring the young woman here so quickly. It is vital,
vital
that we suppress any word, any possible hint, of this terrible accident. Think of the papers! Almack’s will be under siege! There will be writers and gawkers and all sorts of vulgar persons clamoring to get inside . . . It will be impossible! So, you first, Miss Thorne.” Lady Jersey gestured impatiently for Rosalind to come stand before her, like a headmistress to a schoolgirl.
    Fortunately, at that moment, the housekeeper entered withthe coffee tray, and Lady Blanchard was able to interrupt the scene. “Ah, thank you, Mrs. Pauling. Will you please pour for us, Rosalind? You take sugar, do you not, Lady Jersey?”
    Checked, Lady Jersey waved her quizzing glass negligently. Rosalind concentrated on fixing and passing cups of coffee, and on keeping pique out of her expression.
    Lady Jersey gulped her coffee. “As I was saying, Miss Thorne. I’ve made inquiries, you should know that. Mr. Whelks says you’re a sensible and useful sort, and Lord Casselmain speaks for you.”
    Rosalind felt a fresh heat rising in her cheeks that had nothing to do with modesty. “I will have to remember to thank him.”
    â€œYou should, and of course, your association with our own Lady Blanchard speaks volumes. Despite your excellent connections, however, I’m sure you recognize that your being in the ballroom at all was a serious breach of conduct. If you were to find yourself censured by the board of patronesses, the consequences to a young person such as yourself could be most severe.”
    Merciful heavens. She’s threatening me.
And there