Page 95 of The Viscount Who Vexed Me

The door to her room suddenly swung open and Peter fell through her door, landing on one hand and knee before popping up.

“Peter! Does no one in this family think to knock?”

“You’ve a caller.”

Her heart skipped. “I do?” She stood up and immediately regretted having donned her plain gray gown. Who could it be? No one had called for her since Rupert. It wasn’t Teo, was it?No.He would never come here. Or rather, she prayed to high heaven he never would.

“It’s a lady.”

Alady. She instantly relaxed. “Young or old?”

“What do you mean?” Peter asked. “They’re all old.”

He headed for a small desk where she kept her journal. Hattie moved fast and reached it before he did. “Get out,” she said, snatching it out of his reach.

“What? Why is it a secret?”

“Out, Peter!”

With a huff, her brother went out. Hattie waited until she was sure he was gone, then hid her journal from prying eyes. And her money. She didn’t trust anyone in this house. Not even the cats.

She headed downstairs, and as she maneuvered through the hall, she could hear voices coming from the drawing room. As she got closer, she heard her father laugh in the snide way that he had. Her parents were “entertaining” whoever had come to call. She stepped around a dress form and over a tea service and walked into the room. Lady Aleksander—Lila—was seated on the settee. There was a cat in her lap and one next to her. She looked instantly relieved when she saw Hattie.

“Good morning, Miss Woodchurch! I hope you don’t mind my unexpected call.”

Hattie minded very much. She would rather die than have anyone see the chaos in which she lived. Not to mention Peter and Perry were there, playing a card game that had them flicking the cards against the wall. She could perish here and now from embarrassment. “Of course not,” she said. “Welcome.”

“We were just asking the lady why she called,” her father said.

“Papa!”Please, Jesus, take me.

“Why not? No one comes calling for you, lassie. What’s it all about?”

Lila lifted the cat from her lap and dropped it to the floor. “I have called because Hattie and I have become friends. It’s a lovely day and I hoped she would walk with me.”

“It’s raining!” Hattie’s mother cried. “Walk where in this rain? Why is everyone alwayswalking?”

Hattie opened her mouth to respond, but the hour struck and the grandfather clocks around the house began to chime in a terrible cacophony. Lila’s eyes widened with shock. And just as the chiming stopped, they heard a door open and slam, followed by the sound of someone striding down the hall.

Daniel entered the room, pushed a cat out of the way with his boot, and tossed his hat on a console table before looking at anyone else in the room. He started at the sight of Lila.

“Hallo, who is this?”

“Daniel, this is Lady Aleksander. Madam, may I present my brother, Mr. Daniel Woodchurch.”

Lila was staring at him, her eyes narrowed slightly as if she was trying to see him more clearly. “Mr. Woodchurch.”

Daniel at least bowed. “Lady Aleksander,” he said. “Have we met? You look familiar.”

Lila smiled. “No, I don’t think so.”

“I’m certain I’ve seen you,” Daniel said.

“Be that as it may, we’re going out,” Hattie said, and gestured for Lila to come. Lila didn’t need to be asked twice. She stepped over a cat as she insisted it was her pleasure to make the acquaintance of Hattie’s parents and brothers and wished them well.

Hattie hastily donned a cloak and found an umbrella. Lila already had hers in hand, and they burst outside together.

Once they were on the street, under their umbrellas, Hattie looked back at her sad family home. “I am so sorry for it.”