A Poisoned Season Read Online Free PDF Page A

Frideswide would never forgive you. She’s been trying to catch Jeremy for her daughter almost since the girl was born.”
    “And what does the daughter think?”
    “I’ve not the slightest idea.”
    “She’s awfully young. It won’t harm her to wait another Season. Will you introduce me?”

    “I suppose so. Were they coming this way?”
    “They’re upstairs looking at mummies.” Margaret looked at me expectantly.
    “Are you suggesting that you want me to rush over there and nonchalantly introduce you to the Duke of Bainbridge? Won’t it look a bit obvious?” I turned back to my sketch. “No one comes to the museum without visiting the Elgin Room. Be patient, Margaret, and your duke will come to you.”
    I was right. Not half an hour passed before Jeremy and his party, which had expanded to include Lady Elinor and Isabelle, appeared. The ladies were dressed with such violent elegance that I almost regretted having chosen to abandon the tight lacing of corsets. To stave off the feeling, I took a breath far deeper than any of them could hope to draw and smiled broadly, giving my hand to the duke. Greetings were exchanged and introductions made, following which there was little conversation of substance. Lady Elinor complimented my drawing, and I her pin, a striking bird of paradise fashioned out of gold, its feathers covered with sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. Margaret was politeness itself, eager to impress Jeremy, who clearly felt no discomfort at finding himself the only gentleman in such a large group of ladies. The younger members of the party remained silent, posed prettily behind their mothers, until Lettice stepped towards me, squinting as she looked at the sculptures in front of us.
    “Where’s the baby?” she asked. “The sign says this shows the birth of Athena.”
    “There is no baby,” I said, smiling. “Athena sprang fully grown from Zeus’s head.”
    “Really?” She looked at me, then at Isabelle. “I don’t know the story.”
    “Athena’s mother was Metis, Zeus’s first wife—”
    “Yes, thank you, Lady Ashton.” Lady Frideswide took Lettice’sarm and steered her back to Isabelle. I was stunned by her rudeness and decided there was no reason now for me not to act boldly on Margaret’s behalf.
    “Have you plans for luncheon, Your Grace?” I asked, turning to Jeremy.
    “Really, Lady Ashton, ” he replied, stressing each syllable of my name. “There’s no need for such formality. We’ve known each other since we were babies. I’m lunching at my club.”
    “What a disappointment,” I said. “I should so like to visit with you.” Lady Frideswide flashed a look of disbelief. “Leave your club for tomorrow and join Miss Seward and me today.”
    “Is there a man in Britain able to resist you, Lady Ashton? What time do you want me?” Jeremy’s acceptance of this invitation would be viewed as a social coup. Luncheon was typically a ladies’ meal; gentlemen preferred their clubs. My mother would certainly pay me a visit the moment she heard of this. I turned to Margaret as the duke and ladies left us.
    “You are going to be forever indebted to me for this.”
    “Oh, he’s perfectly agreeable. You didn’t have to work on him at all. I love him already.”
    “The gossips will say that I’ve set my cap for the Duke of Bainbridge.”
    “Not once he turns his attentions to me.”
    “How, precisely, do you plan to manage that? Are you going to speak to him directly about what you want?”
    “I was hoping you could broker it for me, Emily. Then I truly will be forever indebted to you.”
     
    M argaret excused herself soon after we had retired to the sitting room following the luncheon. Jeremy squirmed uncomfortably,clearly surprised at having been left alone with me.
    “Have you contrived this meeting, Em?” he asked, addressing me as he had since he was five years old. “What’s going on?”
    “Don’t worry, Jeremy, you’re quite safe from me. I’ve no