One look at her was enough to assure Lethbridge that she knew just what had happened at Ranelagh. The grey eyes held a gleam of amusement. It annoyed him but he would not let that appear.
“Alas, the jealous husband came off with the honours!” he said.
“He w-was clever, wasn’t he?” Horatia agreed.
“But inspired!” Lethbridge said. “My damp fate was particularly apt. Make him my compliments, I beg of you. I was certainly caught napping.”
She thought that he was taking his humiliating defeat very well, and replied a little more warmly: “We were b-both caught napping, and p-perhaps it was as well, sir.”
“I blame myself,” he said meditatively. “Yet I don’t know how I could have guessed... If I had but been aware of Caroline Massey’s presence I might have been more on my guard.”
The arrow struck home as he knew it would. Horatia sat up very straight. “Lady Massey?”
“Oh, did you not see her! No, I suppose not. It seems that she and Rule laid their heads together to plan our undoing. We must admit they succeeded admirably.”
“It’s n-not t-true!” Horatia stammered.
“But—” He broke off artistically, and bowed. “Why, of course not, ma’am!”