Page 16 of The Wallflower Takes All

Despite herself, Poppy nearly smiled. That was Mama’s gift and curse. She made exasperation feel like a form of entertainment. Even now, with the ledgers lying like so many coffins in the study and Mr. Ashby’s unsparing truth still ringing in Poppy’s ears, Lady Viva managed to make life appear to be nothing but silk, laughter, and another glass of champagne just out of reach.

Mr. Ashby, however, had not looked entertained.

He had looked proper.

No, more than proper. Reserved. Controlled. The sort of man who seemed to keep his thoughts ordered in neat rows and expected the world to do the same.

Which made it all the more mortifying that Mama had called him darling within three minutes of his arrival.

And worse, Mr. Ashby had noticed everything.

Not only the champagne and the odd guests and Freddie’s egg-smeared mouth.

He had noticed her.

Which was far more disarming.

“Sweetie?” Mama said.

Poppy opened her eyes. “Yes?”

“You are standing there with that letter in your hand looking personally insulted by its contents.”

Poppy looked down.

The snuff-scented letter had slipped open in her fingers. She had not meant to read it. Truly, she had not. It was addressed to Lady Viva Montfort in a stiff, slanted hand Poppy did not recognize.

The first line made her stomach tighten.

My dear Lady Montague,

Having now taken the liberty of inspecting Brambleberry Court, I must confess myself eager to set the place to rights after what appears to have been a prolonged period of neglect?—

* * *

Poppy’s gaze stopped there. She blinked.

Neglect?

She read the words again, half certain she had mistaken them.

She had not.

“Mama,” she said carefully, “who is this from?”

Lady Viva cracked one eye open. “Which?”

“This letter.”

“Does it smell of snuff?”

“Yes.”

“Then it is from Algernon, darling.”

Poppy’s fingers went cold. “Algernon Montfort?”

“The very same.” Mama closed her eye again. “Dreadful waistcoats. Dreadful opinions. A man who dresses like an over-trimmed curtain and has the mental capacity of a hat stand.”