Page 66 of The Marriage Method

Nell’s heartbeat quickened. It was the same date mentioned in Mr. Cowgill’s notebook.

“It’s a shooting party more than a house party,” Lady Belwood said. “Country parties during the first weeks of September generally are.”

“Will you be going?” Effie asked.

“I will,” Lady Belwood said. “I confess, I am not well acquainted with the new baron. His family rarely emerges from Hertfordshire and they keep no house in town. However, my husband, Sir Walter, was a longtime correspondent of Lord Amstead’s late father. They shared a passion for genealogy through the post.” She looked to Nell. “My husband is an invalid, Mrs. Quincey, with a formidable ancestry. He’s presently working on a lengthy family history.”

Effie’s eyes lit with interest. “Sir Walter is attending the house party with you?”

“Certainly not,” Lady Belwood said. “His health won’t allow the journey. He’s asked me to attend in his place. Which is convenient for Lord Amstead. I understand his party is short of ladies, many of his gentlemen friends being bachelors.”

Nell seized on the fact. “Is that so? You encourage me to ask a favor of you, my lady.”

Lady Belwood regarded Nell down the length of her perfectly sculpted nose. “You presume a good deal on so brief an acquaintance, ma’am.”

“It’s in a good cause, I assure you,” Nell said.

She knew full well that this way lay danger. But she couldn’t think of that now. And she couldn’t think about whether or not Miles would approve. The house party was but a week away. Time was too precious to let such an opportunity pass.

“Would it be within your power to secure an invitation to the party for me?” she asked Lady Belwood. “Seeing as how Lord Amstead is short of ladies, my presence is sure to be welcome.”

Lady Belwood was incredulous. “Do you know his lordship?”

“Not yet,” Nell said. “Perchance you can provide an introduction?”

Her ladyship turned a frosty look on Effie. “I cannot begin to imagine why you and your friend would think that I should ever allow myself to be imposed upon—”

“Mrs. Quincey is one of my sisters from Miss Corvus’s Academy,” Effie interrupted. “Did I not mention it?”

The color drained out of Lady Belwood’s face. Her gaze jerked to Nell’s. “You?”

Nell gave her an apologetic smile. “Until yesterday, I had the honor of being deputy headmistress.”

“A teacher? That’s all?” Lady Belwood’s rigid features relaxed a fraction, as though the information was some little relief to her. “And now you’re married to a newspaperman?”

“He will, of course, be accompanying me to the house party,” Nell said.

“Will he indeed,” Lady Belwood replied acidly. “And just how will that help the balance of ladies to gentlemen?”

“It may not,” Nell conceded. “But I will still be there. And my husband’s presence is essential to me. Though I’d prefer we leave any mention of his occupation out of it.”

The villains who had murdered Mr. Cowgill had sent his tongue to the editor of the Courant. Nell didn’t intend to risk anyone at the house party learning that that gentleman was Miles. Not if she could help it.

“You might simply say that Mr. and Mrs. Quincey are family friends,” Effie suggested helpfully. “That you require Mrs. Quincey’s companionship in order to attend. Ladies are left alone all day during shooting parties, are they not? You wouldn’t wish to be bored.”

Lady Belwood’s bosom swelled with indignation. She surged up from her chair. “Will the demands of this woman never cease?”

“Miss Corvus,” Effie whispered to Nell in explanation as the two of them rose from the settee.

Nell understood. She stepped forward to Lady Belwood, setting a gentle hand on her silk-clad arm. “Not a demand,” she said. “A request. And it’s me making it, not Miss Corvus.”

Lady Belwood glared at her. “The last time I sponsored one of your number, I was made party to the ruination of a good and decent gentleman.”

Effie gave an indelicate snort. “Lord Compton was neither good nor decent.”

“And now I must trust that you won’t embroil me in some further scandal?” Lady Belwood lifted her chin. “If I do this, I must have your word that it will be an end to whatever imagined debt I owe that woman.”

“It’s not within my power to discharge your debt to Miss Corvus,” Effie told her.