A Sisterly Regard by Judith B. Glad

create a scene, nor yet
to allow anyone to see how distressed I am. You must realize that it was
not how long you were alone with Lord Everingham, but the fact that his
mother publicly called attention to your absence together that will cause
gossip."
    "She had no right--"
    "Perhaps not, but as I warned you earlier, she is a force in the ton . Her approval could have been of great benefit to you, and
now..." Her mama chewed her lip. "Well, we can only hope for the
best."
    "I did nothing untoward, I promise," she whispered, near to
tears. "Please do not tell Papa."
    "I must, for it would never do for him to hear of it as gossip. I
shall also tell him that you drank champagne. He will be most disappointed
in your behavior."
    Chloe hung her head. Her mother gave her arm a small
shake.
    "Chloe, you must not look so. After Lady Everingham's loud
comments, you must not act as if I had reprimanded you. It is only by
behaving as if you had done nothing shameful that you might be able to
avoid gossip about your actions this afternoon. Now smile."
    Chloe smiled until her cheeks ached.
    * * * *
    The evening following his attendance at the opera, Wilderlake
dropped in to Watier's, more for lack of anything else to do than any
interest in cards. He rarely gambled, knowing all too well from his father's
example where gaming could lead. He was restless, aware of a curious
sense of something being amiss but reluctant to recognize it. For several
days now, his mind had often held an image of immense brown eyes
surrounded by short, thick lashes and a dimpled chin set with disapproval.
He told himself that it was merely curiosity, but himself was not entirely
convinced.
    The club's library was practically empty. Most of those present
were of an older generation and not well known to him. He made his
bows to several, then caught sight of a familiar face in a corner. Wanting
conversation, he walked that way.
    "Hello, Reggie, am I interrupting your nap?"
    The tall dandy opened his eyes and answered. "Not at all,
Herne. Or should I call you Wilderlake, now you've the title? Haven't
seen you for an age. I was drowsing out of boredom. Sit down."
    "Thank you. I was suffering from the same affliction. Perhaps we
can together stave it off." He pulled a comfortable chair into the corner
and sprawled into it. "I see you haven't changed your style, Reggie. Still
playing the fop."
    "Of course. It suits me." He waved a lacy handkerchief under his
nose. "But tell me, how is it with you? I can't remember the last time you
came to Town."
    "Ten years ago, shortly after I came down from Oxford. You
weren't about that Season. To tell the truth, if the little I've seen is an
example of how things haven't changed, I would wait another ten to
return, if it weren't for my mother." A waiter came to take his order for
brandy. Wilderlake relaxed, truly comfortable for the first time since he
had come to London.
    "You refer to the hopeful mamas and their darling daughters, I
suppose. Gets a bit daunting, does it not?"
    "It does, indeed. One would think that the stories of my father's
excesses would serve to depress the hopes of the predatory mamas, but
they have not."
    Farwell laughed. "You are new blood. Fair game. Your father's
sins occurred so many years ago that many of the ton have
probably forgotten him. Gossip only lasts as long as the next
scandal."
    He raised a delicate quizzing glass and peered through it. "I see
you follow the Beau's lead in style. How dull it is, all those somber colors
and so little jewelry."
    "By God, Reggie, you do that well. But I cannot believe that
you've changed so--" A quick shake of his friend's head made him bite off
the rest of his words. "Interesting waistcoat," he said, to cover the
moment of silence. "I don't believe I've seen that particular combination of
colors before."
    "Puce and apricot? Lovely isn't it? I had it specially woven, from
my own design."
    "It's...interesting." Wilderlake wondered if his leg was being
pulled or if