Regency 03 - Deception by Jaimey Grant Page A

comme il faut , gentlemen? Have I furthered the damage to
my reputation?”
    “ Provided no one saw you, your
reputation should be at the same level it has been since
Derringer’s comment,” Adam returned dryly.
    “ No one saw us,” Aurora assured
them. “Who is she?” She twisted her hands in her lap, dreading what
they would tell her. She had so hoped for a new friend and Raven
had seemed so very pleasant, if a little odd.
    “ Do you want to know everything
about her or only the pertinent facts?” asked Adam.
    “ How well do you know her?”
Aurora asked as her brow furrowed.
    “ Better than anyone,” was Adam’s
instant response. “Except perhaps Levi. He may actually know her
better,” he added thoughtfully. “But now I am not so sure any of us
really knew her at all.”
    “ What has Lord Greville to do with
Raven Emerson?” Aurora demanded with rising indignation. “And what
was she to you? And why are you turning my happenstance
conversation with the woman into a Cheltenham Tragedy? Tell me what
you are hinting at before I lose my temper and box your
ears!”
    Lord Connor chuckled at the angry little fury that
was Aurora Glendenning. Even Adam laughed at her furious
countenance.
    The former laid a hand on her arm and begged,
“Please calm yourself, my dear. We simply wanted to be sure that
you were not one of tender sensibilities. What we tell you is not
exactly something that should be mentioned within hearing of the
gentler sex, you see.”
    Aurora turned a minatory glare on Adam Prestwich.
“You explain,” she said with deadly quiet.
    Adam’s grin disappeared. He frowned heavily. “Very
well, Miss Glendenning. That woman was an actress on Drury Lane
until a few weeks ago. She was my mistress at one time and more
recently, Levi Greville’s mistress. Her appearance in the park at
this hour was more than just happenstance, little Aurora. She was
seeking you out because of your relationship with Levi.”
    “ What relationship? Lord Greville
is nothing to me,” she lied, more than a little shocked by what
she’d just learned. “And why should his mistress seek me out even
if there was any truth behind the rumors?”
    “ For one thing,” Northwicke
inserted, “she is no longer his mistress. He dropped her shortly
after meeting you. Second, we don’t think she took the separation
well. She quit acting the day after Levi dropped her. He is worried
about her, but she refuses to see him. The most troubling thing is
she refuses to see Bri as well. She’s never done that
before.”
    Aurora looked at Adam again. “Why would your wife
wish to see the woman who was once your mistress?” she asked with a
searching look. She tried to ignore the warm little glow that
started when Connor told her of Levi’s dropping his mistress right
after meeting her, Aurora.
    “ They are friends,” Adam replied
dryly.
    “ Oh.”
    “ Yes, well, that is neither here
nor there,” said Northwicke. “If you want to befriend Raven, that
is your decision, my dear. Just be careful.” He stood as Garrett
returned with Ellie, Rhiannon and the maid trailing
behind.
    Adam rose as well and offered his arm to Aurora.
“May we escort you home?” he asked gently.
    Aurora nodded and placed her hand on Sir Adam’s arm.
Lord Connor fell into step with little Rhiannon and the maid.
Garrett continued as escort for Miss Ellison.
    Adam allowed the rest of the party to get ahead of
them. “I am sorry to have distressed you, Miss Glendenning.”
    “ Think nothing of it, sir,” Aurora
responded automatically. “I needed to know. And please call me
Rory.”
    “ That would not be acceptable, you
know. Can your reputation withstand it?”
    Aurora shrugged. “It matters little at this point, I
think. Lord Derringer’s actions probably ruined my chances for
marriage.”
    A moment passed in which Adam said nothing, having
nothing to say that would refute the truth in her belief. “And will
you continue to see Raven Emerson,