Page 83 of A Devious Secret

Gemma pressed her lips together, then replied, “No, we just spoke on polite conversational topics.” She wasn’t ready to confide in her aunt yet.

It looked as if her aunt wanted to say more on the subject but was interrupted by Lord and Lady Haddington stepping into the room.

Evie approached Aunt Edith and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “It is good to see you looking so well.”

Her aunt smiled. “I was pleased when Dinah informed me that she invited you and Reginald to dine with us this evening.”

Evie shifted her gaze towards Gemma. “Good evening, Gemma,” she greeted. “I do not believe my husband has had the pleasure of meeting you.”

“I have not.” The tall, dark-haired lord bowed. “My wife has spoken very highly of you, Lady Hawkinge.”

“You have a kind wife,” she replied.

Lord Haddington exchanged a look with his wife that was filled with love. “That I do,” he said. “I hope one day that I will be worthy of her.”

“Do you know why we were summoned here?” Evie asked.

“Summoned, dear?” Aunt Edith asked in a confused tone.

Evie smiled. “We were told in no uncertain terms that we were to join Dinah and Nathaniel for dinner this evening.”

Aunt Edith’s lips twitched. “I have a fairly good idea of what it is about, but I do not want to spoil the surprise.”

“I assumed it was about Dinah increasing,” Evie said plainly.

With a glance at the door, Aunt Edith lowered her voice. “The doctor did come to call today, and he was up with Dinah for quite some time.”

“Not Nathaniel?” Evie asked.

Aunt Edith waved her hand in front of her. “You know how Nathaniel is,” she said. “He disappears at all hours of the day, but he did go straight up to see Dinah when he arrived home.”

“I do not know why it took Nathaniel so long to summon the doctor,” Evie remarked. “It was evident that Dinah has been increasing for some time now.”

Marielle and Hugh stepped into the room and the room went quiet.

“Dare I ask what was being discussed before we entered the room?” Marielle asked.

Aunt Edith took a step closer to Marielle and replied, “We were discussing Dinah’s delicate condition.”

Marielle laughed. “I am hoping that they will use this dinner party to announce what we have all already suspected for so long.”

“That is the hope,” Evie said. “It has been rather tedious to pretend that all is well when it has assuredly been not.”

“Why hasn’t anyone told Dinah of their suspicions?” Hugh asked with a bemused look on his face.

Aunt Edith brought a hand to her chest. “We couldn’t take away the surprise of them discovering it on their own.”

“That sounds illogical,” Hugh remarked.

Aunt Edith turned towards Evie and asked, “Will Mrs. Carter be joining us this evening?”

“I’m afraid my aunt is visiting a dear friend this evening, but she sends her greetings,” Evie replied.

“Will Mr. Wycomb be joining us?” Aunt Edith asked Marielle.

At the mention of his name, Gemma grew hopeful that he would join them. It would give her an opportunity to speak to him.

Marielle shook her head. “I’m afraid that my brother had other plans this evening.”