Page 41 of Lady Waldrey’s Gardening Almanac for Cultivating Scandal

“Oh no,” she whispered into the towel. “Oh no. I’ve embarrassed myself beyond repair.”

“I assure you, it was completely fine,” her friend was quick to soothe. “He was leaving as I returned, and we spoke briefly. He was smiling—didn’t seem shocked or offended in the least.”

“Just because men have a higher tolerance for licentious behavior doesn’t mean it hasn’t altered his opinion of me. I am a lady.” She punctuated this statement with an unexpected, uncomely burp.

“More tea?” Vera offered.

“Please.” Candace thrust the towel back over her face and resumed her slumped position.

Vera set the full teacup upon the table before them with a clink. “I’m sure he’s all but forgotten it by now. You know how these important gentlemen are—always something stealing their attention away. Why, at home, my father retreats to his study for the majority of each and every day.”

Candace privately thought that “retreat” was an apt description for what Lord Ashbury was doing. In the face of being married to a lace-clad tyrant like Lady Ashbury, Candace would have done much the same.

“What if he writes Percy? What if he tells someone?”

“If you’re going to invent worries, at least have the self-respect to make them somewhat logical. Canterbury isn’t going to tell anyone. And as for your brother—whose gin do you think that was?”

“I suppose you’re right. Percy is always encouraging me to indulge more. If he returns from his honeymoon to find me a debauched shell of a human, he’ll cheer before having Hortense toss me into the creek for a bath.”

Vera smiled. “There’s no one I’ve met who is less in danger of becoming a ‘debauched shell’ than you. Engaged to one, sure, but heading that direction yourself?”

Candace moaned.

Vera’s nose wrinkled. “Is it too early to make light of the situation? Perhaps it is; my apologies.”

“It’s not the joke. It’s the gin.”

She smiled. “I see this as a great improvement in your situation, then. If the gin is the biggest problem you have, that’s a success in itself, for the effects will wear off by tomorrow. If only every problem could fade so quickly.”

Something in her tone had Candace lifting her head and peeking from beneath her damp towel once more. “Is something the matter?”

“Nothing.”

But the reply was too quick, too sharp, to be anything but a pointed lie.

“Vera, you are my closest friend. I certainly hope you feel you can confide in me.”

“Of course.” Vera nibbled her lip, staring at the low fire in the grate.

Candace waited, instinctively feeling that her friend teetered at the edge of a decision, and one errant word from Candace could have Vera landing on the side of silence and denial.

But just as Vera opened her mouth to speak, the door opened and Hortense strode in, another bundle of eucalyptus in her hands. Vera clamped her mouth shut; Candace sighed.

“Feeling any better, my lady?” Hortense asked.

“A little.” She leaned forward and retrieved the lukewarm tea from the table.

“Well enough to eat? I’ll have Mrs. Davis prepare some sandwiches.”

Candace winced as Hortense bustled out without waiting for a reply. “I cannot believe James was here to witness my indiscretion yesterday. What he must think of me...”

“I doubt that one afternoon’s mistake is enough to dislodge his firm good opinion of you.”

“It isn’t just one afternoon. My life lately has been a string of knots, all tied by my own hand.”

“You need something to do, something to distract you.”

“Now you sound just like James.”