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“Exactly! Who in her right mind would want a madman?”

“It’s in his kiss,” Hyacinth whispered to herself

“Enh?” Lady Danbury screeched “I can’t hear you”

“It’s nothing,” Hyacinth said quickly, giving her head a little shake as she forced her attention back to the countess “I was ”

“Pondering the intellectual dogmas laid out by Mother Butterworth?”

“Of course not” She coughed “Shall we read some more?”

“We’d better,” Lady D grumbled “The sooner we finish this one, the sooner we can move on to another”

“We don’t need to finish this one,” Hyacinth said, although if they didn’t, she was going to have to sneak it home and finish it herself

“Don’t be silly We can’t not finish it I paid good money for that nonsense And besides”—Lady D looked as sheepish as she was able when she said this, which, admittedly, wasn’t very sheepish—“I wish to kno it ends”

Hyacinth smiled at her It was as close to an expression of softheartedness as Lady Danbury was likely to display, and Hyacinth rather thought it should be encouraged “Very well,” she said “If you will allow ain…”

“Lady Danbury,” came the deep, even voice of the butler, who had entered the drawing room on silent feet, “Mr St Clair would like an audience”

“And he’s asking for it?” Lady D inquired “He usually just barges right in”

The butler lifted an eyebrow, more expression than Hyacinth had ever seen on a butler’s face “He has requested an audience with Miss Bridgerton,” he said

“Me?” Hyacinth squeaked

Lady Danbury’s jaw dropped “Hyacinth!” she spluttered “Inroom?”