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“Cohtened when she saho her visitor was “Oh, Courtney!” She ju last, I can introduce you to Elinore”
The elegant woside Aurora rose, a shted Aurora has spoken of you with such enthusiasm”
“As she has of you,” Courtney reciprocated, feeling suddenly shy Lady Stanas not at all the pluure she’d expected She was exquisite: all rose-colored silk and glittering jewels, her dark hair upswept and curled just so, her deal
“Please, dear, sit down and have some tea” Evidently, the viscountess sensed her unease, for she beckoned Courtney in, pouring a cup of tea and offering it to her along with a plate of scones “Aurora has been filling me in on the past week’s dreadful events Please accept my condolences Your loss must be very painful Not toendless questions and reliving your harrowing experience I appreciate the fact that you were kind enough to join us when I’m sure you’d much rather be abed”
“I…thank you” Courtney accepted the proffered refreshratefully to the settee Beneath Lady Stanwyk’s warmth and compassion, she could feel
her shyness wane “Actually, I’lad for the co what to do, given that I felt too drained to do , yet far too awake to lie down Tea and pleasant conversation are precisely what I need”
“Perfect,” Aurora proclaimed “Because tea and pleasant conversation are precisely what Elinore and I are indulging in” Helping herself to another scone, she sat down beside Courtney “Elinore received h, as always, to respond immediately”
“I had no idea as transpiring at Pembourne, else I would have been here sooner” The viscountess resettled herself and took up her cup, sipping her tea gracefully “I’ all this When Slayde said he’d received ranso of this nitude”
“Why would you?” Aurora turned to Courtney “We get threatening letters on a steady basis Or rather, we did,” she corrected herself, relief evident in her every word “Because of that wretched black diaone”
Courtney felt a stab of guilt, one she fir herself that Slayde’s deception had been effected with Aurora’s well-being in s”
“And I can understand why that dreadful pirate chose your father’s ship to attack,” Elinore put in, studying Courtney before glancing briefly at Aurora “There is a striking resemblance between the two of you A cursory one, to be sure But ht at sea The poor man must have been beside himself No wonder he was so irate e arrived home from London”
“Speaking of London…” Aurora leaned forward “That brings us to the reason for my missive Elinore, I awaited Courtney’s arrival to address the subject, because we have an important question to ask you—one that affects Courtney as much, if not more, than it does ht on whoever, if anyone, orking with this Ar How can I help you?”
Aurora sighed “At the risk of bringing up a sore point, it concerns my trip to London—the one you and I just made”
“What about it?”
“During the fortnight erethe the possibility that Iin Town?”