Touch Me

Cecily's mouth thinned. "That is unlikely."

Thea asked, "Why? Are you planning to leave?"

She caught Irisa's gaze. Her sister looked pained and her cheeks were stained with a blush.

"I thought you were in Town for the Season," she said

to Irisa.

She had planned on getting to know her more thoroughly.

"I am certain we do not frequent the same entertainments as your husband, so we are unlikely to run into you." The condescending tone of Cecily's voice grated on Thea's good humor, but the implication of her words completely dispelled it.

How dare the chit imply that she was too good to attend a function with Drake?

"I notice that you are here this morning and so is my husband. How do you explain that, do you suppose?"

Cecily waved two dismissive fingers. "Lady Upworth is very high in the instep. Everyone knows that. There is no stigma in attending one of her functions."

The look she gave Thea implied she didn't know how a lady of such stature among the ton had lowered herself to throw a wedding breakfast for Drake and his wife.

Thea wanted to slap the supercilious expression right off the miserable creature's face.

She let her voice go dangerously soft. "Are you implying that there is a stigma attached to my husband?"

Irisa jumped in before Cecily could reply. "Of course not. Cecily is being rather silly." She gave the other girl a quelling glance from angry brown eyes. "I'm sure she doesn't want to say any more."

"Well, really. It's not as if it's a big secret. Your husband's parents weren't married. That hardly puts him as our social equal."

Thea's blood boiled over into hot temper.

She moved until her face was mere inches from the hapless Cecily's. "My husband is the grandson of a duke, a gentleman who has made it clear since my husband's birth that he will tolerate no slights of any kind to either Lady Noreen or Pierson. I must assume that you do not mind insulting a duke, but I assure you that your mother will not be nearly so complacent."

Cecily's expression changed to one of confusion. "I didn't realize, I mean to say, I just assumed that since the duke and the rest of the family did not host the breakfast, nor attend the wedding that they…"

"They what?" Thea prompted, feeling unholy satisfaction in the consternation that had replaced the false politeness on Cecily's features.

"I just thought… That is to say…"

Irisa sighed, drawing Thea's attention away from her rude friend. "She and her mother assumed Mr. Drake's family did not recognize him since they didn't come to Town for the wedding and Mr. Drake didn't take you to the country to be wed from one of the family estates."

Cecily gasped.

Irisa shrugged. "I heard them talking about it this morning. I tried to tell them that it shouldn't matter, but her mother is rather a stickler for propriety. So is mine."

Thea stepped back from Cecily.

She turned and smiled at Irisa. "You are right. It shouldn't matter. My husband is a fine, honorable man. However, the truth is that his family not only acknowledges him, they are rather protective of him. Surely the fact that we are currently staying with his aunt, Lady Boyle, would indicate that the family ties run deep.

"In addition, both that worthy lady and Pierson's mother are here at the wedding breakfast."

Cecily smiled the same warm smile she had given Thea the other evening at the musicale, the smile Thea now knew was false. "I hope you'll forgive my confusion. I wouldn't want my mistake to impact your friendship with Irisa or myself."

The girl did not want to be cut by Drake's family, but Thea didn't bother to argue. "Do not concern yourself. Irisa's will always be a welcome face."

Cecily blanched slightly when Thea emphasized Irisa's name, but did not comment.

"I suppose I had best go find out what your mother wants." Irisa gave a last longing glance at the buffet table.