Chapter 18
Lady Marling was walking through the foyer when the butler opened the door for Nick and paused when she saw him. “Have you tired of fishing already, Lord Leighton?”
He’d set out for the trout stream that morning with Beresford, Sir James, and his son, Albert. “I was having no luck of my own, and I’m afraid I was passing on my bad luck to the other gentlemen.” Nick didn’t add that he’d expected Matthias and Lord Marling to join them, and when it became obvious that wasn’t going to happen, the sport lost much of its appeal.
“I was just going to Marling and Mr. Deverell in the sitting room, will you join me? I believe you’ll find Miss Lucy there as well.”
“Entertaining Lord Marling, no doubt,” Nick said as he held out his arm for the countess. He didn’t mention Matthias’ presen
