Chapter 119

The language of the fan. To hold it in front of her face? I am hot. To hold it closed? No idea. To hold it open, covering her mouth? How about, wafting the champagne she could taste on her breath?
"Lady Winterbourne, such a faux pas when you are a married lady."
She jerked her chin around. What she was really doing was hoping Stillmore might behave a little more dutifully-what was fan language for get over here and look as if I am the whole world to you? Now that Babs Langley stood there, she snapped the fan shut.
"Do you mean women should abandon the right to a glass of champagne when they're married?" With a husband as disagreeable as Stillmore, a woman would be in a bad way.
"May I?"
Before Splendor could say she may not, the neighboring cushion sank ever so slightly beneath Lady Langley's silk clad derriere. Not quite scarlet to match the kind of woman she was, but red enough. "Slowly ...Slowly ... "
"Do you speak of the way to lower yourself into a seat? Or-"
"I speak of the way a woman tells the world she is married."
"I'm sorry. You mean that I should lower myself slowly, slowly, every time I sit down?"
The scarlet lips parted. "Why, anyone would think you didn't know anything. To do with ballroom etiquette anyway.No. I mean with your fan, my dear."
"Now, why didn't I think of that? Being so new to me I just didn't know what the language for am married was."
"But perhaps that's because you aren't really married at all? And this is simply another of Kendall's tiresome little games leaving me no option but to wed that nincompoop."
"Baxby?"
She had thought so, but to hear him described in such scathing terms by the love of his life sent a tiny shudder rippling up her spine. What on earth did men see in such a heartless hussy? How could they be that shortsighted? Unless it was true what Ruby said, they only thought with certain things? And these things were not their brains.
"But believe me, I mean to have Kendall back, by fair means or foul."
Splendor strove not to swallow her fan. Then she strove not to smack it across Babs Langley's polished face. "A game?"
"Kendall swore off marriage after his wife. His first wife, if you are the second. Oh, he thinks I don't know about that, but I make it my business to know about everything."
"Really?"
The word was out before she could stop it. What if it had only been a game to him too? Chasing after her, giving her that money? A long game where she had made the wrong move that night by kissing him. So now she had a baby on the way. It made it even more vital she secure her future. By fair means or foul. She raised her chin.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, my lady. Kendall and I are the picture of happiness together."
"Really?"
"Yes. Really."
Maybe she should say she was pregnant? Settle this argument. He should be the first to know. But he didn't have to be. She parted her lips. Seeing his dark head there at the edge of her vision, just inside the doors of the hall, she shut them again. He should be the first to know, and it might do nothing for her chances if he wasn't. After all, it had seemed such a good idea to say they'd eloped, and just look at his carry-on.
She drew her gaze back. Actually, she could tell Langley the truth about her position. What was Stillmore to her? The cause of her ruin. He liked this woman. He probably wasn't standing at that door, talking to Lady Kertouche for the good of his health. Trying not to glance over Lady Kertouche's shoulder for that matter either. It was much more likely he was looking at her ladyship, the slut of Langley.
What if Splendor somehow match-made them? Wouldn't Stillmore like her for that? It would be the quickest way into his esteem. The kind of idea she really should have had before but she'd been bereft of good ones lately. She tapped her fan shut, fixed on her brightest smile.
"I see. You somehow find the thought that we are happy together impossible?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"As I do yours."
Her smile trembled. Was she suffering from some kind of vocal impediment where she opened her mouth and a heap of rubbish fell out? One that drew drips of ice all over her. This was her chance to confide. Then Stillmore would love her, after his initial shock and moaning-largely because he hadn't thought of it himself--and agree to writing her another check. Maybe even two if he thought he was going to see the back of her.
"Oh, I think if you knew how opposed to marriage Kendall is, and why, you'd know how difficult it is for me, indeed for any of us here tonight, to believe he not only married you but that he's actually happy about it."
Splendor fought desperately not to blow out her breath. He was standing across the floor, after all. It would not do, when she was trying to match-make them, for him to glance over Lady Kertouche's elegant shoulder and see her rolling about the floor, tearing the hair from Babs Langley's shining, ringletted head. But Babs Langley was making that very, very difficult. Hard as the ice in winter in fact. She spread her fan.
"He is very happy about it. Making a man happy does not take so very much, after all. Only the right woman."
"Really." The laugh dripped poison. "And you honestly think you are that?"
"You would have to ask him."
"Thank you. You may rest assured that I will."
It was hardly a problem. Stillmore wasn't going to deny it when this was about making his point and this could still all end well when Splendor explained how badly they had fooled Babs Langley for the very best of intentions.
"Do so. Now if you want. He's over there, as I'm sure you can see. I'm certain he'll be more than delighted to oblige you with the truth."
"The truth? Kendall? Don't make me laugh harder than I've been doing since you came on the scene."
Splendor sat back. Match-make? Him and this creature? She could, but why should she? Even to secure her future? The cost was too great. After all, no one could be that bad, could they, except maybe this woman? At the start of this, he had said three months. That time was not up yet. When he knew about the baby, he might give her more. It was all she needed.
"Well, that laugh will be on the other side of your face when he tells you he gave me his ring. Yes. Holy matrimony, my lady."