Tea and Scandal by Joan Smith Page B

average. Formidable talents are not required to teach young ladies reading and writing. ”
    “ Of course. ” Fenwick nodded. “ Character, I expect, is of equal or even more importance. ”
    Her tongue touched her lips nervously. “ Quite, ” she said.
    Fenwick ’ s interest soared, but before he could pursue this new line of inquiry, Swann was upon them. He used his empty cup as an excuse to escape Lady Sykes. When he had filled his cup, he joined Fenwick and Jane.
    “ Pity our outing was canceled, Miss Lonsdale, ” he said. “ We shall do it tomorrow, if you like. ”
    “ I look forward to it, ” she replied. Relief showed on every line of her face, and Fenwick was sharp enough to see it. She was definitely uncomfortable discussing character. He was intrigued that such an innocent-seeming lady should harbor a secret vice. What could it be?
    “ I must visit Wilkie and Minerva this afternoon, rain or no, ” Swann continued. “ They only hatched six eggs this year. They usually hatch seven. With only the one breeding pair left, I can take no chances. I am on the lookout for a pair of black swans. You wouldn ’ t happen to know of a pair for sale? ”
    “ I ’ ve never even seen a black one, ” she told him.
    “ Some neighbors of mine in Surrey have a pair, but I doubt they would part with them, ” Fenwick mentioned.
    Swann sipped his tea and glanced about the room. “ Old Horace is acting pretty coy, ” he said. “ Trying his luck with Miss — with Lady Pargeter. Hard to remember to give her her title when she has been Miss Rampling forever. Phoebe will never bring it off. ”
    Jane continued drinking her tea, but Fenwick caught her eye and smiled.
    “ If worst comes to worst, Miss Lonsdale, I know several families who would be happy to hire a governess with experience at Miss Prism ’ s Seminary, ” he said in a joking way.
    “ What the deuce are you talking about? ” Swann asked angrily. “ Miss Lonsdale ain ’ t looking for a position. She just got here. She has not even seen my swans yet. ”
    “ I was discussing future possibilities, after Miss Lonsdale has seen your swans, ” he said.
    The visit did not last long. As soon as the tea was finished, the callers left.
    While they were driving home, Phoebe said, “The chit is certainly Pargeter’s by-blow. I noticed a marked resemblance, but I shall not call Nigel until it is settled that she is to inherit Wildercliffe, or he will go falling in love with her, for she is a little prettier than I had expected. ”
    Fenwick had seen no such resemblance. Jane ’ s conversation told him she had no thought of inheriting, yet she had become quite vexed when he harped on her former acquaintance with Pargeter. There was some mystery there, some irregularity.
    He stifled a yawn and said, “ Surely love is a prerequisite for marriage, Phoebe. ”
    “ What bizarre notions you modern fellows harbor. Love is fatal to a happy marriage. It produces nothing but jealousy and arguments. Your mama would stare to hear you speak so foolishly, Fenwick. Love indeed! I shall invite them to Swann Hall for dinner, to forward the relationship. ”
    “ It ’ s my house, ” Swann said, his ire rising.
    “Indeed it is, and I want you to do the thing up nicely, Scawen. Two or three courses and as many removes. You must not mention it to your mama, or she will want to join the party. She’ll ruin it, with her dribbling and meandering talk. What a trial it is when the old folks don’t know enough to die. Did you notice the housekeeper was wearing Lizzie’s pearls, Fenwick? I wonder if the jewelry was left to her outright in the will. It is worth fifty thousand easily. The Pargeter diamonds alone must be worth close to twenty thousand.”
    “ Ten, ” Scawen said.
    Phoebe ignored him. She was the sort of lady who dealt in hyperbole. Her enemies were all blackguards, and her few friends were saints. Anyone with five thousand a year was a nabob, and anyone with less