He wracked his brain to think of a reason why he should have been in secluded conversation with this miss. He suspected what Elinor was capable of doing to the girl, and it was not pleasant to contemplate. “Aunt Elinor,” Lady Chloe said with more composure than Julian would have thought she could summon. She performed a commendable curtsy to her aunt. “I am not in the least surprised to see you here.” Julian barely refrained from a shocked gasp of his own. They were related? Incredible. He darted glances between the two women and waited, deciding it might be better to see what they said before jumping in with some comment of his own that might make things worse. That Elinor Hadlow found Lady Chloe’s remark startling was an understatement to say the least. Her eyes narrowed briefly, then a thin smile formed on her dainty lips. “Lady Chloe,” she purred with apparent censure, “it is a surprise to see you closeted with a scoundrel such as Mr. St. Aubyn. What will your grandmama say to this?”
