Lady Arbuthnott's housekeeper was attending the door at Pompeia's four days later when Augusta and Meredith, preceded by a footman, went up the steps. There was no sign of Scruggs.
"Mr. Scruggs is indisposed, madam," the housekeeper explained when Augusta questioned the absence. "Or so I'm told. And likely to be for some time."
Augusta hid a smile. She was well aware that between Harry's demands on Peter's time these days and Claudia's distinct disapproval of her new fiance's habit of amusing himself by playing at butler, poor Peter was unlikely to ever don his makeup and whiskers again.
The housekeeper closed the door behind Augusta and Meredith. "But as he was rather unreliable in the first place, I don't suppose it will make much difference around here." She eyed Meredith with some misgivings. "Will you both be wanting to visit Lady Arbuthnott, then? Or shall I take the young lady down to the kitchens for a bite to eat?"
Meredith looked anxiously at Augusta, silently asking if she was going to be deprived of the promised visit to the club, after all.
"Meredith will be staying with me," Augusta said as the drawing room door was opened.
"As you wish, madam."
Augusta led the way into the drawing room. "Here we are, Meredith. Welcome to my club."
Pompeia's was quite lively this afternoon, even though The Season was over. Augusta greeted her friends and paused to speak to several of them as she made her way down the long room to Lady Arbuthnott's chair.
Rosalind Morrissey paused in the middle of a conversation and smiled at Meredith. "I see the members of Pompeia's are becoming younger by the day."
Meredith blushed and looked at Augusta for guidance.
"One should never overlook an opportunity to expand an intelligent young lady's education," Augusta declared. "Allow me to introduce my new daughter. She is my guest today."
After a moment's chat, she and Meredith continued on their way.
Meredith was wide-eyed, taking in every detail of the club, from the paintings on the walls to the newspapers on the tables. "Is this really what Papa's clubs are like?"
"Very similar, so far as we were able to establish," Augusta whispered. "Except that they are filled with gentlemen instead of ladies. The stakes are not as high at our tables as they are in the gaming rooms of the St. James Street establishments, of course, but other than a few details such as that, I think we did an excellent job of providing the proper atmosphere."
"I like the paintings very much," Meredith confided. "Especially that one."
Augusta followed her gaze. "That is a picture of Hypatia, a famous scholar in Alexandria. She wrote books on mathematics and astronomy."
Meredith absorbed that information. "Perhaps I shall write a book someday."
"Perhaps you shall."
At that moment, Augusta glanced down the length of the room and saw Sally's head turn toward her. A wave of dismay crushed the enthusiasm she had been experiencing at the thought of seeing her old friend again.
There was no denying that Sally's health had deteriorated a great deal during the past month. She had taken great care with her attire, as usual. But the elegant gown could not conceal the pale, translucent skin, the air of extreme frailty, and the stoic acceptance of never-ending pain in Sally's eyes. It was almost more than Augusta could bear. She wanted to cry and knew she would only upset Sally.
Instead, she rushed forward and leaned down to hug her friend gently. "Oh, Sally, it is good to see you again. I have worried about you so."
"I am still here, as you can see," Sally said in a surprisingly firm voice. "And more busy than ever assisting that tyrant you married. Graystone always was a severe taskmaster."
"Assisting Graystone? Not you, too?" Augusta groaned as she realized the implications. "I should have guessed. You were part of his—" She broke off, remembering Meredith's presence.
"Of course, my dear. You knew I had a rather sordid past, did you not?" Sally's chuckle was weak, but it contained real amusement. "Now, introduce me to this young lady. Graystone's daughter, if I am not mistaken?"
"Just so." Augusta made the introductions and Meredith made her curtsy.
"The resemblance is unmistakable," Sally said affectionately. "Same intelligent eyes. Same slow smile. How lovely. Run along, Meredith. You may help yourself to some cakes from the buffet."
"Thank you, Lady Arbuthnott."
Sally watched Meredith hurry toward the array of food on the other side of the room. Then she turned slowly back to face Augusta. "A most charming child."
"And every bit as scholarly as her father. She tells me she might write a book." Augusta seated herself in a nearby chair.
"She probably will. Knowing Graystone, I imagine she is being taught a very comprehensive curriculum. One shudders to think of it."
Augusta laughed. "Never fear, Sally. I have taken care to make up for the lack of certain frivolous subjects in Meredith's curriculum. I have started her on an intense program of watercolor painting and novels. In addition, I have enlisted the assistance of her governess in exposing Meredith to a view of history she will never get from her father's books."
Sally laughed. "Oh, my irrepressible Augusta. I knew you would be good for Graystone. Some part of him must have known it, too, or he would never have put your name at the top of his list."
"At the top of the list, did you say? I always assumed I was at the bottom. A sort of afterthought." Augusta helped herself to tea and replenished Sally's cup. As she set the pot back down she noticed the small jar of tonic that sat on the table near Sally's chair.
When Augusta had left Town, Sally had been in the habit of only calling for her tonic when she needed it. Now she apparently kept the bottle beside her all the time.
"You were never an afterthought. Quite the opposite. Graystone was never able to get you out of his mind after he met you."
"Rather like a case of hives or an itch he longed to scratch?"
Sally laughed again. "You underestimate yourself, my dear. By the way, I have a complaint to lodge with you. You have cost me an excellent butler."
"Do not blame me. 'Tis my cousin who obliged poor Scruggs to quit his post."
Sally smiled. "So I am given to understand. I saw the announcement of the engagement in the Post yesterday morning. I believe it will be an excellent match."
"Uncle Thomas was pleased."
"Yes. Sheldrake is a bit of a rake, but I have always believed he longs to be reformed. He has been racketing about London since returning from the continent, searching for a mission. Getting married and attending to his father's estates will give him the direction he has been seeking."
"I formed the same opinion," Augusta agreed.
"You are very perceptive, my dear Augusta." Sally reached for the tonic. She opened the jar and added two drops of the medication to her tea. She noticed Augusta watching sadly and smiled. "Forgive me, Augusta. As you no doubt have guessed, I am having more difficulty these days."
Augusta reached out and touched her hand. "Sally, is there anything I can do? Anything at all?"
"No, dear. This is something I shall be obliged to handle on my own." Sally's eyes drifted thoughtfully to the jar of tonic.
"Sally?"
"Calm yourself, my dear. I am not going to do anything drastic just yet. I am much too busy at the moment seeking information for Graystone on the Saber Club. Heaven knows I always adored this sort of work. I have been in touch with old contacts I have not heard from in nearly two years. Amazing how many are still around and looking for employment."
Augusta sat back slowly in her chair. She glanced at Meredith, who had paused beside the writing desk to observe something Cassandra Padbury was showing her. Probably Cassandra's latest effort at an epic poem, Augusta thought.
"My husband is very determined to track down the information he seeks," Augusta murmured to Sally.