#ursulcs

        –   “ Lady Stafford. What a––a truly–pleasant surprise. ” Catherine cleared her throat to cough up the blatant lie, brushed over with genteel courtesy. Coupled with surprise and a proclivity to enjoy her mornings in the sanctity of privacy, the marchioness was not equipped to entertain an audience, although she swiftly ordered the servants who lingered in the foyer to arrange a tray of tea. She joined the peeress with a contrived smile that stretched from ear to ear, still a trace of confusion niggling upon her knitted brow bone. “ I admit it has been some time since I last saw you, madam. Perhaps at my most recent wedding ? I trust you have been well in the interim but – and you’ll excuse my forwardness, no doubt – at the risk of being caught off guard I must enquire as to the nature of your visit. Surely this is no act of charity. ”