George raised her brows but caught on quick enough, thank goodness. She pressed her lips together and threw the gloves on a table.

Violet said clearly, “You were going to tell us why you changed carriages.”

“Oh, that.” George wrinkled her nose. “My carriage slid off the road last night. Quite sensational, actually. And then what do you think?” She sat down on one of the saffron settees, propped an elbow on the back, and rested her head in her palm. “The horses ran away. Left Mr. Pye and me quite high and dry—only, we were sopping wet, of course. And in the middle of who knows where.”

“Good G—” Violet caught Euphie’s censorious eye and changed her exclamation midbreath. “Gracious! Whatever did you do?”

Several maids with laden tea trays trooped in at that moment, and George held up a hand, indicating to Violet that she’d continue after they laid the tea out. A moment later, Euphie poured her a dish of tea.

“Ahh.” George sighed contentedly over her cup. “I think tea would cure the worst of mental ills if only applied in sufficient quantities.”

Violet bounced impatiently in her seat until her sister took the hint.

“Yes, well, fortunately Mr. Pye knew of a nearby cottage.” George shrugged. “So we spent the night.”

“Oh, my lady! All alone and Mr. Pye not even married.” The revelation that George had spent an entire night with a man appeared to shock Euphie more than the carriage accident itself. “I do not think, no, I do not think it could’ve been comfortable for you.” She sat back and fanned her face, causing the puce ribbons on her cap to flutter.

Violet rolled her eyes. “He’s only the land steward, Euphie. It isn’t as if he’s a gentleman from a good family. Besides,” she said practically, “George is eight and twenty. She’s too old to cause a scandal.”

“Thank you, dear.” George sounded rather dry.

“A scandal!” Euphie clutched her dish of tea. “I know you will have your little games, Lady Violet, but I do not think we should bandy the word scandal about so carelessly.”

“No, no, of course not,” George murmured soothingly while Violet barely refrained from rolling her eyes—again.

“All this excitement has wearied me, I fear.” Euphie got to her feet. “Will it put you out terribly if I have a small lie-down, Lady Violet?”

“No, of course not.” Violet suppressed a grin. Every day after tea, regular as clockwork, Euphie found an excuse to have a small lie-down. She had counted on her companion’s routine today as she had in the past.