Petra had to be satisfied with that, but the news of her brother’s present and prospective happiness cheered her up. It gave her something else to think about other than her own present misery. And maybe the weekend wouldn’t be as hideously awkward as she feared. Maybe the change of scene might make Guy a little easier to talk to . . . might give them back some of their old ease, the loving touch that she now knew was so essential to her happiness. She settled back for the long journey, watching the countryside as the train huffed its way toward the bustling port city of Bristol, steaming into the station three hours later.

Petra followed Joth to the platform and waited while he hailed a porter to fetch their bags from the luggage compartment. She had come a few days early to Ashton Court to arrange the details for the Friday to Monday, a necessary duty of any good hostess, one that in any other circumstances she would have taken on cheerfully. Guy would follow on Thursday, when he would expect everything to be in order.

It would be, of course. Whatever the state of affairs between herself and Guy she would not fail to play the part of Lady Ashton, perfect in every detail. As she looked around the platform, she stiffened suddenly. The unmistakable figure of Clothilde Delmont, statuesque and elegant as always, stepped down from a first-class carriage, her hand firmly held in that of an equally elegant gentleman standing on the platform. He embraced Clothilde and they exchanged a brief kiss of greeting, before he turned to a liveried footman behind him, gesturing to the luggage compartment. A woman, clearly a maid from her sober dark coat and hat, descended after Clothilde and busied herself straightening her mistress’s fur stole.

Now, what had brought Clothilde to Bristol? Petra wondered. Was it pure coincidence? That seemed hard to believe. People didn’t just go to Bristol on a whim. But someone had met her, so perhaps she had good friends in the city. It seemed a little unfashionable though for someone of the vicomtesse’s stature.

“Do you know who’s with Lady Delmont?” she asked Joth when he returned with the porter and their luggage.

Her brother followed her gaze. “I wouldn’t have expected to see Lady Delmont here,” he commented. “Oh, but that explains it. That’s Lord Harrington with her. He has a house just outside Bath. I heard a rumor she was showing a particular interest in him.”

“As his mistress?” Petra was intrigued.

Jonathan shrugged. “The lady usually finds a protector when she needs one and I’ve heard tell she’s been without since Guy finished with her.”

“Why’s she here at this particular time?” Petra mused. “I’d have thought there was more than enough in town to keep her amused.”

“Who’s to say? Come on now, your motor is waiting outside.”

“Motor?”