“No reason,” Cassandra answered quickly, but Cassandra was a rubbish liar. They were both suspicious of … something.

“Lucy,” Garrett said in a warning tone, “I hope this has nothing to do with your promise to find a wife for me after you’re done with your whatever-it-is with Miss Lowndes. I assure you I’m in no need of a wife and there is absolutely nothing going on between myself and Isabella Langford.”

Lucy raised her brows, too, but the skepticism was apparent on her face.

“Promise me you’ll leave any sort of matchmaking on my behalf well and truly alone.”

Lucy shrugged one shoulder. “I have absolutely no intention of matching you with Mrs. Langford. Not to worry, my dear cousin.”

“Thank you,” Garrett said. “Now, I’m going out to the foyer to join the others for the picnic.”

“We’ll be along,” Lucy replied simply, studying her gloves.

“Yes.” Cass nodded rapidly.

“Good.” Garrett made his way to the door as quickly as he could without looking as if he were trying to be quick about it. He had no desire to answer more questions from these two busybodies. Not today.

He breathed a sigh of relief as the drawing room door shut behind him. What did they know? Or did they only suspect? He sent up a prayer to the heavens, hoping it was merely conjecture.

*   *   *

After the door shut behind Garrett, Lucy turned to Cass and raised one eyebrow. “We have just been lied to.”

Cass took a deep breath. “It does appear so, yes.”

“And not just by Garrett, but by Jane as well,” Lucy added.

“Do you think it’s possible they each don’t know it was the other? They were both wearing dominoes, and Janie wasn’t wearing her spectacles.”

Lucy tapped a finger against her cheek. “It’s possible, I suppose, but if they didn’t know, they wouldn’t be working so hard to keep it from us. Garrett might, as he’d hardly be one to kiss and tell, but Janie, no. Janie is deliberately keeping this from us.”

Cass’s eyes were wide as saucers. “You don’t suppose they kissed, do you?”

“I don’t know. I can’t imagine it. But I do wonder what they did together after they sneaked off. Obviously something they don’t want either of us to know about.”

“Perhaps they’re embarrassed to tell us because we’ve always known they can barely tolerate each other. They can hardly admit to sneaking off together.” Cass gulped. “But you don’t honestly think—”

“As difficult as it is to believe, I do think so. They kissed.”

Cass gasped. “No.”

“I admit it’s difficult to conceive of. But the signs are all there.” Lucy counted off the points on her fingers. “They were incognito. They left together. They were alone for a time in the upstairs drawing room, and neither will admit they were there together.”