Viscountess Noelle Prescott's voice dripped with artificial sweetness as she rounded on Pippa the moment I left the bookshop.
"How dare you embarrass me like that! Questioning the Duchess about her lack of children?" Noelle hissed, keeping her voice low but sharp. "Do you have any idea how that reflects on me, being seen with someone so tactless?"
I stood frozen, still processing the complete reversal of her attitude. Just moments ago, she had been whispering encouragements in my ear about confronting Isabella.
"But you were the one who suggested I mention—" I started.
Noelle's eyes widened in theatrical horror. "I suggested no such thing! I would never encourage such impropriety."
The other woman with us, Lady Gabriella, shifted uncomfortably, suddenly finding the bookshelves fascinating.
"You explicitly told me on our way here that someone should 'finally ask the Duchess about her empty nursery'," I insisted, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.
