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“She was acquainted with Percival Pennington.”

Gideon leaned back in his chair. “Is that how your card came into his possession?”

“I don’t know. She says she did not give him my card.”

“And how is she acquainted with him?”

Electra felt suddenly overheated and reached up to tug at the high neck of her gown. “I am about to confide facts about my friend that feel very private and will be quite damaging when they become public.”

Gideon bent toward her again. “I can see how this disturbs you, but I’m listening. What was the nature of her relationship with Pennington?”

“They were more than acquaintances.”

“Is he…the reason that Sir Christopher doesn't live at Russell Square?”

He’d lowered his voice, and it did have what she suspected was the desired effect. It soothed her nerves a bit.

“No, as I understand it from Cordelia, Kit himself had engaged in a liaison that damaged the trust in their marriage. At that point, last year, they agreed to live separately for a time.”

“When did he take lodgings elsewhere?”

“Not quite a year ago. I don’t recall the month.”

“So, Sir Christopher moved out, and how did Cordelia meet Pennington?”

Electra took a sip of her tea, savoring the warmth and comfort of it. “She says that she met him at a solicitor's office. She'd gone to discuss the possibility of divorce proceedings.”

Gideon’s brows winged high. “Good God.”

“Yes, apparently the breach in their marriage was quite serious.”

Divorce would have irreparably damaged the reputation of both of them. Electra found it hard to believe that Cordelia, who’d seemed to love Kit despite the rift between them, would have truly considered such a difficult path.

“She formed a quick rapport with Pennington, and he became very attached. I suppose she did as well. But she told me yesterday that Kit would be coming back to Russell Square. She had ended things with Mr. Pennington months ago.”

Gideon took a swig from his teacup, set it aside, then rubbed his hands together, as if considering what she’d told him.

“When did Lady Redmayne break things off with Pennington?”

“Two months ago, she says she had planned to do so earlier, that she had intended to reconcile with Kit for a long while. But Pennington…persisted in pursuing her.”

The embers in the fireplace grate had dimmed to occasional flickers and Gideon stood to stoke it back into flame.

“Did Sir Christopher have any dealings with Mr. Pennington?” he asked with his back to her.

“He went to speak to him. Cordelia says it was only once. Kit advised him to cease contacting her.”

“And this was when?”

“Two weeks ago.”

“And when did Lady Redmayne last speak to Mr. Pennington?”

Electra clenched her hands into fists. It was the detail she dreaded the most. “Yesterday,” she said quietly.

Gideon turned toward her, a stunned look in his eyes, and she found herself desperate to make him understand.

“Kit couldn’t have done this, Gideon. Nor Cordelia. I must also say that she did not send me to speak with you. I'm here because she is my friend, who has been most generous to me, and yet I knew that you needed to know these details too.”