Sentence:  "The truth is, Ma'am," said Mrs. Grant, <WSD>pretending</WSD> to whisper across the table to Mrs. Norris, "that Dr. Grant hardly knows what the natural taste of our apricot is;nb...." 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To make oneself appear (to) do or be doing something; to engage in make-believe.