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“Mama, it is more than a year since Papa passed away. I believe we could
attend the assembly at Stenning without causing a scandal.” Lydia reached out and
squeezed her mother’s hand. “A ball is exactly what we both need before the
arrival of Uncle Edward next week. I wish he was not coming for I am not overly
fond of him.”
Her mother smiled. “My love, my brother-in-law is a perfectly pleasant
gentleman; I cannot think why you have taken him in such dislike. He cannot be
blamed for inheriting the title from father, and, as far as I’m aware he has no
intention of interfering with our lives in any way. Ravenscroft remains mine
for my lifetime, as does the interest from the trust fund and income from the
estate. Also your inheritance is substantial and kept quite separate from the
estate funds.”
“I know that, Mama, so why does he wish to come here at all? After all he
came to the funeral, surely that’s enough? Papa and he were not close, were
they?”
Her mother fiddled with the buttons on her sleeve before answering. “They
had a falling out many years ago, before you were born. I expect he wishes he
had made his peace with his brother before your papa was taken ill.”
Lydia jumped up, shook out the creases from her morning gown, and
prepared to depart. “In which case I shall say no more about it, and make an
effort to welcome him as the future owner of my home and the head of the
household.” Her mother was obviously ready to forgive and forget, so she must
do the same.
“Have we purchased tickets for the assembly, my dear? I do hope it is not
already oversubscribed – I can see you have quite set your heart on going.”
“I sent Jenny into town two days ago. All we have to decide is what we
are going to wear. It seems an age since either of us was wearing anything but
black and lavender.”
“We are fortunate, my love, that gowns still have a high waist.” She
laughed. “Imagine having to wear a ball gown that was outmoded!”
“You could not be out of fashion if you tried, Mama. You look more like
my sister than my parent. Indeed, your hair is as golden as it always was and I
swear you have hardly any more wrinkles than I.”
“Despite my great age, do you mean? Remember, darling girl, I was a child
bride and you were born less than a year after I was wed.”
Lydia returned and dropping to her knees, embraced her mother. “I love
you, Mama, I meant no disrespect.” She scrambled up and shook her head. “If I
was as beautiful as you, I expect I should already be married myself.”
“My dear, do not fish for compliments. Although your hair is brown, your
eyes are fine and your figure exemplary. You are a beautiful young lady and
well you know it. If you had been able to make your come out two years ago you
might well have been a mother by now.”
“Good grief! That is a sobering thought, Mama. However, as you only
managed to produce me in seventeen years of marriage, I might not be obliged to
bear a child so soon or as frequently as some of your friends.”
“This is not a suitable conversation, Lydia, for an unmarried girl. I am
shocked by your lack of decorum. Lady Alice is not a good influence on you, I
fear. She is a flighty young miss and it is high time her father stepped in and
found her a serious husband.”
“We have decided not to accept any offer of matrimony before we reach our
majority – therefore we have a further two years to enjoy our freedom.” Lydia
headed for the drawing room door determined to escape before her mother would
take issue with her outrageous statement.
She hurried across the spacious vestibule and almost ran up the stairs.
Alice had promised to visit this afternoon and help with the selection of her
ensemble. Her friend was also an only daughter, but not an only child as she
had three much older brothers. The earl and his countess had been surprised,
but delighted, at the unexpected arrival of a girl after a gap of ten years.
Consequently Alice had grown up petted and spoilt by her adoring family.
Whatever the reasons for Alice’s somewhat wild behaviour, Lydia loved her
dearly and did her best to restrain the worst of her excesses. She smiled as
she recalled the almost elopement two years ago – she had been obliged to lock
her friend in a closet to prevent her creeping out to meet her erstwhile
husband. The young man in question had been an impecunious younger son,
harmless enough, but quite unsuitable for Alice.
The autumn sun flooded into her parlour making the highly polished
furniture glow and the crystal drops in the small chandelier sparkle. She
headed for her bedchamber and called out to her maid. “Jenny, what have you
found for me? Do I have anything suitable for the assembly?”
The girl appeared from the dressing room her arms full of gowns. “You
have four, Miss Lydia, that might do. I can soon add a ruffle or two if you
want me to copy the latest fashion plates in La Belle Assemblée.”
“I cannot abide frills so intend to ignore that trend.” Jenny draped the
garments across the bed. “I had forgotten I had so many to choose from.”
She picked up an evening dress in the finest forget-me-not blue tulle. “I have never worn this one, Jenny.
It is perfect – the neckline is not too daring and the little blue flowers set
it off perfectly. I believe I have gloves, slippers, reticule and fan to
match.”
“And you have the sapphire
parure left to you by your grandmother, Lady Richmond,” Jenny said.
“I think sapphires would be too
much for a local ball, Jenny. Perhaps I can find ribbon to match the
forget-me-nots around the hem and neck and thread it through my hair? I’m
almost certain Miss Maidstone said she was expecting a new delivery of
haberdashery last week.”
Lydia looked at the mantel
clock. There was ample time to walk into the village and make a purchase and
still be home in time for her friend’s visit. “Jenny, please find my walking
boots. We shall go at once and buy the ribbon we need.”
The walk to the village was no
more than a mile and was accomplished without mishap. The pavements were busy
with like-minded shoppers. There was a small gathering of excited young ladies
standing in front of the assembly hall. Lydia hurried over to see what all the
commotion was about.
One of the group, the cherries
on her bonnet bobbing dangerously, rushed over to greet her. “Miss Richmond,
have you heard the news? A cavalry regiment is to be billeted in the empty
barracks at Weeley. Imagine that! Our very own regiment of officers close by.”
“Miss Collins, how very
exciting. I wonder if they will be in residence in time to attend the assembly
ball next week?”
The young ladies exclaimed in
delight at the thought of having a surplus of handsome young men to dance with
instead of the usual, lacklustre local gentlemen.
Another girl clapped her hands
and spun, sending the skirt of her pastel green muslin swirling, and revealing
more of her ankles than was seemly. “Do you have tickets, Miss Richmond?”
“I do indeed, Miss Rushton. I
was already eagerly anticipating the event, but now I’m almost beside myself.”
Lydia put on a suitably excited expression. These girls were not close friends,
mere acquaintances, the daughters of local gentry, and did not move in the same
stifling atmosphere as herself and Alice. They had no maids in attendance and
were allowed to come and go from their homes as they pleased. She wished she
was allowed such freedom.
“I wonder if the duke will
favour us with an appearance. Mama told me he has a house party at the moment –
some gentlemen and their ladies down for the shooting. Do tell us, Miss
Richmond, if they are to come.” The speaker, a pretty girl in a pink striped
walking dress, clutched her bosom and stared starry eyed at Lydia.
The gathering completely blocked
the pathway and a disgruntled matron clucked and tutted as she was obliged to
step into the street in order to pass by.
“I am not privy to the movements
of the Duke of Stenning. He is our neighbour and was a friend of my father’s. I
don’t believe I’ve spoken to him this past two months.” She shook her head.
“And anyway, I don’t believe he has ever attended an assembly ball, so why
should he do so now?”
A sigh of disappointment rippled
around the circle but then Miss Collins, ever a pragmatist, laughed gaily. “He
is way above our touch, but we shall
have a dozen or more officers to dance with. There’s nothing I like better than
a military gentleman.”
“Pray excuse me, ladies, I have
still to go to the haberdashers and must hurry as I’m expecting a visitor this
afternoon.”
The girls politely stepped aside
allowing Lydia and Jenny to pass. The babble of their chatter followed her into
the cool interior of the shop. There were three customers being attended to by
smartly dressed assistants but there was no sign of the proprietor. However,
Miss Maidstone emerged immediately and greeted Lydia with a small curtsy and a
smile.
“Good morning, Miss Richmond,
how can I help you today?”
Less than twenty minutes later
Lydia was on her way home delighted to have found an exact match for the
forget-me-nots sewn to her ball gown. She nodded and smiled at several acquaintances
that didn’t stop to pass the time of day. Fortunately the gaggle of girls and
moved elsewhere, no doubt to discuss at length the arrival of the regiment.
Usually she chatted to Jenny
when they were out together, but today she wished to mull over something that
had been said to her earlier. When she had denied speaking to the duke, she had
told a falsehood. His grace visited at least once a week, usually to impart
some local news to her mother or offer advice on her investments. Although she
was usually present, she rarely spoke directly to him herself.
He was nearer her mother’s age
than hers, and although scrupulously polite and unfailingly charming, she found
him unnerving and difficult to converse with. He was – he was a formidable man.
He stood more than two yards high and his shoulders were extremely broad. He
wore his dark hair short, an uncompromising style which suited his demeanour.
He treated her more as a child than a woman grown and she was grateful for
this. Being teased and talked down to meant she was not expected to join in the
conversation and thus show her ignorance of adult matters.
Her lips curved as she recalled
the last time they had met. He had ridden over on his latest acquisition, a
magnificent bay stallion, and had invited her to give an opinion on the animal.
She had been about to go inside after a brisk walk around the lake. Her face
had been hot, her hem mired and her boots muddy – hardly an appealing sight.
She had mumbled something complimentary and scuttled in like a frightened
rabbit. His laughter had followed her and she didn’t blame him one jot for
finding her a figure of fun.
On her return she ran upstairs
to remove her gloves and bonnet and replace her walking boots with indoor
slippers before hurrying down to the drawing room to share the exciting news.
She burst in only to find her mother was not alone.
The duke stood and greeted her
affectionately. “Miss Richmond, what a delightful surprise. I understood from
her ladyship that you had gone to the village.” His expression was bland but
she could see amusement dancing in his eyes.
“I am back now, your grace…” She
faltered and her cheeks suffused with colour. Why was it she always sounded
like a pea goose when speaking to him?
“Indeed you are, my dear, and
looking quite delightful too.” He raised an eyebrow and glanced at a sofa
reminding her etiquette demanded he remain on his feet until she was seated.
Drat the man!
Ignoring his comment she dropped
beside her mother intending to tell her the good news. “Mama, you will never
guess what I was told in the village.”
“Lydia, my love, your news must
wait. We have far more pressing matters to discuss.”
What could possibly be more
important than the arrival of the cavalry regiment? She bit back her pert reply
and tried to look interested. “Yes, Mama, what is it you wish to tell me that
also involves our guest?”
She risked a glance in his
direction and wished she hadn’t. He was not impressed by her comment.
“The duke’s sister, Lady
Margaret Dunwoody, has offered to bring you out. Is that not kind of her? With
your dear papa so recently deceased I cannot face the hustle and bustle of Town
at the moment, so without this help you would not get your season at all.”
“Thank you, sir, I do appreciate
Lady Margaret offering to sponsor me in March. However, I have no wish to leave
my mother to gad about in London. Having attended several informal parties this
summer, I believe that I can be considered out
already.”
Who was the more astonished by
her statement was hard to tell. Her mother was rendered speechless and the
duke’s eyes widened in shock. He recovered first.
“Stuff and nonsense! Lady
Richmond will manage perfectly well in your absence as well you know. All young
ladies want to have a season in Town. You are no different—”
Lydia was on her feet incensed
by his assumption that he knew her motives. “I beg your pardon, your grace, but
I disagree. You have no right to dictate my movements for you are not a member
of my family.” She glared at him and he glared right back. “Lord Richmond is
arriving next week to take up his responsibilities as head of the household and
my legal guardian. It is to him that I shall defer and not to—”
A choking sound coming from the
sofa gave her pause. Her mother was about to explode. Lydia had never seen her
parent so angry. Not waiting for the tirade to descend on her head she headed
rapidly for the open door. Her heart was hammering against her ribs. She could
scarcely breathe. What could have possessed her to speak so intemperately?
Mama would have her return if
she could find her. Therefore she would not go to her apartment but hide in the
maze until the coast was clear. She hurtled through the house and out through
the garden-room and on to the terrace that ran around the south side of the
building.
She was gasping for breath when
she catapulted into the welcome darkness of the ancient maze. There was a small
summer house in the centre where she could wait out the storm in comfort. She
had played in this place so often as a child that she could instinctively find
her way in any direction and had no recourse to take the flag from the stand in
with her. Strangers were advised to wave this when they became hopelessly lost
amidst the greenery.
The sun no longer shone into the
maze and the summer house was not as welcoming as she had hoped. She wished
she’d had the forethought to collect a wrap before she’d dashed out here. Mama
should have calmed down within half an hour – surely she could sit here
comfortably for such a short period of time? She was in the process of brushing
off the debris from the wooden seat when there was a slight noise behind her.
She turned expecting to find a
squirrel or a bird. Instead the duke stood there. He did not look at all
friendly. “Your grace, what are you doing here? Did my mother send you to ring
a peal over me?”
He stepped forward and loomed
over her. “No, Miss Richmond, I am here on my own business.” He gestured to the
bench. “Shall we be seated?”
Feeling decidedly foolish, Lydia
squashed herself in the farthest corner praying he would leave a suitable gap
between them. “I apologise if I offended you, sir, but—”
“You offended your mother, young
lady, which is far more serious. In my opinion you have been overindulged and
it is high time someone took you in hand.”
She stiffened and pressed her
back hard against the wall. “How I behave is none of your concern, sir. I have
a perfectly satisfactory guardian who is quite content with my behaviour.” This
was the second time she had referred to her uncle in this way – no doubt he
would be surprised to discover he was expected to take an active role in her
life. Mama had insisted, after the funeral, that there was no need for any
interference from him.
The duke stretched out his long
legs and examined the toes of his immaculate Hessians for non-existent dust.
The silence stretched. Why didn’t the wretched man say something? Then he
swivelled and pinned her with his arctic blue gaze.
“Miss Richmond, my sister
offered to sponsor you out of the kindness of heart. She has her own progeny to
launch but was prepared to give up her valuable time on your behalf. Yet you
chose to toss it back as if of no importance.” He paused and Lydia wondered if
she was expected to comment. He frowned and she drew breath to speak but
reconsidered.
“Why in God’s name would you
turn down an offer any debutante in the land would be thrilled to have?”
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