The Reluctant Debutante: A Sweet, Regency Romance (Ladies of Mayfair Book 4)

by Wendy May Andrews

  “I must tell you, I am one of those highly interesting people whose responsibilities call upon my presence at court on a regular basis. But I can fully understand why you did not enjoy the experience. There is certainly nothing overly comfortable about going there. Just imagine how the queen must feel about it.”

  The young woman gazed at Bryghton with wide eyes and an arrested expression. “I had never thought of it like that, your grace. You are right. It must be so difficult to have to wear court dress every day. And to have everyone staring at you must be terribly uncomfortable.”

  “I would imagine so. Of course, our beloved monarch handles it beautifully. But when I am at court and find myself wishing I was elsewhere, I try to think of it from the monarch’s perspective, and I am grateful that I do not have to be there overlong or terribly often.”

  “That is very broad-minded of you, your grace.”

  Bryghton was not entirely sure if she was being cheeky or if it was a genuine compliment, but either way he found the chit to be amusing. He found himself wondering what Victoria would make of her, and hoped one day he would be able to introduce the two—if he could ever remember the young woman’s name.

  As the musicians ended the number with a resounding flourish, the duke escorted his partner to the side of the dance floor and was relieved to see his mother, as he had no idea where to take the young woman.

  Graciously, Lady Wychwood welcomed the duo back. “Miss Monica, you dance beautifully. Are you having an enjoyable evening? Would you like me to introduce you to some other eligible dance partners?”

  Smiling, Monica answered, “Thank you, your grace, I am having a perfectly enjoyable evening. And thank you so much for offering me help in finding dance partners, but I have actually promised Lord Lamport I would dance the next cotillion with him and I do believe that is what the band is striking up, so I had best see about finding him.”

  “It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Monica. No doubt we shall see each other upon occasion throughout the Season. Enjoy your cotillion.”

  Monica’s smile widened as she dipped into a curtsy and took her leave of the duke and his mother.

  “That was diverting,” said the duchess.

  “What was, mother?”

  “Watching you try to comprehend the workings of Miss Monica’s mind. For the most part you are highly skilled in keeping your face blank at all times, but there were a few moments where your thoughts were peeking through the cracks in your façade. What a delightful child that one is. She will do well as long as her parents help her to find a suitable match. She needs someone who will appreciate her delightful qualities, not try to squash them out of her.”

  “Are you trying to consider me for the role?” Bryghton asked curiously.

  “Not particularly, my dear. Not that I think you would flatten her, but I do not believe you would have the patience to allow her to grow into her potential. I think that lovely young miss should wait another year or two before she marries. You, my darling son, should be getting yourself leg shackled at the earliest possibility, as you are not getting any younger.”

  The duke chuckled, giving a satirical bow as he said, “I do believe, mother, if I am aging so are you. Are you afraid you will not be around to meet your grandchildren?”

  “Not at all. I think you are gaining on me in age. Besides, I cannot believe grandchildren are too far off if you have finally seen the wisdom in entering the Marriage Mart.”

  “What makes you think I have entered the Marriage Mart?” he asked with some horror.

  “You are here, are you not?”

  “Why can the two facts not be mutually exclusive?”

  “That is not the way our world works, and well you know it. Now I have promised myself I would not tease you for any names, but I shall be keeping my eyes on you. Do tell me if you are in need of any more assistance.” With those words, the duchess swept away gracefully, leaving a swirl of perfumed air in her wake and her flummoxed son blinking behind her.

  “You look rather comical, Wychwood. Is everything right with you?”

  Bryghton turned at the sound of his sister’s voice and her teasing words. “Of course, all is right, little chick. Are you having a good night?”

  “I do believe I have danced my shoes ragged, which is the epitome of success for a lady during the Season, so I would say yes, I am having a good night. And what of you? You are still here, so you must not have yet been bored to tears.”

  “No tears on this manly face. In fact, I have been nearly beside myself with amazement over the fact that I have not been bored to the verge of tears. I actually made the tactical decision to enlist the duchess’ help in choosing dance partners. She has kept me busy most of the night with a varied array of ladies. It has been most enlightening.” The duke paused and surveyed the slightly dwindled crowd milling around them.

  He continued. “However, I would say I have had my fill for this evening—or should I say morning at this point? What say you to my escorting you home? I would think your ragged feet could use some time in their bed.”

  “Yes, and it would not do to be the last ones to leave.” Alanna took her brother’s arm. “Shall we go collect our mother?”

  They made short work of finding the duchess, calling for the carriage, and taking leave of their hosts. A short while later, the duke handed them down in front of their house with a promise to see his sister on the morrow.

  As they mounted the stairs to the house, the duchess turned to her daughter with an appraising look.

  “Something tells me you and your brother are conspiring something, and I am unsure how worried I should be.”

  Alanna turned wide and innocent eyes on her mother. “I have no idea what you are speaking of, my dear mother.”

  “Of course you do,” replied the duchess bracingly. “I think it is perfectly lovely that the two of you feel close enough to one another to conspire on something. My only concern is what it could be and whether or not I should involve myself.”

  Smiling sweetly, Alanna’s only reply was, “The less you know the more innocence you can plead.”

  Her mother conceded with a chuckle and a warning. “Try to keep both your reputations unspotted, would you please. I would be delighted to have a couple of weddings in the family this Season, and clean reputations are important for that particular goal to be achieved.”

  “Now mother, do not say that, or there could be dire consequences.”

  Laughing in good humour, the two ladies climbed the stairs to their private quarters and settled in for the night.

  Chapter Eighteen

  As promised, Bryghton arrived right on time to escort his sister to her meeting with Lady Victoria. After handing her up into his phaeton and climbing in after her, he posed a tricky question.

  “Have you decided on which arguments you plan to use to convince the lady to fall in with your plans of launching her into Society?”

  Smiling sheepishly, Alanna shook her head. “Not exactly. I was hoping you might have a brilliant plan.”

  “I think you have to allow the lady to make the choice for herself. She is a grown woman and despite our thoughts and feelings on the subject she should be allowed to make her own decisions. You should reiterate your offer of support and friendship and leave the matter with her. You cannot drag her to parties kicking and screaming behind you. It surely would cause a stir amongst the gossips.”

  Laughing, Alanna nodded her agreement. “I fear you are correct. There really is nothing I can say to convince her if it is not something she wishes to do. That is sound advice, my darling brother. I think you shall make a perfectly lovely duke one day.”

  “I am already a duke. Do you not think I am a good one now?” he asked with some incredulity.

  Unrepentant, his little sister burst into a fit of the giggles. In good spirits they bantered back and forth as they made their way to the park where they were to meet Lady Victoria.

  As the duke handed his
sister down, she looked up at him with a rueful smile. “Can you believe I am rather nervous? How remarkably droll.”

  Bryghton grinned, offering no comment but tucking her hand snugly into his elbow.

  Victoria had been feeling anxious all day, and was finding it difficult to keep her attention fully on the children as they played in the parkette. That morning she had asked for an audience with her uncle, and she fought against discouragement as she thought back to the brief conversation.

  “Do you have a moment, Uncle?”

  His exasperated sigh almost made her back out of the room. “Not really, Victoria. What is it?”

  Forcing herself not to be evasive, she was blunt and to the point. “I would like to discuss my future with you, my lord. Will my aunt be arranging a Season for me? Do I have a dowry? What will come of me if I do not marry? I am afraid I am unqualified to be a governess, and I am struggling to manage all four of the younger children.”

  “I do not have time for this right now, Victoria. There is nothing for you to worry about in regards to your future. We promised your parents to look after you, and we will.”

  This comment contained no warmth, and no comfort. She swallowed her disappointment and nodded, keeping her attention on him, hoping he had more to say.

  “My wife has no complaints about your care of the children, so I doubt you are insufficiently qualified, but we have hired someone to help. She should be starting in the next day or two.”

  “That’s a relief, Uncle. While I love the children, I would very much appreciate a little time for myself.”

  “That sounds selfish to me, girl, but don’t worry, the woman seems capable enough, and you should be able to take some time for yourself to do whatever it is you want. And we are still looking for a governess, so do not trouble yourself about that. Now if there is nothing else, I need to get back to my work.”

  Heat had flooded her over his words. Victoria did not think she was being selfish to want help with the children and some time to herself. Their own mother didn’t spend time with them. Simmering inwardly, she bobbed a small curtsy and left her uncle to his occupation.

  She was aware of the carriage’s arrival as soon as it pulled up outside the park, as she had been anxiously anticipating Alanna’s appearance. Feeling the blood drain away from her cheeks at the realization that the lady had brought her brother, Victoria wondered absently if she should find somewhere to sit so she would not become faint.

  The children noticed the new arrivals, stopping their game to run over to their cousin. Daniel declared the obvious, “It’s the duke!” before shoving his thumb into his mouth with a worried look at his sisters. The children’s concern helped Victoria snap out of her own fidgets and she crouched down to reassure them.

  “Do not trouble yourselves, children. You may politely greet our friends and then carry on with your game. We are in a public place and it cannot be helped who we encounter. Perhaps the duke and his sister are merely here to take the air.”

  Vanessa gave her cousin an incredulous look, stating the obvious. “They are coming to speak with you, Aunt ‘Toria. Do you want us to tell them to go away?”

  Laughing at the children’s desire to protect her, she reassured them once more. “There is no need for that. We shall all be polite. Now mind your manners and say hello, then go ahead and have some playtime before we have to head back to the house.”

  “It is too bad of the lady not to bring Lord Alfred with her,” Felicia was heard saying just as Bryghton and Alanna got within earshot. “He is ever so much fun.”

  Alanna could barely stifle her laughter as she turned to her brother. “Clearly you have been found wanting, your grace.”

  Bryghton redeemed himself in the eyes of the children when he stopped and bowed to them politely. “Hello ladies and my lord, Daniel. How are you all doing today?” He gravely shook each child’s hand and placed a chaste kiss on the back of Lady Victoria’s, not remarking upon the slight tremble in hers but glancing at her pointedly when she would not meet his eyes. He endeavoured to contain a self-satisfied grin over her heightened colour and quickened breath. He turned back to the children.

  “My dear friend Lord Alfred could not accompany me today, but he has told me what a good time he has had with you and I was hoping you could show me the game you were playing with him. I must warn you that I may not be as skilled as he is, but I am a duke, so I shall give it my very best effort.”

  Four wide-eyed little faces gazed at him for a silent moment before Gwendolyn and Daniel burst out in a cheer. “Yay! Very well, Duke, we shall show you just what to do.”

  Vanessa, always more sober-minded, looked to her guardian for direction. Victoria, hiding her own disbelieving grin, gave her cousin a slight shrug. “Go ahead and show him your game. Dukes are allowed to play once in a while too, it would seem.”

  Alanna did not bother to hide her skeptical look from her brother. “Ensure you do not break any bones, your grace. You will be of no use to me if you are laid up for the rest of the Season.”

  Bryghton ignored his sister as the children grabbed him by his hands and pulled him over to where they had left their toys. He had to apply his considerable intellect to keep track of the four threads of conversation being strung around him haphazardly.

  Smiling their amusement, the two ladies made their way to a nearby bench.

  “When he agreed to accompany me I had no idea he was going to be a distraction to the children. That is brilliant of him, but so unexpected.”

  “Your brother is certainly full of surprises. I must say I was surprised to see him accompanying you today,” Victoria commented carefully.

  “Will that be a problem for you?” Alanna asked anxiously.

  Victoria could only offer a rather helpless shrug. “I cannot say for sure, Lady Alanna. I have far more questions than answers of late.”

  Both ladies lapsed into silence for a moment, watching as the children were demonstrating to the duke how to play the game to their specifications. In order to amuse the children Bryghton was making exaggeratedly droll errors and the four children were nearly collapsing with gales of laughter.

  Victoria turned to Alanna with sad eyes belying the smile upon her lips. “I gave a great deal of thought to your offer yesterday. You are right. I absolutely love my darling cousins. Even their big brother Everett can be a dear. But they are not my children and my position in my uncle’s household is precarious at best. I do need to make arrangements for my future. I am currently unsure of my financial situation, so I do not know if I could establish an independence if I could no longer live with the earl. Perhaps your suggestion of going about amongst the ton has merit. It will at least avail me of the opportunity to make an informed decision on the matter, at any rate.”

  Alanna was nodding eagerly in agreement. “That is exactly my thoughts. We do not have to make it a big to-do if you do not wish—you may simply accompany me as I make some morning calls or to a ball or two.”

  Blushing, Victoria pointed out the largest obstacle. “There is still the issue of what I can wear.” She hesitated with an air of indecision before launching into an uncomfortable explanation. “I asked for an audience with my uncle this morning. He was terribly busy so he could not give me very much time. I had several matters I wished to discuss with him about my future, such as whether or not I was to have a Season under their direction and where I stand with a dowry or what arrangements have been made for me whether I marry or not. He brushed aside all of my questions, promising to discuss them with me some other time. He did say, however, that he has arranged for another maid for the nursery, so I am to have more time to myself. He also promised to see about a governess for the children.”

  “That is wonderful news, Lady Victoria!”

  Victoria allowed a small sigh to escape her lips. “It is a little progress, but it is still so nebulous. I am really no further ahead. I do not know if the children will be provided for, and I do not know where I stand for
myself.”

  “If I may be so bold as to ask you a rather personal question, have you decided whose interests you are going to place first if you must choose? Yours or the children’s?”

  Victoria felt her face flame red at this question and she turned startled eyes to her companion. “Whatever do you mean?”

  “If the earl does not hire a governess, will you still come about with me?”

  Victoria tore her eyes away from Alanna’s searching gaze and watched the duke playing energetically with the four youngsters. A sweet smile formed on her lips. “I would dearly like to give it a try, my lady, and I thank you for the kindness of your offer. I cannot guarantee what the future holds, but I would like to taste this world you are offering me a glimpse of.” Victoria trailed off for a moment, gazing off into space, but then refocused her attention on her new friend. “I do fear the earl’s reaction if he were to find out, so I think it would be best to contain myself to some understated doings for now, but yes, please, I would look forward to it.”

  “Excellent. Now we must make some plans. Bryght suggested I should plan some sort of entertainment at our mother’s house and you could stay with us as our guest, which would raise no eyebrows. This would allow you to become familiar with some members of the ton in a more comfortable setting than at a stranger’s grand event. As well, I would be happy to take you with me as I make calls to introduce you to some of my friends.”

  Alanna paused before answering the touchier subject. “As to what you could wear, I would be perfectly happy lending you anything from my own closet that you would like to try. Since we are of the same height, everything would fit you, and with our very different colouring I’m sure that no one would notice or remark upon it, as I might have mentioned the other day. If you would prefer, we could even do some alterations to some of my gowns from last Season so that they are more your own. You could keep those ones, as I no longer have any use for them.”

  Victoria was taken aback by this offer. “Why do you have no use for them? Why did you not make them over for yourself for this Season if they are still serviceable?”