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

by Wendy May Andrews

  “The theatre!” she gasped with excitement as she squeezed Alanna’s hand. “How delightful! Thank you ever so much!”

  The footman handed the ladies down and Victoria looked around in amazement. “Everything looks so very different here at night with the lights blazing and so many beautifully dressed people milling about.”

  “Good evening, ladies.”

  Victoria felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up at hearing the duke’s voice behind her. She was relieved that the duchess and Alanna were replying to his greeting, as she felt momentarily struck dumb. She absently wondered if she would be able to handle the excitement of the theatre coupled with being in the duke’s presence at the same time.

  “You seem to be a world away,” Bryghton was saying to her.

  Victoria cleared her throat, hoping speech had not completely deserted her. “I am merely revelling in the anticipation of the treat before me this evening,” she replied and then grinned, delighted that she had managed to sound so composed.

  Bryghton, unaware of her thoughts, assumed her grin was caused by her delight at visiting the theatre, and admired once more her beauty and sunny disposition despite her past misfortunes. He returned her grin with one of his own.

  Victoria had to catch her breath at the sight. The duke so often maintained a serious expression, or one that was akin to boredom. It was rare that he allowed a full smile to grace his face, and Victoria had to blink in order to restore her focus after being so bedazzled. She forced her attention to return to the ladies.

  Hoping her voice sounded normal, Victoria turned to Alanna and asked, “Do we have much time before the performance begins? Should we make our way to wherever we will be sitting, or is there time for you to show me around?”

  “There is not sufficient time, this evening, my dear, I am sorry to tell you,” the duchess interjected before Alanna could reply. “We would have to come well in advance if you wanted to be shown around. The halls would be far too crowded at this point for the two of you to be traipsing about by yourself. Come along, we shall get ourselves seated and you can look around from there.”

  Victoria tried to hide her disappointment but she must not have done a complete job of it, since Bryghton took her arm and quietly promised, “Do not trouble your mind, my dear. I shall make sure to give you the full tour next time.”

  Victoria smiled at his kindness but wondered if there truly would be a next time. Her face must have again betrayed her thoughts, as the duke squeezed her elbow reassuringly and whispered, “I will make sure there is a next time.” She felt a thrill shimmy up her back and she almost grinned anew.

  After the quartet reached their box, the rest of Victoria’s night passed in a pleasant blur. If she had been later asked, she would not have been able to tell which production they had seen. She would only be able to tell how much she enjoyed it. She was dazzled by the glow of the myriad candles flashing upon the jewels of all the well-born guests enjoying the spectacle as they divided their attention between the drama on the stage as well as that going on in the surrounding boxes as the social scene unfolded.

  Victoria smiled in all the right places and responded to any questions or comments that came her way, but her mind was certainly not fully engaged. She was not lost in fantasies or daydreams; she was merely glowing, basking in a level of happiness and contentment that she had not experienced for many years.

  As the duke escorted the ladies back to their carriage he caught himself casting sidelong glances at Victoria, wondering if something was wrong, as she was even more quiet than usual. “Is anything amiss, my lady?” he asked her quietly, trying not to draw the attention of his mother and sister who were busily discussing the merits of the play.

  Victoria turned to him with a sunny smile. “Everything is perfect, your grace, thank you for asking. This evening has been glorious. I feel somewhat like Cendrillon from Charles Perrault’s tale. Your mother and sister are the fairy godmothers who have turned my rags into this beautiful gown, and I have had a wonderful time.”

  “And well you deserve it, as you are as lovely and gracious as Cendrillon in that tale.”

  Victoria felt the blush heating her cheeks. “Your grace, that is not what I meant at all.”

  Bryghton offered a negligent shrug. “Nonetheless, it is the truth. Now tell me, will you save me at least one dance tomorrow?”

  She cast her lashes downward and made an effort at coquettishness. “Perhaps,” she simpered before bursting into laughter. “I cannot play the proper debutante.”

  “Do not be anything but yourself and you will have the ton at your feet,” the duke vowed quietly just before they rejoined the duchess and Alanna, once more robbing Victoria of her voice.

  Victoria could feel the duchess’ searching gaze upon her but she was relieved when Alanna was the one to pepper her with questions.

  “So did you love the theatre? What was your favourite part?”

  With a laugh, Victoria answered as best she could. “I did love it, thank you ever so much for taking me. You were quite correct when you said I would be able to indulge my enjoyment of people watching. It seemed to me that more people were looking around than were looking at the spectacle on the stage.”

  “I told you that the entire premise of the Season is to see and be seen, did I not?”

  “That you did, my dear friend. I loved looking around at everyone and all the beautiful details of the theatre, but it did strike me as exceedingly rude to not be looking at the stage. Those actors were so skilled. The story they presented was so believable that I felt as though I was transported to another place and time. They must have had to work very hard to learn all their words and movements, and then so many could not be bothered to even pay them any attention.”

  The duchess could not prevent herself from interjecting. “Oh, my dear, you are showing yourself to be a green girl now. The ton does not care about the feelings of those who are being paid to entertain.”

  Victoria was not completely certain if the duchess was including herself in that assessment, so she contained her response to a quiet, “But they are people too.”

  Alanna had not really been paying attention to the direction of the conversation, still thinking about the drama they had watched. “I must say, I wonder why every single one of Mr. Shakespeare’s works are so dark and dreary. Did the man not believe in a happy ending?”

  “I suppose they would not be classified as dramas if they had a happy ending,” mused Victoria before interjecting, “but I do believe you are forgetting Twelfth Night. It has a lovely, happy ending.”

  Her grace joined the discussion. “And he did write many comedies. What about A Midsummer Night’s Dream?”

  “That does not have a happy ending, Mother,” objected Alanna. “Demetrius decides he does not love Hermia and everyone thinks it was all a dream.”

  “Perhaps it does not have a fairy tale ending, my dear, but you know life rarely does,” her mother reminded gently.

  “Well, I do not have to entertain myself with real life, do I, Mother? The sad bits about life are going to be there for me whether I like it or not. I do not need to be confronted by them while at the theatre.”

  Victoria stepped in to soothe her friend’s ruffled feathers. “Never mind about Mr. Shakespeare. No doubt the sixteenth century was rather grim. But my first theatre experience was perfectly lovely, and I thank you wholeheartedly for taking me. Now tell me, what do we have left to accomplish before your ball tomorrow? Is there anything I could be doing to help with the preparations?”

  “Not tonight, silly,” teased Alanna, allowing her attention to be diverted. “Nearly everything is in readiness. My mother’s staff is terribly efficient. But no doubt the housekeeper would appreciate a couple pairs of extra hands on the morrow before we barricade ourselves in my room to get ready.”

  “You girls must make an effort to get a good sleep tonight and do not be in a hurry to get out of bed in the morning. You will be dancing
all night and will have to remain in attendance until the last of the ladies has departed, so you want to be well rested so you do not begin to droop halfway through the night,” the duchess advised.

  Victoria bounced a little in her seat across from the duchess, bringing a fond smile to the lady’s face. “You really are excited about this, are you not?”

  “I cannot help it, your grace. Going about making calls with Alanna is all well and good, but to attend a ball during the Season at which half the ton will be in attendance is almost more than I can fathom,” she replied with a wide smile which dimmed a trifle as she continued. “My mother used to tell me about her own Season when I was a little girl. It sounded so glamorous and exciting. Not at all like the life we had on our country estate. She would tell me that a lady’s Season is not real life but a playtime before her real life begins. So I feel as though perhaps my real life will begin soon.”

  A look of concern flashed across the duchess’ face as she wondered what to make of the girl’s words.

  “Oh my lady, please do not allow my whimsical words to cause you alarm. It is merely the silliness a mother says to her young daughter when she thinks she will be around forever to guide and direct her. My mother had every expectation of accompanying me on my journey through the playtime and on into the rest of life. It shall be perhaps a touch bittersweet tomorrow.”

  The Duchess of Wychwood leaned across the carriage in a rare display of affection and clasped Victoria’s hand warmly. “I cannot take your mother’s place, but please know I will be happy to accompany you and provide any guidance you might need.”

  Victoria tried valiantly to prevent her lips from wobbling as she smiled at the duchess’ kind words. “Thank you, your grace. I am sure I will need some direction, to be sure.”

  Alanna chimed in at this, linking her arm with Victoria’s affectionately. “You do not need a single word of direction, my dear. Your manners are perfectly lovely, you always maintain your composure, and you never say the wrong thing. If I did not like you quite so much, I would not want to have you for a friend, as you show up all my hoydenish ways.”

  These words brought laughter to everyone and the serious moment passed as they returned to discussing the theatrical production and the dinner party they had attended. As they were handed down from the carriage and began to climb the stairs, Victoria was surprised by a huge yawn she could not contain.

  “You see, girls, you really should be in your beds getting your beauty sleep in preparation for the exertions tomorrow. Now get yourselves off to Alanna’s room and tucked in as speedily as possible. I will not be leaving my rooms until at least noon, so please do not disturb me before then.”

  The duchess dismissed the girls with these haughty words but with a warm twinkle in her eye shining clearly for Victoria to see as she shook her hand in farewell.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Victoria was quiet as she and Alanna climbed the stairs to their room. Alanna eyed her friend perceptively, and asked in a quiet voice, “Does being with my mother make you miss your own?”

  Victoria nodded a little dully before perking up and explaining. “Your mother is lovely. Not as lovely as mine was, of course,” she said with a teasing smile, “but her motherliness at times reminds me of the lack in my life. My uncle’s wife has never really even felt like my aunt, let alone taking a motherly role in my life.”

  Victoria paused for a moment but then quickly continued when she realized how self-pitying she might have sounded. “I do not mean to complain. I am quite well aware that my situation in life could have been ever so much worse. I have been well provided for, for the most part. I suppose it is quite natural to miss one’s parents when they are no longer here, especially when they are taken from you when you are so young.” She again paused before tilting her lips in a teasing smile. “You need not fear that I shall turn into a watering pot at the ball if your mother is kind to me. I shall keep myself quite contained.”

  “You always do—it never even crossed my mind to be concerned that you would not. Now hurry up and get into your night-rail, I want to giggle and gab a little longer before we drift off to sleep.”

  The two girls hastened to shed their finery with the help of the ever-attentive maids. Victoria absently marvelled over how delightful it was to have the ready assistance of servants. Dismissing the intrusive thought, she jumped onto the high bed and snuggled down into the warm, thick covers.

  Alanna chattered about the handsome lords she had seen at the theatre and talked to at the dinner party, and slowly Victoria felt her heavy eyes drift closed.

  Blinking herself awake, Victoria was confused to see bright sunshine flooding the room.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead,” Alanna greeted with a giggle.

  “Morning?” Victoria croaked before giggling herself and sitting up in the comfortable bed. “I am so sorry, Alanna. I must have fallen asleep while you were talking about Lord Smythe—how terribly rude.”

  “Pay it no mind, my dear. You must have been very tired. But the day is now well along and I am becoming rather hungry. If you get up now we can go and break our fast together.”

  Victoria threw back the covers, dangled her legs over the side and looked about. “I must tell you, I am particularly famished myself.”

  Victoria was surprised by how fast the time flew despite how little they did that day. In her usual hectic days of caring for the children she was never surprised to feel as though she had blinked and the day was over, but she had always thought that if only she had nothing to do the minutes would not whizz by with such breakneck speed. Perhaps it was the excitement, she mused to herself as she watched the skilled hands of the maid tending to her hair. Or perhaps it is the dread, she pondered, that just like the Cendrillon she compared herself to, it would all disappear at the stroke of midnight.

  “Why the deep sigh?” Alanna asked from the other side of the room. “You are not worrying your head over silly trifles again, are you?”

  Victoria blushed at being caught out. “Perhaps a little.”

  “Well, I tell you to stop it at once,” Alanna insisted in a pseudo-fierce voice. “You absolutely must enjoy yourself this evening.”

  “I have every intention of wringing every last drop of enjoyment there is to be had out of this evening, have no fear. I am certain that once we step foot into the ballroom there will be no place in my mind for worries.”

  “Now that is the correct attitude,” beamed Alanna as she finished preening before the looking glass. She turned back to Victoria. “Now if you are ready, we should go and present ourselves to the duchess.”

  “Thank you so much, Sally. Your handiwork has turned this duckling into a swan,” Victoria marvelled.

  The maid blushed with pleasure but demurred. “You was never a duckling, m’lady. You jest wasn’t having any need for such stylin’ ‘til now.”

  With a grin, Victoria followed Alanna from the room.

  Several hours later, Victoria found herself standing on the sidelines of the dance floor for the first time that evening, momentarily separated from either Alanna or the duchess. Watching the dancers taking their turns she lost herself in thought as she remembered the duchess’ words just before they began welcoming the guests.

  “Victoria, my dear, I wonder if I might broach a rather delicate subject with you,” the duchess had asked almost hesitantly.

  “Of course, your grace. I would hope you do not stand on ceremony with me,” Victoria had smiled.

  “I wanted to warn you to guard your heart this evening. We are not hiding your identity in any way, so many will assume that, as the daughter of an earl, you might be a considerable heiress.”

  Victoria had made as if to protest but the duchess had cut her off.

  “I understand you do not have the information as to the size of your inheritance so I have not felt in a position to put any word around about your situation. You may be a grand heiress or you may not. The fact is, some unsavoury character
s will assume that you are, and may pursue you in the hopes of gaining control of whatever funds you may have. I merely wish to put the bug in your ear to be on your guard that not everyone who pursues you this evening will be doing so out of the purest motives.”

  Victoria had blinked blankly at the duchess for a moment, at a loss for words. She forced a light laugh. “Well, I am happy to hear you think some gentlemen will pursue me this evening, even if I have to question their motives. I would hate to be a complete wallflower at my first ball.”

  “I have absolutely no doubt that you will be the farthest thing from a wallflower,” the duchess had replied kindly.

  Victoria could feel the duchess’ watchful eyes searching hers for her true reaction to her words. Victoria did not wish to reveal the hurt she was feeling, so with another light laugh she turned away with the words, “I do believe I hear your knocker, your grace. We had best join Alanna and help her with welcoming her guests.”

  The duchess had allowed her escape.

  Victoria’s melancholy thoughts were interrupted by an incredulous voice calling her name.

  “Lady Victoria?” Lord Dalton asked.

  “My lord,” Victoria answered, dipping into a polite curtsy despite her inward wish to groan and run away.

  “I must say, this is the very last place I would ever expect to see you.”

  “Why do you say that, my lord? I was in the company of Lady Alanna and the Duchess of Wychwood when we saw each other last night. It should not be such a surprise to see me present tonight.” She added a charming smile in an effort not to appear confrontational.

  The viscount ignored her statement. “Does the earl know where you are?”

  Victoria raised her chin slightly. “I do not wish to be rude, my lord, but I do not see how it is any business of yours where I might spend my evenings.”

  “It may not be my business, but I am quite certain the earl would consider it to be his,” Lord Dalton replied.