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

by Wendy May Andrews

“I am no longer a schoolgirl, Lord Dalton, and I can make decisions for myself. My uncle knows I am spending a few days visiting my friends. I am a guest of the Duchess of Wychwood this evening, which is perfectly aboveboard.”

  “But I understood that the earl had forbidden you to have any contact with the Duke of Wychwood.”

  Victoria blushed with equal parts embarrassment and anger. “Do my aunt and uncle really discuss my personal affairs with you?” she demanded in a low voice.

  Before he could reply, Bryghton, who had noticed the exchange, appeared at her side.

  “Dalton, once again I find myself surprised to see you in my house.”

  The viscount fixed a cool glare upon the duke. “I was under the impression this is your mother’s house.”

  “It is mine. She and my sister merely live here,” the duke answered haughtily. “And Lady Victoria is their guest. I will not have her accosted by the likes of you.”

  “I too am a guest of your sister. Do you wish to see the invitation she sent me?” Dalton asked derisively.

  Bryghton did not allow himself to be diverted. “That is neither here nor there. I will not allow you to make Lady Victoria uncomfortable. I would like you to leave.”

  Victoria, seeing that the situation was in danger of getting out of control, put her hand on Bryghton’s arm. “Your grace, all is well. His lordship was merely asking after my relatives. Please pay it no mind.”

  Victoria blushed as the viscount looked pointedly at her hand resting on the duke’s arm, but she merely lifted her chin in defiance of the rather sardonic look on his face. “Your grace, was this not to be our dance,” she asked rather boldly of Bryghton.

  Bryghton did not indicate by so much as the flicker of an eyelash that he had not, in fact, arranged for a cotillion with her, merely nodding curtly to the viscount and offering Victoria his bent elbow.

  “I could have sworn you had promised me the next waltz, not a cotillion. I would rather that so much more,” he stated in a low growl in her ear, his face remaining impassive as they neared the dance floor.

  Victoria blushed with a combination of delight and embarrassment over her forwardness. She stumbled over an apology. “I—your grace, I am so very sorry. I wanted to get out of that awkward situation with the viscount and did not know any other way that would not be ill bred or cause a scene, which I would rather die than let happen at your sister’s ball.”

  “I was merely jesting with you, ma petite. I pray you, do not trouble yourself over it. Although, I will reserve the right to claim that waltz you promised me a little later.”

  Victoria felt the colour return to her cheeks but this time it was with unadulterated pleasure. She was at a loss for words, which was just as well, as the dance took them away from one another for the time being. By the time they returned to each other she had herself well in hand once more, reminding herself that she was not to get any ideas in her head and to guard her heart as the duchess had admonished her. She knew the duke would not be interested in her imagined inheritance, but nonetheless she ought not to get inflated ideas as to his kindness to her. She pulled her thoughts sharply into order, realizing that even they were rambling. She fixed a sunny smile upon her face, hoping the duke would not wonder at her strangeness.

  “Are you certain all is right with you?” he asked, looking concerned.

  “Of course, what could possibly be wrong? Your sister has done a marvellous job of planning this ball. I must say I am remarkably impressed with how quickly she managed to pull it all together. I would have thought an entertainment of this size would take many weeks to arrange.”

  “She and my mother love to entertain, so they get a lot of practice,” he said, smiling. “And since they now have a reputation for successful events, their invitations are given priority by their invited guests.”

  “That must be so lovely.”

  “I am certain you will make a marvellous hostess one day,” the duke answered in an attempt to cheer her up, and as he said the words he knew them to be true.

  “Why would you say that? I have no experience in anything resembling putting on an event such as this,” she said with an expansive gesture to encompass the beautifully decorated ballroom, the teeming crowd of people, the delectable food, and the small orchestra tucked into the corner.

  “You may not have planned a ball as yet, but I do know you are a highly organized person. And I firmly believe that anyone who can keep four or five youngsters in order can handle anything a ton party could possibly throw at them.”

  “But we met during a display of just how unsuccessful I can be at keeping the children in order,” she reminded him with chagrin.

  “I do not recall that in the least. As I remember it you had everything under control. You were keeping an eye on the girls even as Daniel was climbing you as though you were a tree. If Alfred and I had not happened along you would have been just fine, as you had told me.”

  Victoria allowed herself to glance up at him through her lashes and was startled by the degree of warmth shining in his gaze. She felt a flutter in her midsection that was not unpleasant. Her smile was tremulous as she returned his gaze.

  As the last strains of the cotillion floated on the air, their moment of unity was interrupted by the duchess greeting them. “You two looked quite lovely paired up for the cotillion, but Victoria you must come along, I have a young gentleman I think you would particularly enjoy dancing with.”

  The duke shot his mother an inscrutable look and she smiled serenely back at him. Victoria could not help the small tinkle of laughter that escaped her lips. “The two of you could work for the government in matters of subterfuge. Neither of you ever reveal your thoughts by so much as a flicker of your eyes. I am undecided if I wish for this skill or not, but I must say it is a challenge to observe.”

  The duchess smiled warmly at Victoria. “That is quite all right, my dear. If you become a duchess I shall teach you everything I know.”

  This brought a slight blush to Victoria’s cheeks and stole her last thought as she trailed along in the duchess’ wake.

  The rest of the ball flew by in a whirl of activity for Victoria as she was handed from partner to partner. There was a brief moment out of time while she danced the waltz with Bryghton and it felt to her as though time was standing still. They exchanged few words but Victoria felt a oneness with the duke she had never felt before and a sense of peace pervaded her heart. But then as he handed her off to her next dance partner she wondered absently if it had been all in her imagination.

  As the dance floor began to thin, the wilting ladies and fading gentlemen took their leave of the duchess, her daughter, and Lady Victoria. Bryghton too had taken his leave some time earlier. Despite the thrills she had experienced on the dance floor in the duke’s arms and the lovely time she had had dancing with other young gentlemen, her run-in with the viscount had removed some of the shine of Victoria’s evening. She tried to push melancholy thoughts from her mind, but with the duchess’ warning about some gentlemen’s motives still ringing in her ears, coupled with worries over the problems she may face if the viscount tattled on her to her uncle, her mind was not resting easy.

  Despite her troubled thoughts, Victoria pasted a cheery smile on her face for her friend as Alanna bounced towards her. “Was that not the best evening you have had in an age?” she asked with a wide grin.

  Sidestepping the question, Victoria returned her friend’s grin. “I would certainly call this a success. You are a lovely hostess. It looked as if everyone was having a grand time. And it would seem like you did too. Are you happy with how everything turned out?”

  “Immensely,” Alanna replied with a smug grin. “I expect there will be several gentlemen calling ‘round to see my mama about asking for my hand. And yours too. I wonder if they will present themselves to the duchess or will they track down the earl. That is a conundrum we did not foresee. Since you are not being sponsored by the countess there will be some confusion.” Alan
na wrinkled her nose in slight distress.

  “Do not trouble yourself on the matter. I am not convinced there will be any applicants for my hand, but if any gentlemen truly want to marry me they will be able to determine whom they should speak to. And I would hope they would ask for my thoughts on the matter as well.”

  Alanna’s furrowed brow cleared and she was once again grinning happily. “I saw you taking a turn on the dance floor with the Earl of Compton. Was he not just the most divine dance partner? I hope you did not set your heart upon him because I have a mind to set my cap for him.”

  “He is all yours, my dear. I agree with you about his dance skills, but I cannot remember a single word we exchanged, so I do not think my heart was at all engaged by our encounter.”

  Alanna gazed at her friend with an arrested expression. “That is exactly the problem, is it not? I too want my heart to be engaged. That is why it has taken me three Seasons. I do not want to make a brilliant match. I want to find someone I can foresee enjoying time with for the rest of my life.”

  She let out a disconsolate sigh and Victoria gave her a quick, tight hug. “Never fear, he is out there and it will be all the more worth it for the wait. Never settle, my friend. You deserve to find a happily ever after.”

  Alanna smiled brilliantly at her friend and was about to pursue the conversation further when her mother returned to the ballroom. “What are you girls still doing in here? You should be seeking your beds. The sun will be rising shortly.”

  Victoria smiled. “I do believe our lovely lady here will be requiring some warm milk or perhaps something a bit stronger to help her nod off tonight. She appears far too excited about her successful party to be able to fall asleep any time soon.”

  The duchess returned her smile fondly. “You may be right, but I have a suspicion that as soon as she is out of her gown and into her nightclothes she will be singing a different tune. This type of excitement precedes a crash—mark my words, we will not see her rise before noon. What about you, young lady?” the duchess asked as she led the way up to the family’s private quarters. “Are you not overexcited from the thrills of your first ball?”

  “Not overmuch, your grace. I believe I danced quite enough to wear off the edge of the excitement and I shall sleep like a kitten until the morning is well advanced,” Victoria replied as honestly as possible as she climbed the stairs and entered Alanna’s room.

  The duchess’ prediction was accurate. Both girls fell into a deep sleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows. Just before she drifted off, Victoria had fleetingly wondered if her worries would keep her awake. As she blinked herself awake much later in the morning she was glad to see that her worries had left her alone for the night, but disappointed to see they were there waiting for her as soon as she opened her eyes.

  With a sigh she rolled out of the comfort of the warm bed and readied herself to face the day. She would be returning to her own home that day and she really should make haste. The children, whom she was ashamed to realize she had barely given thought to, would no doubt be anxiously awaiting her return. Hopefully if she timed it right she would be able to avoid facing the earl until she had been well ensconced in her return home. It was actually fortuitous timing, Victoria consoled herself, because tonight was the evening the earl was hosting a dinner party of his own, so she and the children would not be expected to visit the countess’ receiving room this afternoon.

  After a hasty breakfast and a reluctant farewell from Alanna, Victoria made her way to her own street. Steeling her nerves, she grasped her small satchel firmly and climbed the stairs to the front door. The butler must have been watching because the door was thrown open before she reached the top.

  “Welcome home, my lady,” Maxwell intoned gravely. He paused for a moment as a footman stepped forward to take her bag. “The household has been so astir over his lordship’s plans for this evening that I do not think your absence has been overly remarked upon, my lady. Although I dare say the children will be overjoyed to see you.”

  Victoria was relieved by this news, and not at all surprised that the wise old butler was aware she was keeping secrets. “Thank you Maxwell,” she answered with sincere gratitude. “I had best get up there and see how they are faring.”

  The day passed in a blur of activity. While the children did not mind their new nursemaid, Victoria was most definitely their favourite and they kept her busy at every moment, wanting to play all their usual games. She had trouble getting them settled to any lessons that day and was nearly worn to a frazzle by the time she had them all tucked into their beds. Her late night of dancing the previous evening coupled with the activities of the day had her longing to curl up and sleep for two days at least, she thought as she grinned at herself in her small mirror and began taking the pins out of her hair.

  Wistfully she recalled Gwendolyn’s words from earlier.

  “Your hair looks so pretty that way, Aunty. I’ve never seen it like that before.”

  “The friend I was visiting had a maid who was very good with styling hair and she was kind enough to show me a few things,” Victoria had answered.

  “Perhaps we need a maid like that,” Gwendolyn replied gravely.

  “I am certain you shall one day, my sweet. Or perhaps your mama will share her maid with you when you are old enough to put your hair up.”

  “That will be so much fun!”

  “Yes it will,” Victoria had agreed, thinking of how much she had enjoyed her time at Wychwood House.

  Victoria shook her head. “Stop your wool-gathering and get yourself to bed,” she admonished her reflection just as there was a sound at her door.

  A sigh of disappointment escaped her lips as she approached the door, thinking it must be one of the children having trouble falling asleep.

  Victoria was surprised to see Mrs. Marks on the other side of the door when she answered the quiet knock.

  “I’m sorry to be disturbing you, my lady, but you really must hurry. There’s something you need to hear,” the aging housekeeper said in quiet but urgent tones.

  “What is it, Mrs. Marks? I was just preparing for bed and am really quite tired, can this not wait until tomorrow?”

  “No, m’lady, it can’t wait, you must come now. Hurry!”

  Victoria had not yet changed into her night-rail but her hair was half taken down, so she simply tied it back with a ribbon and hurried after the housekeeper who was walking briskly towards the servants’ staircase.

  “I apologize for bringing you this way, m’lady, but it is for the best, you’ll see in a few minutes,” was all Mrs. Marks had to say until they reached the bottom of the stairs. “You had best be as quiet as possible,” she admonished as she lead the way.

  Victoria’s astonishment reached new levels as the housekeeper opened the door to the closet next to her office and pulled Victoria in after her. There was a small candle burning, shielded in such a way that light did not show under the door but they could see a little bit in the cramped space. She made to protest the housekeeper’s strange behaviour when she heard her uncle’s raised voice saying her name. Victoria gazed at Mrs. Marks with wide, worried eyes, her mouth open on a silent gasp as she listened to what the earl had to say.

  “What am I going to do about Wychwood’s prying? Ever since his flat of a brother accused me of being a sharp he has been digging into every aspect of my life that he can gain access to. Now he’s sniffing around my bird-witted niece, you tell me.”

  “I would hardly call Lady Victoria bird-witted, my lord,” replied a vaguely familiar voice Victoria could not quite place.

  “That is neither here nor there,” replied the earl angrily. “The issue is that the demmed duke is going to make me real trouble if I do not find a way to either get rid of him or silence him.”

  Victoria had to clamp a hand over her mouth to prevent a gasp of horror over the earl’s thinly veiled threats.

  The calmer voice in the next room endeavoured to soothe. “What is
the problem if he wants to waste his time digging into your business? I trust there is naught you need to worry overmuch about. Surely it is no doubt irksome having his men lurking about, but he will eventually realize it is all fustian nonsense and he will cease his harassment.”

  There was a short silence. Victoria and Mrs. Marks strained to listen. The unidentified voice continued with a much-altered tone. “It is all nonsense, is it not, my lord? Surely there is no truth to his claims that you have been fleecing innocents, including your own niece.”

  Victoria could barely recognize her uncle’s voice, as his tone was a strange blend of belligerence and whining. “I was nearly on the rocks and the demmed hussy is overflowing with funds. She has no need for all that money and she’ll never even know about it. Besides, my brother never should have left his affairs the way that he did. It isn’t right that she got everything and I got nothing.”

  “I would hardly call the earldom nothing,” the visitor answered drily. “With good management you could have done very well with the properties you received.”

  “Did you expect me to work like a commoner?” Pickering demanded, his horror clearly evident.

  “Employing some economy and carefully overseeing one’s steward is hardly turning oneself into a labourer,” came the reasonable argument. “But that is hardly the point here, is it. What are you going to do about the duke’s interference? Can you put the blunt back into her ladyship’s accounts? Surely, as her guardian, you are expected to dip into her funds for legitimate reasons such as the maintenance of her many properties and whatever myriad expenses young ladies incur.”

  “I haven’t a sixpence of my own to scratch with at the moment,” the earl admitted with terrible reluctance. “We must find some other way to silence him, and keep him away from the girl.”

  There was the scrape of a chair as the guest evidently rose and the voice drew nearer. “There is no ‘we’ in this my lord. I cannot stomach the thought of you robbing your niece and I will not be a party to it. My involvement was solely on the grounds that I believed Wychwood was telling Banbury stories. You are on your own with this.”