A Season of Romance

by Wendy Soliman

  'It will be my first foray into high society. Naturally, I'm apprehensive that I'll be given the cut direct by everyone we meet, but with Simon and Emily, as well as Mrs Featherstone, by my side I'm sure no one will have the temerity to insult me directly.'

  As she arrived in the hall he stepped forward looking magnificent in his evening black. His eyes gleamed with appreciation when he saw her. 'You look ravissante, Bella, a diamond of the first water. I'll be the envy of every gentleman present with you on my arm.'

  His compliment failed to calm her nerves. 'Are you quite sure about this? I've a dreadful, sick feeling that my disgrace will…'

  He closed the distance between them and pulled her hard against him ignoring the shocked expression on the butler's face. 'You've done nothing wrong, it's that woman who's to blame for any unpleasantness. I can assure you nobody will dare be anything but polite to you tonight.'

  'It's not what they say to my face, Simon, it's what they say behind my back. The whispers that will travel around the room as we pass through it that I'm dreading.'

  'Remember this isn't a grand, formal affair but an intimate gathering of friends and acquaintances. Exactly the kind of event for you to make your first appearance as my betrothed. Inevitably there will be a few who initially believed the tittle-tattle, but they will be in the minority.'

  He released her and held out his arm and willingly she put hers through it. 'Do you think there will be a waltz? I should dearly like to perform it with you but perhaps that is too risqué for you in the circumstances.'

  His smile was roguish. 'We might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb, sweetheart, so if there's a waltz played then I'll lead you out.'

  He lifted her into the carriage without allowing her to climb the steps. He kicked them up and then jumped in behind her.

  'Good evening, ma'am, Emily. I hope you're not dreading this evening as much as I am.'

  'Things won't be as bad as you fear, there might be a few sideways glances but nobody will dare to defy Lord Sawsbury and his friends.'

  'Well said, ma'am, and I thank you for your able assistance in this matter. I hope they provide a decent supper as I'm sharp-set because I didn't have time to dine tonight.'

  'How can you think about food at a time like this? My stomach is roiling – the very thought of food makes me nauseous,' she replied.

  'My brother has a prodigious appetite, Bella, our parents used to say he had hollow limbs.'

  Simon was sitting so close to her she could feel the heat from his thigh pressed against her. She rather liked the comfort it gave her. 'I suppose to become so large a gentleman must have required a great deal of eating.'

  The journey to Hanover Square would have taken no more than twenty minutes on foot but it was more than an hour before their carriage halted outside the house. The flambeaux blazed on either side of the short, paved path that led to the front door.

  'Look at that, they have put down a strip of red carpet. Do we have to do the same for my ball?'

  'I fear so, it's de rigeur at all the most prestigious events of the Season. I intend to take you both to Vauxhall Gardens when the weather is more clement. Have you attended any of the events held there, Mrs Featherstone?'

  Two footmen, immaculate in their livery, opened the door with a flourish and pulled down the steps. Mrs Featherstone's reply carried wonderfully well to all those making their way to the front door.

  'Vauxhall Gardens? A den of iniquity, a scandalous place, and not somewhere I'd recommend that you take Lady Emily or your future wife.'

  'I should love to go, Simon, I believe there are masquerades and concerts as well as fireworks and other exciting things,' Emily said.

  'Then no doubt I'll be obliged to escort the pair of you at some point. I'm sure, ma'am, with you to chaperone no one can cast aspersions in our direction.'

  Emily and Mrs Featherstone were handed out first and then she followed. Simon, again ignoring the steps, jumped down beside her.

  'I'm surprised it's still so busy as the time is now well after eight o'clock and the invitation stated seven.'

  'I believe this isn't the small, intimate soirée we expected, I think there will be more than fifty couples here.' Emily didn't sound at all perturbed about this so Bella decided she wouldn't let it worry her either.

  She immediately detected several sideways glances and sly nods in their direction that were an indication the gossip had arrived ahead of them. Lord and Lady Danbury and their daughters greeted them effusively. They couldn't have made it clearer that they were doing everything they could to negate the rumours.

  Simon led them through the press of people and into the comparative quiet of the dining room which was as yet not set out for supper.

  'Excuse me, my lord, I'm going in search of my friends. I think it might be wise to have them around us when we join the throng.' Mrs Featherstone sailed away leaving the three of them together.

  There was a sudden, hideous screeching as if a cat was being dismembered, it was the string quartet tuning up to play. The awful racket defused the tension and they smiled at each other.

  'Devil take it! If that's the quality of the musicians I shudder to think what the food might be like.'

  She giggled, not something she often did. 'I'd have thought, my lord, you might be more concerned about the quality of the wine served.'

  'Aunt Jemima is a godsend, Simon, I must make sure I thank your friend if he comes tonight. I honestly believe that with her support we'll come through this ordeal unscathed.'

  Bella prayed Emily was correct.

  *

  She tugged at his sleeve. 'Good Lord, look at that. There must be half a dozen military gentlemen in their best regimentals marching towards us, plus another four or five accompanied by their wives and daughters. I've never seen anything so splendid.'

  They were closely followed by Mrs Featherstone, who he thought he might bring himself to call Aunt Jemima from this moment forward.

  'Lord Sawsbury, Lady Emily, Miss Burgoyne allow me to introduce you to my friends.'

  After a lot of bowing, curtsying and shaking of hands he and Bella were now surrounded by a phalanx of supporters. She was no longer looking so pinched and pale and he began to believe the evening would not be the disaster he'd anticipated.

  There were so many of them in their party that they filled one end of the drawing room forcing others to shuffle up in order to make room for them.

  'Isn't this jolly, young man? If no one wishes to speak to us then so be it, we shall have an excellent time amongst ourselves.'

  'Aunt Jemima, it was a fortunate day for me when your nephew sent you to us. I'll never forget what you've done for us tonight.'

  'I've not had so much fun since Waterloo. There's nothing I like better than organising the troops, both literally and figuratively you understand.'

  Their section of the reception room was so lively that within a short space of time hopeful guests were drifting around the edges waiting for an introduction. When Danbury and his wife and daughters eventually joined their guests they too became part of his group. It could not have been plainer to the remainder of the guests that whatever gossip had been spread it was untrue.

  'Sawsbury, can I speak to you for a moment in private? Miss Burgoyne is well-protected and will suffer no insult in your absence.'

  Bella heard this request and nodded. 'Yes, do go and speak to Lord Danbury. Do you have any objection if I dance first with somebody else?'

  He was about to tell her to wait but she looked so happy he hadn't the heart to do so. 'As long as it's not the waltz, sweetheart, you can dance with any other gentleman in our party.'

  There was no need to say any more as she understood immediately that it wasn't worth the risk of leaving the protection of the group.

  In the relative quiet of Danbury's study, he waited impatiently to hear what was so urgent it couldn't wait until tomorrow.

  'I owe you an apology, my lord, as Burgoyne has had to come to
my rescue a second time and this was to your detriment.'

  'Devil take it, sir, you owe me nothing. I can assure you matters have been concluded to my advantage and I'm just glad that you and your family are still solvent after the loss of the fleet.'

  'My dear wife told me of the scurrilous rumours that Lady Jones has been circulating. It was only because of that I decided to continue with this party. Between the excellent offices of Lady Danbury and Mrs Featherstone, I think we can be sanguine that Miss Burgoyne's reputation remains intact.'

  Simon was overwhelmed by the kindness of a man he scarcely knew – but then Danbury was doing it for his friend, not for him. 'I can assure you your actions are appreciated. We intend to be married at the end of June and would be honoured if you and your family would return to attend.'

  'That is most kind of you, my lord, but this house will no longer be available after this week.'

  'We have more than enough room to accommodate you and your daughters in Grosvenor Square so that will be no obstacle to your attendance. If travel is a problem then I'll send my carriage for you.'

  'My estate is a day's drive from here and I wouldn't dream of putting you to the inconvenience. I must retrench, but not so much that I'm obliged to give up my carriage.'

  They shook hands and Simon went in search of Bella. Fortunately, the musicians played better than he'd expected and there was a lively country dance being performed in the ballroom. There was no difficulty finding his party as the bright colours of the officers stood out wonderfully amongst the black of the other gentlemen.

  He scanned the couples in the three sets upon the dance floor but could not see her. Then she was beside him.

  'You were scowling, Simon, I thought you were not as happy to let me dance with another as you pretended. As you can see I've waited until you returned. As your punishment you will dance every dance until supper with me whether you wish to or not.' There was something forced about her smile and it worried him. She was doing her best to appear lively and in good spirits but it didn't fool him for one minute.

  'If I trample on your feet a few times I'm certain you will change your tune.' She smiled weakly but ignored his teasing comment.

  'Aunt Jemima has told me that the rule of dancing no more than twice with any gentleman doesn't apply to married or betrothed couples. Therefore, we can stand up together as often as we care to.'

  'If it is as I wish then it will not be more than once – but I suppose I must indulge you as this is your first public appearance.'

  Her smile slipped and he saw unshed tears. She half-turned so only he could hear her. 'I've not ventured anywhere, have remained firmly within this circle, but Elizabeth and Sarah Danbury have moved about and there are still some here who appear to believe what they heard.'

  'I can't understand why this should be so. We couldn't have made it clearer that they were false rumours put about by a spiteful woman of no account.'

  'Sarah said Lady Humphrey is telling everyone you are so desperate to have papa's money you're prepared to take soiled goods.'

  He felt a surge of rage unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. Her eyes widened and he tried to school his features and somehow managed to smile.

  'Bella, can you point out this person?'

  'Even if I could, I would not do so. There's nothing you can do, Simon, we will keep a brave face on things tonight but then we must accept the damage is done and nothing we say or do will bring back my good name.'

  He could have lied to her, told her what she wanted to hear, but if their marriage was to be successful they must be honest with each other. 'I fear you're right, my love, but once we're married and you're the Countess of Sawsbury things will be different. I know of at least two eminent peers who have married their mistresses and these women are now received in all the best drawing rooms.'

  'I wish it were otherwise; I might be naïve but I'm not stupid. The set is coming to an end but I no longer wish to dance. I'd much rather go home.'

  'Listen, it's the waltz. We shall dance that together and be damned to the tabbies.'

  Chapter Ten

  To Bella's surprise instead of being led through the suspicious crowd alone all the officers paraded around them with suitable partners. Even dear Aunt Jemima was going to waltz in order to support her.

  The ballroom floor was empty. A strange hush had fallen and she believed that every eye was upon her. She was walking much closer to Simon than was considered proper but in the circumstances, she was grateful for his proximity as she doubted her legs would have carried her forward without it.

  'Smile, my love, brazen it out. Have you noticed that the Danbury girls are waltzing with two of Aunt Jemima's officers? If they can defy the rules for you then you must be brave.'

  His words were enough to stiffen her spine and force her mouth to curve. The musicians played with gusto and before she had time to protest she was dancing. This was not a dance she'd practised overmuch and she had feared she would forget the complicated steps as they involved not only parading side by side but also spinning around the floor with his arm around her waist.

  However, the moment she began to dance with him her reservations vanished and her smile became genuine. They swirled around the floor and were immediately joined by the other dozen couples in their party. This meant there was no room for anyone else and by the time the last chords were played a dozen eager young ladies and their partners were waiting on the fringes of the floor for their turn.

  'That was quite wonderful, Simon, if it wasn't for the fact that to do so would deprive others of the treat I would insist we danced again.'

  'I've spoken to Danbury and there will be half a dozen waltzes played tonight. This is a family gathering, albeit a rather large one, and the rules of etiquette don't apply so strictly. We shall dance again, but perhaps wait until after supper.'

  He led her, again accompanied by their protective barrier of scarlet, blue and gold, around the edge of the ballroom. Although he was smiling and chatting his eyes were hard and she swallowed a lump in her throat. Someone had unwisely told him the perpetrator of this gossip and he intended to speak to her.

  They halted in front of a portly matron wearing an extraordinary turban with half a dozen wildly waving ostrich feathers attached to it. Her gown, also burgundy, did nothing to disguise her spreading figure.

  'Please, Simon, don't confront her.'

  He glanced down and smiled. 'Never fear, my love, I'll do nothing to embarrass you further.'

  'Lady Humphrey, I am Sawsbury. I believe you have something to say about my future countess. Would you care to repeat it to us?'

  The unfortunate lady first turned the same colour as her ensemble and then her cheeks paled. Bella glanced at her future husband and he looked quite different. His arctic stare pinned Lady Humphrey to her chair.

  'My lord, I believe I was misinformed. I give you my word I shall ensure that everyone knows the rumour to be untrue.'

  'It would have been better, madam, for you not to have spread such vile untruths in the first place. You will not be received anywhere in future. I suggest that you leave immediately.'

  The wretched woman rose unsteadily to her feet. 'Perhaps you would be kind enough to convey a message to your friend, Lady Jones?'

  The ostrich plumes danced as she nodded vigorously.

  'Excellent. I have a long reach and her perfidy will not go unpunished.'

  No more was said. The entire conversation had taken no more than a few moments but he had by his few words possibly changed everything for her.

  'You are quite terrifying when you're angry, Simon, I almost felt sorry for that woman.'

  'Then do not do so, she and her ilk are the scourge of Society. They thrive on spreading gossip and like nothing better than to see lives ruined by their cruelty. I can assure you by the time I've finished with the pair of them they will rue the day they spread falsehoods about you.'

  The remainder of the evening was quite different as th
e atmosphere had changed and everywhere she looked people nodded and smiled. She danced two more waltzes but declined the invitation to stand up in a country dance.

  Supper was plain but plentiful – exactly what they both needed after the excitement earlier. At midnight the carriages were called for and she thanked her gallant soldiers and their partners before Simon escorted her back to the carriage.

  'We can't depart, Emily and Aunt Jemima are not here.'

  'They are staying until the end. I believe that my sister is enjoying having the attention she's getting from those officers. Three of them are unmarried and all perfectly eligible.'

  'Perhaps I should have danced with one of them – but then my hair would have clashed horribly with their jackets.'

  The interior of the carriage was dark and chilly after the warmth and light of the house. He dropped down beside her on the squabs and immediately his arm was around her waist and he drew her close to his side.

  'I enjoyed this evening but I don't think I'll attend any more events, apart from Emily's ball in a few weeks' time.' She sighed and relaxed into his arms. 'Even with you at my side I really don't think I can face another night like tonight.'

  'Then concentrate on visits to the sites, and only accept private invitations. I guarantee there'll be plenty from Aunt Jemima's cohort of military friends. We can also ride and drive in the park every day.'

  'You don't mind if we avoid the major events and balls?'

  'Mind? I'm delighted that you have no interest in such things. Thank God I now have a companion and chaperone for Emily so I don't have to accompany her everywhere.'

  'Her ball is not for another four weeks – I would much rather retire to our estate and not attend anything at all.'

  'I have a better suggestion – why don't we all, including your parents, go to my estate? There are bound to be changes you want to make so it makes sense for you to see the place before we marry so I can get everything in hand.'