by Amelia Grey
Bray sipped his champagne, and the two moved away from the serving table and over to a corner, where they could talk in private.
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“You hadn’t noticed that you haven’t danced with the one lady in the room whom everyone keeps expecting you to dance with?”
“No.”
“Well, I don’t know what to say to that.”
“Sure you do. You always have something to say.”
“All right, then, I’ll speak truthfully and say I don’t believe you.”
Bray turned away from the old man and looked around the ballroom. “I wish you didn’t know me so well. It’s a damn nuisance at times.”
Seaton harrumphed. “Don’t try to change the subject. You know everyone is waiting for you to dance with Miss Prim, which is precisely the reason you haven’t.”
Bray shrugged and took another sip of his drink.
“I suppose you’re really not hard to figure out. If the majority of people expect you to do something, I can bet money you won’t. Everyone is assuming you haven’t asked Miss Prim to marry you.”
“Are they?”
“It’s being whispered.”
“But you know I asked her to marry me and that she turned me down.”
“No one else seems to know that.”
Bray thought on that for a few seconds. “I wonder why Miss Prim hasn’t told anyone.”
“I doubt anyone has been bold enough to come right out and ask her if you have offered for her hand. By your actions tonight, it’s a rational assumption that you haven’t.”
Bray kept his features passive, but his thoughts went back to the day he told Miss Prim she would have to ask him to marry her. He was thinking now that might not have been his finest hour, but it certainly gave him reason to pursue her if he decided to do so. Pursuit grew more tempting each time he remembered those blindfolded kisses.
“Have you even spoken to her this evening?”
“Yes.”
Bray looked up and saw Louisa and Mrs. Colthrust walking toward the champagne table. His stomach clenched again, and he wondered how long he was going to feel affected when he looked at her. She and her chaperone seemed to be deep in conversation and didn’t notice him or the other gentleman standing in the corner.
She looked divinely lovely in her dark ivory gown with its provocatively sheer sleeves. And while her hair being swept up on top of her head was quite becoming, he would much rather see Louisa’s long silken curls hanging past her shoulders.
“Have you met Miss Prim, Seaton?”
“Not yet.”
“Then it’s time you did.”
Bray and Seaton walked over to the champagne table.
Miss Prim’s back was to him, and when the server extended a glass to her, Bray reached out and took the glass from the server. “Allow me,” he said, and handed her the glass. He then gave one to Mrs. Colthrust and introduced Seaton to them.
After their greetings, Seaton immediately caught Mrs. Colthrust’s attention and engaged her in a conversation about a mutual friend. Bray would have to remember to thank him for keeping the chaperone busy while he talked to Miss Prim.
“I don’t think you’ve sat down all evening,” Bray said to her.
“I haven’t. There’s no time between the dances. I’m so glad the musicians finally took a break so I could have something to drink.”
“You are very popular.”
“So are you.”
“So we’ve been watching each other.”
“Your mother was very kind to Gwen tonight.”
“Changing the subject, are you, Miss Prim?”
“I think it best, don’t you? Your mother introduced us to two of the patronesses of Almack’s. They seemed to enjoy talking to Gwen. I’m sure we’ll be receiving vouchers sometime during the Season.”
“Her Grace wouldn’t have helped you if she hadn’t wanted to.”
“Louisa, there you are!” Gwen said, running up to her and taking hold of both her hands. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Your Grace,” she said, giving him a hurried glance and half a curtsy before turning back to her sister. “This evening has been absolutely heavenly. I’ve had the most wonderful time of my life. You’ll never guess what has happened!”
“I’m sure I can’t possibly guess what has you so thrilled.”
“I need your very best wishes because I’ve met the man I’m going to marry!”
Miss Gwen giggled excitedly. Miss Prim’s shocked gaze flew to Bray’s. Her sister’s pronouncement didn’t surprise him. This was what innocent young girls did when they found themselves at their first ball and in the company of a handsome gentleman who was showing them attention, but apparently, Miss Prim didn’t know it was to be expected. She was looking as if nothing could have shocked her more.
“You can’t have,” Miss Prim admonished her sister lightly. “This is only your first ball. You’ve been here less than four hours.”
“And I didn’t even need all four hours to find him,” Miss Gwen declared. “I only had to look into his eyes once, and I knew he was the husband for me. And he dances so divinely.”
“Gwen, you can’t be serious.”
“But I am,” she said again, and gave Bray another quick glance. “I swear I knew it the moment I saw him.”
Miss Prim looked at Bray, too, as if to suggest he could do something about her silly sister’s proclamation. Bray was staying out of this fray.
“Did I meet him tonight? What is his name?”
“Yes, you met him.” Miss Gwen’s eyes turned dreamy. “Mr. Stanly Standish. Wait until you see him smile, Louisa—you will fall in love with him, too.”
I hope not, Bray thought.
Miss Prim looked to Bray again. And again, he remained noncommittal. Helping an innocent deal with her first blush of love was beyond him. Besides, he was usually the cause of the infatuation.
“He’s the most handsome gentleman I’ve ever seen. I’m in love, Louisa. Be happy for me, I’m in love.”
“But you can’t be in love—surely you know how outrageous that sounds,” her sister argued.
Miss Gwen gaped at Miss Prim as if she were daft. “But I am. Remember you told me you would not try to tell me whom I could and couldn’t marry.”
“I told you that, but I didn’t think you were going to fall for the first gentleman you met.”
“Oh, you can be so picky sometimes. He wasn’t the first gentleman I met, but I knew the moment I saw him that he was the one for me. And he must be in love with me, too, because he asked me to go for a ride in the park tomorrow afternoon. I told him I’d go.”
“Well, you can’t go,” Miss Prim countered defiantly.
“Of course she can,” Mrs. Colthrust said, stepping away from Seaton to add to the discussion. “This is just the sort of thing we want for her. She needs to be sought after by acceptable young men like Mr. Standish. His uncle is an earl, and he’s third in line for the title!”
“I don’t care who or what his uncle is,” Miss Prim said. “It’s much too soon for her to be riding in a carriage alone with a man, especially if she thinks she loves him.”
“Where do you get these odd ideas, Louisa?” Mrs. Colthrust said. “It’s a good thing I am handling her Season and not you, or she’d never make a match. It’s perfectly acceptable for her to ride in the park with Mr. Standish. It will help her gain attention from other gentlemen when they see she has met the favor of a well-sought-after young man so soon.”
“It won’t help her if she is already declaring herself in love!” Miss Prim looked at Bray again. “Do something, Your Grace.”
Bray reached over and picked up a glass of champagne. He handed it to Miss Gwen and said, “Congratulations.”
Miss Prim’s eyes shot daggers at him.
Chapter 18
Why, this is very midsummer madness.
—Twelfth Night, act 3, scene 4
Louisa had never slept so late,
but then she’d never been up so late the night before either. Mrs. Colthrust had assured her on the way home that every night would be as late or later during the Season and that after a few evenings, she would get used to the change in her sleeping habits. Louisa could tell she wasn’t going to like that.
After much talking last night, she’d finally made Gwen admit that she would have to wait until Mr. Standish offered for her hand before she could start planning her wedding. Though Gwen continued to insist that it was love at first sight for both of them and she had no doubts Mr. Standish would ask her to marry him. Louisa thought the conversation would have gone much better had Mrs. Colthrust not agreed with everything Gwen said.
Louisa had spent most of the morning wringing her hands behind her back while helping Gwen get ready for her very first ride in the park. Louisa thought it ridiculous that she wanted to try on every dress in her wardrobe when she’d just had them all made in the last four weeks. But in order to prove she wasn’t the hovering nanny Gwen had accused her of being, she indulged her sister and watched while she tried on every dress and some more than once.
Louisa still thought it much too soon to allow Gwen to go for a ride with a gentleman, especially one who was a known heartbreaker, but Mrs. Colthrust had insisted it was perfectly fine. Because of the duke’s warning, Louisa had reservations about Mr. Standish that brought her to the point of pacing in the drawing room while she waited for Gwen’s suitor to arrive.
Gwen was nervous, too, but for a different reason, of course. Why couldn’t her sister have been attracted to Mr. Newman? He was handsome and seemed like a kind and sensible young man.
Louisa heard footsteps rushing down the stairs, and moments later, Gwen flew into the drawing room. “Am I late? He’s not here, is he?”
“No, no, don’t fret so. You are dressed in plenty of time,” Louisa said.
“How do I look? Do I need to change anything?”
Gwen twirled, and Louisa had to laugh. She’d never seen such enthusiasm from her sister.
“You look beautiful, and you know you do.” Her pale green dress was sprigged with a darker green thread. She held a matching bonnet, parasol, and pelisse in her hand.
“Thank you, Louisa.” She ran over to the window to wait and watch. “He’s getting out of his carriage.” She spun back toward Louisa. “Are my cheeks rosy and my lips pink?”
“Calm down, my dear. You look perfect. I have Mrs. Trumpington making tea to go with the apple tarts she made this morning. I think he will enjoy them, don’t you?”
Gwen clasped her hands together and said, “Oh, do we have to stay here for tea? Please can’t we just go out and enjoy a lovely afternoon in the park? Please.”
“It’s the polite thing to do. You don’t want him thinking we don’t have proper manners. Besides, it will give both of us more time to get to know him before you go.”
“You shall have plenty of time for that, Sister, but not today. Let me get to know him first, please?”
Louisa opened her mouth to deny her sister’s request when the door knocker sounded. Gwen kissed her cheek and started to rush out of the room but stopped short when she saw Mrs. Colthrust standing in the middle of the doorway.
“Turn around, young lady. Mrs. Woolwythe is going to answer the door. She will show Mr. Standish in here.”
Gwen looked at Louisa for help, but Louisa ignored her request. Gwen stomped her foot, then turned her back to both of them.
A couple of minutes later, Mr. Standish was shown into the drawing room and seated on the settee beside Gwen with a respectable amount of distance between them. Mr. Standish was tall, a handsome man perhaps just a couple of years younger than the duke but not nearly so arrogant. His dark brown hair was a conservative length, but his brown eyes had a mischievous twinkle in them that caused Louisa a little worry. While they waited for the tea to be served, Louisa thought he seemed a little too comfortable and at ease with himself. She would have much rather he be a little bit intimidated or at least nervous to sit across from Gwen’s older sister and chaperone, but he was relaxed and handling himself very well.
“How often do you visit the earl’s estate in Dover, Mr. Standish?” Mrs. Colthrust asked.
“We just came from spending a couple of weeks there,” he said, and took the teacup. “My uncle is generous to my parents, and all his family. He seems to enjoy it when we go for a visit.”
“That’s lovely to hear. I went to Dover once, and it was peaceful to walk along the rocky cliffs and look down at the water. Do you find it peaceful, Mr. Standish?”
“There’s no other place like it, though it can be quite windy there, especially through the winter months.” He looked at Gwen. “Have you been there?”
“No,” she said, looking at him with dreamy eyes. “I’m afraid my travels have been limited to only short distances from the village where we grew up. In fact, London is the farthest I’ve been from the Wayebury estate. I would love to go to Dover one day. I’m sure I’d love it.”
“Perhaps you shall,” Mr. Standish said. “I do believe the moon shines brighter there than any other place in England.”
Louisa remained quiet and let Mrs. Colthrust and Gwen do most of the talking to Mr. Standish. Louisa was content simply to watch the beau and see how he spoke and how he looked at Gwen. So far, Louisa hadn’t found a thing wrong with his manners or his demeanor, and she saw no reason for concern. She wanted to see if he seemed to be as smitten with Gwen as she was with him. His eyes and voice softened just a little every time he looked at her and talked to her. And was there a reason he’d mentioned the moon when talking about Dover? Was he moonstruck, too?
When the tea had grown cold and the conversation paused, Louisa stood up and said, “You two should get started on your afternoon ride.”
Mr. Standish thanked them, and Louisa and Mrs. Colthrust walked to the front door with them. Lillian, Sybil, and Bonnie sat with Saint on the bottom two stairs. Gwen introduced them to Mr. Standish, and he greeted them warmly.
“Can I go for a ride, too?” Bonnie asked him as he took his coat and hat from Mrs. Woolwythe.
“Not this time, Miss Bonnie.”
“How about me?” Sybil asked. “I’m older, and I won’t be any trouble.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for another time, too,” he said, and turned to help Gwen don her cape. “I’ve promised this afternoon to Miss Gwen.”
Louisa was impressed that Mr. Standish didn’t have to grope for her sisters’ names as the duke had had to. Perhaps His Grace could learn a few things from Mr. Standish. Louisa and Mrs. Colthrust waved good-bye to Gwen and Mr. Standish. He had been a perfect gentleman. She was beginning to wonder if the duke had deliberately tried to cause her distress by telling her that Mr. Standish was a scoundrel and as wild as the duke when he was younger.
When he was younger?
Louisa scoffed to herself. What was she thinking? The duke was still a wild scoundrel. In less than five minutes, he’d had her pinned against the bookshelves, enjoying his strong embrace and ardent kisses.
“Now that they’re gone, I’ll be heading to my room to rest for an hour or so, or I won’t be delightful companionship for anyone tonight. Have no fear, Louisa, I’ll be belowstairs by the time they return.”
“All right,” Louisa said, and looked down at the girls on the stairs. “Now it’s time for you two to head back to the classroom with Miss Kindred.” The girls turned to follow Mrs. Colthrust up the stairs, and so did Saint. “Not so fast for you, Saint.” She clapped her hands. “Come. You are staying here.”
“Does he have to?” Bonnie whined.
“Yes. He doesn’t have lessons, and you do. Now, off you go.”
Louisa took Saint outside and walked around in the garden for a few minutes before heading back inside with him. As she made her way down the corridor, she heard a knock on the door. She started toward it, thinking Gwen must have forgotten something. Mrs. Woolwythe came out of the drawing room ahea
d of her. “I’ll get that, Miss Prim. You do something more important than answering a door.”
Louisa deferred to the woman, who could at times look almost as stern as Mrs. Colthrust. “Thank you, Mrs. Woolwythe.”
It was difficult getting used to allowing so many people to handle things for her. Louisa liked being in charge, be it of her sisters or the door. Giving up control to others didn’t sit well with her, but she was allowing it without causing trouble. Louisa heard Saint barking and wondered whether someone he knew was at the door, or if he was causing a ruckus over someone he didn’t know.
She had started putting the teacups on the silver tray when Mrs. Woolwythe returned.
“No, don’t do that, Miss Prim. I’ll do that for you and take it to Mrs. Trumpington.” She took the cup out of Louisa’s hand.
Louisa was about to tell her she didn’t mind putting the cups on the tray when the housekeeper bent close and whispered, “The Duke of Drakestone is here to see you. What should I tell him?”
Louisa had no idea why the woman was speaking so softly but she whispered back to her, “That I’m available to see him, and then show him in here.”
The servant’s eyes rounded, and she whispered again, “Should I disturb Mrs. Colthrust and ask her to come down if you’re going to entertain a gentleman?”
“I’m not going to entertain the duke. I‘m going to see what he wants. Don’t bother her. She wanted to rest.”
The woman nodded and picked up the tray.
It seemed the duke was striding into the room before Mrs. Woolwythe had cleared the doorway. “Get your coat, bonnet, and parasol,” he ordered.
Louisa took offense at his demand. “What?”
“Your coat, bonnet, and parasol, Miss Prim. Get them. We’re going for a ride in the park.”
He was so commanding that she wondered if she should obey him without question, but she quickly came to her senses and said, “How dare you come into my house and start ordering me around, and for of all things, to ride with you in the park! Are you mad?” She grunted a laugh. “I know you find it difficult to believe, but I don’t want to go for a ride with you.”
“Fine, I’ll follow Miss Gwen and Mr. Standish in the park by myself.” He turned and walked out, Saint following him.