Aunt Elizabeth was waiting for them in the black-and-white-marble foyer.
“I vow, we shall be the loveliest ladies at the ball tonight,” Triss stated as they left the house and entered the closed carriage that was to take them to Lord and Lady Edgeton’s house, which was only a short distance away. There, a ball was being given in honor of the engagement between the Lady Louisa Westlake and the Duke of Malverton.
What a very unusual world she found herself in, Bella mused, as the carriage turned down the drive. At first she had resisted the idea of attending the ball. Every morning, Graves, the majordomo, brought her stacks of invitations to every type of occasion, all of which she had politely declined. As things were so unsettled between her and the duke, she did not think it wise to enter Society.
But after being in London for more than three weeks, without a word from the duke in response to the letter she had left at Autley before she departed, she saw no polite way out of attending the engagement ball for his youngest sister. Besides, Bella found she liked the very pretty, if scatterbrained, Lady Louisa.
The day after Bella had arrived at Westlake House, Lady Louisa had called upon her. At first, as she, Triss, and Lady Louisa were sitting down to tea, Bella had been wary, lest Louisa behave in the high-handed manner her sister had. But she needn’t have feared; the duke’s youngest sister had been warm and friendly—and extremely curious about Bella.
“It has been driving me to distraction to not have met you before this, my dear sister-in-law!” she said with shining eyes as soon as she had made herself comfortable in the beautifully appointed drawing room.
Bella had decided that she had a fondness for this particular room, which was decorated in gold and pale blue. The servants kept the numerous Grecian-style urns filled with orchids. And it overlooked the expertly laid-out garden that was now in early spring bloom.
“When Alex sent us that maddeningly brief missive,” Lady Louisa continued, “saying that he had recently married Miss Arabella Tichley, I thought he was hoaxing! Though why anyone would hoax about such a subject, I am sure I do not know. But, after having the devastating news that my brother had gone missing, and then to find out that he had been shot and almost lost his life… well, you can imagine what we all thought! So when we discovered that Miss Tichley was the young lady who had nursed my dear brother through this ordeal, it suddenly all made sense! Of course Alex would fall in love with you! ‘Tis the most romantic tale in the world, next to my own romance with my darling Malverton. Though nothing as dreadful as highwaymen and fevers interfered with our courtship—we met at Almack’s.” Lady Louisa took a deep breath and reached for her teacup.
Bella stared, nonplussed, at the duchess-to-be. She had not the faintest notion of how to respond to such profuse outpourings. She sent a helpless glance to Triss, who only smiled, shrugged lightly, and drank her tea.
Bella was saved from having to think of something to say, for after another inhalation, Lady Louisa was off again.
“So then you show up in London without Alex! I thought Mama was going to have kittens! But, of course, it was all explained. And I am in complete agreement with you. You have to have a wardrobe, and if Alex cannot be bothered to come to town with you, well, then, what are you to do? I would have done the same, honeymoon or not. Though Alice says—you have met my sister, have you not? Of course you have! What was I saying? Oh, I recall now. Alice says that something is odd about this whole business. Your marriage to Alex, that is. And now the whole town is abuzz with rumors about you. Can you not hear the hearts breaking all over London? My brother is finally off the blocks! And every hunting mama is devastated. Though there are those who refuse to believe you really exist. Since you have not bestirred yourself to accept any invitations, the ton is simply mad with curiosity about you. Are you not very lucky to be so beautiful?”
Bella continued to stare at the young lady in silence, sure that she would resume her monologue after her next breath. But this time, the silence stretched and Lady Louisa looked at Bella expectantly.
“Oh… Well, yes, if I am beautiful, then it is pure luck,” Bella finally responded with a smile at the younger woman.
“You are nice! Say you will be at the ball Alice is giving for me. It will be so much fun to watch the ton try to get a look at you. My ball promises to be a dreadful crush. I must be off! More wedding plans to attend. What a delight to meet you, dear Arabella, and you too, Lady Beatrice,” she said, jumping up from the chair and leaving the room with a quick wave, her harried maid scurrying behind her.
Once she had left, Bella and Triss had looked at each other, mystified.
“Lud, she talks even more than I do,” Triss had said in disbelief.
So, after a discussion with Aunt Elizabeth and Triss, Bella had decided that they had little choice but to attend the ball given by her sister-in-law.
Now Bella found that she actually felt a certain sense of anticipation regarding her first ball.
“We are here!” Triss said excitedly, as the carriage pulled in line with a string of other carriages waiting to unload their fashionable occupants in front of the very elegant town house belonging to Lord and Lady Edgeton.
Looking out the window to the lamplit scene beyond, Bella thought that Lady Louisa must be delighted, for if the number of carriages choking the drive was any indication, her ball would indeed be a dreadful crush.
Their own carriage had to wait a full twenty minutes before it could move from the bottom of the drive to the front entrance.
“We are so close now, why don’t we just get out and walk the rest of the way? It is dreadfully stuffy in here,” Bella suggested.
“Oh, no!” Triss looked horrified. “It would be too lowering to be seen walking up the drive. Besides, I wish to be seen exiting Westlake’s coach.”
“All right, you goose,” Bella said with an indulgent smile.
With growing excitement, the three ladies were finally able to disembark and join the huge press of people ascending the staircase to the first floor, where the ballroom was situated. With a great deal of curiosity, Bella observed her surroundings as they slowly made their way up the staircase. She had never thought to see such a beautiful display of finery in the whole of her life. She admired the profusion of jewels glittering in the light of the chandeliers, and the rainbow hues of the ladies’ gowns, shown to greater advantage against the black of the gentlemen’s evening clothes. A secret smile touched Bella’s lips. How Robert Fortiscue would have disapproved, she thought with some enjoyment.
It suddenly occurred to her that she would have liked to share this private joke with the duke. As she continued to move up the staircase behind Aunt Elizabeth and Triss amidst the noisy, festive crowd, Bella paused to examine this disconcerting thought.
Could it be that she missed the duke? A frown immediately came to her brow at this unbidden thought.
What other explanation could there be for how often her thoughts went to him?
Well, they had spent a lot of time together at the manor, and she had grown to enjoy his company, she thought, trying to explain away this unnerving revelation.
If only I had not found those tryst notes, she thought with sadness. And if only her papa and uncle had not forced the duke to marry her, her life would be so different now.
But would it be better? A little voice in her heart whispered the question.
Bella’s attention was abruptly pulled from her disquieting thoughts by her aunt, who was standing, immobile, on the step above Bella.
“What is it, Aunt Elizabeth?” Bella questioned urgently, for those behind were beginning to murmur about the delay.
Bella could see by looking past her aunt that they were almost to the entryway to the ballroom. She could also see the dowager, Lady Edgeton, a large man with a florid complexion next to her, Lady Louisa, and a handsome young blond man, who could only be the Duke of Malverton, greeting each guest as they passed through the receiving line.
“I do not
know what to do,” Aunt Elizabeth whispered in a frantic tone to Bella and Triss.
“Oh, Mother! Do not make a cake of yourself now,” Triss whispered back fiercely.
But Lady Penninghurst did not move.
The two liveried footmen, one on either side of the entry-way, glanced at each other in growing alarm.
“Aunt Elizabeth, just follow what the others are doing. There is such a commotion, no one will notice you anyway,” Bella directed in an encouraging murmur, and gave her aunt a little push.
Straightening her posture, Aunt Elizabeth took herself in hand, climbed the last step, and handed her card to the majordomo, who then announced her to their hosts.
To Lady Penninghurst’s relief, Bella’s prediction proved true. Of the several hundred people already in the ballroom, only those nearest the entry paid any notice to Lady Penninghurst or her daughter.
Bella decided that she was going to enjoy herself this evening. In an odd, detached way, some of the excitement permeating the room transmitted itself to her, and she was enjoying the never-before-seen spectacle of the fashionables at play.
So this was the duke’s world, she thought as she unfolded her fan and began to wave it in a desultory manner. After handing her invitation to the majordomo, she moved forward without a pause.
“Her Grace, the Duchess of Westlake.”
She heard this announcement above the din, just as she reached her mother-in-law.
“Good evening, your grace,” Bella said, raising her voice a little so that she might be heard over the laughter and chatter that surrounded them.
Only, to Bella’s surprise, the chatter had ceased. After the noise a moment ago, this sudden silence was like an explosion.
Catching herself midstride, Bella looked around curiously, wondering what had just occurred. She was instantly confused and startled to see several hundred pairs of eyes aimed directly at her. Standing next to her mother-in-law, Bella found herself frozen where she stood. She could not imagine why they were all staring at her. She had the overwhelming urge to wipe her nose, in case a smut had found its way there.
The dowager smoothly stepped forward and slipped her arm through the arm of her stunned young daughter-in-law.
“Keep your chin high, my girl. We shall take a very leisurely turn around the room and meet a few notables,” the dowager said in a very low voice, without disturbing the elegant half smile on her lips.
Taking a deep breath, Bella gave a slight nod to the dowager’s plan, and the two ladies moved forward.
First the dowager presented Lord Edgeton. He greeted her very correctly, but Bella noticed he had the same condescending expression his wife’s face bore.
Next, Louisa stepped forward eagerly, the duke of Malverton in tow.
“My dear sister! I wish you to know my darling Malverton!” she gushed with great pride. Bella was touched by the genuine smile Lady Louisa beamed upon her.
Bella turned her own smile to the young duke. The Duke of Malverton, without so much as a word, made a passable leg to Bella while Louisa continued to chatter.
“Oh, I am beyond pleased that you are here! My ball would not be complete if you had not arrived, though we did have someone faint earlier! I told you my ball would be a complete crush! I was starting to worry, as it is getting late, and you still had not arrived. But my worry was for nothing, because you are now here. You look breathtaking! What an unusual shade your gown is. Is our new duchess not breathtaking, Malverton? Of course she is—my brother would not have it any other way, would he?”
“Louisa,” the dowager cut in with just a hint of sharpness to her tone, “we must not monopolize Arabella.”
Lady Louisa was undaunted.
“Of course, Mama. You must go meet everyone, and we will have a good coze later,” Louisa said before turning to those waiting in line to wish her happy.
“Heavens!” the duchess said as they moved away from her youngest daughter. “That child never knows when to stubble it.”
Bella was so taken aback by this comment she laughed aloud, thus giving everyone still staring at her the impression that the mysterious Duchess of Westlake was on the best of terms with her formidable mother-in-law.
The dowager led Bella to a small group of people, and presented Lord and Lady Sefton, Lady Cowper, and Sir John Mayhew.
Bella was about to curtsy, but the firm hand of the dowager on her elbow brought her to her senses. Bella threw a quick, grateful glance to the dowager. With so many eyes upon her, she would have burned up with embarrassment if it could have been reported that the Duchess of Westlake had been seen curtsying to those of a lower rank!
“My dear Duchess,” Sir John crooned in a very supercilious voice, “you have us all aghast at your person. There have been so many rumors floating around town, few of us believed you to be real.”
Looking at the elegant, sophisticated people in front of her, Bella felt completely out her depth, and could come up with no witty rejoinder.
“How lucky for Westlake that your grace is real,” Lord Sefton smoothly inserted into the silence.
Bella smiled gratefully to the handsome lord, just as the dowager pulled her away.
“I must introduce my daughter-in-law to a few others; you will forgive us,” the dowager said breezily.
“Arabella, you must have something to say for yourself, or everyone will think you are a nodcock,” the duchess whispered when they were out of earshot of the group.
“I am sorry, ma’am. I have not been much in Society, and then only in Mabry Green.” Bella felt the beginnings of a blush as she tried to explain.
“Well, pretend you are back there. What did you talk of in Mabry Green?” The duchess’s impatient tone belied the correct smile she wore.
“We would often discuss books, or my father’s research in Roman archeology. Sometimes we translate Latin phrases as sort of a game,” Bella offered.
The dowager drew back from Bella with a look of growing horror. “Archaeology? Latin? Heavens, my girl, you are not a bluestocking, are you?”
Bella thought the dowager’s tone implied leper, instead of bluestocking.
“I do not believe that the fact that I enjoy learning should be so shocking,” Bella replied.
“Oh, don’t bristle, my dear. There is nothing wrong with learning; just don’t admit to too much of it,” the dowager advised. “There are Margaret and Mrs. Drummond Burrell,” the dowager continued. “At least you know Margaret. Let’s try this again, my girl.”
As they moved through the crowd, Bella changed her mind. She was not going to enjoy this evening after all. Her homesickness grew, and with a little throb in her heart she longed for her Mabry Green, where no one looked down his nose at her.
After Mrs. Drummond Burrell was presented, Margaret greeted Bella as if they were long-lost friends. Bella responded with a little less enthusiasm to the petite redhead.
“Finally!” Mrs. Drummond Burrell said, examining Bella keenly. “The mysterious Duchess of Westlake! The town is agog at the news. But why do we not have the pleasure of his grace’s company also?”
Looking at the avidly curious expression on Mrs. Drummond Burrell’s arrogant face, Bella desperately wished she had stayed at Westlake House this evening.
Glancing around the crowded room before she answered, Bella was gratified to catch sight of Triss and her aunt speaking with Lady Louisa and Malverton. Triss, at least, looked as if she were having a fine time.
“My husband was called away to Derbyshire, but should come to town any day now,” she finally responded with the fib she had used to appease her aunt and the dowager.
“Derbyshire?” Margaret tittered, and cast what Bella could only describe as a sly smile to Mrs. Drummond Burrell. “Does not Lady Helen Bingley live in Derbyshire?”
By the way the dowager stiffened at her side, Bella took it that there was some significance to Margaret’s question.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, Lady Helen does live in Derbyshire
,” Mrs. Drummond Burrell agreed with alacrity. “And I have yet to see her in town this Season.”
Bella raised one arched brow and looked at the ladies coldly. It was obvious to her what they were suggesting. Bella again thought of the notes she had found in the duke’s waistcoat. Was that why he had been so long in Derbyshire—to meet one of the authors of the tryst notes?
Her heart thudded dully at this conclusion. How had everything in her life gotten so mixed-up and confusing?
As soon as she returned to Westlake House she would write the duke again, and demand that he grant her an annulment. She did not care what he said this time, she thought, thankful that her temper was rising. She would not be dissuaded, even though she was unclear on how to even go about obtaining an annulment.
She was just about to turn from the ladies without a word when the noise from the hundreds of guests reduced by half again.
What now? Bella wondered, turning to look toward the entryway with everyone else.
There, standing by Lord and Lady Edgeton, were the striking Duke and Duchess of Severly. Bella’s heart lifted a bit as she recalled their kindness to her in Mabry Green after the ceremony.
The Duke of Severly was speaking to someone Bella could not see. A moment later, the person blocking her view moved and Bella saw an extremely handsome man.
He was very tall, very tan, and fit-looking, and the expression on his face revealed complete boredom as he surveyed the assemblage. His black evening coat fit his broad shoulders snugly, and his sparkling white neckcloth was splendid in its mathematical symmetry.
Suddenly Bella sucked in her breath.
“There is my son now,” the dowager duchess stated in a tone of great satisfaction.
Chapter Seventeen
Bella could not take her eyes from Westlake. He looked so different; it was no wonder that she had not immediately recognized him.
Gone was the pallor she had grown used to, and he had also gained back some of the weight he had lost during his illness, which enhanced the air of authority emanating from him.
A Hint of Scandal Page 16