by Abby Ayles
* * *
Theodore had washed away the grim and exhaustion of traveling, freshly shaved and washed. His hair shown like ebony still wet and slicked back. He was wearing one of his finest sets of pantaloons and navy jacket that thankfully the groomsman had seen to the moment that Theodore arrived.
* * *
This was going to be a significant year for not just her dear nephew but also herself. She did love the boy greatly and desired to see him settled down to happiness. If anything, it would at least alleviate the worry of the dangerous perils of his travels. She was sure that she could not live through his demise as well as her sister's.
* * *
But it was more than that fact which drove Aunt Rebecca to beg her nephew home and implore him to give this season over to all the attention of finding a wife, more specifically Lady Charlotte; Lady Rebecca Sinclair’s social standing depended on it.
* * *
If Aunt Rebecca was able to connect herself to one of the most spoken of families of the season, she too would increase her popularity. It was something not always manageable for a spinster. On top of her lack of husband, she had little by way of title beyond her curtesy Ladyship. Others had given her respect as the sole caretaker for the Duke of Raven, but now he was a grown man. She was beginning to fade into obscurity, something she greatly detested.
* * *
Her winning ticket to ensure her social standing for the remainder of her days would be to acquire a seat on the Woman’s Relief Society for Orphaned Children board. She had been a shoo-in for quite some time. After all, had she not personally come to the aid of her orphaned nephew?
* * *
Unfortunately to receive a seat on the board a seat would need to become available. It was a long waiting process as these desirable seats were held for life, or as long as health would permit. Only now was one becoming available. Lady Derber, Lady Charlotte’s mother, was falling on hard times as of late. It was rumored that she would soon be giving up her seat and focus the remainder of her days on her children’s happiness and her own health.
* * *
If Raven was able to secure a marriage with Lady Charlotte, not only would it possibly moving him a step closer to the royal families themselves, by marriage of course, but also help Lady Rebecca become a more appropriate option for Lady Derber’s replacement.
* * *
Everything had already been moving along quite smoothly. In fact, even better so. Aunt Rebecca had never dreamed that the duke would have arrived home so swiftly. At best, Aunt Rebecca had suspected they would be playing catch up mid-season due to all the other suitors flocking to Lady Charlotte for the very same reason she wanted to press her nephew.
* * *
He had arrived at a most fortuitous time and he looked more dashing and handsome than she even remembered. Best of all, he had a great title that few could rival. Her only concern was convincing Theodore that taking a wife and settling down was worthwhile.
* * *
He had his mother and father’s adventurous spirit. Even their untimely death hadn’t stopped him from taking right up where they left off. There were the lands that his father acquired in the new colonies that intrigued Theodore to no end and was the constant worry of Aunt Rebecca. But more than that he had managed to travel to all over the British empire wishing to see everything.
* * *
Aunt Rebecca had the daunting task of now not just convincing him that he needed a wife but that it was high time he stopped crossing great bodies of water, if for nothing more than the sake of her constitution.
The Duke of Raven did his best to hide his grumble as he and his aunt entered Sir Hamilton’s fine house. The party was in full swing by the time of their arrival, and many eyes turned to stare and whisper over them.
* * *
They were not looks of shock or surprise at his unexpected entrance which told him Aunt Rebecca had already announced his coming to a great many people. He did little to hide the scowl that now darkened his already black brows. He had no desire to socialize any night with the young misses of the ton, but even less so on this night.
* * *
Though he had done his best to look the dashing gentleman for his aunt’s sake, he was certainly not feeling it on the inside. The fact that he was simply on his feet was a miracle in itself. In fact, he was sure if his aunt would only take her eyes off of him for a second, he would be able to find a quiet nook hopefully not already filled by couples desperate for just a second of privacy. There he could slip into a wonderfully blissful sleep until the night was over.
* * *
Sadly, he knew such schemes would not be possible until he made his rounds and said hello to the various fine gentlemen of the party. He may not have enjoyed socialization, but he still knew proper etiquette and didn’t want to snub anyone.
* * *
Aunt Rebecca was all too happy to let him go as she hurriedly twittered with some of her older friends that seemed to seek her out the moment the two arrived. Raven found most of the men having a glass of brandy and snuff before the night’s dancing would begin.
* * *
Before Raven could scarcely scan the room, a large hand clapped him on the back.
* * *
“I never expected to see you here tonight, Your Grace,” a deep husky voice called over the cloud of tobacco smoke it produced.
* * *
Raven took the hand of the Earl of Eagleton happily.
* * *
“I hadn’t thought it was so long since last I set foot in London, but looking at your face, I can see that much time has passed,” Raven said back in jest.
* * *
“Yes, well, some of us can’t stay dashingly handsome forever like you, Raven my boy,” Lord Eagleton said back with a husky laugh.
* * *
For a man in his mid-sixties, he really didn’t look that bad by way of health. His hair had gone complete grey now, whereas the last time Raven saw him, he did have some smattering of dark chestnut to it. The lines on his face were much deeper set, though he was sure they were always there.
* * *
Raven had grown up as close companions to the Earl’s oldest son, who was the same age. They went to the same boarding school, and often were caught causing the same mischief in cahoots with one another.
* * *
With the passing of his own father, Raven had looked up to Lord Eagleton much in a paternal way. Lord Eagleton had undoubtedly never spared him a reprimand when the two boys were caught in their mischief.
* * *
“Where is Charles? And Fredrick, of course? Are they both here tonight?” Raven said scanning the room.
* * *
For the first moment, Raven thought he might have found a bright silver lining to what was sure to be a long and cumbersome evening. He hadn’t spoken to his dear boyhood friend, the Viscount of Bembury, since Charles’ marriage several years back. If he remembered right, he even had quite a brood of his own.
* * *
“No, neither are here tonight. Charles is back at the estate with his wife. She is due any moment with child number four. Charles is sure this one will be a boy. I dare say he has gotten so used to ribbons and dolls with his three girls he wouldn’t know what to do if he did have a boy,” Lord Eagleton said with another hearty laugh.
* * *
“Fredrick, on the other hand, was stationed to the Indies only last year. He and his new bride are enjoying the warmer weather there much more than I expected. She was a frail thing, and I wondered if she would survive the trip at all. Fredrick says she has been thriving there, much to my surprise.”
* * *
“The Indies are indeed a great place to rejuvenate the soul. I tell you the air continuously smells of spice and flora. It could lift the spirits of the rottenest man,” Raven replied, not realizing that Fredricks commission had taken him to such a place. He made a mental note to look the young lord up when he next visited the area.
* * *
Raven had never been terribly close with Lord Fredrick, aside from the constant teasing that he engaged in along with Charles. None the less, he knew it would be enjoyable to both parties to set up a meeting, and perhaps Raven could find a way to put in a good word for Fredrick. Having a duke as a public friend was always a benefit to commissioned officers, not to mention the fact that Raven still felt a might bad about that time they filled Fredricks clothing cabinet with a beehive.
* * *
“And what of your lovely young wife?” Raven continued enjoying his conversation with the Earl.
* * *
“She is wonderful. A true kind-hearted lady. She is so kind to both boys and such a loving grandmother to Charles’s little girls. I worried for a time that she might be lonely or feel empty, if you know what I mean, but that hasn’t been the case at all. She loves the family and puts all her energy into making the house a happy home.”
* * *
“She does sound like a wonderful woman,” Raven concluded, having never actually met the new Lady Eagleton.
* * *
“Yes, she is,” Lord Eagleton said with a satisfied sigh at his good fortune at two happy marriages. “And it is quite high time that you start the search for your own wonderful woman.”
* * *
Raven did his best not to roll his eyes at Eagleton’s tone that was beginning to sound very reminiscent of his childhood.
* * *
“You may have been lucky enough to escape marriage thus far, but now with my own two son’s set in life you can bet I will be narrowing my eyes on you, my boy.”
* * *
“I am sure you will not have to trouble yourself,” Raven replied. “My aunt already seems bent to the task.”
* * *
“I am sure she is,” Eagleton agreed. “Still, I will have Lady Eagleton put her feelers out for you. She is of a younger age than your aunt and sure to know the ladies in question better. I will be sure to introduce her to you later tonight.”
* * *
“I am certain to be honored just to make the acquaintance of the woman who has brought you joy even in your old age,” Raven said.
* * *
“I may be old, Your Grace, but I still have enough strength in me to give you a full tongue lashing on the importance of respecting your elders,” Eagleton replied, though his face shone brightly with humor.
Chapter Five
The night had gone as smoothly as Lady Alexandra could have hoped for. That was, of course, with the exception of the tiresome glove that continued to snake its way down her arm.
* * *
The days had been unseasonably warm for so early in spring, but now with the night fully upon them and all doors and windows in the ballroom open, a glorious breeze was finding its way through. It was a much-needed relief for the ladies draped in fine silks stuffed so closely in the dance hall.
* * *
Lady Alexandra had thus far spent much of her night in the company of Lady Eagleton and a few other ladies, but always with a watchful eye on her two sisters.
* * *
Josephine, in particular, was making what seemed to be wonderful advancements. A certain lord by the name of Baron Mckenzie was never far from her side this year.
* * *
It was not his first season in London as he had come for several years with his father, the Viscount Newton. He had always had some interest in Josephine but never seemed to be more than just a casual acquaintance brought on by mutual friends.
* * *
The way the baron was always seeming to put himself at Josephine’s side tonight gave Lady Alexandra some hope for this season.
* * *
The Baron didn’t have a significant footprint in the peerage, but he would inherit his father’s title one day, and as far as Lady Alexandra knew, was a very kind and responsible man. It was all that she could hope for one of her sisters.
* * *
“I see you are watching Lord McKenzie circle around your sister like an annoying little fly,” Lady Eagleton said noticing her gaze.
* * *
“I don’t think she minds much,” Lady Alexandra said, trying to discern her sister's temperament as Lord Mckenzie engaged her in another conversation.
* * *
“Look, she is giving him her card,” Lady Alexandra said pointing out the act. “She would not be so cheerful accepting to dance with the man if she was annoyed with him.”
* * *
“Or perhaps she is just being polite about it,” Lady Eagleton retorted.
* * *
Lady Alexandra exchanged a glance with her dear friend. The usual silent words of dear friends of the female sex were then spoken. They both knew if Josephine didn’t like someone polite behavior was often far from her mind.
* * *
“Well, I hope he doesn’t fill up the whole card,” Lady Eagleton continued. “I just got word from Lady Cunningham that a very handsome young duke has just joined the party at a most unfashionably late hour.”
* * *
“Have you now?” Lady Alexandra asked, though she put little stock in her friend's words.
* * *
Lady Eagleton was the foremost on any pertinent information, which also meant that some of it wasn’t exactly proven true before she passed the news along.
* * *
“I know this one to be the truth,” Lady Eagleton said putting her own gloved hand on Lady Alexandra’s arm. “Lady Cunningham heard the news from Lady Rebecca Sinclair, the said duke’s aunt.”
* * *
Lady Alexandra was well aware of who Lady Rebecca was. Though they had never traveled in the same circles, she had seen the woman from time to time.
* * *
“I am vaguely aware that she had a nephew but not much beyond that.”
* * *
“Theodore Hendricks, the Duke of Raven. He is a very close acquaintance of my husband’s family though I have yet to meet him myself. Young Charles has spoken of him quite often. I believe they were good friends in their boyhood.”
* * *
“But you have not met him yourself?” Lady Alexandra asked, still full of skepticism.
* * *
“No, you may remember that the Duke of Raven’s parents were lost to sea?”
* * *
“I have some recollection of the fact in conjunction with his aunt. She was his caretaker after their unfortunate death.”
* * *
“Yes, well,” Lady Eagleton said wrapping her arm naturally in Lady Alexandra’s so that they might take a turn about the ballroom before the dancing started. “It seems that their exit from this world didn’t deter their only son from following on the same path. It seems he is quite a world traveler and owns vast tobacco plantations in the Colonies.”
* * *
“The Duke of Raven is said to return to London this season to acquire himself a wife at his aunt's behest. It would be a fine match,” she added with a nudge.
* * *
“I am sure it would be,” Lady Alexandra said with a laugh. “However I am sure I am not the only one to set her hat on him. What could one of my sisters offer a Duke compared to all the other fine single, well-endowed ladies of the peerage.”
* * *
“I wasn’t talking about them, so much as you,” Lady Eagleton said with a roll of her own eyes.
* * *
This made Lady Alexandra laugh out in full at the notion.
* * *
“Yes because an ancient spinster lady with no dowry to speak of has a high chance with the Duke of Raven,” she said between spurts of laughter.
* * *
“Perhaps you would if I had my husband put in a good word for you. As I said, the Duke has a very close connection to my step-son.”
* * *
“That is very kind of you, Regina, but I fear you put yourself at risk enough by your kindness of friendship. I wouldn’t want to
tarnish you any further with our connection.”
* * *
“Nonsense. You always think so low of yourself,” Lady Eagleton scolded.
* * *
“I can’t say I do in all honesty. I haven’t the time to think of myself at all let alone in a negative way. Perhaps when my three sisters are settled, and that weight is lifted from me, I will have a moment to consider what light I consider myself in.”