Amelia’s full heart deflated. Now they will change their minds about me. If they had a good opinion based on what the sisters said, they will lose it as soon as I answer the question.
“Miss Mandeville hasn’t been presented as yet. I believe it may be a matter of finances for her uncle. After all, he has two daughters as well.” The duke surprised Amelia by stepping in with an answer. She was sure her uncle wouldn’t be happy someone questioned his wealth, but it was at least a good reason for his ward not to be out as yet.
“Oh, too bad then. I was hoping to see you at some of the events of the season,” Lady Cuthbert said.
“Thank you. I’d dearly love to take part, but not this year.” She knew she’d never take part, but it was better to pretend than to tell the lady the truth.
“I think it’s time for the men to leave so I can see what my girls are going to wear and how proud they’re going to make me.” Lady Cuthbert smiled at her husband. The intimate look that passed between them made Amelia wistful for such a relationship in her own life.
Pushing that desire down as an impossible dream, Amelia said, “They have worked very hard. I think you’ll be happy to see what they can do. I’m positive Lady Jonquil will please the queen with her sedate pace and skill with her backward movement with the train. I am also quite sure Queen Charlotte will have never seen such a fine curtsy as Lady Saffron’s. She can almost touch her elbows to the floor and rises like Venus from the sea.”
On his way out of the dressing room, the duke said, “Hopefully, in her gown and not nude.”
“Basil, don’t say such things,” Saffron said, her face suffused with a bright pink blush.
“I couldn’t help myself.” After Mr. Cuthbert had preceded him into the hallway, he closed the door.
The playful side of the duke had surfaced again. Amelia was fascinated when he made those little comments and wondered anew who the man really was deep inside.
“We need to ring for your maids so I can see, in truth, how lovely I imagine you’ll be in your gowns.” Lady Cuthbert pulled the cord to ring for the maids’ return.
“I’m so glad you agreed to be our sponsor, Lady Cuthbert. We were afraid our Aunt Caroline would be the one to accompany us,” Jonquil said.
“And this aunt is not pleasant? I could tell by your face as you said her name that she isn’t a favorite.”
“Oh no, she’s quite cruel. We don’t want to be around her at all, and the thought of being in the carriage with her and then in line to be presented was almost too much to bear.” Saffron hooked a bracelet on her arm and admired it.
“Then I’m glad my husband finally remembered to ask me. It seems it slipped his mind after the boxing match with your brother, and he only recalled it when he was showing me some tactics yesterday.”
“Tactics? For boxing?” Amelia couldn’t help herself. The question popped out of her mouth.
“Oh yes. I know it’s not a typical woman’s activity, but I’m not a typical lady.”
“I think your husband alluded to that earlier.” Amelia smiled, glad the lady wasn’t upset at the inquiry.
“He’s a remarkable man to tolerate me.”
“I hope I find such a man,” Jonquil said in a dreamy voice.
“You won’t unless we get you presented.” Lady Cuthbert clapped her hands together as the two lady’s maids reentered the room.
Once the sisters were in their gowns, Lady Cuthbert asked them to show her their walks and curtsies. They assembled in the corridor to perform for their sponsor and Amelia.
“I’m so glad you agreed to be their sponsor, Lady Cuthbert. They really seem to fear that aunt of theirs,” Amelia whispered. Knowing what it was to have a cruel aunt, she could sympathize with the younger ladies.
“Please call me Augusta.”
“Oh, I couldn’t.”
“Yes, you can. Try it. You’ll see, it’s easy.” Lady Cuthbert reached over and squeezed Amelia’s hand. “Come on. Say it.”
“Thank you, Augusta.”
“See? You survived.” She turned and grinned at Amelia.
“That I did.” Amelia smiled back at the nicest woman she could ever remember meeting.
“Here I come,” Saffron called from her end of the hall and then proceeded toward the opposite end.
“See how she wants to walk too fast? I’ve been trying to get her to slow down, but I don’t think it’s in her to do so.” Amelia hoped desperately the lady approved of her work with the sisters.
“I think she’s perfect. I can tell they’ve put a lot of work into the process. How many memories this brings back. I’m quite sure you have been a sweet taskmaster. Not like the lady who tutored me.”
“Your own mother wasn’t around?”
“No. Sadly, she died when I was quite young. I was raised by a mostly absent father and three older brothers.”
“I guess that’s why you love hunting and riding?”
“It is.” Augusta took Saffron by the arm as she arrived in front of them. “What a nice presentation you made. Now show me how you back out of the room.”
Saffron performed her exit, and then it was Jonquil’s turn to come forward.
“I see what you mean about Lady Jonquil’s more sedate pace.” Augusta turned to Saffron. “Not to take away from your own lovely walk, my dear.”
“I know I’m too fast. Miss Amelia has tried her best to slow me down. I always have good intentions, but it doesn’t seem to help.”
“It’s going to be fine. Who knows, Queen Charlotte may be ready for someone to come quickly,” Augusta said.
“Augusta is right, Lady Saffron. You merely need to be yourself. You will be perfect.”
“Augusta?” Saffron raised her eyebrows.
“I have given Amelia leave to address me by my given name as I give to you and your sister. Amelia has been kind enough to show me the same courtesy.”
“As we both should have done a long time ago.” Saffron turned to Amelia. “Please call me Saffron.”
Jonquil arrived and, after giving her own curtsy, asked, “What are you speaking of?”
“Augusta has given us leave to call her by her first name and has done the same for Amelia. I was merely telling Amelia we’d been remiss in not allowing her the same intimacy. We both adore her. Surely we should be on a first name basis. Don’t you agree?”
“Of course.” Jonquil leaned forward and hugged Amelia. “Jonquil. Call me Jonquil.”
Amelia’s tears threatened again, and she had to turn her head to keep from embarrassing herself.
Augusta squeezed Amelia’s hand. “Enough of all this. Let me see your exit, Jonquil.”
Archimedes picked that moment to bound down the corridor toward Amelia. When he reached her, she knelt down and buried her face in his fur and let a few of the tears of happiness and gratitude escape.
Chapter 12
The hours before the presentation passed too quickly for Basil. He was glad he was done working on ledgers, but he wasn’t looking forward to having to get ready and accompany his sisters and the Cuthberts to the palace. He wasn’t sure he would make it through the evening.
When Basil wasn’t the duke, he enjoyed a ball once in a while but had always been more interested in the card room. Now that he had so many responsibilities, he didn’t relish seeing his old friends, as they had expectations of him that he could no longer fulfill since he was the guardian of two young ladies.
No one missed his old life as much as he did, but as time went on, it had become easier because he’d severed all ties to the old boys who wouldn’t understand the changes in him. At the ball, he’d have to see some if not most of them. It was, after all, the required event of the year for someone of his rank.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to av
oid speaking to Mr. Mandeville as he was sure Susan would seek him out as soon as she was presented.
Thinking about that likely meeting led him to wonder if he could convince his sisters to leave once they were presented. After all, Miss Susan Mandeville would be far down the list from the daughters of a duke. It was something to consider.
Images of Saffron and Jonquil practicing and planning for their presentations flooded his mind. He knew they would want to stay until the end of the evening. He didn’t blame them but wished it were different.
Too soon for Basil’s liking, they were ready and the carriage was brought around. They drove to the Cuthbert’s home and, once the couple was comfortably seated, made their way to St. James’s Palace to take their place in line.
Both of his sisters nervously played with their fans. “You two need to stop fidgeting. You’re even making me anxious.” Basil smiled at them to let them know he was teasing, but they weren’t having it.
“That’s easy for you to say. You aren’t going to trip and fall into the queen,” Jonquil said.
“And neither are you, dear.” Augusta reached across the compartment and smoothed Jonquil’s dress over her knees.
“But what if I walk too fast?” Saffron asked. “You know I will.”
“You’ll be fine. If I tell you a secret, will you promise not to worry?” Augusta asked.
“How will a secret help?” Saffron asked.
“This is the worst part of the whole thing. That’s the secret. Sitting out here idle gives you time to imagine all kinds of evils. Once the thing is underway, it goes very quickly, and then you’ll be free to enjoy yourselves.”
“Speaking of enjoying, I think it’s time for Darnley and me to leave you ladies to your ordeal and have ourselves a cigar and a drink.”
“Did you have to use the word ordeal, darling? Aren’t they anxious enough without you describing it thus?” Augusta asked her husband.
“Men have the ordeal of public school and all that entails, which lasts for years, dear. This woman’s ordeal is quite not fair as it’s a matter of minutes.” Cuthbert leaned over and kissed his wife. “Enjoy your time as sponsor, and we will see you on the other side.”
The man left the carriage, and Basil gave each sister’s right hand one last squeeze. “You’ll be wonderful. Try to enjoy it.”
Once they were free of the ladies, the two men made their way inside and found some refreshment. Basil slipped a footman a coin to fetch him when it was almost time for his sisters to present themselves to Queen Charlotte so he wouldn’t miss it.
He settled in to play cards with Cuthbert and two of Lady Augusta’s brothers: one named Lancelot and one named Ambrose. He was glad of the foursome as he might otherwise have found himself at a table with some of the people he was trying to avoid. He was also grateful there was a card room. He’d been worried there wouldn’t be one.
Across the room, he spotted Cecil Longthorne and a few others from his school days. He hoped they planned on being in the card room all night and didn’t plan on dancing with the newest members of society. Although Cecil had threatened to call on his sisters, he hadn’t as yet, but Basil worried that their change in status would bring him around.
“You seem distracted, Darnley,” Myles said. “Are you as nervous as your sisters?”
“No. Well, yes, but for a different reason than one of them might fall in front of the queen.”
“What’s that then?” asked Lancelot.
“There’s an old acquaintance of mine who is not welcome around my sisters. He has indicated he plans to call on one of them as soon as they are out in society. I see he’s here this evening, and it reminded me of his intentions.”
“Want me to have a conversation with him? I can send him on his way.” Lancelot laughed. “I scared a lot of beaus away from Gus before old Myles here won her hand.”
“Gus?” Basil asked.
“My wife’s brothers call her Gus. A childhood nickname.” Myles squinted at his cards. “I can’t decide which bloody card to play with all this chatter.”
“That’s our clue, Darnley. When Cuthbert starts pretending he can’t play the game, it means he has a hand no one can beat. Might as well hand him your money.” Lancelot clapped Myles on the back.
“Maybe he really can’t concentrate. Lord knows I can’t. You talk too much, Lance.” Ambrose finally spoke. He tossed his cards on the table and stood. “I’m out.”
“I bet he’s going to go find Cassandra. He’s courting her, and even before he asks for her hand, she’s leading him around as if he’s an infant learning to walk,” Lancelot said.
“I am going to agree with him in one way.” Basil laughed.
“What’s that?” Lancelot asked.
“You do seem to talk a lot.”
“And that’s his tactic,” Myles said. “Lance can’t win at cards since he has no skills, but he can prevail if he confounds his opponent. That’s what he’s trying to do to you.” Basil noticed the footman approaching the table.
“That’s my cue to leave. Mustn’t miss my sisters as they process.”
“And I mustn’t miss my bride’s sponsorship. Sorry, Lancelot, you’ll have to find someone else to talk to death.”
“It’s a better way to go than a saber through the gut,” Lance called out as they moved away.
Over his shoulder, Myles said, “Don’t be too sure of that.”
They walked toward the throne room to observe the proceedings. “You two seem to have a good relationship. Did you meet when you were courting his sister?” Basil was surprised to find he envied the easy camaraderie of the two men. He’d never had a friend of that nature.
“No. I’ve known Lancelot a long time. We served in the army together.”
“Oh, that explains the ease of your conversation. When people have risked life and limb together, they tend to bond, do they not?”
“That is truer than you know.” Cuthbert looked to his left. “Here comes my wife.”
The men stood silently as each of Basil’s sisters were announced by Lord Chamberlain, made their way to the queen, and received a kiss on the forehead.
Once they both backed out of her presence, the men met the three women at the side of the room.
“Did you see us, Basil? How did I do?” Saffron asked as she hugged him around the waist.
“You were beautiful. Mama would’ve been proud.”
“What about me? What about me? I tripped a little. Could you tell?” Jonquil asked.
“No. You were perfect, and Mama would have thought so too.” He held a hand out to Lady Augusta. “And thank you for saving my sisters from a long evening with their aunt.”
“Don’t look now, Basil, but here she comes,” Jonquil said, her eyes wide.
The lady in question stepped up to Basil and swatted his shoulder. “What is this all about, young man?”
“Look here now. This man is the Duke of Darnley. What are you doing?” Cuthbert asked her.
“He’s my own nephew, and I will speak to him as I wish without your impertinence.”
“Not here in a crowd, Aunt Caroline. Come over to a quieter place, and I will listen to you.” Basil tried to lead her away from the area where many of the families of the girls who’d just been presented had gathered.
“Why should I try to keep you from being embarrassed? You have shamed your family name by ignoring your own aunt as sponsor to your sisters. Your own blood, slighted. What would your parents say?”
“They would probably be proud of me.” Basil knew he was crossing a line, but it was time the lady knew her behavior would no longer be accepted.
“What’s that supposed to mean? My brother—rest his soul—would be shocked and disappointed in you all.”
“I think not
. You had them fooled for a long time, but once Roger let them know how you abused us while they were traveling, they decided not to take us back to your home. Didn’t you ever wonder why the visits stopped?”
Cuthbert took hold of Basil’s elbow. “Come on, old man. People are staring. Let’s not give them more of a show. It’s not the theater.”
“You’re right. Sorry.” Basil turned to his sisters. “Go with Lady Augusta for some refreshments, and I’ll be right there.”
When they had departed, Basil leaned in and whispered in his aunt’s ear. “You are no longer considered part of our lives, you old crone. You’ve done your last damage to a member of my family.” He turned on his heel and, ignoring the crowd, made his way to his sisters, promising himself to enjoy the remainder of the night and not think about his aunt.
Both Saffron and Jonquil wanted to dance since they were able to be out in the company of the ton. Lady Augusta called her brother Lancelot over, and he joined Saffron in the reel. Basil took the part of Jonquil’s partner.
They moved along in the dance until it ended. Basil and Lancelot then changed partners and danced the next one as well. Another dance soon followed.
Basil couldn’t help but think about the lessons in his own ballroom where Amelia showed him and his sisters the steps. He’d pretended not to know some of the dances in order to make them all feel at ease. He especially enjoyed the waltzes he danced with Amelia.
Wishing she had come out so she could be presented, Basil decided he would invite her to the ball he was giving for his sisters. Even if she isn’t out, she can come as my guest. After all, I am a duke, and it is my home. I can do whatever I want in my own home, can’t I?
When the dance ended, Basil escorted Augusta from the floor since he’d claimed that one from his sisters’ sponsor.
The Orphan and the Duke Page 13