Dora settled her chin into her hand. “I don’t know what happiness ought to feel like anymore,” she said. “It is the most elusive feeling of all, I think. But... I feel at peace when I am near Vanessa. She is like a warm lantern to me. I think it must be because she loves me so obviously. When I am around her, I do not need to pretend to be something I am not.”
Elias tapped at his cheek thoughtfully. “How intriguing. Well! This shall require more investigation than I can manage in a single night. I shall have to arrange more time with you somehow, and not too far apart from my actual duties.” He shook his head. “I shall have to think on it further. In the meantime, do at least try to keep all your clothing on, Miss Ettings. My specialities lie in the sorcerous arts, and not in extracting young ladies from scandal.”
Dora got back to her feet and retrieved her gloves from the bench where she’d left them. “I do not mean to do scandalous things,” she told him. “But I will try harder to keep my head about me.” She bowed her head politely. “I appreciate your engagement in my troubles, Lord Sorcier. I hope you do not go to too much trouble on my behalf.”
“I go to exactly as much trouble as I like,” Elias told her, with another wry half-smile. “And none but the Prince Regent can force me to do otherwise, I assure you.” He paused. “Sometimes even he has his difficulties.”
Dora pulled her gloves onto her hands. “I will thank you, nonetheless. But I must excuse myself. Lady Carroway expressed that she would like to speak with me tonight, and I cannot avoid her without being terribly rude.”
Elias stepped neatly out of her way, as she headed back into the party.
At least, Dora thought, as she snuck her way back towards the ballroom, Vanessa is not interested in marrying the Lord Sorcier after all. But the idea had now struck her that perhaps Vanessa had actually dragged them all to London only to find a cure for Dora, and that bothered her as well.
Soon, Dora knew, she was going to have to corner her cousin and demand an explanation.
It didn’t take much searching to find Vanessa in the ballroom. Dora’s cousin had gathered a respectable crowd of both men and women around her. Vanessa was so generous with her attention and her approval that this often happened, as people discovered in her a genuinely interested listener and slowly flocked to tell her their favourite party stories. Already, the older women showed signs of doting on her, and the eligible men began to size up their chances with her.
As Dora approached, however, Vanessa’s eyes caught on her, and she moved to make room for her cousin. “Dora!” she said. “Your dress! How did you get it so clean?” Her brow knitted as she noted the subtle change in colour. Few people in the room would probably remember the difference between the light pink dress Dora had worn before and the white one that she wore now, but since it had been Vanessa’s own dress, she was bound to spot the oddity.
“The stain wasn’t quite so bad after all,” Dora told her. “Though it did take some work.” She ventured onward before Vanessa could ask further questions. “There are so many people here,” Dora said. “I’ve never been quite so overwhelmed before. I was hoping you might join me for a moment on the balcony?”
Vanessa nodded, and turned instantly to give her apologies to those closest to her. At least one man who had been hovering with the clear intent to ask for a dance stepped back again awkwardly to let her pass. Vanessa took Dora by the arm, and the two of them headed towards the balcony.
“Normally, you must worry when you leave me alone,” Dora told her in a quiet voice, as they crossed the room. “But see—I left you for only a moment, and you have spilled our family’s worst secret to the Lord Sorcier. What were you thinking, Vanessa?”
Vanessa frowned. “I was thinking that if anyone might be able to cure you, Dora, it would be the magician who does three impossible things before breakfast. And I was right, wasn’t I? He said that he would investigate the matter.”
“It was very careless of you,” Dora replied calmly. “Now tell me the truth, Vanessa—are you really here to find a husband, or did you simply come to London to find the Lord Sorcier?”
Vanessa bit her lower lip, and Dora sighed. Just as I thought.
They exited onto the balcony, and Vanessa carefully closed the door behind them. “I offered to marry the Lord Sorcier if he could fix you,” she admitted, when the door had closed. “I know it isn’t much of an offer for a man of his position, but I hadn’t much else to propose, and I fear I panicked somewhat.”
Dora shook her head in disappointment. “I warned you what an awful man he was,” she said. “Please tell me he didn’t accept your offer?”
Vanessa had the good grace to look embarrassed at this. “He did not,” she admitted. “He said that if he wanted something pretty to place on his mantle, he could buy something much less expensive than a wife. But he did say that he would try to cure you anyway, Dora, and that’s what matters.”
“It is not what matters,” Dora informed her. “For we are now in London, and Auntie Frances and the countess are on the warpath. If I do not miss my mark, you shall have a husband soon whether you want one or not, Vanessa. You had best start thinking about what sort of husband you’d like, before they choose one for you.”
Vanessa clasped her hands behind her, looking down at the ground. “I greatly dislike the way they talk about tricking some man into marrying me,” she sighed. “Is it naive of me that I thought I might simply meet someone agreeable and then ask whether they found me agreeable?”
“Very naive,” Dora confirmed. “Auntie Frances has always said that you ought to be a princess. I am surprised that she is willing to entertain even something so low as a viscount-in-waiting, given her aspirations.”
Vanessa winced. “I’m quite sure that I’ve danced with every one of Lady Carroway’s sons by now,” she said. “There is not a thing wrong with any of them, except that I cannot yet remember which face goes with which name.”
“Except for Albert, of course,” Dora supplied.
“Except for Albert,” Vanessa agreed readily. “Do you know, I think he must be his mother’s favourite? She smiled the brightest when he danced with her, and she keeps returning to check on him.“
Dora didn’t say the thing that she was thinking. He is her favourite because he is broken. She feels she must make up for that with extra love, the same way that Vanessa feels for me.
And that, she thought, was why Vanessa would always remember Albert, even if she didn’t recall his brothers. There was an odd defensiveness to her affections, such that they skewed towards those who hadn’t enough affection already. It was an admirable quality, so long as it was measured.
“Well,” Dora said. “I must speak with Lady Carroway, and I should probably dance with Albert at least once. But I intend to warn him about the old hens’ plan. I’ll tell him it was none of your idea, at least.”
Vanessa’s expression fell into a worrisome conflict. She picked at her skirts and knitted her brow. “Do you... not like Albert, Dora?” she asked.
Dora blinked. “Of course I like him,” she said. “I meant all of the things that I said about him. But I am faerie-cursed, and I should not be marrying anyone.” Vanessa opened her mouth to protest, but Dora shushed her. “If nothing else,” she said, “Lord Hollowvale might come back for me. I will not put anyone else between that faerie and me, and you cannot convince me such a thing would be either reasonable or kind. Perhaps if I am ever cured, I shall think on the possibility.”
“The Lord Sorcier will cure you, then,” Vanessa said stubbornly. “And you will marry whomever you like.”
Dora leaned over to kiss her cousin’s cheek. “And you will remind me of this moment, I am certain.” She turned to open the door back inside to the ballroom. “Decide on your husband-to-be soon, Vanessa,” she said. “We will need plenty of time to scheme against the hens if you are to marry someone that you like.”
Vanessa smiled at that. “I will redouble my efforts,” she promised.
Dora slipped back inside and went in search of a dance partner.
Albert found Dora in short order—mainly, she suspected, because neither of them was otherwise engaged on the dance floor. As he approached, she took a moment to appreciate their similarities. I am odd, Dora thought. And Albert is odd. And everyone is aware, on some level. The thought made her feel as though they were secret comrades, just waiting to exchange information about the doings of all those other, more normal party-goers.
“You must have made quite the impression, Miss Ettings,” Albert observed, as he came within speaking distance. He looked quite pleased. “I never would have guessed I’d see the day that Elias engaged in unforced dancing.”
“You shouldn’t be so impressed,” Dora told him. “I cheated outright. I gave him a magical riddle to solve.”
Albert chuckled. “Cheating or no cheating,” he said, “it was an unprecedented event. The Lord Sorcier has fled back to his research for the evening, but I daresay he might actually have enjoyed himself first.” He extended his hand. “Might I have the dance he stole from me earlier? If you are not too tired, that is.”
Dora took his hand obligingly. “I am not too tired,” she assured him. As they headed for the dance floor, she considered him curiously. “Are you aware of the grand conspiracy going on behind your back, Mr Lowe?”
Albert raised an eyebrow at her. “You may need to be more specific,” he said. “These parties are a veritable hotbed of gossip and conspiracy.”
Dora nodded at that. “Of course. I am referring to the three matrons who have decided that you and I ought to get married, for varying reasons of their own.”
Albert laughed again. “I am missing an arm, Miss Ettings, not my eyes or ears. My mother is already exceptionally wroth with Elias for trying to steal you from me—her words, not mine. I told her that he was working under the severe handicap of his personality, and that she shouldn’t begrudge him the attempt.”
Dora gave Albert a bemused look. “I am sure the Lord Sorcier would be horrified at the supposition,” she said. “In either case, I simply thought to let you know. I have no intention of marrying at the moment, so it’s rather a moot point.”
Albert raised his other eyebrow at that. “You haven’t?” he asked. “How strange. I thought marriage was why most eligible young ladies came to parties like these. Certainly, everyone isn’t here just to celebrate Edward’s birthday.”
Dora shook her head. “It would be most unwise for anyone to marry me right now,” she said. “Though the Lord Sorcier has kindly offered to help me with my predicament. Perhaps he shall even solve it, if he is as genius as I hear.”
Albert had knitted his brow as Dora spoke—but at this, the lines on his forehead smoothed away, and he seemed quite pleased again. “There is no problem, then,” he said. “For Elias is quite genius. And he is feeling very charitable towards you for some reason, which I think to be a fine thing.” A satisfied smile crossed his face. “Don’t worry, Miss Ettings—I shall be sure to dash my mother’s hopes before the night is through. I shall instead set my sights on the most unattainable lady I can find, and they will all soon leave me be out of pity.”
Dora smiled at that. “How very clever,” she said. “I wish I could take notes, but my own strategies must be more underhanded. It is far harder to foil these plots when you are a woman. If the hens suspect I am making myself unattractive to suitors, they might simply auction me off to whoever bothers to bid.”
Albert considered this seriously. “How troublesome,” he said. “Well... let me think a moment. Perhaps I can be clever again.” He led her past another couple as he turned the matter over in his mind. Then: “Ah. Yes, I have it. I shall simply bully Elias into calling upon you tomorrow. The mothers of the ton may consider him distasteful, but I cannot think of any man that might be foolish enough to bid against him, as it were.”
Dora shook her head. “I cannot imagine he will like that,” she said. “We truly do not get on, Mr Lowe, whatever you may think.”
The music spun to an end, and Albert bowed to her. He took Dora’s arm to lead her off the floor, and she thought she saw a sparkle of mischief in his eyes. “I believe that you get on just fine,” he said. “But it hardly matters. If he intends to speak more with you, then he will need an excuse. Why not use this one? It will solve your problems neatly, after all.”
“I will not argue with your logic,” Dora said. “Only with your confidence. But I shall give you nearly half odds, since you have surprised me more than once tonight.”
“Indeed,” Albert told her, with a twitch of his lips. “Be up on time tomorrow, Miss Ettings. Elias is an early riser.” Albert led her back to her table, where Auntie Frances and Vanessa were already seated. “Thank you for your indulgence, Lady Lockheed,” he said. “I believe I have returned your charge with toes unharmed.”
Auntie Frances waved a hand generously. “I do not worry at all to leave my Dora in your care, Mr Lowe,” she said. “You are, after all, such a perfect gentleman.” Dora’s aunt glanced towards her meaningfully. “You do not have any other dances on your card right now, dear? You could keep dancing, if you liked.” The words were clearly meant for Albert, but even Auntie Frances wasn’t bullish enough to shove Dora back at him directly.
Albert’s eyes alighted on Vanessa, however, and he offered out his hand to her. “Miss Vanessa,” he said. “Might I dare to ask another dance of you?”
Vanessa blinked at him. Auntie Frances widened her eyes just next to her daughter, and Dora imagined that she could hear the sound of all her aunt’s intricate plans shattering against the floor.
Vanessa would have accepted the dance regardless, of course. But even if she had not been inclined to accept, she could hardly turn down Albert without seeming impolite. His family would snub her badly if she did, and gossip would follow on top of that.
“I would love another dance,” Vanessa told him warmly. “Thank you for asking, Mr Lowe.”
An unattainable lady indeed, Dora thought, as she watched them walk out to dance. She wondered if Albert was aware of the full implications of what he’d done. He was, after all, so very clever.
“What have you done?” Auntie Frances hissed to her, aghast. “How hard can it be to hold one man’s interest, Dora?”
Dora tilted her head at her. “Why, it isn’t what I have or haven’t done,” she said. “Vanessa is simply too lovely tonight, I think. Can you really blame Mr Lowe for his interest?”
Auntie Frances floundered at that, unable to search out a suitable reply. Certainly, she wasn’t about to deny her daughter’s popularity.
But Dora did feel bad for Lady Carroway, who watched this dance with such a sad and knowing expression on her face. She was, after all, only guilty of hoping that her son might have finally found a woman of mutual interest. And now, he had gone and thrown away that chance in order to pursue a woman with far too many other prospects.
Still, Albert’s mother found the opportunity to approach their table. And from the look on her face, Dora suspected that the lady still harboured some determination to foil her son’s foolishness.
“Miss Ettings,” Lady Carroway greeted her. “I am so glad that the Lord Sorcier’s clumsiness did not result in your absence entirely tonight.” Her eyes narrowed as she spoke Elias’ title, and Dora had to hide a bemused smile. “I was hoping to discuss your love of charity work before you left.”
Dora blinked. “My love of charity work?” she echoed. Auntie Frances pinched at her leg beneath the table, and she forced herself to nod. “Of course,” she corrected herself. “I hadn’t realised that was common knowledge.” It was as close to an outright lie as she had ever uttered, but there was simply no getting around the matter with Auntie Frances watching her like a hawk.
“Lady Hayworth mentioned it in passing,” Albert’s mother said. There was an oddly satisfied smile on her face now. “She said that you were hoping to find further opportunities for charity while in Lond
on. If I may suggest, my son Albert often lends his services to those in need. I am sure that he could take you with him sometime soon—with a proper chaperone, of course.”
Oh dear, Dora thought. Clearly, Albert gets his cleverness from his mother.
“That is such a generous offer, Lady Carroway,” Auntie Frances observed brightly. “We would be delighted to help with any necessary arrangements.”
Dora had the distinct impression that the two mothers had communicated something silently between them, just over her head. “That sounds just lovely, Lady Carroway, thank you,” Dora said, because she was expected to say it. “Though, I would hate to impose upon Mr Lowe while he is doing his work.” Her eyes tracked Albert and Vanessa as they danced.
“There is no imposition involved,” Lady Carroway assured her. “Albert has mentioned more than once how he could use an assistant. Why, the arrangement couldn’t be more perfect.”
Dora gave up. Good luck with this one, Mr Lowe, she thought at Albert.
“Why then, it’s settled,” Auntie Frances said. “And what a fortuitous turn of events, Lady Carroway!”
Fortune, Dora thought, had far less to do with the matter than did three particular meddling hens.
Vanessa gave Dora a curious look when she returned, but they hadn’t the chance for another clandestine conversation before she was swept away by another prospective suitor. Instead, Dora found herself sitting out the rest of the dances, lending her consideration to the brand new predicament in which she had found herself.
Chapter 5
Their small party left the ball late, but there was a sense of grim triumph in the carriage on the way back to Lady Hayworth’s townhouse. The night hadn’t been the unqualified success that Auntie Frances and the countess had wanted, but Dora could see that they were both quite pleased with themselves for adjusting to such unexpected difficulties. They discussed how best to make use of Dora’s access to Albert, even as she dozed on Vanessa’s shoulder.
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