by Mary Nichols
‘Oh, I am sorry,’ Frances murmured, as the lady inclined her head in a slight bow.
‘Thank you,’ she said with a sad smile. ‘But I have learned one must accept what cannot be helped. He left me more than adequately provided for, but lonely. We had no children, you see, so I thought I would return to the old country and visit my very dear friend, Percy.’ She patted Sir Percy’s hand and smiled at him.
Sir Percy smiled back, introduced her to Lavinia and then presented her to James and Lord Wincote who strolled over to join them.
While Edmund was making polite conversation to the newcomer, James seized Lavinia’s dance card and, as the first dance was beginning, the two of them took the floor.
‘The old dog,’ he said, as they moved into the set. ‘I never knew Percy had it in him.’
‘He is only acting the gallant to his friend’s widow, but I think it is not very kind to upstage Constance. It is her ball, after all.’
‘She is no threat to Constance, my dear. Not in the same league.’
‘I hope you are right.’ They parted, circled another couple and came together again. ‘Do you think those diamonds are real?’
‘Undoubtedly.’
‘Interesting,’ she said. ‘I imagine every penniless gentleman in town will be showing his true colours after tonight.’
‘Now, there’s a thought,’ he said, grinning.
She looked up at him aghast. ‘James, not you. Oh, I know Mama said you should—’ She stopped in confusion. ‘You wouldn’t, would you?’
He looked down into her upturned face and those speaking eyes of hers were telling him something that lifted his spirits. She did not like the idea at all. Oh, it was not jealousy, not yet, but it could be. He smiled, turned her about him and they promenaded the length of the set before joining it at the end. ‘Why not?’
‘But you do not need money, do you?’
‘You can never have too much of it, Vinny dear.’ He glanced over to where the lady was surrounded by sycophants, all clamouring to dance with her while Percy stood by with a knowing smile on his face. ‘But she has other attributes besides money, don’t you think? She has the looks of a goddess.’
‘Perhaps she has feet of clay,’ Lavinia said hopefully. ‘Or maybe the stones are made of paste.’
He left her, bowed and did a turn with the lady opposite him and returned to Lavinia. ‘Paste doesn’t sparkle like that.’
They continued in silence; he was smiling, she was thoughtful. At the end of the dance, they returned to their own group, but not before he had written his name against a waltz later in the evening. Percy was still looking pleased with himself and Lady Rattenshaw was being charming to everyone.
‘I am so glad Sir Percy prevailed upon me to come tonight,’ she was saying. ‘I had thought that since I knew no one I would not enjoy it, but nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone has been so kind. I do hope you will all join me for a little soirée at my house in Upper Brook Street on Friday week.’
‘Delighted,’ they murmured, one by one, and this was followed by reciprocal invitations until it looked as though the lady would not have a minute to herself for the next month. ‘It seems to me,’ Lavinia whispered to James, ‘you will have a few rivals to contend with.’
‘Oh, I care nothing for rivals. They may be easily dispatched,’ he said, making Lavinia frown at him. ‘And do not wear such a disapproving expression; it spoils your looks.’ And with that he turned, bowed before Lady Rattenshaw and asked her to stand up with him for the next dance. She accepted charmingly and they took to the floor.
Lavinia watched them go, until she heard Edmund’s voice at her elbow. ‘My lady, will you do me the honour?’
She smiled and offered him her hand and they followed James and Lady Rattenshaw into a country dance. ‘They are flocking round her ladyship like bees round a honey hive,’ she said. ‘Never mind that she is ten years older than most of them.’
He looked across the room at the Earl, smiling down at his partner. ‘By that, I collect, you mean the Earl of Corringham,’ he said.
‘No, not only him. All the eligibles.’ She looked round the room as they danced. ‘Except Lord Haverley, who is so staid, he knows he would have no chance and so he is sticking close to Constance, which I find very touching.’
‘Do you include me in your censure, my lady?’ he asked, affecting to be hurt.
‘Should I?’ she asked in a teasing tone.
‘No. My heart is already lost, it is no longer mine for disposal.’
‘Oh.’
‘Is that all you can say? I had hoped that you might give me leave to speak to your papa. After all, he is here tonight and apparently free of his other duties for the moment. What better time to approach him?’
‘My lord, this is Miss Graham’s ball and her last chance to make a match. I think it would be unkind of us to steal her limelight.’
‘I think it has already been stolen by Lady Rattenshaw. Not deliberately, I believe, because she is charming, but I cannot think that my speaking to the Duke can adversely affect Miss Graham. We do not have to make the announcement tonight.’
She hesitated. He was looking at her now, holding her in a kind of mental embrace which was making her heart beat faster and her legs feel rubbery. If he had that effect in a crowded room when their only contact was her hand in his, then what would it be like in some quiet place when they were alone? What would she feel if he took her in his arms and kissed her? When at last, she forced herself to look away, the feeling slowly subsided so that she was able to breathe again. ‘It is too soon,’ she said.
‘Why? You came out two years ago, you have met all the eligibles in that time, how can you say it is to soon?’
‘You are not all the eligibles. I had no difficulty with those.’
‘Then does that not prove I am different? I cannot wait much longer, my dear, I really cannot.’
‘Why not?’
‘I want you all to myself, to be able to say, “This treasure is mine.”’
She looked at him sharply, alerted by the tone of his voice. Then she laughed. ‘Would you love me as much if I were as poor as a church mouse?’
‘Of course I would. I am affronted that you feel the need to ask.’
‘Good,’ she said, smiling wickedly. ‘Because I am.’
‘Am what?’
‘Poor as a church mouse. I haven’t a groat to call my own.’
‘Of course you haven’t. No single girl has, but you do have a wealthy father.’
‘Ah, but that’s just it. Papa is not inclined to pay a large dowry.’
He laughed. ‘My lady, you are bamming me, but no matter, I will play your little game with you. So you are poor. I am not. Oh, I have not the wealth of the Duke of Loscoe, but I have an estate and an income from it as well as prospects.’
‘Oh, good,’ she said. ‘I am so relieved. Papa was so concerned that I might be wanted for my money.’
‘I can understand his concern.’
‘Then you will not mind if he enquires into these prospects you spoke of?’
‘No, but they will not materialise until my grandfather’s affairs have been settled. It is why I am in London, you understand.’
‘Oh, that is a pity,’ she said, smiling. ‘You may speak to Papa, if you wish, but I should warn you that he is determined that I shall be in receipt of no fortune until after I have been married two years so, you see, you will have to convince him that you can keep me in the manner I am accustomed to for that time.’
He looked astonished. ‘I am persuaded he does not mean it. He would not see you in want.’
‘No, but then…I will not be in want, will I? Not with you. You have your own fortune and prospects—have you not just told me so?’
‘Yes, yes, of course,’ he said hurriedly.
At the end of the dance he returned her to her stepmother and then excused himself.
‘You were in very earnest conversation with Lord Win
cote, Vinny,’ Frances said, as Lavinia sat beside her. ‘I wonder if he is not becoming a little too ardent.’
‘Would you disapprove?’
‘My dear, it is not my approval you should seek, but your papa’s.’ She paused. ‘Is that what you want?’
‘I don’t know. When I am with him, it is. When he is pouring compliments into my ears or looking at me with those intense eyes of his, which seem to hold me in some kind of thrall, then I think there is nothing in the whole world I want but to be married to him, but when he is not present, when I am in my right senses, I am a mass of indecision, as if I must be close to him to feel anything.’
Frances smiled and put her hand on Lavinia’s. ‘I think you should not make a hasty decision.’
‘He wants to speak to Papa.’
‘Well, we cannot stop him doing that, but that is not to say the Duke will agree or that you have to accept.’
‘I told him a fib.’
‘Oh?’ Frances raised an eyebrow and waited.
‘I told him Papa would not pay any dowry until I had been married two years. It was Papa’s idea to test the sincerity of anyone who offered for me.’ She looked up as her stepmother laughed aloud. ‘You can laugh, Mama, but what will Papa say when he hears?’
‘I should think he would say how clever you are. But did his lordship believe you?’
‘I do not know. We shall soon find out. If he goes to Papa, believing it, then he is sincere in wanting me for myself alone and—’
‘You would accept him?’
‘I do not know. I would certainly think about it.’
‘And supposing he goes to the Duke, not believing it, thinking that you have been testing him and the dowry is quite safe, what then?’
‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. Do you think you could prime Papa? I hate to think my dowry is the main attraction; if it is, then I had as lief not marry at all.’ She looked up as a shadow fell over them and Lord Haverley asked her to stand up with him and the conversation was brought to an abrupt halt.
His lordship was followed in subsequent dances by Martin Drew and several more young men of her acquaintance. They were all very pleasant, personable young men and she managed to listen to their compliments and tease them in response while her attention was elsewhere. Had Edmund found the Duke? And where, oh, where was James when she needed him?
James was in the small room set aside for cards, but he was not playing. He was sitting in a corner, nursing a glass of brandy and talking to Sir Percy. ‘Where did you find her, Ponsonby?’ he demanded.
‘Who?’
‘Lady Rattenshaw.’
‘Old friend, me boy.’
‘You never mentioned her before.’
‘Long time ago. Married Sir Arthur, went out to India. Now she’s back.’
‘And?’
‘Looked me up, like she said. Rich as Golden Ball, don’t you know. Richer even.’
‘You’ve already got more blunt than you know what to do with.’
‘So I have. But he hasn’t.’
‘He?’
‘Your rival. Lord Edmund Wincote.’
James looked at his friend, eyes wide with surprise. ‘You think…?’
Percy shrugged. ‘I’ll lay a pony on it.’
James began to laugh and it was some moments before he could gather himself to speak again. ‘Does the lady know what you have in mind?’
‘Oh, yes,’ he said, his eyes wide with innocence.
James stood up, still smiling. ‘I am agog to see what happens. I think I shall rejoin the dancers. But not a word to Lady Lavinia, my friend.’
‘Oh, no, most decidedly not.’
Lavinia was dancing with Augusta’s husband, Richard, when he returned to the ballroom and he sat down beside the Duchess to wait for the dance to end.
‘Vinny seems to be enjoying herself,’ he said, apparently idly.
‘Why should she not be?’
‘Oh, no reason, but I cannot see her latest admirer.’
‘If you mean Lord Wincote, I think he may have gone to find Marcus.’
‘My God, he doesn’t waste much time, does he?’
‘No.’
‘Is the Duke of a mind to allow it?’
‘I really cannot say.’
‘She hasn’t been such a ninny as to encourage him, has she?’
‘Unlike you, my dear, he does not need encouragement.’
‘What do you mean, Mama?’
‘Oh, I think you know.’ She was smiling. ‘I have never seen anyone so slow. You will lose her if you are not careful.’
‘Me?’ He affected astonishment. ‘You think I—’
‘James, you forget I have known you since you were in leading-strings, listened to your childish complaints, nursed you when you were ill, picked you up when you fell over. I know what is in your heart as well as you know it yourself.’ She paused, smiling. ‘Now, tell me I am wrong.’
‘No,’ he conceded. ‘You haven’t told Vinny this?’
‘Good gracious no. I may have done almost everything else for you, but I cannot do your courting for you, James.’
‘But, Mama, it was you who warned me against turning my thoughts in Lavinia’s direction, don’t you remember? You told me the Duke would never countenance an offer from me. I could not—’ He stopped; he did not want her to know that one of the reasons he had held back in those early days was that he loved his Little Mama too much to risk spoiling her chance of happiness with the man she loved.
‘Yes, but that was three years ago and a great deal has changed since then. You have become a young man any mother could be proud of and Lavinia has grown into a beautiful young woman.’
‘Oh, I know that,’ he said, a wry smile on his lips, watching as the dance came to an end and Lavinia came back to them.
‘Then make a push.’
‘What push?’ Lavinia demanded, overhearing.
‘Oh, nothing,’ James said. ‘My dance, I think.’ He bowed to her and took her by the hand to lead her on to the floor. From the corner of his eye he saw Lord Wincote return to the room and begin looking around as if searching Lavinia out. When he caught sight of them, his eyes narrowed and his lips were closed in a thin line of annoyance.
‘Good,’ James murmured, with a smile.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked him.
‘Oh, that you are dancing this waltz very well, my dear.’
‘I like it. And the music is so—’ She stopped; she had been about to say romantic, but that might make him think she thought of him in a romantic way and she didn’t, did she? ‘So satisfying, don’t you think?’
‘Delightful,’ he said, holding her a little closer and whirling her round. ‘You know, you are in looks tonight, Vinny. I am to be envied at this moment.’
‘Thank you, kind sir.’
He had been the one to teach her the steps and she loved dancing with him. They were so much in tune with each other; she could follow him without a moment’s hesitation. Feet, hands, bodies moved as one. Her gown floated round her and swirled about his black-clad legs, almost as if entrapping him. She smiled and looked up at him and found him gazing at her with an expression that made her heart turn over. His grey eyes were as soft as a dawn mist, his mouth a gentle curve. His head was bent towards her and for a second, which seemed like an eternity, it was almost as if he meant to kiss her.
There was no question that he would do so, not in such a public place, but in any case, the startled look in her eyes would have made him desist. He smiled wryly and continued dancing, reverting to holding her at the regulation arm’s length. As the music came to an end, she gave him a full curtsy and he executed a sweeping bow and offered her his arm to escort her back to the Duchess.
But Lavinia knew something had changed between them. It was like suddenly growing up and finding what she had assumed would last forever had disappeared with her childhood and would never return. She was disconcerted, a little sad, knowing that the teasing, the
familiarity, she had taken for granted was no longer permissible.
James was not her brother, as he was so fond of pointing out, and perhaps it meant that she ought to treat him as she did other young men of her acquaintance, with correctness, politeness and respect. She did respect him; there was no one she would sooner turn to in trouble, no one to whom she would rather confide, not even her father or stepmother. So why, at this moment, could she find not a word to say to him? Why could she not tell him how she felt, not only about him, but about Lord Wincote?
As if her thoughts had brought him to her, Lord Wincote came to claim his second dance, but instead of leading her on to the floor, he chose to promenade about its perimeter. ‘You do not mind, do you?’ he asked her. ‘I wish to talk to you.’
‘No. But what do you want to talk about?’
‘I have spoken to your papa…’
‘And?’ she asked, holding her breath.
‘He has given his consent for me to speak to you. I am overjoyed.’
‘Oh.’ She was thoughtful. It did not sound as if Papa knew about the untruth she had told, so perhaps the Duchess had not been able to speak to him, or perhaps she had and he had chosen not to corroborate it. On the other hand, perhaps he had and it had made no difference at all to Lord Wincote.
‘You are quiet, my dear. I would have expected some expression of gratification that his Grace has been so condescending as to look kindly on my suit.’
‘Oh, I am,’ she said, wondering if his pomposity was his way of dealing with his feelings, or if he had been out of society so long he was afraid of saying something wrong and had to wrap everything up in verbosity. He did not give her the impression of someone afraid, but he was tense. She smiled; talking to the Duke often had that effect on people.
‘Good,’ he said, noticing the smile. ‘This, of course, is not the time or the place to take the matter further, but, with your permission, I shall call on you tomorrow afternoon.’
For a moment she felt inclined to tell him she would not be at home, but that would not serve; she would have to hear his proposal sooner or later and make up her mind.