A Countess in Her Own Right

by Fanny Walsh

  “Do you have any idea what vultures like Winstanley would do to earn your trust? And for no other reason than to woo you into marrying them and steal away your title?”

  He was absolutely furious. Mary had no idea from whence his rage stemmed, or how to quell it, so she listened on in silence.

  “It would not do for the word to get around that he had been crude or unprofessional with a countess, oh no. Especially not one as vulnerable and easily swayed as you.

  ”No, of course he was kind and dignified with you, only so that you might return to him and give him the opportunity to court you. Only, by the time you saw his true plans, you would have married him, and it would be too late.”

  “Uncle, you do me a grave injustice. I only said that I met him, I never said anything about courting or marrying him.”

  “Mary, you are quite gullible, and it would not take long before you believed that he could hand you the stars on a golden platter.”

  His words hurt Mary. She sat in silence for several moments, trying to discover a way to cease this terrible conversation.

  She briefly considered trying to explain to her uncle about Duncan’s offer to fix her lame leg. However, given what he had already said, she decided that would only serve to feed the fire, not extinguish it.

  At last, she spoke, blinking back tears. “Do not worry. It was a chance encounter, and I have no plans of seeing him ever again. So, rest easy that he will not take advantage of my ‘gullible, vulnerable’ nature.”

  She said the words more coldly than she had intended, but at last, she had her uncle’s attention again.

  Uncle Kent sighed, studying his niece’s wounded expression.

  “Please, my dear. Forgive my careless words. I care only for you and your wellbeing. But I behaved like a beast just now, despite my intentions. Can you forgive me?”

  His words still stung Mary, but she gave him a warm, reassuring smile. “Of course, uncle. I understand your concern for me. Besides, how could I stay angry with you?”

  He smiled, relief washing over his face.

  Soon after, the meal was finished. The servants returned to clear the table, and Johnson came to see Mary’s guests to the door. No one had spoken much after the heated discussion between Mary and her uncle, and Mary was secretly relieved that it was time for everyone to leave.

  She bid farewell to her uncle and cousins, and then they were out the door and on their way home. Although it was still a bit early, she was exhausted. She called for Susan, who escorted her up the stairs and into her bedroom.

  As Susan helped her dress for bed, Mary thought about Duncan’s offer to help her leg.

  The idea of having the bone re-broken, and the memory of the agony she experienced after it broke the first time, was not especially appealing. She could hardly fathom enduring that pain a second time, especially on purpose.

  However, she believed that, if she no longer had a hideous limp, she might be able to attend next year’s Season, and subsequently find a suitable husband. Duncan had sounded sure enough that the procedure of which he spoke could be successful.

  Yes, she thought as she dismissed Susan for the night and settled into bed. I will write to Doctor Winstanley and set up a time for him to tell me more about his plan.

  She fell asleep, refusing to acknowledge that she looked forward to this meeting for more reasons than simply the issue of her leg.

  Chapter 6

  Duncan tried to make himself invisible as he watched his friend Julius dancing with his wife. He wondered for the tenth time that evening how Julius ever managed to convince him to attend this ball, especially since it was the first of the London Season.

  He knew his friend meant well, especially since he knew of Duncan’s sudden need to find a bride, but he did not feel prepared enough to be mingling with every available lady in the ton just then. He was not sure if he would ever be ready for such a task.

  It was only an hour and a half into the ball, and Julius had already introduced him to more women than he could count. He was certain that he would meet many more still.

  The women to whom he had already been introduced kept searching for him in the crowded ballroom, trying to make eye contact so that he would be forced to invite them to dance. He took great care to either keep his eyes on his friend and his wife, or not raise them any higher than the other guest’s feet.

  The dance ended, too soon for Duncan’s taste, and Julius made a straight line for him.

  “Still sulking in the shadows?” Julius teased.

  “Would that I could become a shadow,” Duncan said glumly.

  “Cheer up, old friend. Try to enjoy yourself. It is not as if you must select a bride and announce your engagement tonight.”

  “Perhaps. But I also cannot choose just any woman. And surely, even you can see the hunger for marriage in the eyes of every single woman here tonight.”

  “Ah, but the only eyes I see are Eliza’s,” Julius said, his gaze turning lovingly toward his wife, where she stood socializing with a small group of her friends.

  Duncan grimaced. He was glad that his lifelong friend was so happy, but the notions of love and romance were beyond him.

  His current situation and sudden need to find a wife did not make him any more thrilled about marriage. In fact, it only intensified his fears.

  Julius whisked him away and introduced him to another woman. This one - he thought Julius said her name was Miss Everen - had very striking blue eyes and golden hair.

  However, whenever she laughed it sounded forced, and she did not seem to have an original thought in her head.

  Duncan smiled and put forth his best polite conversation, but he could not make himself feel any interest in her.

  It had been the same with all the women he had met. Try as he might, he just could not see himself courting any of them, let alone spending the rest of his life, and bearing heirs, with them.

  His thoughts began to drift to Mary Hillington. He had thought of her often since their chance meeting. A small part of him maintained the hope that she would change her mind and call on him about her leg.

  He recalled her discomfort when they discussed the procedure he suggested, and he could tell how shameful she believed her malady to be. To him, however, it was part of her beauty and charm, although he felt quite sure that he would never see her again.

  “—and I am sure that my friend, Lord Tornight here, would be honored to sign your dance card for the next dance,” Duncan heard Julius say, dissipating his thoughts.

  “What’s that?” Duncan asked, praying that he had heard incorrectly.

  “I was telling Miss Everen here that I must excuse myself, as I promised my dear wife the next dance, but that I believed that you were free, and would gladly dance with her.”

  Duncan glared at Julius. The woman stood waiting expectantly, a blank smile on her face.

  “I would be delighted, Miss Everen,” Duncan said, grateful that his voice was warmer than the gaze he was still boring into his friend.

  “I will find you again soon, my lord,” Julius said, not bothering to conceal his amusement.

  “Can I expect to learn that you have offered my hand again for me when you do?” Duncan asked in a low voice full of venomous ice.

  He turned to the woman with a forced smile and offered his arm, leaving Julius to delight in his laughter and amusement at his expense.

  He made a silent vow to invite Julius to spar with him as soon as possible, to assuage his desire to throttle his friend in front of all of London’s elite society.

  He fixed his gaze on his dance partner’s face as they made their way to the ballroom floor, pretending he did not notice the jealous eyes of all the women who had been hoping to receive a dance invitation from him.

  He led her to a spot in the middle of the floor, hoping that the other dancing couples would provide a sort of shield from the accusing glares. Once they were in place, he assumed the proper dancing position, careful to keep his hand
s exactly where they should be and making as little contact as possible.

  Miss Everen positively beamed at Duncan, and he had to suppress a groan. No doubt, she would return to her social circle and brag about how Lord Tornight was sure to propose to her after their magical dance.

  And, it was just his luck, the song was a bit slower tempo, so the lady would naturally expect some form of conversation.

  “You dance quite well, Miss Everen,” Duncan said.

  Her smile widened, and Duncan visibly winced at his words. Women in the ton were taught that men were interested in beautiful women who danced gracefully and laughed musically.

  Unfortunately, these were precisely the kinds of women that Duncan found excessively boring and bland. Their beauty and graceful talents did not make up for their lack of imagination or strong spirit.

  “Thank you, my lord,” Miss Everen said, her smile widening.

  Dancing this close, Duncan thought that she looked no more than eighteen, and he sighed inwardly. He was now certain that half the ton would be hearing that he would wed this lady, and likely by time for the next ball.

  One which, he decided right then, he would not attend. No matter who insisted, or what society believed.

  “So, you are a doctor?” Miss Everen asked.

  Duncan nodded, his plastered smile still in place.

  “That, I am,” he said. His plan now was to keep conversation minimal until the dance ended.

  “And you have your own practice?”

  “I do.”

  “Well, perhaps you shall see me there when next I am feeling under the weather.”

  “You shall be welcome, of course,” he said. Miss Everen blushed again, and he cursed himself for allowing his doctor’s professional interest to speak just then.

  “But, if you are a viscount, why bother with learning medicine?” the lady asked.

  The perplexed expression on Miss Everen’s face was enough to make Duncan want to flee the ballroom mid-dance and live underground. These mundane, mind-numbing conversations were the ones he tried so desperately to avoid.

  He once again envisioned throttling his friend for throwing him at this woman.

  “It is a good trade, and it allows me to help people,” he said, feeling no desire to explain himself further.

  Miss Everen beamed again. “That is very kind and thoughtful of you, my lord,” she said.

  Duncan found himself wishing the ballroom floor would open and swallow him. But he feared that if it did, it would swallow Miss Everen, too.

  After what felt like an hour, the dance ended. He had managed to avoid telling Miss Everen more about himself because she began talking about herself.

  He was glad that he had no intention of meeting the woman again, because he had not heard a word she had said. He was barely able to manage a smile and nod in the appropriate places as she spoke.

  He walked her to the edge of the dance floor where her chaperone waited. After bowing to her briefly and bidding her goodnight, he walked away, without another word.

  He scoured the ballroom for Julius, scalding words dancing on the tip of his tongue to spew at this friend.

  He saw that Julius was standing with his wife, next to one of the other women to whom Julius had introduced him, though, and Duncan ducked behind a group of people and moved the other direction. He was not going to let Julius entrap him yet again.

  Duncan was contemplating a ploy to escape the ball, when two women entering the ballroom caught his attention. The dark-haired one, he did not immediately recognize, but the one walking beside her made his mouth fall open.

  Mary was dressed in a deep red ball gown that accentuated her beautiful hazel eyes. Around her neck was a dazzling diamond necklace. Strands of her light brown hair framed her pale oval face, and her cheeks had the faintest blush.

  Duncan took a step toward her, but Julius put his hand on his shoulder, guiding him to yet another new face. Duncan was now even less interested than before, now that he had spotted Mary. His heart raced, and he wanted nothing more than to ask her to dance.

  He feigned interest in whatever Julius and the woman were discussing, maneuvering so that he could see Mary again. To his surprise, he saw that she was being besieged by men.

  Puzzled, he watched her exchanges with each of them. Some of them, she spoke politely with for a few moments. Others, she smiled pleasantly and shook her head apologetically.

  In almost all cases, however, the men walked away from her with sour expressions on their faces.

  Julius broke him out of his trance.

  “I believe you hurt that young lady’s feelings just now, my friend,” he said, following Duncan’s gaze. Duncan murmured an apology, not taking his eyes off of Mary.

  “Why are so many men swarming that woman over there?” Duncan asked his friend.

  Julius laughed. “That woman, my dear fellow, is Lady Linden, the Countess of-”

  Duncan held up his hand and nodded. Julius, confused, fell silent.

  “Yes, I know who she is. As it happens, I have already met Lady Linden.”

  Julius gaped at his friend, surprised. “How in the world did you manage to meet Lady Linden? And how did you forget to tell me?”

  Duncan tore his gaze from Mary to look at his friend. The expression on Julius’s face made him smile.

  “Would your reaction have been any different if I had told you?” Duncan asked. “Besides, I have wanted us to get together and catch up for some time, but we have both been quite busy.”

  Julius considered Duncan’s words for a moment. “Then I suppose you know about the terrible tragedy that struck her family? About the situation she has endured since her family, including the true heir to her father’s estate, died?”

  Duncan looked at Julius, puzzled. Noticing his friend’s silence, Julius continued.

  “It was a horrific event. Her family’s home burned down, and her whole family perished in the blaze. Every man in this room would love to marry her, so they could lay claim to her wealth.”

  Duncan frowned. He hardly knew her, but the idea of all those men clamoring for her attention made his stomach clench.

  “Have they no respect for her mourning?” he asked.

  “Oh, they all waited until the end of her mourning period, to be sure. Nevertheless, she has rejected every single one.”

  Duncan grunted. Perhaps the men had waited the customary time period expected for mourning, but he would wager that they waited not one moment longer.

  He stared at Mary’s beautiful face, and the way the red of her ball gown gave a porcelain appearance to her pale skin.

  “You are not thinking of joining them in their quest for her hand, are you?” Julius asked. “Perhaps you would be better off talking to her friend, Miss Beaumont. Her affections are not quite as highly sought. And, she is probably less likely to turn you down.”

  Duncan looked at his friend but remained silent. Then he began to make his way over to the two women. Julius followed, curious.

  As the two men approached, Mary looked up and smiled. The men bowed, and Julius watched Duncan in silent amusement.

  Just then, the next dance began, and Duncan returned Mary’s smile. He offered his hand.

  “Would you do me the honor of granting me this dance, my lady?” he asked with a newfound courage that surprised him.

  Chapter 7

  Mary stared, her lips parting in shock. She was pleasantly surprised by Duncan’s attendance at the ball. He was the last person she expected to see there, although she found herself glad that he was.

  However, his invitation to dance had caught her unawares. She had not been able to dance since the fire, which had led to her rejecting numerous previous invitations from other men.

  She dropped her gaze and looked at her hands.

  “I fear that I would not make a very graceful partner,” she said, her voice full of regret. “With this leg of mine, I cannot dance.”

  Duncan dipped his head seeking her
gaze, encouraging her to look at him again. The contact sent a current through her, and she met his eyes.

  “Do not worry,” he said kindly. “Trust me, I will help you. Please, say yes.”

  She glanced at Beatrice from the corner of her eye, and saw she was watching with amusement, no doubt expecting her to reject Duncan as she had so many others that night.

  She thought for a moment, curious as to what he meant by ‘helping’ her. At last, she made up her mind. She took his hand and smiled.