by Rose Pearson
“Anna,” she said, seeing her other sister standing a short distance away. “And Selina, might you join us for a moment?” Waiting until both had joined them, Rebecca turned to Lady Hayward. “Lady Hayward, might I present my two sisters.” She gestured to the first. “This is Lady Anna, and next to her, Lady Selina.”
Lady Hayward curtsied. “I am glad to make your acquaintance.”
“And this is Lady Hayward,” Rebecca told her sisters, who were both looking at her with a mixture of confusion and interest. “Father has returned to the townhouse and has left Lady Hayward to assist us in choosing our gowns. We will return with her once we are finished here.”
Her sisters’ eyes widened in evident surprise, but Anna was the first one to speak, excited tones pouring from her mouth as she engaged Lady Hayward in conversation almost at once. She spoke about colors and gloves and ribbons, begging Lady Hayward to join her so that she might show her what she had been considering. Rebecca smiled to herself, thinking that it was very much like Anna to be so eager, whilst Selina, as she expected, stayed back just a little, watching carefully but having none of the enthusiasm of her twin sister.
“You have only just met Lady Hayward, then?” Lady Selina asked as Rebecca nodded. “And Father is quite contented to allow her to help us?”
“More than willing, I should say,” Rebecca replied with a sudden smile. “In fact, I do not think he was hesitant for barely a moment! The opportunity to return to the townhouse and to remove himself from supervising the choosing of gowns was one he could not simply ignore.” She chuckled, and, finally, Lady Selina smiled. “I think we may have found an ally in Lady Hayward, Selina.” A jolt of happiness ran through her frame, and Rebecca allowed herself to sigh with contentment. “Perhaps this Season will not be as difficult as I feared after all.”
Chapter Two
“I do hope there will be no tardiness this evening!”
Rebecca sat up straight in her chair as her father came striding into the room, only to stop dead as he caught sight of not one but three of his daughters sitting quietly together, waiting for him to join them. He cleared his throat and nodded at them, muttering something under his breath that Rebecca could not quite make out.
Rebecca felt delighted with his reaction, but, of course, hid it well. It would not do to have her father irritated just before they left the house for what would be their very first foray into society.
“Now that you have been presented,” the Duke said, coming to stand in front of the small fire that burned in the grate, keeping the evening’s chill away from the large room, “it is time to enter society. You are, however, to be on your guard.”
Rebecca frowned. “If you are to suggest, Father, that we do not know what is expected of us in terms of behavior, then—”
“That is not at all what I am suggesting, Rebecca, and kindly do not interrupt,” the duke said firmly, his eyes fixing to hers as she quelled her frustration. “I am well aware that my daughters know what is proper and what is improper. I fully expect this evening to go very well, indeed. What I am to say, however, is that you all must be careful of those you are introduced to. Some will be eager for your acquaintance, of course, which will be rather flattering.” His lips thinned, giving Rebecca the impression that he had been through an experience that had not pleased him. “It will be a matter of wisdom and consideration to know whether such people are eager for your acquaintance out of an eagerness to become known to you, or if they seek it out for their own gain.”
Rebecca’s heart began to grow heavy. She had been looking forward to this evening, especially with the promise of Lady Hayward being present also. The purchasing of their gowns had gone very well indeed and, whilst Rebecca did not know what Lady Hayward and her father had discussed thereafter, she felt quite certain that the duke would be very contented indeed with their acquaintance continuing. Now, however, she feared that her father would expect her to ensure that her sisters were acquainted only with those that were of excellent character and had no underlying motives—although quite how she was meant to decipher such a thing, Rebecca had very little idea.
“Therefore, you must be on your guard,” the duke said firmly. “If, for any reason, a gentleman is eager to further his acquaintance with you, you shall give his name to me, and I shall do some investigation into his situation before any further interaction takes place.”
“Yes, Father,” the three young ladies murmured together, with Rebecca’s heart sinking all the lower. She would never be able to find a suitable match, not when her father’s demands were so stringent. What if she found someone she considered appropriate, only for her father to refuse on some small matter? She knew that the duke expected his daughters to marry well, to gentlemen of excellent title, of good family, and of substantial wealth. Now, it seemed, she had to find such a gentleman but would also be required to ensure that his character was without fault and his motivations quite pure. It felt like a near-impossible task.
The duke cleared his throat, his hands still clasped tightly behind his back, and Rebecca forced herself to give him her full attention and did not linger on any further thoughts at present.
“There is another matter that I wish to inform you of,” the duke continued as Rebecca let out a long, slow breath, a little frustrated that there appeared to be even more the duke required of them. “It is to do with Lady Hayward.”
Rebecca’s heart dropped to the floor. No doubt, then, the duke had found something disparaging about the lady and had decided that she was not a suitable acquaintance for his daughters. Perhaps that was what had been discussed yesterday afternoon when they had returned from Madame Bernadotte’s. Perhaps Lady Hayward had been thanked by the duke but asked to remove herself from their acquaintance. It was quite feasible, given all that the duke expected, and yet Rebecca felt sorrowful, having thought very highly of Lady Hayward.
“As you know, Lady Hayward is a kind and willing lady who has very little to occupy her at present,” the duke began, his voice rolling through the room. “I was grateful to her for her assistance yesterday, and I am sure that, given how highly you all spoke of her, you were grateful for her company also.”
“We were, Father,” Lady Anna replied quietly. “I believe we all thought very highly of her.”
“Good.” The duke paused for a moment and, much to Rebecca’s astonishment, began to smile. What was it he was going to reveal? She was no longer as certain as she had been about her father’s intentions, praying that he would not ask them to separate from the lady entirely.
“Lady Hayward has a son. Three, in fact,” the duke continued, now looking pleased with himself. “There are a few issues concerning the late Lord Hayward’s will, and, in addition, I believe the new Lord Hayward is struggling just a little with all that has been placed upon his shoulders.” He shrugged. “It is understandable when one takes the title to be a little overwhelmed, but there are certain matters that make things a good deal more difficult for Lord Hayward. Therefore, having discussed the matter at length with Lady Hayward, she and I have come to a mutually agreed arrangement.”
A flurry of either fear or excitement—for Rebecca could not tell which—ran down her spine as she listened intently, wondering what it could be that had been agreed upon. It was not like her father to go about such things in this way, for he did not like to ask anyone for their help or assistance in anything, being quite determined to do it without interference. And yet, in this case, it appeared as though this was precisely what he had done.
“I have no interest in attending balls, in encouraging matches and in chaperoning waltzes and the like,” the duke said with a wave of his hand and a sigh of exasperation. “Lady Hayward has no real interest in business matters, although, of course, she wishes to aid her son in any way she can. Therefore, we have both agreed to be of assistance to the other.”
Silence filled the room for a few minutes as the three ladies looked at their father expectantly, clearly ready for him to
say more, but it seemed as though the duke was finished with his explanations. With a shrug, he turned and gestured to the door. “Let us hurry now. She will be waiting.”
Rebecca did not move from her chair. “What do you mean, Father?” she asked as Lady Anna and Lady Selina watched the duke with curiosity. “Lady Hayward is to assist you? In what way?”
“By chaperoning you, of course,” he said, a slight flicker crossing his brow as though he had expected them all to understand what he meant without difficulty. “She will do what I do not wish to and will guide you through society and make certain that any gentlemen who wish to acquaint themselves a little more with you are entirely suitable.”
Lady Selina spoke up. “And you will be with us also?”
“For heavens’ sake, Selina!” The duke threw up his hands, clearly exasperated. “Do you have no understanding at all? No, I shall not be with you. Lady Hayward will go in my place as your chaperone. In return, I am to assist her son with his present difficulties and, thereafter, look to the future of the two younger sons also.” He smiled suddenly, his face alight with eagerness. “She will be glad to help each of my daughters, it seems, which means I shall have very little to do with London society,” he finished, evidently very relieved indeed that he should not have to go about within it. “I can remain focused on matters at hand and, when the time comes, settle an excellent dowry for each of my daughters.”
Rebecca did not know what to say in response to this. On one hand, she wanted to tell her father that she found his lack of willingness and even eagerness to help his daughters navigate society to be a little disheartening. But on the other hand, she found herself very pleased indeed to be relieved of the burden of leading her sisters in London society. The duke would not need her to step into her familiar role; she would be free of that entirely! She might, perhaps, have the opportunity to take on society as she had always dreamed of!
“What say you, Rebecca?”
She looked up at her father, wondering if he had known that she struggled with varying emotions, for mayhap they had been displayed across her face.
“I think it will suit us all very well,” she said calmly, making certain not to give voice to any of her thoughts regarding her father’s behavior. As much as she might wish him to be a little more involved in their lives, as much as she might hope for a certain amount of change, Rebecca realized that such a thing would never be. Her father had his way of dealing with his daughters and, as such, would never be to her what she had always hoped.
“And you, Selina? Anna?”
Both of them nodded their agreement and glanced toward Rebecca as though they were not entirely sure of her reaction. When the duke announced that they were ready to depart and that there was no more need to linger, Rebecca rose quickly from her chair, now all the more eager to make her way to the ball.
“You are contented with this, Rebecca?” Anna asked as Rebecca moved towards the door. “Do you think that Lady Hayward will be a helpful chaperone?”
“The lady is more than capable, and I think we should be grateful for her help,” Rebecca replied firmly. “It may not be what we were expecting, but I, for one, am profoundly glad to know that it will not be my duty to ensure you are both doing well this Season. I shall be able to have the freedom that I was not expecting.”
This did not seem to make much of an impression upon Anna, for she merely nodded and looked away, perhaps not fully understanding all that Rebecca was burdened by. Letting out a long breath, Rebecca allowed herself to become excited at the prospect of stepping out into society for the first time.
She was, of course, aware that a duke’s daughter would be very much sought after by some gentlemen, given that she had an excellent dowry and title, but Rebecca was determined to be careful in her judgments. It was not that she expected any sort of affection from either herself or her future husband, but preferred to consider all the practical requirements that would be necessary. Her father would have to be satisfied with the fellow entirely before he would permit even a courtship, so it would be wise for Rebecca to choose sensibly rather than throw her heart open to all manner of emotion.
“Then to the ball we are to go!” the duke declared as Rebecca sat down quickly beside her sisters, clasping her hands in her lap as her excitement grew. “And my daughters are to make a wonderful first impression upon the beau monde, I am sure of it.”
“Thank you for your confidence in us, Father,” Rebecca replied as her other two sisters murmured the same. “We will not let you down.”
“No, no, of course, you will not,” he replied with such warmth in his voice that Rebecca was surprised. “You have done very well, Rebecca, in all things.”
She did not know what to say, his compliment sending a wave of happiness into her heart— happiness she had not felt in some time.
“Thank you, Father,” she said again, her voice a little quieter than before. “That is very kind of you.”
He cleared his throat, mayhap a little embarrassed. “Yes, well, you shall have all the more success with Lady Hayward. I am very glad that such an arrangement has been made.” Taking in a breath, he let it out slowly. “I will, of course, be present this evening with you, but thereafter, Lady Hayward will be your chaperone. From time to time, I might attend if there is to be a card game or the like—something that I am interested in—but besides that, I shall either remain at the townhouse or be otherwise engaged.”
“Of course, Father,” Selina said quietly, her voice barely loud enough to hear over the noise of the carriage wheels. “We quite understand.”
“Good!” the duke exclaimed as the carriage began to slow. “Then let us hope this evening is the success I expect it to be!”
“Good evening, Lady Hayward.”
The lady smiled up at the duke for a moment before curtsying. “Good evening, Your Grace,” she replied before turning to the sisters. “And good evening to you all also.”
Rebecca smiled back at Lady Hayward, bobbing a quick curtsy. “Good evening, Lady Hayward,” she answered. “Father has told us of the arrangement between you.”
“I hope that is satisfactory to you,” Lady Hayward said, her smile fading a little. “I have many acquaintances here in London mostly due to my late husband’s connections. They have children of their own, many of whom are present here in London and seeking a match, just as you are. I am sure that I can guide you to a good number of acquaintances.”
“We are all very eager to come under your chaperonage,” Rebecca replied, aware of the flash of relief that hurried into Lady Hayward’s eyes. “You are very kind, Lady Hayward.”
This seemed to please the lady all the more, for she blushed and waved a hand.
“It is my pleasure and certainly not something I am doing without recompense!” she laughed, her brightness returning in an instant. “I am very grateful to His Grace for being so willing to help my son.”
The Duke waved his hand. “Very well, very well,” he said hastily as though he did not want to make mention of what had been agreed between himself and Lady Hayward. “Now, I shall take Lady Anna and Lady Selina with me for a short turn around the room. I am certain I will meet a few acquaintances to whom I might introduce them.” He looked to Rebecca. “You might go with Lady Hayward, Rebecca.”
A little surprised, Rebecca quickly recovered herself and nodded. “Yes, of course, Father,” she said as Lady Hayward nodded her agreement. “At once.”
Quickly, Anna and Selina followed after their father, who had turned away from Lady Hayward in an instant, clearly decisive in his actions. Rebecca, still a little surprised, waited for Lady Hayward to step forward before she turned to join her.
They walked quietly together for a few moments, and Rebecca found herself a little uncertain of what to say. This had been thrust upon them quickly, and, whilst she was very glad indeed of both Lady Hayward’s company and her willingness to help, she was not quite sure what there was next to do.
“I pres
ume that your father did not inform you of this arrangement until this evening,” Lady Hayward said, looking at Rebecca with a twinkle in her eye. “You all appear to be a little overwhelmed.”
“I am a little,” Rebecca admitted, finding herself relaxing even as she spoke. “Yes, you are quite correct, Lady Hayward. He told us in the few minutes we had before we left the house. Although I will say that I am very grateful to you.”
“Oh?” Lady Hayward looked a little surprised. “I am certain you would have done very well under your father’s guidance, Lady Rebecca.”
An answer came to her lips, but Rebecca hesitated, not quite certain whether or not she ought to speak the truth of what was on her heart for fear that she might say ill of her father. Lady Hayward did not encourage her to say a word, however, but continued walking quietly and slowly, looking all about her at the other guests.
“Ever since my mother passed, I have felt a heavy burden for my sisters,” she explained. “That did not fade when it came to the Season.” She glanced at Lady Hayward, who, whilst listening, did not appear to have any expression of judgment on her face. “I fully expected to have to chaperone my sisters and ensure that they met suitable gentlemen rather than being able to pursue such a thing myself.”
“I understand,” Lady Hayward replied gently. “You need not explain further, Lady Rebecca. I am, however, all the more happy to be of help to you. As you are the eldest, it is only right that you should find a match first, although I applaud your willingness to help your sisters in such a way.”
A flush of embarrassment caught Rebecca’s cheeks. “I am not worthy of such accolades,” she replied, a little ashamed. “I have spent many moments complaining and becoming frustrated with my responsibilities, rather than accepting what has been.”
“That is not something I shall hold against you,” Lady Hayward answered firmly. “Now, Lady Rebecca, tell me of the sort of gentleman that you would be glad to consider as a suitable husband.”