by Jenna Brandt
“You have done a splendid job, Your Grace,” Marchioness Seadrick stated with a smile.
“Thank you, Lady Wheaton. I am glad you and your daughter, Lady Chloe, were able to join us this afternoon.”
“We would not want to miss such an important occasion.” The marchioness turned her attention to Debbey. “We are pleased to meet the new Viscountess Braybridge.”
Strategically scattered between the decorations were several plates full of sandwiches, both sweet and savory, as well as bonbons, salted nuts, and crystalized fruits for the guests to enjoy. On a secondary table, there was a coffee urn, chocolate pot, pitcher of lemonade and tea punch bowl with corresponding glasses. Several servants took the ladies’ orders for drinks and brought them from the table while the guests daintily ate the delicious treats and conversed.
The duchess had placed Lady Madeline next to her. Debbey would have preferred to sit by anyone else but as no one knew her dislike of the other woman, it appeared the duchess thought because of their similar age they would be a good match.
“The duchess has outdone herself once again,” Lady Madeline leaned towards Debbey and whispered. “With all the hard work she has put in to making your introduction perfect, everyone will take her lead and overlook your lack of pedigree.”
Debbey stiffened under the other woman’s carefully veiled insult. Her deepest worry was that the other noble women would pretend to accept her out of necessity but never truly let her belong.
Lady Chloe inquired from the other side of Debbey, “About what are you two whispering?”
Lady Madeline gave the other girl a sly smile. “We were just discussing how lucky Lady Deborah is to have the duchess vouch for her. If she had been left to fend for herself with her background, she might have been refused from the right circles.”
Lady Chloe’s eyes grew round with surprise. “Lady Madeline, I am sure everyone would base their opinions of Lady Deborah off of their interactions with her.” She gave Debbey an apologetic smile. “You seem quite lovely and I hope we become fast friends.”
Debbey returned the other woman’s smile. “I would like that very much.”
The rest of the afternoon flew by as Debbey spent time speaking with each of the women. She answered their questions, remembering to follow all the conversational rules Miss Thornton had taught her.
Towards the end of the afternoon, Lady Chloe found a moment to pull Debbey aside and speak with her alone.
“I wanted you to know, I did not agree with Lady Madeline’s earlier comments. I think you should know, her motives most likely stem from her past with your husband.”
Debbey’s stomach knotted together with apprehension. Would their secret past change how Debbey viewed her husband?
“To what are you referring, Lady Chloe?” Debbey asked, hesitantly.
The other woman glanced around to make sure no one was nearby. “We all grew up together. Our families had each of us attend boarding schools in London because the best education was in the city. Lady Madeline and I attended Kingston School while Lord William attended St. Peter’s. There were many functions where the staff and student population interacted with one another from both schools.”
Debbey nodded her head, listening attentatively as Miss Thornton had instructed.
“Lady Madeline and I were close friends when we were in school. She was different back then; kind and considerate.”
Both of those terms seemed foreign when in reference to Lady Madeline. The woman struck Debbey as anything but. What had changed her so profoundly?
“She was quite taken with Lord William. They had met at several functions and had even stolen a few secluded moments together when no one was paying attention.”
Lady Chloe’s eyes dropped to the floor. “She thought she was in love with him and she had come up with the perfect plan to tell him at the next event.”
Debbey didn’t want to be captivated by the story, but she found herself waiting to hear the outcome. “What happened?”
“Lord William left London. Something happened to make him abscond to America. We never received any details—the family was closed-mouth about it—but it broke Lady Madeline’s heart. When he left, it was like a switch was turned off in her heart. In an instant, she stopped being the friend I knew. She became everything we vowed we would never be—a societal harpy who passed judgment on everyone and cared for no one.” A sadness passed over Lady Chloe’s face. “She might have lost William that day, but I lost my best friend.”
“I am so sorry, Lady Chloe.”
“I tell you this, so you understand, it is not you. She would treat anyone Lord William married in this manner. She loved him dearly and thought she was going to marry him. It must tear her apart to see him with you.”
“Thank you for telling me. It does help me to understand her behavior.” Debbey shook her head with sadness. “I cannot imagine losing the love of my life. I will try my best to be kind with her no matter how she treats me.”
“I want you to know, I meant what I said earlier. I really do hope we can be friends.”
“I would like that too,” Debbey stated.
The ladies made their way back from the privy to the veranda where the rest of the guests were finishing up the afternoon. As the last guests left the duchess’ home, Debbey felt a flood of relief cascade over her. It was finally done. Her introduction had gone without incident and it seemed as if all the women—besides Lady Madeline—genuinely liked her.
The duchess returned with a stack of stationary and envelopes and handed them to Debbey. “I would suggest you start this evening on your ‘thank you’ notes to all the women who attended.”
Debbey looked at the stationary. It was on soft ivory paper, trimmed with gold and embossed with her monogram “VB.” It was elegant and thoughtful. “Thank you, Aunt Beatrice. You did not have to do this.”
“Nonsense, my girl. I did not want to leave it up to Prilly. Goodness knows what she would have picked out for you, or worse, forgotten to have you send them out at all.”
A knowing look passed between them. It was a polite way of saying, Lady Almonbury would gladly forget on purpose to make Debbey look bad. Both of them knew it though neither of them spoke the words out loud.
“I would have one of your servants hand deliver the letters no later than two days from now. You want to remind the ladies who attended of the splendid time they had with you—keeping their time with you fresh in their minds when they speak to their set of friends. I purposely picked the women I thought have the best social reach. They will spread your success the most thoroughly.”
Debbey had to hand it to the duchess, she was quite astute at navigating the social intricacies of the English nobility. She felt blessed God had brought the woman into her life.
“I hope you are right. I want nothing more than to make you and William proud of me.”
“Never doubt that I am pleased to have you as my niece. You are a wonderful addition to our family.” As the duchess walked Debbey to the front doors, she added, “Rest assured, today will usher in a whole new world for you, Deborah.”
Chapter 15
St. Paul’s Cathedral was the most magnificent church Debbey had ever seen. As the centerpiece of the Church of England, the church was placed on the tallest hill in London. With the dome framed by spires, it was one of the tallest buildings in the city.
Debbey had looked forward to attending church, but as she entered the building, it was apparent that church attendance was far more about appearances for the aristocrats than it was actually about worshipping God. All the women were flaunting their best gowns and jewels, and the men wore their finest three-piece suits. Everyone was inspecting one another under the guise of friendly banter.
“Good morning, Lady Deborah,” Marchioness Seadrick stated as William and Debbey took their seats behind her, the Marquess, and their daughter, Lady Chloe.
With a smile, Lady Chloe greeted Debbey. “It is wonderful to see you agai
n, Lady Deborah.”
“As it is to see you, Lady Chloe,” Debbey returned.
Moments later the bishop took his place at the front of the church and began to speak. He introduced himself and read from the Bible. There were several hymns and additional readings along with a brief sermon. Although the structure of the service was not dissimilar from her church back in West Linn, it was lacking in the warmth and love she felt when she went there. Granted, her father was the pastor and she had grown-up in that church, but the striking difference was more about the purpose of the church. People went to her home church to find an individual relationship with God rather than out of ceremonial social necessity as seemed the case in London.
Internally, Debbey sighed and wondered if she would ever be able to find a way to fit in with the aristocrats. Debbey really missed being in West Linn where she felt she belonged; going to a church where she felt the love of the Lord flow freely. This church left her feeling lonely and cold.
At the end of service, they made their way towards the exit. They were stopped by a group of three couples. Debbey recognized the women from her tea party the day before. She smiled at each of them, greeting them in order of importance as she had been taught.
“We were planning to take our afternoon meal at Kettner’s Restaurant. We were wondering if you would care to join us?” Baroness Stiltmore inquired.
“The head chef formerly worked for Napoleon III of France. His cuisine is exotic and exciting,” Marchioness Seadrick added.
“You should come,” Lady Chloe insisted with an eager smile.
Debbey knew she had little choice but to agree with an offer being made by so many high-titled nobles. She would have rather gone home, had a quick bite to eat, and spent some time in prayer; however, she knew she needed to continue to do what was needed to be accepted by William’s peers. Even though the church had not been what she hoped, at least she seemed to be gaining ground with the nobles by attending. “We would love to join you,” Debbey stated while giving her most winning smile.
An hour later, the group from church was seated in a private room of the famous French restaurant. William was grateful Debbey had agreed to go to lunch with the other couples. She seemed to be making a concerted effort to win over the nobles, and it appeared to be working. He could not be more proud of his wife.
The Marquess Seadrick was talking with William about an investment he had made in a rifle company detailing how it had tripled his initial amount. William was only half paying attention. He was watching Debbey interact with the other women. If he did not know better, he would think she had been born to be a noblewoman.
She looked smashing in her deep blue dress with jet earrings and matching necklace. He heard her laugh, and the lilt in her voice made him feel weak in the knees. Suddenly, all he wanted to do was get her home and carry her off to his bed chamber.
“Did you hear what I said?” The Earl of Devonshire asked.
The question jerked William from his fantasy. He turned his attention to the young man sitting across from him. “I am sorry. My mind was somewhere else.”
The earl’s eyes traveled to where William’s eyes still focused. “Your wife is indeed fetching,” the man said with a lecherous tone. “I can understand why you are distracted considering her plentiful assets.”
William did not like the earl speaking about his wife in such a way. He had to bite his tongue not to rebuke the comment. There had been rumors that the earl had married Lady Chloe due to pressure from his dowager mother to produce an heir. The earl had reveled in his bachelor lifestyle prior to marriage, and continued to have discreet dalliances even after being wedded. It turned William’s stomach but he also knew it was common in their social circle. Not many men of their status remained faithful to their wives. William intended to be one of the few. There would never be another woman for him.
“I am blessed God brought Lady Deborah into my life.”
The other man scoffed. “I would not bring God into it. You happened to luck out and brought home a prime piece of American flesh for yourself.”
William stiffened at the barely veiled insult. He had thought his peers were accepting Debbey, but the comment made him wonder if he was mistaken.
“My wife is much more than what meets the eye. She is smart, funny, and the kindest person I have ever known. Her loyalty knows no bounds, and she is fierce in protecting the people she loves.”
Baron Stiltmore grinned and nodded. “My daughter, Lady Elizabeth, told me your wife was a breath of fresh air at the tea party yesterday. All day, she could not stop talking about the wonderful Lady Deborah.”
“Thank you, Lord Blanchard. I am glad to hear she made such a tremendous impression,” William stated with a grin.
William was not going to let the words of a man like the earl deter him from believing the majority of the nobility would appreciate his wife for the right reasons. For those who did not, he would find a way to shield his wife from being hurt by their judgment.
Chapter 16
When Debbey and William returned home from lunch, Lady Almonbury was waiting for them with a worried look on her face.
“Can we speak for a moment, William?”
“Anything you need to speak with me about, you can do so in front of my wife,” William asserted.
With a hesitant glance towards Debbey, she stated, “It is of a delicate nature. It seems several of the shrouds over the family portraits have been removed. I questioned the staff, and none of them are responsible. Do either of you have any idea how this has happened?”
“What are you talking about mother?” William asked with irritation.
“You know we are to keep your father’s and brother’s pictures covered for one year while we are in mourning. Someone has taken it upon themselves to remove them.”
“Couldn’t they have just fallen off?” Debbey inquired.
With indignation, Lady Almonbury stated, “Certainly not. They were placed securely so they would remain intact for the duration. Someone had to purposefully remove them.” With a look of deep hurt, she accused, “Why would anyone do such a thing?”
“I will investigate into the matter and let you know when I have some answers. I am sorry, Mother. Whoever is responsible will be punished.”
“Thank you, William.” With a weary tone, Lady Almonbury added, “I think I will go lay down for a spell before dinner. This incident has taken a toll on me.”
As William watched his mother ascend the stairs, an anger rose up inside him. Although she had questioned the staff, he wondered if one of them was harboring resentment and did this out of retaliation. If it was the case, he would make them pay for upsetting his mother and disrespecting the family’s grief.
Chapter 17
During the week, William and Debbey settled into a routine during the day time. William worked on maintaining the family’s business interests, or went to the club. Debbey spent time with Clara, or read. She also on occasion would share a mid-day meal with Lady Chloe, or go shopping with her new friend. In the evenings, they would enjoy the theater, have dinner with friends, or attend parties.
William entered the parlor where Debbey was sitting by the window reading a book. She closed it, placing it in her lap as she looked up with a welcoming smile.
“Good morning, my love,” Debbey greeted.
“I was wondering if you would like to go on a special outing with me this afternoon?” William inquired.
With an arched eyebrow, Debbey stated, “I’m intrigued. What do you have in mind?”
“I want to take you promenading through Hyde Park.”
Perplexed by the odd expression, Debbey asked, “What exactly does that entail?”
“We can either ride in an open carriage- my mother had one built for it-or we can go travel on horseback.”
“And what is the purpose?”
“To be seen and to see others. It is a long-standing English tradition.”
Debbey thought about
such an idea. No one in West Linn would take the time to participate in such a silly notion, but Debbey knew she should keep her opinions to herself. She could tell her husband was happy with her efforts to fit into the ton and she didn’t want to derail her progress by refusing.
“I would be happy to go with you.”
“Which would you prefer?”
“I would much rather spend some time on a horse rather than in another carriage.”
“You are a rather accomplished rider, Deborah. I think it is smart you want to show off your talent.”
With a playful grin, Debbey stated, “I suppose there is finally a benefit to you marrying an American after all.” Sarcastically, she added, “Won’t everyone be surprised to see me present well on horseback.”
William pulled Debbey up from the window bench and gathered her into his arms. “Do not sell yourself short. There are many benefits to marrying you.” He leaned down until his lips brushed the edge of her mouth. He whispered, “I hope you will show me one of those benefits this evening after we return home.”
Debbey felt her stomach do a somersault as she felt her husband’s heart thudding against her own chest, and his breath against her skin. “Who says we have to wait until tonight?” she teased.
Without warning, his mouth closed the small gap between them. His kiss was warm and tender, mixed with need and desire. Debbey’s arms reached up and wrapped around his neck, her fingertips entangling in his hair. William deepened the kiss as he pulled her even closer.
A few seconds later, there was a “hum-hum” at the door, and the couple was startled out of their embrace.
“I was looking for you, Deborah, to see if you wanted to play a game of chess with me,” Clara explained with her eyes averted and a blush covering her body. “I can come back later if I am interrupting.”