Chapter Eighteen
Matthew escorted Mama and Lady Adams to the winter parlor.
It was a more intimate setting and where the three of them had decided to take their meals while they were in town for the Season.
They were eating a light dinner because tonight was the opening ball.
They had only arrived in town yesterday, and it had taken everything he had not to rush to Lord Traywick’s townhouse and dominate Verina’s time.
He told himself she would be preparing for the Season she had longed to participate in, and that was the only thing which kept him from her side.
He could not deny her the one thing she had been so eager to enjoy.
He only hoped by Season’s end that they would be betrothed.
“Will you miss attending ton affairs?” he asked Lady Adams.
“Not really, Your Grace. I have never been one for social events. I only came to the Season because Lord Adams loved it so.” She smiled at his mother. “And by coming, I did make good friends, ones which did not desert me.”
Her gaze returned to him. “I have repeatedly said this, but I can never repay you for removing me from Throckmorton. Not only that, but you have taken me into your very home. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you or your mother. Lady Verina, as well.”
“Speaking of Lady Verina, when might you be offering for her?” Mama asked casually.
Her question flustered him. “Is it obvious that I carry feelings for her?”
The two women tittered, and he had his answer.
“She is aware of my interest in her,” he shared. “I also know that—as most young ladies—she has longed for this come-out Season for many years. I would not rob her of that experience,” he explained.
“Do not let other gentlemen squeeze you out, Matthew,” Mama cautioned. “Lady Verina is quite the beauty, and she has such a pleasant demeanor. She will be much in demand, especially by those bachelors ready to find a wife.”
“Did you think to ask her to reserve a dance for you this evening?” Lady Adams inquired.
He cursed under his breath. “No, I did not think to do so.”
Mama patted his hand. “Something tells me she will know to do this.” Their gazes met.
“I think you have chosen your duchess very wisely. Lady Verina is a caring, compassionate, and intelligent woman. She also knows of your secret life. That would have been hard to explain to other young ladies you chose to woo.”
“You are right. I could not have wed a woman without her knowing something of the work I do. After all, I do not believe a husband and wife should keep secrets from one another. I would have hated to disappear for days—or weeks—at a time and not be able to tell my wife exactly where I went. Or worse, lie to her and say I’d attended to business at one of my other estates. ”
“Lady Verina has a good head on her shoulders,” Mama said. “Those times you must be absent from Redfield, she will see to its running.”
“You will be there to help her do so, Mama. You and Lady Adams.”
His mother shook her head. “No, my son. It is the Duchess of Redfield who should be in charge during your absence. When you do wed, Matthew, Lady Adams and I shall move to the dower house.”
“That will not be the case,” he protested. “I will not see you chased from your own home, simply because I have taken a bride.”
The two women exchanged a knowing glance, and then Mama said, “I will be the dowager duchess upon your marriage. I have lived at Redfield many years now. I do not wish the servants’ misplaced loyalty to favor me over the new duchess.
Lady Adams and I have already discussed this at length, and we are perfectly happy to move to the dower house. In fact, I insist upon it.”
He swallowed the lump which had formed in his throat. “You are a very decent woman, Mama.”
She smiled indulgently at him. “And as a very good son, I will expect you to invite us to dine with you at least once a week.”
“You will always be welcome at my table, Mama.”
They left to dress after they finished their light meal. Lady Adams said she would go to the library and read for a while before retiring for the evening.
“The one thing I will enjoy most about not attending the Season is going to bed and rising at a decent hour. I have never been fond of putting my head to the pillow as the sun comes up. Goodnight to you both. Enjoy the ball, and please give my best to Lady Verina.”
Matthew returned to his rooms, where Barrow awaited him.
“I have your evening wear laid out for you, Your Grace.” With a hopeful look in his eye, he added, “Perhaps this will be the Season in which you find your duchess.”
“I cannot keep anything from you, Barrow. Yes, I have a particular lady in mind and will be pursuing her.”
The valet brightened. “We all hope it is Lady Verina, Your Grace. She has made quite an impression upon the staff at Redfield.”
“Lady Verina is my choice,” he confirmed. “Hopefully, she will accept an offer from me by Season’s end.”
Barrow frowned. “I would not wait that long to offer for her, Your Grace. I believe Lady Verina will prove to be quite popular with the bachelors of Polite Society. You do not want to miss out on the opportunity to make her your duchess.”
“I will consider your advice, Barrow.”
He met Mama downstairs and escorted her to the carriage. As usual, the streets of Mayfair were crowded with vehicles. The first ball of the Season always was the most heavily attended. Matthew began worrying that he would find Verina’s dance card filled by the time they arrived.
“Quit scowling,” Mama admonished. “You cannot control the traffic.”
“It is not the traffic I am worried about. It is Lady Verina’s dance programme being full.”
“If she has not been vocal this first evening and spoken up about reserving a place or two on it, you will simply have to live with that, my son. I would make clear to her, however, that you would like to dance with her at tomorrow night’s ball.
Be bold. Ask her to reserve a dance in advance is my advice. ”
His mother was right. Verina was new to the Season and everything about it.
She might not wish to hurt anyone’s feelings and simply would allow gentlemen to sign her programme.
He told himself that even if he did not secure a dance with her this evening, he would make certain that she knew he desired one tomorrow night, preferably the supper dance.
That would give them more time together.
The carriage came to a halt, the driver saying they were clogged in traffic, and he escorted Mama down the block until they reached Lord and Lady Morris’ residence.
Inside, they joined the lengthy receiving line.
Matthew skimmed it, not seeing Verina. His impatience grew, but he kept it from showing.
Finally, they reached their hosts and thanked them for tonight’s invitation.
The countess looked at him and said, “I do not wish to catch you in the card room this evening, Your Grace. There is an outstanding group of young ladies who are making their debuts into Polite Society this Season. Without a doubt, you are the most eligible bachelor of this Season. Please dance with as many of the girls as you can and get to know them.”
“I plan to do so, my lady.”
He led Mama to the entrance of the ballroom. They stepped inside, and he stopped, his eyes scanning the room. His gaze fell upon Verina, and a calm descended over him.
She was here—and that was all that mattered.
*
Tray escorted Verina and Mama out to Val’s carriage. They were riding with her cousin, Eden, and Aunt Alice to the opening ball of the Season.
As the carriage’s wheels began to roll, Aunt Alice said, “You look quite lovely this evening, Verina. Has your wardrobe been created by Madame Laurent?”
“Yes, Aunt Alice. I was told she is a favorite of the women in our family. Late last year, when Mama and I were briefly in town, we made an appointment with Madame Laurent. She measured me, and we discussed several styles and chose materials for my wardrobe this Season. That allowed me to have fittings as soon as we arrived in town. Madame Laurent is a wonder with her needle and thread.”
Eden said, “Ariadne insisted that I go to Madame Laurent, as well. I must say that I enjoyed giving up my plain, serviceable governess’ gowns for the beautiful gowns of a duchess.”
Val took his wife’s hand and kissed it tenderly. “You could wear rags and still be the most beautiful woman in any room, my love.”
Her cousin’s words caused Verina to think of the women she had seen wearing rags, those horrible, colorless gunnysacks, as gray and washed out as the women inhabiting them.
She still found it hard to believe places such as asylums existed, much less that men put their wives, sisters, and daughters into them, abandoning them.
It made her extremely proud of the Duke of Reddington and all he did in trying to help as many women as he could.
That led her to reflect upon Lady Hampton.
They had corresponded weekly since Verina had attended her friend’s wedding, and Lady Hampton would be here this evening.
She could not wait to see her again. While the duke had cautioned Lady Hampton not to reveal any details of her escape from the asylum, especially if her father were present this evening, Verina worried about that very thing happening.
Lady Hampton was still a bit excitable, and it was hard to predict how she might react if Viscount Ayles did confront her.
She decided to pull her friend aside and warn her again not to speak of how she was extracted from the madhouse, much less name Reddington.
“I remember my own come-out,” Mama said wistfully. “I danced with your father that first night and knew he was the only one for me.”
Verina wondered if she should say anything now to her relatives about her feelings for the Duke of Reddington.
She decided against doing so, not wanting to put him on the spot in case his interest in her had changed in the months since they had last seen one another.
She would know soon enough. Simply being in his company would tell her which way the wind blew.
Though they had been apart several months, her feelings for him had not lessened. They had only grown stronger over time.
And she hoped the same might be true for him.
“You were fortunate, Mama,” Tray said. “As for me, I only plan to dance a handful of times. The rest of the ball, I will be watching the gentlemen my sister dances with like a hawk.”
“You will have help with that task,” Val said, laughing. “Every man in the family will be on alert, keeping an eye on Verina, and seeing that she is partnered with only suitable, eligible bachelors.”
“Do not frighten off too many,” Mama chided.
“Aunt Agnes, we only have Verina’s best interests at heart,” Val said. “If my cousin is to enjoy her come-out Season, she needs to be in the company of the right people. We will see to that.”
They arrived—or she thought they had. When she was handed down from the carriage by Tray, she saw dozens of others on foot, heading down the middle of the road or along the pavement.
“What is happening?” she asked, confused.
Tray took her arm and that of their mother’s, and Mama informed her, “The first night of the Season is notorious for clogging the roads. This, obviously, was as close as Millbrooke’s coachman could get us. We must walk the rest of the way.”
“I am afraid I will ruin my slippers,” she protested.
“That is why we ordered two dozen pairs of them,” Mama reminded her. “I knew what I was doing. Trust me to get you through this Season.”
They entered the townhouse of Lord and Lady Morris and joined the receiving line. Verina tried not to be too obvious as she looked for the duke. Not seeing him, she turned her attention back to her companions.
Once she had met their host and hostess, they entered the ballroom. Eden waved, and Verina saw more of her family standing on the left side of the room. They joined them, and she embraced Lia and Rupert, as well as Ariadne and Julian.
“Are you excited?” asked Ariadne. “You look radiant.”
“Very much so,” she replied. Glancing about the ballroom, she added, “The room is beautifully decorated.”
“Are you going to give a ball for Verina’s come-out, Aunt Agnes? If not, Julian and I would be more than happy to host one in her honor.”
“You are such a wonderful hostess, Ariadne,” Mama said. “Why don’t you hold it, and I will assist you in the planning of it?”
Excitement rippled through her. She had not known a ball would be given for her.
“We must do it soon then, “Ariadne said.
“With Lia and Rupert heading off to see Hugo and Tia in a few weeks and Con and Rowena returning to Marleyfield, I want to make certain as many cousins as possible can attend the ball and support Verina. I will begin working on a guest list first thing tomorrow morning.”
Other family members joined them, and soon, a few gentlemen approached, asking for an introduction to her. She looked to Tray and Val, and they both nodded when the pair asked to dance a set with her.
Keeping Ariadne’s advice in mind, she handed over her programme, saying, “The supper dance is reserved, but you may choose any other one, my lords.”
Once they returned her programme to her, Mama leaned close and whispered, “You are saving the supper dance for someone in particular?”
Not wanting to reveal too much, she said, “Ariadne advised me to do so. She said if I found someone special, I should have that dance in reserve.”
“What a wise thing to do,” Mama declared.
“Lady Verina!” a voice cried, and she turned, seeing Lady Hampton approaching with her new husband. They fell into one another’s arms.
“You look lovely,” her friend declared.
“So do you. Marriage suits you. And it is good to see you, as well, my lord,” she said to Lord Hampton. “Let me introduce you to my rather large family.”
After the introductions were made, Lady Hampton said, “We must catch up with one another. Perhaps we might do so during supper.”
“My family always has a couple of tables. I had planned to join them. You are more than welcome to do the same,” she told the Hamptons.
Then Verina leaned in and quietly said, “Remember, try not to react if you see your father. And under no circumstances are you to mention Their Graces as being the ones who freed you from the asylum.”
Lady Hampton smiled. “I plan to be perfectly cordial if he appears. And I know to keep to myself how I came to be here tonight with my husband.”
Then suddenly, a new awareness filled Verina. A tingle danced along her spine. She looked over her shoulder—and there was the Duke of Reddington, standing not two feet from her.