Chapter Twenty-One
Tia dressed for the garden party. Lia had come over early to lend her support.
“Are you certain you even wish to go this afternoon?” her twin asked.
“I am not going to let those two sods think they have won,” she said, bristling with anger. Then she forced herself to relax. “Besides, I have always adored flowers. Strolling through the gardens at a garden party will hopefully lift my spirits.”
She had not received a single bouquet today.
Usually, by this time, the drawing room was filled with the sweet aroma of wisteria, gardenias, and irises, bouquets from men she had spoken to and danced with.
After last night’s disaster, Tia wasn’t certain she would ever receive a flower arrangement again.
She would not let it bother her, however.
Because she only wanted flowers from one man.
Hopefully, Lord Merriman would return to Polite Society in the next few days.
Dilly had assured Tia that her brother had not left for Norfolk.
She had worried that he would return to his country estate, simply because it would be harder to chase him down if he had.
Val would take her to Merrifield if she asked him to do so.
She only hoped it would not come to that and that she might speak with Lord Merriman here in town.
Perhaps she should ask Dilly or Lady Merriman to invite her to tea.
Then again, Tia had no idea if the earl was taking tea with his family these days.
The Duke of Reddington had let her know that Lord Merriman was in poor spirits.
He might be locked in the music room for all she knew, seeking comfort from his pianoforte.
“I have a plan,” she told Lia. “I am going to speak to Lord Merriman when he attends an event. Dilly has shared with me that her brother is merely taking a brief respite from the social swirl. That he will soon return.”
Lia looked upon her with sympathy. “Will you share with him your feelings?”
“I must. If I do not, he may be lost to me forever. My greatest fear is that he will feel as if he is some anchor about my neck, weighing me down, when that is far from the truth. If he would wed me and we stayed in the country the rest of our lives, I would be happy.”
Her sister frowned. “Are you certain that is what you want? You are a very outgoing person, Tia. You like having people around you. And what of our plans to always attend the Season to be with family? To have our children grow close?”
“We could always come to town and visit with everyone in the family—and not attend events,” she said stubbornly.
Lia took Tia’s hands in hers. “I want what is best for you. I always have. I have never been jealous of you in any respect. But I cannot see you isolating yourself for any man, Tia.” Lia paused. “If he truly loves you, he will—”
“But what if he doesn’t?” she asked. “I do love him, Lia. I do. I think about him constantly. I would be miserable if he is not in my life. I would change everything about myself to be with him,” she said earnestly.
Lia squeezed her hands. “If Lord Merriman does love you, he will not wish for you to change. Simply take things a day at a time. We shall go to this garden party this afternoon. The ball tonight. And then we will let tomorrow sort out itself when it arrives.”
They embraced, and Tia knew how fortunate she was to have Lia. No one understood her the way her twin did.
“I am ready,” she said after fastening the sapphire earring onto her lobe, and they went downstairs, where she found Ariadne and Julian waiting with Val, Eden, and Rupert.
Going to her sister, she hugged her. “Thank you for accompanying us today.”
“You know Julian and I stand firmly with you,” Ariadne assured her. “This garden party may be all you need to attend today. You are welcome to come home with us after it. Spend some time in the nursery with Penelope. Even stay the night.”
“Are you worried about me going to tonight’s ball?” she asked.
“A little,” Ariadne admitted. “I know last night was trying for you.”
“I actually talked to a few very nice ladies last night when I was not engaged in a dance. Miss Stanhope, in particular, was a good conversationalist, and she also excels at cards. I think we could possibly be friends. I would not mind spending more time with her this evening.”
“You do not have to decide now,” Eden said. “Let us go to this garden party.”
“Please,” she said. “All of you are so worried about me. You do not need to be. I am going to be fine.”
“Of course, you are,” Mama said, joining them. “You are a Worthington. You are made of strong stuff.”
They went outside, where three carriages stood. Her brother said, “We should leave one of the carriages here.”
“Ride with us, Tia,” Julian encouraged. “That will give me a chance to tell you what Penelope is up to.”
Everyone laughed, and she joined Ariadne and Julian, along with Lia and Rupert, and rode with them, while Val, Eden, and Mama took the Millbrooke carriage. Julian kept them entertained with stories of his daughter, and she appreciated him all the more for it.
As Julian handed her down, he said, “I am here for you, Tia. If I need to bash in someone’s nose on your behalf, it would give me great pleasure. Working on the London docks, I learned to fight dirty, so I am your man.”
“Perhaps I should have you show me how to fight dirty, Julian.”
“My best advice? Kick a man in his balls. It works every time.”
She burst out laughing, all the tension within her leaving. “If we see Lord Calley or Lord Balch here, I might just do so.”
They entered the house, where a servant led them to a set of French doors.
Exiting them, Tia saw about fifty others gathered on the terrace, spilling down the steps and lingering below.
A few couples were entering the gardens.
As she surveyed the crowd, she felt a hush fall as conversations ceased. Every eye turned to her. She swallowed.
Then Val slipped an arm through hers, and Eden did the same on her other side. Together, the three of them moved into the crowd. Others turned away, continuing their conversations once more, and Val led them to the punchbowl, where Lia and Rupert joined them.
“I have always found it helpful to hold something in my hands,” Eden said.
“Are you certain you trust me with a cup of punch in my hand?” Tia asked. “I just saw Lord Calley and Lord Balch are here. I am sorely tempted to pour a cup over their heads.”
“Avoid them,” her brother advised. “The ton already has enough to talk about.” He looked at her beseechingly. “Do not give them more to feather their nests with.”
“I shall take the high road,” she promised her brother.
“Let us go about and greet those here,” Ariadne said. “Hold your head high. I will be with you. Julian, as well. No one will dare cross him.”
Her brother-in-law did have a bit of a menacing air about him. She doubted either Lord Calley or Lord Balch would dare approach her, much less speak derisively to her if she were in his presence.
“Very well.”
They set out, moving through the crowd. Ariadne had a commanding presence, and no one dared turn her away. Tia actually found people speaking to her and not just her sister and brother-in-law.
One lady, an elderly countess, said to her, “Those two scoundrels acted dreadfully, Lady Tia. Poor Lord Merriman. I would hate to be in his shoes. Simply steer away from the three of them. That is the best advice I can give you.”
Tia had no clue as to how to reply, and Julian simply guided them away and to the next group. Then she felt an odd tingling and turned.
Lord Merriman had arrived—and was looking right at her.
Her heart leaped within her chest. She started to move toward him, but Julian held firm to her arm.
“Let him come to you,” he said. “People have talked about how brazen you were, slapping Lord Calley. I am not saying let the ton rule your actions, Tia, but a little decorum would not hurt.”
Julian then released her arm. He and Ariadne stepped away from her.
For a moment, she worried, being left alone in the midst of so many others, but Lord Merriman’s gaze met hers.
He walked with purpose toward her, and she eagerly awaited him.
Tia was aware that once again, all conversation had ceased, and everyone watched with great interest, sharpening the knives of their words to come.
He arrived in front of her and bowed. She offered him her hand, and he kissed her fingers, bringing a rush of desire racing through her. She wanted his mouth on hers again. His hand on her breast. His scent invading her senses.
“Lady Tia,” he rumbled in his deep voice.
“Lord Merriman,” she responded.
He continued holding her hand. She knew she should withdraw it, but it felt so right being in his.
“Wh-wh-what are y-you d-d-d-doing?” a voice to her left said, causing Lord Merriman to grimace. Yet he stiffened his spine and turned toward it.
“Are you . . . mocking me, Lord Calley?” he asked, releasing Tia’s hand as he glared at the intruder who had joined them.
“N-no. N-n-not a b-b-b-bit,” Lord Calley replied, his eyes gleaming.
Lord Balch joined him. “G-g-give it a r-rest, m-m-m-my lord. Can’t y-you see Merriman is t-t-trying to w-win Lady T-T-T-Tia’s favor?”
“Enough,” Lord Merriman said sharply. “The two of you were good-for-nothing bounders as boys. You haven’t changed . . . a bit. You hurled cruel insults and threatened m-me when I was young. I was weaker. Smaller. Too vulnerable . . . to fight back.”
Lord Merriman stared down the pair now. “I am no longer afraid. Of you. Of your taunts. Yes, I stammer. Yes, I overcame it—but I work diligently. Every single day. To keep it away.” He shook his head. “I let you rattle me at the musicale. I refuse to be cowed by you ever again.”
He looked out over the guests, who gawked at them.
“These two showed how . . . uncouth they are when they mocked me. Then . . . and now. Their boorish conduct was . . . disrespectful. Not fit for true gentlemen. They are rude. If anything, you should b-be talking about their boorish behavior. Not maligning me or belittling Lady Tia. She was the only one who called them out for acting . . . so atrociously.”
He turned to her. “I think you are . . . the bravest woman in the world.”
Her heart soared, hearing his words of praise.
Once again, he faced the two men who had mimicked his stammering.
“You ridiculed me. Beat me. Humiliated me when I was a boy. You shamed me in front of the ton as a man. You have disgraced yourselves. And your families. I hope the gossips do what they do best now. V-vilify you. Scorn you. You are exposed now. Everyone present knows you possess no honor. No good character. Leave now—or I shall make you leave.”
Lord Calley laughed, and Tia cringed.
“You think to make me leave? I am not the one others are talking about. You are the one who is not welcome, Merriman.”
“Polite Society has no room for such unprincipled men,” Val said, stepping next to Lord Merriman in a show of support, causing Tia to fill with pride.
“His Grace is right,” Rupert said, coming to stand next to Val. “Who wants to socialize with such disgraceful cads? It goes against the very rules of Polite Society.”
Julian joined them. “Give me a solid fellow such as Merriman any day. One who is respectful.”
Con, whom she had not seen, became the next addition to the group. “Merriman has more honor in his smallest finger than either of you will ever own.”
Tears formed in Tia’s eyes, watching her family back Lord Merriman. Then Lord Forsythe came forward.
“I plan to wed Lord Merriman’s sister—and I am happy I will count Merriman as my brother.”
Lord Calley looked at the men standing there. “You five are all fools,” he declared.
“No, we are men of honor,” Lord Merriman said, his voice firm, ringing out. “And we look down upon anyone who does not hold honor dear.”
Lord Calley snorted. “You are but a small part of Polite Society. No one cares what you say.”
Then Tia saw the Duke of Reddington move forward.
“But they do care, Calley. I am a duke. So is Millbrooke. Aldridge, Dyer, and Cressley are well thought of, as is Forsythe. And each of us calls Lord Merriman friend. To me, he is my closest friend. I would take one Merriman over a thousand of you. You do not have the ear of the ton as you think you do. Look about, man. See what is on their faces. You and Balch have completely disgraced yourselves. You will not be welcomed at any future events. No true gentlemen will ever call either of you friend again. You have worn out your welcome.”
Calley and Balch looked helplessly at one another. Balch started to speak and then seemed to think better of it. He tugged on Calley’s sleeve, and they made a quick retreat.
Lord Merriman said, “You have all put your own reputations on the line. To stand with me. I will never be able to repay you. But know this. I will always be there for you. No matter what happens. Call upon me. Anytime.”
Val offered his hand. “Friends, now and forever.”
Tia’s eyes misted with tears as each of them shook hands with Lord Merriman. Then he turned to her, closing the distance between them.
“I had not thought to act so publicly, Lady Tia, but the time . . . is right.”
He captured her hands in his, and she heard those present gasp.
“My stutter left me . . . vulnerable . . . as a child. Even now, I must think carefully as I speak. I have feared vulnerability . . . my entire life. Thinking it was a weakness.” He smiled. But I do not mind being vulnerable with you. Open with you. Only you. You have my heart. My soul.
“My love.”
“I love you, too,” she revealed. “I will always love you.”
His smile lit up his face. “Then I suppose the best thing to do is wed as soon as possible.”
Blinking away her tears, she cried, “Yes!”
Then, in front of everyone, he took her into his arms. His mouth descended upon hers, his kiss full of all the love they shared—and promise. Of all the days to come. They would stand strong together, having the support of both their families, large and small.
Tia knew her love for him would only grow deeper and richer as the years progressed.