Chapter Three
Lydia
Miss Lydia Cary knew she’d end up spending a sennight alongside some of the biggest rakes of the ton when they received their invitation to the Snowdon holiday house party.
But she had found that encountering Lady Diana’s brother, Viscount Snowdon, in person had been something she hadn’t been prepared for.
Lady Diana became a fast friend when Lydia met her during the season at a garden party, but she had been all too pleased that she had avoided an introduction to the sworn rake.
It was obvious why he was a notorious rake, given he could drive a woman to distraction merely from looking at her. But she knew better. And wouldn’t allow herself to be deceived by such charms again.
She knew exactly how dangerous a devilish man like Viscount Snowdon could pull willing women into his web, and she wouldn’t allow herself to get ensnared by such a bounder again.
She shuddered to think what it would have been like to end up trapped forever in marriage to a man who would have used her body and then taken up with every other willing light skirt in England.
But there was no harm in looking, right?
She could still allow herself to admit that the viscount was indeed quite handsome.
His light chestnut hair was just a tad longer than was proper, only adding to his rakish allure.
Damn him. It was the deep blue eyes that shone like sapphires that were almost enough to render her speechless.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true. His broad shoulders also had something to do with it.
Even in his greatcoat, she could see how well he filled it out.
There wasn’t a doubt that he possessed a taut form beneath all of his layers of clothing.
She shook off her woolgathering about the viscount, reminding herself that such thoughts would only lead to trouble.
And she didn’t want to be dallied with by the likes of him.
She wished to find a man with more depth.
One capable of love. And a husband that would respect and honor their vows.
Even if a love match was too much to hope for, she would at least expect that her husband could remain faithful.
Something that men like Viscount Snowdon were incapable of.
Lydia followed behind her parents as they ascended the grand staircase. Once they reached the top, the Snowdons’ butler took them to the right. He showed her parents to a room on the left side of the hall, and then she was shown to a room on the right, across the way from her parents.
Entering the chamber she would call home for several days, she found a roaring fire set in the fireplace, making the room already feel warm and cozy.
She fell across the four-poster bed, staring up at the canopy, pushing aside frustrating memories of Clint.
Lydia had given little thought to the worst bounder of the ton in months.
Not after she cried off from their engagement, and he disappeared.
But the handsome viscount downstairs made her body recall things. Things like the hint of pleasure that she hadn’t realized her body was capable of, until she allowed the wrong man to touch her in the most scandalous, private of places.
With any luck, the blackguard was still at one of his family’s Scotland estates, where he ran off to after her father threatened him if he didn’t walk away quietly and leave her be.
The upside to the situation was that she had learned before it was too late. The rest of the ton was none the wiser that she had ever considered marrying the man, and Lydia had been spared a marriage where she would turn the other cheek while her husband was the worst sort of unfaithful arse.
Although, since then, her marriage prospects had been non-existent. She supposed she only had herself to blame, as she couldn’t bring herself to get too close to any man. Nor had any intrigued her enough to consider getting over her fear that they would just lie to get at her virtue and her dowry.
“My lady,” her maid, Tilly, said from the doorway, pulling Lydia from her thoughts. “Are you ready to change and freshen yourself after the long journey?”
“Yes, please. Thank you, Tilly.”
Lydia climbed out of the bed as Tilly crossed the threshold and closed the chamber door behind her.
Half an hour later, Lydia donned a fresh day gown and had her hair redressed.
She took one last look at herself in the mirror, pleased with her appearance, and then exited her chamber to join the rest of the guests.
Her parents’ chamber door was closed, and instead of knocking to see if they were ready to join her, she decided she would venture downstairs on her own.
Once she reached the bottom of the staircase, a footman showed her to the drawing room, where some of the other guests had already gathered.
The warmth from the roaring fire in the enormous fireplace reached her cheeks as soon as she entered.
It made the room feel quite cozy, with the snow flurries falling outside the window.
She spotted Lady Hannah by the window and moved across the room to join her.
Lady Hannah was the Earl of Onslow’s sister and Lady Diana’s closest friend.
Lydia had met both of the ladies when they made their come outs during the last season.
Neither of them had declared a betrothal, and she’d enjoyed getting to know them better during the house party.
“I love the snow, don’t you, Lady Hannah?” Lydia asked, joining the lady’s side.
“Indeed. It’s quite beautiful,” Hannah replied, giving her a kind smile. “And please call me Hannah, as many in attendance will.”
“I will do so, if you call me Lydia.”
Hannah looped her arm through Lydia’s. “Of course. I shall be delighted to have your company since Diana will be so busy tending to all of her guests.”
“I was quite surprised she was hosting this house party at all, especially as an unmarried lady.”
Hannah’s expression turned somber. “This is a time of year saddled with many memories, some not so pleasant. I believe she wishes to distract herself and the family from such sadness.” Hannah leaned closer to Lydia.
“Especially after having to experience her first season without her mama, and at the mercy of her brother, to chaperone her.”
Lydia eyed Hannah curiously. “Wasn’t it much the same for you?” She was almost certain that both of Hannah’s parents had passed unexpectedly a couple of years ago.
Hannah gave her a somber nod. “Yes. Which is why I understand her reasoning. Diana’s aunt Penny and our friend Juliana’s mother, Lady Morley, sponsored us for the season.
Then Elias and Hudson attended every evening entertainment with us, along with Matt and Jude.
We were thankful for morning calls and garden parties for the chance to escape our brothers. ”
“You must also miss your parents very much,” Lydia said, giving her a sympathetic smile.
“I do, of course,” Hannah said, glancing around the room to see if anyone might overhear them.
“But this time of year, we are most reminded of the loss of Diana’s mama.
You see, our families have always been the closest of friends.
I was here as a girl when Lady Snowdon passed, and it wrecked us all. ”
Lydia frowned. “So she passed around this time, then?”
Hannah nodded, her eyes turning watery, but she held back her tears before drawing a deep breath. “Diana and I were only six then. We had played dress up and had tea with Lady Snowdon, just the three of us, not long before she passed. It shall always be one of my fondest memories.”
Lydia noticed Viscount Snowdon standing across the room, speaking with some of his gentlemen friends. She couldn’t help but wonder how the loss of his mother had affected him.
“Was your chamber comfortable for you, Miss Cary?” a distinct voice said, capturing her attention.
Jerking her head toward the newcomer, she noted Lady Diana now stood on her other side. “Yes, my lady. Quite.”
“None of that, please just call me Diana,” Diana said. “I am certain Hannah has said the same.”
Lydia giggled. “You are correct. And please call me Lydia.” Lydia was almost jealous that the pair had such a close friendship. Lydia had a few friends, but none as close as Diana and Hannah appeared to be. Young ladies on the Marriage Mart often made use of their hidden claws.
Diana grinned at them and then leaned a bit closer.
“Did I tell you that Elias had the audacity to offer a string of threats if I should sneak off with a gentleman, and then I overheard him and Jude speaking about sneaking out to the village?” Diana directed her question to Hannah, but then glanced at Lydia as if seeking a reaction.
“Sounds typical to me,” Hannah said, rolling her eyes.
“Is your brother much the same way?” Lydia asked, directing her question to Hannah. She wanted to have something to contribute to the conversation.
Hannah shrugged. “I have no idea. Hudson isn’t the warmest or most forthcoming man.
He’s always been a good brother, but he confides nothing in me,” she said.
It was clear that the declaration saddened her.
“What I know is that he will join the gentlemen if they should sneak out if there is even the slightest chance of him being left alone with Matt.”
“Matt will be right there with them,” Diana said quickly. “He’s one of them.”
“He’s not the same as they are,” Hannah said, defending Matt’s character, or Lord Wilton rather.
Lydia watched both of them, intrigued by the inner workings of their deep friendships. Such relationships weren’t a regularity among the ton, where titles, standing, and gossip governed the behaviors of most.
“Why wouldn’t your brother wish to be alone with Lord Wilton?” Lydia asked, deciding it might be better to shift the conversation.
“We don’t know,” Hannah replied. “They were friends when they were younger, but they don’t get along now. It seemed more on Hudson’s account than Matt’s, but none of the men will tell us why.”
That was interesting. And interesting that both men still tolerated each other for the benefit of their other friends.
“And so much for what we heard about Elias and Jude’s ‘rules’ too,” Diana said, then lowered her voice. “It appears Elias had some kind of arrangement with Lady Billings.”
Lydia jerked her head toward Diana and fought to soften her expression, hoping Diana wouldn’t notice her reaction.
Lady Billings was a young, pretty widow who captured the attention of many men, especially those who weren’t marriage-minded.
It shouldn’t surprise her that he would take up with the woman, but something about the realization irritated her.
“You don’t say,” Hannah said, bringing her hand over her mouth, then dropping it back to her side.
“He wasn’t happy when he learned she was a guest,” Diana continued. “I wouldn’t have invited her if I had known, of course. But Papa and I found it to be quite hilarious.” Diana smirked and then glanced over at her brother for a moment.
Lydia didn’t find the notion hilarious at all, which made no sense.
He was nothing to her, and what difference did it make to her who he bedded?
Lydia pushed off the thoughts and focused on how the siblings appeared to jab at each other.
She often thought about what she had missed from not having any siblings of her own.
Glancing between them, Lydia studied the siblings. Even as Diana mocked her brother to Hannah, it was obvious that she carried a deep affection and respect for him.
Suddenly, Elias glanced in their direction and caught Lydia’s gaze.
She hadn’t even realized she still stared at him.
A shiver jolted down her spine under his attention and she forced herself to remember that he had perfected his ability to control the affections of any woman with that very gaze, and she wouldn’t fall prey to such a man again.