Chapter Thirty-Six
Once again, Leo was more than happy to be joining Theo’s family.
Worthington agreed to assist Theo with hiring coaches and horses.
Grace said that she would call on her cousin about hotels across the Continent and contact her friend Lady Evesham about the possibility of using her house in Paris.
By the time the light meal before the ball was consumed, everything, including the coaches—through an agent in London—had been resolved.
Leo placed the light silk cloak over Theo’s shoulders. “Every dance.”
“Yes.” She turned her head to smile up at him. “Every dance.”
“I wonder if those ladies will be there.” Leo would love to be able to discover who they were. He was still angry about their role in his almost losing Theo.
“I do not know. Perhaps.”
Just in case, he decided he’d follow her to the ladies’ room and wait in the corridor. “It’s time to go.”
As usual, her family was present, then their friends joined them.
The talk centered around their pending marriages and honeymoon travel.
He had to address his concerns about the time.
“Theo and I have decided to remain with the rest of you for two months. I don’t feel as if I can leave my estates for much longer than that. ”
“I understand,” Crewe said. “It took time for me to establish myself as the new master when my father died.”
“Will you stay at the main estate?” Patricia asked.
Theo glanced at Leo. “I think we will go there first. But I would like to see the other properties and see what needs to be accomplished.
He nodded his agreement. “Something I have not had the opportunity to do yet.”
“Lesser estates must be kept up,” Marrow agreed. “We will live at the estate where my parents resided when my grandfather was alive.”
Patricia’s eyes sparkled. “I am so happy to be able to travel.”
There was something Leo didn’t know. “Holland, do you not have an estate?”
“I do.” He nodded. “My mother lives there with my younger siblings. The eldest of my brothers manages it. It will be a long time before we will reside there.”
“When we do come back home for visits, we will stay in the town house,” Patricia added.
They strolled and talked through the first two sets, then all of them, with the exception of Holland and Patricia decided to join the first waltz.
This was the first time Leo had danced the waltz with Theo since they made love.
It made it more special. He held her closer than before, and she seemed even more comfortable in his arms. That had never happened to him before. “Is it different for you?”
“Yes.” Her eyes warmed him. “I can almost feel your hands stroking me.”
Leo almost groaned, and his cock stirred. “Perhaps I can find an empty parlor.”
Her lips curved up in an almost sly smile. “That would be interesting.”
Lord, he was going to enjoy being married to her. Fortunately, he knew exactly where to take her. “I believe it will be.”
By the time the set ended, he was ready to drag her away, but he’d have to be discreet. They and the others rejoined Patricia and Holland, who didn’t dance.
Sarah glanced at Theo and leaned closer. “Would you accompany me to the ladies’ room?”
“Of course.” They linked arms and strolled toward the stairs.
Leo started to go after them, but Marrow placed his hand on Leo’s arm. “Wait a few minutes. If those females do plan to follow them, they won’t if they see you.”
“You’re right.” That could be the reason Theo had not heard from them recently. He’d been too quick. He waited until he deemed enough time had passed, then went to the parlor that had been set aside for the ladies and waited.
When Sarah and Theo reached the ladies’ room, they went immediately behind the screens. She had just stood and shaken out her skirts when the door opened and closed.
“Did you hear that Chandos’s mistress has been seen?” the low-voiced lady said.
“No! In the Park? That’s where he usually takes them,” her nasally friend responded.
This should be interesting.
“No. With him on some street. I cannot remember the name.
In the area where most of the gentlemen house their ladybirds,” the lady with the low voice said as if she was certain.
It was all Theo could do not to laugh. Had someone seen his coach?
“Do you know what she looks like?” Nasally said.
“My brother said that she had red hair. Curly red hair and blue eyes,” low voice responded.
“I suppose she is beautiful.” Nasally sounded jealous.
“That is what he said. She is a great beauty. Her skin is like milk, and she speaks with a slight burr. As if she is from Scotland or maybe from France. There are quite a few of the Scots still in France.”
Now that was a lie. How could they attempt to tarnish his reputation that way?
“I feel sorry for poor Lady Theo. Having to wed the duke. Even if he is handsome,” Nasally responded.
That was kind of her. Unless the lady knew Theo was present.
“And rich. I’ve also heard he is very good in bed.” The lady’s voice was different. As if she was imagining it.
He was that. Theo was going to burst out laughing if they did not leave soon.
“Still, to have a mistress when he’s engaged.” Nasally sounded offended.
Maybe too offended on Theo’s behalf.
“I heard that after the wedding he’s taking her to his castle where they’ll remain until Christmas. And you know he only has a mistress in Town.” The low-voiced lady’s tone was crisp, as if she did not care.
This was all very strange.
“If that’s the case, who cares if he has a ladybird now. She is going to be a very lucky young lady.”
Yes, she was. But first, Theo would find out why those ladies were lying.
She came out from behind the screen. They were both middle-aged.
One was taller than the other, with an elaborate purple headdress with silver feathers.
The other was blond, dressed in a white gown with silver netting.
“I must say, that was very interesting. It was also a complete lie. Chandos does not have a mistress. He has not had one for a year. Well before he began to court me. Both of you owe him an apology for maligning his name.”
“Well,” Nasally said. “We had no idea anyone was eavesdropping.”
Theo speared them with what she knew was a hard look. “I do not believe you. You have done this too often for it to be an accident.”
“I do not believe you either,” Sarah said. “I think you are doing this on purpose for some reason.”
Theo agreed. “Why do you not tell me what it is?”
“You are a very bold young lady.” The low-voiced woman raised her chin. “We do not have to tell you anything.”
The other lady opened the door to Chandos lounging against the wall. “You might not want to tell my affianced-wife,” he drawled. “However, I think you’d better tell me. Otherwise, I might be tempted to inform the rest of Polite Society that you are malicious gossipmongers.”
“Her grace is going to be so disappointed,” Nasally muttered.
One of his dark brows rose. “Her grace? As in her grace of Chandos?”
“Yes,” the low-voiced lady said. “If you must know, she wants Lady Theo to call off the wedding.” The lady cast a disappointed look at Theo. “Apparently, she has no intention of doing so.”
“Very forward young lady,” Nasally said.
Chandos’s lips rose. “Exactly how I like my future duchess to be. Now.” He stood and beckoned for Theo. She joined him, taking his arm. “What does my mother have against my betrothed?”
The ladies exchanged a look, and the low-voiced lady said, “She is not ready to leave. She thought that if you had a more malleable wife she could remain as mistress until she was ready. That is what happened to her. She had been very grateful to your grandmother for her help. She wanted to play the same role.”
That was the reason for all the talk about a wife who would not be so strong. “I should have thought of that.”
The other lady glanced at Theo. “It is not as if she does not like you. She thinks you are an exceptional young lady.”
She stared at the woman. “She simply does not want me to marry her son.”
“Yes.”
“She almost got her wish.” Theo squeezed his arm. “I was ready to break it off with him until he convinced me what you had said were lies.”
“I want an apology. Or I will do my best to blacken your names.” He glanced at the low-voiced lady. “Perhaps I will also tell your husband about your fantasies.”
The woman blanched. “I do apologize. I am very sorry to have agreed to interfere.”
He speared Nasally with a hard look. “And you?”
She was much better at keeping her countenance than her friend. “I apologize as well.” She took the other lady’s arm.
“Before you go, where else did you spew your lies?”
“Only where Lady Theo could hear them,” Nasally said. “As much time as you were spending with her and her family, we knew no one else would believe it.”
Theo watched them depart. “Now I feel like a fool. Even Sarah and the others told me how it was.”
“You were hurt.” He gently rubbed her back. “Come let us go.” He held his arm out to Sarah as well.
“Do you know who they are?” Sarah asked.
“I haven’t a clue.” He shrugged. “Although, I suppose I could find out fairly quickly if I wanted to, but why?”
“Why indeed.” Theo sounded weary. “We still have your mother to deal with.”
He was relieved to know what his mother’s real problem was, but he had to support Theo. “I’m going to tell her to remove to her old chambers. That way we can start refreshing the chambers she’s using, for you.”
“Thank you.” She gazed up at him. “Do you trust her not to attempt to interfere?”
“No. While we’re gone, I’ll leave Whiting in charge. He can tell the Rollinses that if Mama attempts to change anything they are to inform him immediately.”
“That would be for the best.”
Leo abandoned his plans to get Theo alone and make love to her. “Let’s rejoin the others.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “There are at least one or two more waltzes left.”
“And supper.” He grinned. “I hope they have ices.”
“I do as well.” She stepped a little closer to him.
They returned to their friends and relayed what had occurred.
“Does it seem to you that mothers appear to cause the most problems regarding marriages? Or rather who their son or daughter weds?” Felice asked.
“It could be because they become powerless.” Patricia’s brow creased. “My paternal grandmother once told me that although she pushed my father to wed, she wanted to select his wife. She knew it would be the new marchioness who would take over her duties, and that she would have to find a new life.”
Leo nodded. “That is the case with my mother.” Mama had handled things badly. “However, if she had been honest with me my feelings toward her would be much different. I no longer feel as if I can trust her.”
“I do not know what I can do to make the transition easier for her.” Theo closed her eyes for a second.
“I don’t see a way either.” His mother had managed to alienate both of them.
“It would have been different if she had embraced Theo and your marriage,” Felice said. “That is how Crewe’s mother has treated me. She even agreed with us wanting to marry sooner.” She pulled a face. “Unlike my mother.”
“Well, it’s spilt milk now,” Crewe said. “Perhaps after you have a child it will be easier.”
Leo glanced at his betrothed and rather doubted that would be the case. Still, they could hope. “At this point, I am just looking forward to being married.”
Everyone agreed on that point.
In the coach on the way to Worthington House, he and Theo told Grace and Worthington what they had discovered. “I think we should both speak with her.”
“I would rather that Theo did not engage with her,” Grace said. “The wedding is only days away, and after that, she will not see her again for several months. Depending on what happens then, you could, if you like, visit her before going to your estate.”
Theo nodded. “I agree. I am so tired of the contretemps. I do not want to think of it for a while.”
She was right. Leo was the one with the problem parent. Not his betrothed. He was glad he hadn’t told her about his mother attempting to introduce him to another lady. “Very well. Maybe it is best if I don’t mention it either. Her friends probably will.”
“Most likely,” Worthington said. “My stepmother wasn’t at all sure about my decision to wed Grace. She thought my sisters would become lost in the Carpenter family children.”
“But it did not happen that way.” Theo’s lips rose. “We all decided to become brothers and sisters and be one family.”
Leo had heard that. It was one of the things that made them all so special. “And now you’ll add one more person.”
“We are.” She leaned against his shoulder. “You will be a perfect addition.”
The talk turned to their wedding trip. Neither Grace nor Worthington had traveled overseas much, but friends had. Theo decided Leo and she should visit her cousins who had taken her sister Augusta to Europe.
When they arrived at Worthington House, he kissed Theo goodbye and walked home. Fortunately, his mother was still out. He really didn’t know how he would react to seeing her after the events of the evening. He had been furious with her and nothing had changed.
The next morning, after Leo returned from breaking his fast with Theo, a message arrived from Marrow informing Leo that Lady Carlisle had invited Sarah’s mother to reside with them for the remainer of the Season.
Lady Pettigrew would remove from her leased house to Carlisle House before Sarah and Marrow’s wedding.
Sarah would stay with Theo. He suggested that her grace could view it in three days’ time.
Leo wandered into Whiting’s office. “The house I will lease for her grace will be vacant in a few days. I would like you to take her.”
“Certainly, your grace.”
“I am expecting letters from some hotels in Europe.” Leo had given his address for the hotels in Calais and on the route to Paris. The rest of the responses would arrive at Lady Evesham’s Paris home. “Please make sure all the post comes to you first.”
“I will.” His secretary gave him a concerned look. “Is there anything else I can do?”
“No, thank you. You will be quite busy enough while I’m on my honeymoon.” Aside from his wedding, that was what he was looking forward to most.