Chapter 19
As far as Kendra was concerned, balls were like walking through a minefield.
One misstep and you could commit a social gaffe that would be gossiped about for weeks.
Or, for Kendra, say something that would only be understood by the attendees’ descendants.
It was stressful enough to be ogled by a hundred catty society matrons without having to worry that you could screw up the space-time continuum.
Still, as bad as it was to attend a ball, it was worse preparing for one. Kendra didn’t have a fairy godmother waving a magic wand and zapping her into party-readiness. She had Molly.
The former tweeny took on the task with gusto, marching around with a militant gleam in her eye as she ordered footmen and maids to haul up buckets of hot water and honeysuckle salts for Kendra’s bath, and insisted on washing Kendra’s hair herself.
“Mrs. Danbury said ye’ll ’ave ter mind yer manners with Lady ’Arrington,” Molly said, scrubbing Kendra’s head with a concoction that had all the ingredients of a salad dressing. “She’s a lady-in-waitin’ ter the Queen.”
“I know.”
“Mrs. Danbury says she’s a lady of great virtue, like the Queen ’erself.
Close yer eyes.” Molly poured a pitcher of lukewarm water over Kendra’s head.
“A right miracle that is, Mrs. Danbury says, given ’oo Lady ’Arrington’s sister is.
” The maid brought a towel over to rub the excess water out of Kendra’s hair.
“Who’s her sister?” Kendra asked from beneath the towel.
“She was Lady Worsley, but she took back ’er maiden name of Flemming when Lord Worsley cocked up ’is toes. ’Ere.” Molly whisked the towel off Kendra’s head, handing her another with which to dry herself as she stepped out of the tub.
“Their marriage was right wicked,” Molly continued, waiting for Kendra to put on a robe before ushering her to a small footstool in front of the fireplace.
“Lady Worsley admitted ter ’aving scores of lovers, and even ran off with one, ’oo is said ter ’ave fathered ’er babe.
” She picked up a bellows, pumping its handles to give the crackling fire an extra boost. “Lean forward.”
Kendra knew the drill. She stuck her head as close to the flames as she dared. She had never thought she’d miss a hairdryer.
“Lord Worsley sued ’er and ’er lover,” Molly continued cheerfully. “But she said that it was ’er ’usband ’oo gave ’er lover permission ter see ’er naked in the bath! It was a right scandal, it was.”
“I can imagine.” But why was Kendra shocked? Human nature didn’t change. Sex scandals didn’t start in Hollywood. Or even ancient Rome. They’d been around forever.
Kendra’s thoughts drifted to Lord and Lady Westford’s open marriage.
He had his left-handed wife and family on the side, plus who knows how many other mistresses.
It looked like Lady Westford had also taken lovers, the last being Mr. Goldsten.
Supposedly, both were satisfied with the arrangement.
But if that wasn’t true, did it have anything to do with her murder?
The earl had to stay on the list, but Kendra was beginning to think that Lady Westford’s murder was connected to something bigger. Something more sinister.
“Then Lady Worsley accused another nobleman of giving ’er the clap,” Molly went on, happily scandalized. “After ’er ’usband died, she became a demi— a demino— demi—”
“Demimondaine,” Kendra supplied. This era’s version of a high-class call girl.
“Aye. That’s the word.”
“Mrs. Danbury told you all this?” Kendra couldn’t imagine the formidable housekeeper gossiping with Molly in such a way.
“Ooh, well . . . nay,” the maid confessed with a sheepish look. “’Annah told me about ’er when Oi said ye’d be goin’ ter a ball given by Lady ’Arrington.”
“Hannah?”
“Oi told ye, she’s ’is lordship’s scullery maid.” The maid retrieved a hairbrush from the vanity. “Scoot forward. Oi got some work ter do untangling these knots.”
Kendra always found it vaguely embarrassing to spend so much time on primping, but an hour and a half later, she couldn’t argue with the results.
Molly might not be a fairy godmother, but she could create magic.
The maid had styled Kendra’s hair high on her head, with a few loose tendrils she had painstakingly curled with heating tongs.
Diamond hair ornaments twinkled like stars in Kendra’s raven locks.
Kendra thought the hairstyle made her neck look impossibly long. Or maybe that was the low-cut bodice of the silver gown Molly had selected. The thin silk shimmered like moonlight with every twist and turn of her body.
“Ooh, me lady, ye look ever so beautiful,” Molly breathed, taking a step back to admire her own handiwork.
“Ye’ll be needing these,” she added, dashing to the wardrobe.
She returned with a black velvet hooded cloak with a silver satin lining, and long white satin gloves.
“’Tis a soft rain now and Oi don’t want ye ter get yer hair wet. ”
Kendra was tugging on the gloves when Alec came through their connecting doors.
Unlike the hours she’d spent getting ready, Alec had probably spent twenty minutes, but he looked damn good in what could probably pass for a tuxedo in her era.
The exception was the snowy white cravat, instead of the modern bowtie.
“Perhaps we ought to stay home tonight,” he said, his mouth curving as he walked toward her. “I shall be fighting every man who ogles my wife.” He took her gloved hand, lifting it to press a kiss on her knuckles. “You are a sight to behold, my love.”
She smiled into his eyes. “You’re not so bad yourself, my lord.”
Surprise flashed across his face, then he let out a laugh. “A high compliment, indeed.” He glanced at Molly. “You did splendidly, Molly. I daresay, a French or Swiss lady’s maid could not have done better.”
“Ooh! Thank ye ever so much, me lord!” Blushing, Molly pressed a hand to her chest as she stared at Alec with starry-eyed devotion.
Kendra captured Alec’s arm, steering him to the door. “Come on, darling. My maid is about to swoon, and I don’t have the time to find the smelling salts.”
***
Carriages clogged the rain-slicked streets as the Beau Monde ventured out in search of entertainment. Kendra suspected that the Harrington Ball would be just one stop of many parties to keep them occupied until the wee hours of the morning.
“I’ve been told that Lady Harrington won’t be shocked by Lord and Lady Westford’s open marriage,” Kendra mused.
“Are you referring to the countess’ mother-in-law?”
She lifted her eyebrows. “I was actually talking about her sister. Her mother-in-law?”
“Who told you about the Sinner?”
“The Sinner?”
“Seymour Fleming, the former Lady Worsley—Lady Harrington’s sister. Her escapades landed her with the moniker the Sinner.”
“Molly said Lady Harrington is considered a paragon, while her sister seems to enjoy shocking society. She didn’t tell me about the nickname or her mother-in-law.”
“Molly is too young to remember Lady Caroline—the countess’ mother-in-law. She died several years ago, but her scandalous reputation lives on in the Ton. She had so many affairs—with women as well as men—that she was actually thrown out of the Female Coterie.”
“And that is?”
“A club whose members are high-ranking ladies in society. Lady Caroline reacted to the insult by forming her own club—the New Female Coterie.”
“Not the most original name.”
“No, but its members were quite original. She invited demi-reps, courtesans, and ladies of Quality who were considered ‘fallen women’ like herself into the club.”
“And your aunt looks at me like I’ve crawled out from the sewer,” she muttered, shaking her head. “How did her husband take it?”
“Lord Worsley was as promiscuous as his wife. Caroline bore him seven children—whether they were all his children is debatable, but he did claim them all—and he seemed happy enough in the marriage. He was a frequent visitor to the brothel at King’s Place in St. James, which, ironically, was where his wife’s club met. Are you shocked, darling?”
“I’m . . . I don’t know what I am,” she admitted. “I guess Lord and Lady Westford’s open marriage is more common than I realized.”
“It’s common enough. Though there are plenty of husbands and wives who are devoted to each other.
The King and Queen, despite their recent trials, have never strayed from their union, even though the King, in his madness, became lovestruck with a few ladies.
My own mother and father were unified in their love. And our own Duke . . .”
He didn’t need to remind her how devoted the Duke had been to his wife, Arabella. And there was Dr. Thornton. Kendra could clearly see how much he’d loved his wife.
Alec asked, “What about your parents?”
Kendra blinked, surprised. “My parents?”
“Yes. You’ve told me the reasons they married, as an experiment—”
“I was the experiment, to prove their theory that positive eugenics could create a better world. I failed, and so did their marriage.”
“You didn’t fail, my sweet. Your parents failed, by not seeing what a precious gift they were given. But I digress. Did your mother or father have any dalliances outside of their marriage?”
“Ew. I can’t imagine them having a dalliance inside their marriage!”
Alec laughed. “They must have, for you to be born.”
“In my time, there are ways . . .” She shook her head.
She really didn’t want to imagine anything with her parents.
“My parents didn’t have a traditional marriage, but I can’t imagine them having affairs.
They were too focused on their experiment.
And, like I said, once I failed, their marriage was pointless.
My parents never did anything that was pointless. ”
She paused, thinking back. “They never argued. I’m sure it was all very civilized when they dissolved the marriage and moved on with their lives. Last I heard, my mother was working for CERN in Switzerland, and my father had remarried. He has two more children—new experiments. God help them.”
Alec eyed her. “So, your parents had a business arrangement, like many of the marriages formed in the ton. I told you, sweet, we have much more in common than you realize.”
“I keep realizing that human beings don’t really change.”
“In the broader sense, perhaps. But individuals can change. I knew I would have to marry one day and hoped to form an amicable arrangement. Once the line was secure, we could go our separate ways.”
Kendra stared at her husband. “You actually considered an open marriage?”
“I never thought of it as an open marriage, but definitely a business alliance. Then a beautiful, mysterious American came into my life, and I was changed forever.”
“So, no open marriage in our future?”
“I shall call out any man who dares lure you away.”
“I’ll do the same with any woman. And I’m an excellent shot.” She grinned. “You’re right. We do have a lot in common. I think we make an excellent team.”
He patted his lap. “Why don’t you come over here and prove it.”
She faked a glare. “And have you mess up my hair? Not on your life!”
“I knew it would happen eventually.” He let out an exaggerated sigh. “You’re beginning to sound just like a wife.”