Epilogue
Grace was not happy about returning to the Rutherford Ball, exactly, but the annual fete was indeed probably the best place to reenter society.
There were plenty of people here—including her parents, unfortunately—so it was easy to get lost in the crowd, but plenty of people she knew asked after her and her health.
She found herself sipping lemonade with Penny, much as she had a little over a year ago just before the kiss that had sealed her fate. She couldn’t say she regretted any of it.
Penny said, “I intend to let Beckwith dance with me as soon as he tears himself away from the card room.”
“Indeed. I had forgotten how handsome he is.”
“Yes. We rode in Hyde Park yesterday and it was a delight. Raced each other a bit. I had the best time. I do think a proposal will occur soon, although I don’t want to count on it.”
“He’d be a fool not to offer for you. You are beautiful and clever.”
“Yes, thank you. I hope you are right.”
Beckwith did indeed appear at Penny’s side a few minutes later. He held out his arm for her.
That left Grace alone, so she went to go look for her husband. Likely he was also playing cards. When she escaped the ballroom, into the hallway, she found Anthony leaning against a wall, nursing a snifter of whiskey.
“Hello, my lord,” she said.
He looked up and smiled at her sadly. “Hello, my lady. It is good to see you. You look lovely tonight.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
“You seem to be drowning in melancholy. Or whiskey perhaps. Is something wrong?”
He sighed and went back to leaning on the wall. “Oh, everything is wrong. I’m to be married.”
“Are congratulations not in order?”
Anthony looked up and down the hallway, likely verifying that they were alone.
Softly, he said, “Waring has left me. Ended our relationship about a month ago. And I promised my mother I’d marry by the end of this Season, so I have just become betrothed to a virtual stranger and we are to be married in a few months. ”
“Oh. Oh, Anthony. I am sorry to hear about Waring. Is that why you are so sad?”
“I suppose it is obvious, isn’t it?”
“You are drinking alone in the hallway at one of the largest balls of the Season.”
“My mother thought it would be good to be seen with my fiancée.”
“And who is she, if I might ask?”
“Matilda Clairborne.”
“Oh. She is lovely, at least. I don’t know her well, but I’ve met her a few times and always found her to be friendly and clever.”
“Yes, that is something. Unlike many of the other chits my other threw at me, Miss Clairborne and I do seem to be able to hold a conversation.”
“Anthony.” Grace tutted. “Such low standards.”
“I do not wish to marry at all, if you must know. What I want is to be with Lark again.”
“Lark? Oh, The Earl of Waring. I had forgotten his Christian name was Larkin.”
“I suppose I am getting to be pretty deep in my cups if I have become so informal.” He sighed and set the glass on a nearby end table.
“I am sorry, Anthony. I know you are a good man. You deserve happiness as much as anyone else. I am sorry that it is apparently not in the cards.”
“I shall persevere.” He smiled ruefully. “Well, my dear, I understand you have produced an heir for Caernarfon. Congratulations are in order.”
“It is not so formal as all that. We have a son, yes. I brought him with us to London. You could come by and see him, if you’d like.”
“You brought an infant to London?”
“My husband was called back to Parliament. He refused to be parted from me, and I refused to be parted with my son, so yes, we all came to London. The carriage ride was among the worst I have ever taken because I worried that he’d be injured if we hit bumpy road, although I will admit that the rocking of the carriage often just lulled him to sleep.
And we did manage to startle a few of the proprietors at the coaching inns Caernarfon usually stays at as we traveled along the way.
But Dafydd, my son, is very cute and could charm the paint off a wall, so truly, it was not so bad.
I’m afraid I have become one of those mothers who is quite protective of her child. ”
Anthony smiled. “How very gauche of you.”
Grace laughed because she understood he was joking.
“I know. But Caernarfon is letting me do things my way, even if it is unorthodox. Although he did also talk me into hiring a nurse. Mrs. Roberts rode with us from Wales and is currently watching the boy like a hawk. We fear he may start crawling soon.”
“Babies do such things, I’ve heard.”
“Yes. But seriously, you should call on us. I know Caernarfon and Waring are close friends, but you are my friend.”
Anthony nodded. “Thank you, I appreciate that. I don’t care much for babies, as you must know, but I will make an exception for you if he really is as cute as you say.”
“Even more so.”
“Although perhaps I might wait until Parliament is in session. I do not think your husband cares much for me.”
“I think you’re wrong about that, but whatever you are comfortable with. Or bring your fiancée to dinner sometime.”
Anthony frowned.
“Is Waring here?” Grace whispered.
“No. We seem to be avoiding each other. I no longer go to my club for fear of running into him, and he has not been coming to social engagements unless he knows for certain I will not be there.”
“Tragic.”
“Yes, well. Welcome to my life this Season.”
“Truly, I would like for you to come visit our home. Do not be a stranger to us. All right?”
“I promise.”
“What exactly are you promising to my wife?” Owen asked, suddenly appearing. He held out an arm for Grace, so she slid hers around his.
“Your wife has invited me to dinner. I hope you do not find this objectionable.”
“I do not,” Owen said. “You are Grace’s childhood friend, after all.”
“I suppose you do not find me threatening.”
Owen frowned at that. “Look, Beresford, things are awkward right now. I’ve known Waring since we were boys at Eton.
He is one of my oldest friends, and he is no happier about your present situation than you are.
But I swore an oath to give Grace whatever she wants, and if what she wants is to have you over for dinner, then I am amenable to it. ”
“This is the oath you swore?” Grace asked.
“Have I ever denied you anything?”
She laughed. “I suppose not.”
“Listen, old man, I heard about your engagement. I hope you are eventually as happy as Grace and I are.” Owen leaned over and patted Anthony’s arm.
“Unlikely under the circumstances, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
“And now, if you do not mind, I should like to dance with my wife.”
“Of course. Do not let me keep you. My misery is company enough.”
Owen tilted his head and made a puzzled expression, as if he could not tell if Anthony was joking. Grace couldn’t tell, either. “Will you truly be all right?” she asked.
“Oh, I shall. For the sake of my mother, if no one else, I should find my betrothed and take a turn around the dance floor. But go ahead. I am right behind you.”
“All right.”
Grace let Owen lead her back into the ballroom.
It was a crush, and the air was hot inside, but it was not too bad amongst the other dancers.
A slow waltz was playing, and most of the other couples on the floor were married, so Owen apparently felt little compunction about pulling Grace close as they danced.
“So, you were talking to Beresford.”
“He is my friend, Owen. And he is very sad.”
“I know. I have spoken with Waring at length since we returned, and he is just as unhappy. I don’t know Beresford well, but I am sorry about what happened to them. I feel I should have some loyalty to my old friend, but if you want to have Beresford and his fiancée to dinner, I will not object.”
“Thank you.”
“And I trust you not to run off with Beresford.”
Grace laughed. “Is that because you trust me or because you trust Beresford would never run off with a woman?”
“Both.”
Grace laughed and hugged her husband. “Enough about Beresford. This is our first real night out in the social scene of London as a married couple. Let us show these people that the gossip is wrong and our marriage was not a mere convenience.”
Owen spun her around as the music picked up in tempo and led her around the floor. She laughed with him as they danced. When the music slowed again, Grace said, “Show off.”
“You asked for it.” He smiled. “Let us take one more turn about the floor and go home to our son, all right?”
“I thought you would never ask. I like being out and social again, but this ball is overwhelming.”
Owen smiled. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now dance with me.”
The End