Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
“Tove?” Marie called out later that evening. “Are you there?”
She waited in silence in her bedchamber, but Tove didn’t appear out of nowhere like she had before.
Marie thought over anything she might have said or done to catch Tove’s attention the first time.
She didn’t think there were any special words she’d come up with.
She certainly hadn’t done any magical spells.
Not that magical spells existed. At least she didn’t think so.
Tove had mentioned something about technology, but for all she knew, that was magic.
“Tove?” Marie tried again. “I made my decision. I know who I want to marry.”
Nothing.
Tove still wasn’t appearing to her.
With a sigh, she went to her vanity and sat down.
Maybe Tove was waiting for her to talk with Edward.
Maybe that conversation needed to happen.
Trying to get that conversation the other day had proven to be a miserable failure, and she hadn’t gotten a chance to speak with him in any meaningful capacity tonight.
It seemed that only Juliet and Lord Monheim established anything meaningful, though Lord Monheim was too far under Tove’s spell to notice.
Marie removed the necklace and placed it in her jewelry box.
She’d never had any gems this heavy in her other life.
Her real father had been well off, but he didn’t have this kind of discretionary income.
He did, however, have the greatest heart a father could have for his child.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She missed him.
When she agreed to Tove’s experiment, she didn’t factor in how a different life might mean giving up someone she cared about.
“Tove, I miss my real father,” she called out. “Is he in this life?”
She turned from the vanity and looked around the room.
She was still alone.
She blinked, and a couple more tears trickled down her cheeks. What a foolish question. Even if he was in this life, she couldn’t do anything about it. He was not her father here.
She brushed away her tears when a knock came at her door.
“It’s Miss Parson, my lady,” the maid said.
Marie made sure the rest of her tears were gone before she told the woman to come in.
Miss Parson gave her an expectant smile. “How did this evening go?”
Not wishing to disappoint the woman, Marie told her, “It went well.” And really, for all intents and purposes, it had.
Miss Parson began removing the pins from her hair. “Do you think you’ll see any of those gentlemen after this evening? What about Lord Monheim?” Miss Parson gave her an excited grin. “He not only hosted the dinner party, but he escorted you, too, didn’t he?”
Marie nodded.
“I’ve had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of a maid who works in his home.
” Miss Parson brushed her hair gently, so as to avoid hurting her as she worked through the tangles.
“The maid says he’s a very kind employer.
Treats everyone well. Makes no unnecessary demands.
Pays them a little more than most in London would.
I’ll be honest with you, Lady Marie. I wouldn’t mind a job in his household.
” She placed a hand on Marie’s shoulder.
“I didn’t mean to show your father any disrespect.
He’s a suitable employer. I have no complaints with my employment here. ”
“I took no offense at your words,” Marie assured her.
Miss Parson didn’t hide her relief. “I’d like to keep my job.
It’s not easy to find employment in London, and I don’t especially enjoy the country.
” She continued brushing Marie’s hair. “Lord Monheim has other things to commend him, of course. I hear he’s kind to everyone.
He’s certainly most attentive to you when he visits.
I dare say he has the look of love about him.
Considering how wealthy he is and how excellent his connections are, I would think him an ideal husband. ”
Marie met Miss Parson’s curious gaze in the mirror then quickly lowered her eyes to the vanity.
Yes, she supposed that he did come across as perfect.
Had she been living in her other life and had she not met Edward, she would probably have been thrilled by his attention.
But the problem was, she had met Edward.
Perhaps if she hadn’t gotten to know him better in this life, she might have been able to let him go without another thought.
She hadn’t given Edward enough time in her other life.
Not that there had been much time to give him.
They were due to marry the very next day.
There hadn’t been time to process everything.
At the time she petitioned her father to find her a husband, she’d been so desperate to marry that she hadn’t carefully thought through everything.
Miss Parson pulled Marie’s hair back and secured it into a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck.
“Tomorrow is the All Hallows’ Eve ball at Lord Edon’s.
I have picked up the mask to go with your blue gown.
” She left Marie’s side and went to the armoire.
When she returned from retrieving the mask from the top shelf, she showed it to Marie.
Marie accepted the silver mask that would cover her forehead and nose. It was decorated with lace, diamonds, and blue rhinestones that matched her gown.
“I made sure your father approved of it before I got it,” Miss Parson continued. “Not that I thought he would say no. He’s been generous in what he allows you to wear.”
Marie was sure the mask was expensive. Her real father wouldn’t have been able to splurge on something like this.
“I have it on good authority that everyone in London will be at Lord Edon’s ball,” Miss Parson continued. “Well, that is, everyone but Lord and Lady Cadwalader, but there’s no getting them to go to one of his balls, regardless of the circumstances.”
Marie was tempted to ask her if Lord Covenshire would be in attendance but thought better of it. Even if her real father were there, she had no connection to him anymore.
“If Lord Monheim is not the one, there will be other gentlemen to choose from,” Miss Parson continued, her tone light as she returned to the armoire to select the nightshift Marie would wear for bed.
“I’m sure you’re going to have a wonderful time tomorrow evening.
A lady like you won’t lack any attention. ”
Marie felt her grip on the mask tighten. Once upon a time, she would find that idea exciting, but now it filled her with dread. Did it mean she wouldn’t get a chance to talk to Edward?
She looked down at her mask. Thank goodness she would be able to hide her identity at the ball. She didn’t need those gentlemen to get in the way of being able to have a real conversation with Edward. But if everyone was wearing a mask, how would she know him when she saw him?
“I can’t help but notice you haven’t replied to Lord Monheim’s missive,” the Duke of Carlisle said the next evening when Marie entered the drawing room in her gown and mask.
Marie had hoped he hadn’t seen the missive when they came earlier that day.
Lord Monheim’s missive had mentioned a question he wanted to ask her.
She knew what the question was. He wanted to propose marriage to her.
The past three hours had been painful as she’d debated whether to confront it or not.
Oh, who was she kidding? She couldn’t put it off forever. Not unless Tove made the awkward situation disappear. But unless she could find Tove, she had no way to ask for help.
“I haven’t had time to respond to the missive because I’ve been getting ready for this evening.” It was a pitiful excuse, but it was the only excuse she had.
He approached her with a reassuring smile.
“The longer you make him wait, the more he’ll want you.
Besides, it’s not like he’s your only suitor.
The Duke of Lundt’s son is very much infatuated with you.
As is Lord Tammeron, Lord Efferson, and Lord Noel.
” He gave a hearty laugh. “I don’t mind telling you that all of them, including Lord Monheim, have sought my permission to ask for your hand in marriage.
I told each of them that the decision is yours. ”
She had to resist the urge to flee out of the room and run right back up the stairs to her bedchamber. The only thing holding her in place was the fact that she had a mask on.
“I told all of your suitors that I’ll be wearing this mask this evening.
” He gestured to his gold mask with a black outline around it.
“I know it’s a masquerade ball. No one is supposed to recognize anyone else, but I want to make sure you get a chance to dance with the best gentlemen.
It’ll help you as you make your decision. ”
Marie took a good look at him. Could he be Tove? Could this be Tove’s way of forcing her hand? Was Tove actively pushing gentlemen her way in order to help her find a love match?
“I would rather not be paired up for dances this evening,” Marie said. “If a gentleman happens to ask me to dance, I’ll oblige. I will mind my manners. For one evening, though, I’d like to just relax and enjoy myself.”
“After you marry, you’ll have lots of time to relax and enjoy yourself.”
She removed her mask and offered the person standing in front of her an imploring gaze. “Please. I’ve been good about doing what’s expected of me, haven’t I? All I want is one evening to be myself.”
The person’s eyebrows furrowed. “You’ve always attracted people to you. I can’t think of a time when you weren’t the center of attention.”
Perhaps this wasn’t Tove she was speaking to. If this was truly the Duke of Carlisle, then she couldn’t expect him to know what was really going on. Choosing her words carefully, she said, “It will help me think of what to do if I can remain off to the side of the room.”
“You don’t plan to dance at all?”
“I do plan to dance. I just want to sit, too. Catch my breath. Give serious thought to my future.”
He hesitated for a long moment then relented.
“All right. You have five proposals, and all are from gentlemen who would benefit me. It doesn’t matter which one you pick.
I insist, however, that you don’t make any of them wait too long.
You don’t want them to seek out other ladies because you discouraged them. ”
“I’ll make my decision soon.”
With a satisfied nod, he escorted her out of the room.