Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
But before she’d meet him, she would get to finally see her dear father again. She ran over to him the moment he entered the drawing room and wrapped her arms around him.
He let out a chuckle and hugged her back. “I didn’t think you’d be up this early. You usually sleep in until ten.”
Marie laughed and took a step away from him. “I couldn’t sleep. I was too excited to see you.”
His eyebrows arched. “I thought you’d be more excited to see your intended than in seeing me. You see me every day.”
If only he knew that she hadn’t seen him for the past couple of weeks! “I am looking forward to meeting the gentleman you’ve arranged for me to marry. I know you’ve chosen the ideal match for me.”
“While I am touched by your certainty, I worry your faith in me may be unwarranted. Yes, I did my best, but it’s difficult for a father to view a potential husband the same way his daughter will.”
She smiled and kissed his cheek. “You’ve always had my happiness in mind. I trust your judgment.”
“So, you aren’t worried about how the evening will go?”
“No, I’m not worried at all.” She accepted the arm he offered to her and let him escort her down the hall.
“I have to admit that I expected you to be apprehensive. This isn’t like you.”
“I know, but I’ve had some time to view things differently.”
“In that case, are you sure you don’t want a church wedding?”
She shook her head. “No, I still want something private.” She still didn’t like large gatherings. Smaller gatherings meant a better chance of really getting to know someone, and she’d rather do that than have all of the Ton vying for her attention.
“The bridegroom feels the same way you do,” her father informed her as they reached the dining room. “Like you, he prefers quieter and smaller affairs.”
Yes, that did describe Edward. While he had been happy to show up at dinner parties, he hadn’t been inclined to impress anyone in the Ton. That was a refreshing change from so many other gentlemen who valued their reputation over genuine connection.
Once she and her father were seated at the table, he said, “The gentleman you’ll be marrying is Edward Glover.
He is the son of the Earl of Palmere. I hope meeting him at the ball will go well.
Lord Palmere and I did consider having you two meet at a dinner party, but it might put less pressure on both of you to have a conversation if there’s plenty of other people nearby. ”
“I’m fine with the arrangement, though a dinner party would have be fine as well.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “I’m certain that Edward and I have enough in common that we won’t lack for anything to say.”
He stared at her for a moment before he finally selected some eggs and a waffle from the buffet in front of them.
“Oh, well, I thought the ball might be better. I even made sure to put enough gentlemen on your dance card so you have some time to think of what to discuss with him when you two are together.”
“I’m not complaining, Papa. Edward and I will have lots of time to talk after we marry.” And she was looking forward to it. They would share their love of stories, the wonderful things about autumn and spring, and many other things she was sure they both enjoyed.
“I think you’re managing better than Edward. His father told me that while Edward is anticipating this evening, he’s very nervous. I had expected you to be nervous as well. I thought for sure you’d be holding onto your mama’s handkerchief this morning.”
“I have it.” She patted the cream-colored fabric that she’d wound around the ribbon that her lady’s maid had secured to the empire waistline of her gown.
“Your mama loved that handkerchief. She carried that thing with her all the time. She claimed that it brought her good luck.”
“She bought it on the day she met you. Of course, it brought her good luck.”
He smiled. “She was a lovely lady. Just as lovely as you are. I often wished I had been able to give her more things.”
“You gave her all she ever wanted.”
“I don’t know. Sometimes I think it would have been nice if we had more money. I have a title, but I’m not of the caliber that those esteemed in the Ton are.”
“You mustn’t speak like that,” Marie was quick to admonish. “You loved her. She was very happy with you. A lady would rather have her husband’s affections than anything the Ton can offer.”
He sat close to her and give her arm a grateful pat. “The best thing she ever gave me was you. Edward’s very fortunate he’s getting you.”
“Oh, Papa.” She placed her hand over his. “You know I’ll still be a part of your life.”
“I know, but I’ll miss having you around.”
“I’ll come by to see you often. And you are certainly welcome to visit me. Just think of all the grandchildren you’ll be having. They’ll make so much noise, you’ll be begging for some quiet.”
He chuckled. “I’ll never get tired of little feet running all through the townhouse. That’s what makes a house a home.”
She chuckled as well, but she noted the tears that sprang to her eyes.
She could never enjoy life without him. A love match was important.
She would never deny that. But having a close relationship with her parents equally mattered.
She lived a very blessed life, and she wouldn’t take any of it for granted again.
“You look lovely,” her father greeted when Marie entered the drawing room that evening. “Are you ready to meet your betrothed?”
“Yes, I am,” she admitted.
The day had passed at an unusually slow pace.
She kept finding herself checking the time.
When it was finally time to get ready for the evening’s ball, she had practically flown up the stairs in relief.
All of the games her father agreed to play with her had done very little to speed things up.
Twice, she found herself stopping herself from urging her father to join her for a stroll through the park or the market, all in hopes of spotting Edward.
She wasn’t meant to meet him until the ball this evening.
She didn’t know if meeting him sooner would ruin Tove’s experiment.
She suspected the lady would be watching her at the ball.
She probably needed to record something for the people at TMR. After all Tove had done for her, she hoped Tove would get the promotion she wanted.
Once at Lord Edon’s ball, the Duke of Welmond approached her father about his advice on a business investment, so Marie headed for a chair near the veranda. Unlike last time, she didn’t make it there. She noted the familiar frame of the Duke of Carlisle.
She didn’t know why, but she’d assumed Tove had created him specifically for the experiment. She inched forward. The Duke of Carlisle was talking with a couple of gentlemen.
“Lord and Lady Cadwalader wouldn’t be caught dead at this ball,” the first gentleman was telling the Duke of Carlisle.
“Even after all this time?” His Grace asked, not hiding his surprise. “Lord Edon hasn’t created any scandals for years. In fact, some are saying that he’s led an upstanding life ever since his marriage to the Duke of Rumsey’s daughter.”
“While true, he befriended that doctor who threw some cheese at Lord and Lady Cadwalader and called them a bunch of rats.” The first gentleman turned to the second one. “What was that doctor’s name?”
“Westward, if I recall,” the second replied. “Though he does have a title. It might be best to refer to him as Lord Dodsworth.”
The first gentleman scoffed. “Don’t let the Cadwaladers hear you say that.”
Marie recalled her real father mentioning that incident.
She’d been eleven at the time. Her father had been so shocked by the incident that he had woken her up to tell her all about it.
That was the first time Marie wished she’d been old enough to go to a ball.
The next day, the Tittletattle featured the incident on the front page.
“I forgot all about that evening,” the Duke of Carlisle said, his voice laced with regret. “If you gentlemen will forgive me, I’ll take my leave.”
Marie watched as he headed for the door.
He left alone. So, he didn’t have a child in this life.
She didn’t know if that was good or not.
He hadn’t really cared that he’d had a daughter.
She’d thought a son might be different since the son would inherit his title.
But perhaps Tove had to pick a childless gentleman since her own father had been childless in that particular life.
If His Grace did exist, then maybe the other people she’d met as Lady Marie also existed. She searched the ballroom for Brooke but didn’t see her anywhere. She also didn’t see Juliet, though she did notice Lord and Lady Campbell. She also saw Lord Monheim dancing with someone.
If she had seen either Brooke or Juliet, she would have introduced herself. But this evening was not about establishing friendships. That could be done another time. This evening was about meeting Edward. That must be why Tove had chosen to bring her back to this point in time.
Last time she’d been here, her father had instructed Richard to have a dance with her, and her father would tell him to go to the chairs by the veranda to find her.
She found the chair she’d sat in before.
As she watched the lively engagement around her, she realized she still enjoyed sitting to the side of the room.
Maybe she was still a wallflower, but she was a contented one.
Unwittingly her gaze went to Diane who was speaking with Maxine and Lady Charlotte.
Marie now recognized the gentlemen they were speaking to as Lord Noel, the Duke of Hashboro, and Lord Efferson.
Marie concentrated on them for a while. The benefit of being a wallflower was how easy it was to go unnoticed.
That group didn’t glance in her direction once.
They seemed to be having a good conversation, if the subtle ways they flirted with each other were any indication of how well they were getting along.
Diane was as much the center of attention as before, and Marie knew Diane wouldn’t have it any other way.
It was to her benefit that the other two ladies didn’t mind allowing her to take such a position.
Who knew how Diane’s life was going to end up?
The lady was so concerned with money and influence.
It was impossible to say if she would end up happy.
Years and years from now, when younger ladies in their prime were the center of attention, would Diane have anything meaningful to hold onto?
Or was this the best she was ever going to experience?
For the first time in her life, Marie felt sorry for her.
The part of her that wanted a happy ending hoped that Diane might receive a visitor someday—someone like Tove, perhaps—who could give her an experiment that would show her how much better life could be.
Without genuine connections, life was wasted.
Marie scanned the room. She’d like to think that Tove was here, taking notes, and considering possibilities for a future experiment.