Chapter Three #2
“Absolutely not. Fear not, Miss Sterling, we will guide you, and between Warrington and me we will weed out the unfavorable ones.” He plucked a flower and presented it to her.
She smiled in thanks and twirled the bloom in her fingers as they reached the fountain.
She should have been buoyed by his confidence, but reminded herself not to raise her hopes.
Until she saw his declarations in action, they were nothing more than pretty words meant to console her.
“Did you make me a list of things you require?”
“I did but I am afraid I have only two dresses that fit. I do wish for the rest to be returned to Miss Covington’s, for dear Pamela will need her clothes back.”
“Of course. My mother and sister are due to arrive tomorrow, and I am sure that they will be more than happy to take you to their modiste. They know better than I what you will require. As for the other items, I will have them purchased for you posthaste.”
“Thank you, Lord Anthony. I know I am a problem you had not asked for. I shall try not to be a burden to you or your mother.”
“My mother loves shopping, and introducing you to the ton will make her quite unbearably happy. You will find she loves to talk. And by talk, I mean to gossip. You shall know the ins and outs of everyone by the week’s end.”
Lucinda noticed he did not refer to her as being a burden. Did that mean he did think her a burden, or was he simply dismissing her concern? Perhaps he intended to ignore her once his mother and sister arrived. She was not sure if that would be a blessing or not.
The next evening there was a great commotion downstairs and when May arrived in Lucinda’s room she announced proudly, “The family has arrived.”
Lucinda spun around from her chair at the dressing table. “What? All of them?”
“Why, yes, miss.” May looked confused by her questions.
Sweat broke on her brow. “I can’t go down there.” She looked down at her dress, its dull-brown hue not suitable for any table, let alone a duke’s. She looked disowned, felt disowned… was disowned.
“Why ever not, miss? They are expecting you.”
“All of them, you said. I thought it would just be the dowager and Lady Marianne. Oh, this is bad, very bad.” She could feel her throat constricting in panic. She could not go down and meet the family looking a little better than a beggar.
May smiled. “It is just nerves, miss. They are all nice.”
“But all at once?”
“Lord Ashton will be arriving soon to escort you down. Take some deep breaths and all will be well.”
Lucinda paced the floor, the back of one hand on her forehead, the other on her hip, May all but forgotten as her panic rose with every passing moment. She needed to calm down, but her body was disinclined to listen.
What did she think might happen if she went down there? Would they swallow her up with their good intentions and spit her out once they found her lacking? Would they snicker behind their napkins at the state of her dress?
A knock at the door made her jump. May was nowhere to be seen. She squeaked out, “Yes?”
“Miss Sterling, it is Lord Anthony. May I come in?”
Her first thought was to say no. Her panic was quickly turning to anger. She wanted to know why he had been so thoughtless as to do this to her.
“Come in,” she said and sat on the bed gathering with all her might what composure she could.
When he entered, he left the door open, and May stood in the hallway. Lucinda did not want to look up at him, did not want him to see her fear. “Is it true?” was all she said to him once he was fully in the room.
He stopped mid-stride. “Is what true?”
“Is your whole family assembled downstairs?”
“Yes, but…”
“Some warning would have been nice, my lord. I will never remember their names or titles or… and my dress and…”
“You will be fine.”
“You do not understand. I am not ready. I am not a horse from Tattersalls to be paraded out for inspection, so they can all say they have seen the strange little ward you have acquired.”
Tony perched on the arm of the chair by the fire and studied her for a few moments.
“Firstly, you are not my strange little ward, and secondly, it was not my idea. I am sorry, but mother must have arranged it, and Warrington agreed. To be honest, I only just found out myself.” She didn’t look convinced.
“They would not have wanted you to feel overwhelmed. If anything, they would have thought it better to get it over with in a less formal setting. I can assure you they are certainly not here to inspect you.”
It sounded ridiculous when he said it. Goodness, she needed to control herself.
She was well practiced in hiding her true feelings and yet here she had just blurted it out.
“It is I who is sorry. I feel so unprepared for being in company.” She looked down at her dress. “I don’t want to let you down.”
“Nonsense. It is understandable that you would be a little nervous about meeting new people, but I assure you they are simply eager to make your acquaintance. Do you think you could join us? I will be by your side the whole time.”
Lucinda looked at him, so handsome and with those damn blue eyes full of sympathy and hope and his hand outstretched towards her. Could she do this? Could she handle sitting among his family and not feel lacking?
“Lucinda,” he said softly. “I promise no harm will befall you.”
She worried her lower lip. “You will not leave me?”
“You have my word.”
“All right.” She put her hand in his. Could he feel her trembling?
May smiled and clasped her hands together as Lucinda passed and said, “You can do this, miss.”
Lucinda steeled herself, clutching Lord Anthony’s arm. What was that quote by Shakespeare… Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more? For she certainly felt like she was about to enter a battle with unknown opponents.
When the parlor doors opened, all eyes fell on her. This was what she had feared. The duke was the first to come forward. He kissed her hand and said, “Miss Sterling, I am so glad you could join us.” He waved his hand over his family. “Let me do the introductions.”
He led her farther into the room. Lord Anthony was right beside her, as he promised.
“This is our mother, the dowager duchess of Warrington.”
Lucinda bobbed a curtsey. The duke then introduced the other family. There was Lord Harlow and his wife Gabrielle, Lord Epping and his wife Anna. “Lastly, but by no means least, this is our sister, Lady Marianne Ashton.”
“You must sit by me, Miss Sterling,” said Marianne softly, taking her hand.
“Well, now that we are all acquainted shall we go into dinner?” The duke took his mother’s arm, and they proceeded into the dining room.
The table looked splendid, all decked out with candelabra and fresh linen.
Marianne, closely followed by Lord Anthony, led her to her seat where a footman pushed in her chair.
Lucinda looked around and felt at least in this respect, she was not out of her depth.
She knew all her cutlery and glasses, but this was the first time she would really put it into practice.
The rest of the family was talking amongst themselves, which thankfully let her take a moment to compose herself and calm her frazzled nerves.
“They can become quite loud, especially when it comes to politics. Do not mention Napoleon and we shall be fine,” Marianne said in her ear.
“Thank you for the warning.” Lucinda studied the rest of the family while they were at ease.
Lord Charles, Earl of Harlow, was dark like the duke, but he took after his mother’s side of the family with a rounder face and stockier build.
His wife Gabrielle was the typical English rose, blonde with serene features.
The dowager duchess was talking and directing servants and gesturing at the same time.
The duke simply watched and frowned, but did not seem inclined to interrupt his mother.
Lord Thomas, Viscount Epping, was laughing at something his wife Anna was saying and took her hand and kissed it.
Anna had dark hair and was delightfully animated.
She reminded Lucinda of one of her very first friends Clarissa, who had a knack for making sad little “no thanks, girl,” Lucinda laugh.
That had become her nickname for several years, as she would say no thank you to everything, afraid to make a mistake or misstep.
Clarissa had been older than her by several years and had married a banker and should have had an extremely comfortable life, but she died while giving birth to her first child.
Lucinda missed her even more these days.
Her one devoted friend. The only person who said she would write and actually had.
Then there was Lord Anthony, though his family called him Tony. When she looked his way, it was to find him studying her. She immediately looked away, but his question soon drew her back to him. “Are you all right?”
Was she? Her immediate thought was to say, I am fine, but she really was not sure. Wine was being poured, and she took a sip before nodding.
In truth, there was so much noise around her it was hard to think at all.
How did they have a conversation when they were all talking over each other?
When the first course arrived, asparagus, white soup, and fish, the chatter slowed, and Lucinda was able to eat.
She had had little to eat since arriving and found herself starving at the sight of the many dishes.
Never had she had so many courses, though it looked as though it was commonplace for the Ashton family.
Miss Covington had never prepared her for the conversational aspect of being part of a large party.
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