Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
THISTLEWAYTE HALL
Eugenia tossed the Bellingham Park house party invitation her mother had passed to her onto the tea table and wiped her fingers off on her skirt, as if trying to scrub away an oily, unpleasant sensation the card had left on her fingers.
“You are going to attend, are you not?”
The Duchess studied her eldest daughter with a serene, unruffled expression. Though her words were phrased as a question, her tone sounded as if Eugenia didn’t have a choice in the matter.
“I would sooner die than ever lay eyes on Lydia Errington again, Mama.” Eugenia stared at her mother, not believing that the Duchess had even asked her such a question. “How can you expect me to show my face after what happened at Lady Duncan’s Ball?”
However, her mother just offered her a steady gaze and a serene smile, as if she had no idea what had happened, as if it was so inconsequential as to have been forgotten.
“You will be attending this house party, and you will hold your head up high. You will not acknowledge the talk of what happened at the Ball.”
“You cannot be serious!”
Eugenia shook her head vehemently.
“Not going would only seem to lend credence to the rumours. You will pay your respects to Lord and Lady Bellingham because they are our friends, and not at fault for all of this nastiness.”
Her mother’s tone brooked no arguments.
“Mother, they are your friends not mine, and I hold them fully responsible for this mess, in one fashion or another. After all, Lydia is their daughter. She created the scene at Lady Duncan’s Ball with her snide comments about Lord D’Asti.”
Eugenia was preparing for a full attack, complete with all of her reasons for not going, when she was interrupted by Susan striding into the parlour.
“Eugenia, how dare you let that little hoyden win?” Susan paused mere inches from Eugenia, so they were eye to eye.
Susan’s unwavering gaze burned with the conviction that laced her words.
“You must do as your mother said and attend this house party with your head held high. You have done no wrong, and you should not hide, because that will only make it seem as if you have behaved badly. You will dance and laugh, and if you become upset, Neville and I will be there to support you and make sure that you are not alone.” Susan did not even wait for a response before she breezed back out of the parlour.
When Eugenia did not follow her, she returned and waved at Eugenia to follow her. “Come, let us go choose our ensembles.”
Her mother waved for her to follow Susan, and Eugenia was left with no option but to follow.
Once upstairs, they began to plan what was needed for the duration of the house party, and have their lady’s maids pack the perfect fashions for their intended triumph.
At least, that was how Susan described it.
As Eugenia surveyed the array of gowns before her, she heaved out a sigh and shook her head.
“What is it?”
Susan gave Eugenia’s arm a gentle, almost sisterly pat. Eugenia reached up and rubbed the back of her neck, where tension was knotting her muscles. She could feel the beginnings of a headache coming on.
“It’s just... I’m still not certain that I wish to go to this house party.
Lydia humiliated me quite soundly at Lady Duncan’s Ball, and came out of the situation looking like an angel.
I’m afraid it’s left quite the bitter taste in my mouth, and I am not at all sure that I can face her, consequences or no. ”
“There is one thing you haven’t considered, my dear friend.”
“Oh really?” Eugenia paced over to her bedroom window and stared out at the garden, and the maze in the distance. “And what might that be?”
“Lord D’Asti may well be at this house party, as well. I would be shocked if he were not invited. This could be your chance to rekindle your acquaintance with him and discover his opinion about the incident at Lady Duncan’s Ball.”
Eugenia bit her lip, and the corners of her mouth tugged up into a dreamy smile despite her best efforts to hide it.
“I must admit that I find the prospect of seeing him again to be a thrilling thought. He is so handsome and charming, it is all but impossible to dislike him.”
“I sense an unspoken ‘but’ at the end of your admission.”
Susan arched a brow at Eugenia, encouraging her to share the thought which had made her voice tremble with uncertainty.
“Well, I am nervous, too.” Eugenia leaned her forehead against the cool glass of her bedroom window and let her eyes fall closed as she spoke.
“I don’t know whether or not he has seen that awful piece about us in The Society Reporter.
I know neither of us was named directly, but they made it too obvious for anyone to miss who the article was about.
If he has seen it, how does he feel about what they said? ”
Susan tugged Eugenia away from the window, turned her around, and pulled her into a fierce hug.
“Well, the only way that you can discover his feelings on the matter is by seeing him again, and the sooner the better. So go to this house party, despite Lydia, and find out his feelings on the matter for yourself.”
BELLINGHAM PARK
Eugenia’s stomach lurched, clenching with nerves as their carriage bounced to a stop before Bellingham Park, behind the line of other carriages which had already disgorged the small group of people who were greeting each other in front of the house, in preparation for the house party.
For a moment, she thought she might cast up her accounts, but at an encouraging glance from Susan, Eugenia swallowed hard, dismissing the nausea which tried to assault her nerves, and took a deep breath.
“Shall we?”
Neville’s tone was bright, his smile brighter as a footman opened the carriage door, ready to help them all out. Eugenia gave a jerky nod, but didn’t speak. Susan was the first to exit the carriage, then Eugenia, and Neville brought up the rear.
Several sets of eyes turned to survey them, and Lady Bellingham stepped forward with a broad smile.
“Eugenia! I’m delighted that you are able to attend our little fete. Now, if I am not greatly mistaken, your chaperones are the recently married Lord and Lady Seabury. Am I correct?”
Eugenia forced herself to return Lady Bellingham’s smile and nodded, glad that they were focusing on Susan and Neville, for the moment.
“Yes, that is correct.”
Their carriage pulled away to make room for another at that very moment, and Eugenia lost track of the conversation between Lady Bellingham and Susan amid the clatter of hooves and the creaking of the carriage. As if of one mind, they all shifted out of the way to make room for the newcomers.
“Ah!” Lady Bellingham chirped with a delighted, childish clap. “And this is Lord Greywood and his sister, Lady Henrietta, if I am not mistaken?”
Lord Greywood, a short, stocky fellow with dark hair and hazel eyes, offered Lady Bellingham a bland attempt at a smile.
Lady Henrietta, however, froze, her blue-green eyes wide as she took in the company surrounding her.
Her eyes locked on Susan and Neville, and she paled a little at facing them for the first time since the contretemps at Lady Mowbray’s Ball.
“Well, well! Isn’t this a delicious little vignette?
” A voice spoke up behind them. All eyes turned to the take in the slightly doughy, beady eyed woman who’d spoken.
It was Lydia Hawkins, the Marchioness of Rosebury, Eugenia realised.
She was the gossip who’d spread the news of Lady Henrietta trying to trap poor Neville into a marriage he didn’t want, at Lady Mowbray’s Ball.
The woman clung to her husband’s arm, her eyes glittering wickedly as she looked back and forth between Lady Henrietta and Susan.
“Are we to be subjected to yet another scandalous drama, having a happy newlywed couple and the girl who tried to prevent their marriage at the same house party?”
“Are we to be subjected to your dull and useless commentary on the matter for the entire house party, Lady Rosebury?”
Lord Greywood had snapped a response, before anyone else could react, obviously feeling quite protective of his little sister.
“Easy there, Greywood.” Lord Rosebury offered the Viscount a grin almost as wicked as the one his wife had been wearing only moments ago. “It was just a bit of idle chit-chat. No need to get your dander up.”
Lady Henrietta shifted uncomfortably, her cheeks flushing a dark red as Lydia Errington appeared at her mother’s elbow, stifling a cough which might have been intended to cover a laugh.
Eugenia winced, and despite knowing what Lady Henrietta had done to try to prevent Susan and Neville’s marriage, she couldn’t help sympathising with the girl’s current position, and obvious unease at still being a topic of gossip.
She was horrified that Lady Rosebury saw fit to make commentary on it, right in front of the poor girl, too.
As Lady Henrietta turned her face away from the two Lydias flanking Lady Bellingham, one her daughter and one her friend, Eugenia made a point of catching her eye.
“Ignore them.”
She whispered the words, hoping that they would be a boon to the embarrassed girl. Lady Henrietta blinked, her mouth forming a small, shocked ‘O’ at Eugenia’s unexpectedly kind words after such a jarring greeting.
“Lord Greywood, how lovely to see you again.”
Lydia Errington’s voice was warm and honeyed when directed at Viscount Greywood.
She dipped in a curtsey, and he offered a jerky bow in response.
Their gazes caught and held for a moment, and Eugenia could have sworn that she saw something pass between them, but she couldn’t be certain what.
Then, Lydia turned her gaze to Eugenia, and she felt her blood chill in response.
“Lady Rosebury, have you met Lady Eugenia Calthorpe? I could have sworn that I saw the two of you chatting at Lady Duncan’s Ball.” Lydia smiled sweetly. “I think it’s so brave of Eugenia to show her face after what happened at the Ball.”
Eugenia’s head spun. Lydia had gone straight for the throat, of course, but she was crafty about it, damn her.
Eugenia wanted to swear, or run away, or both, but she could do neither.
So, she smoothed the front of her dress and looked away, trying to come up with something appropriate to say after Lydia had had the gall to bring up Lady Duncan’s Ball when she knew that Eugenia had never willingly spoken to Lady Rosebury a day in her life.
Lady Henrietta caught Eugenia’s eye, then, cringing with sympathy, and silently mouthed words of encouragement.
“Ignore them.”
Eugenia, startled, watched as Lady Henrietta’s brother steered her towards the garden at the side of the house, well away from Lady Rosebury.
Susan looped her arm through Eugenia’s and offered the women facing them a bright smile before turning her attention exclusively to Lydia.
“I don’t remember ever seeing Eugenia speak to Lady Rosebury before, Miss.
.. Errington, is it? You must be mistaken.
” Lydia’s cheeks reddened at the utterly polite, but thinly veiled insinuation that she was lying.
She darted a glance at her mother, Lady Bellingham, as if to ask if she was going to let Susan talk to her like that, but someone else had captured the lady of the house’s attention, and she was already striding towards them.
“Have we been properly introduced?” Susan continued, her gaze on Lydia never wavering.
“If we have, I’m afraid I don’t remember it, but with a face as forgettable as yours, I suppose that’s to be expected. ”
Susan then, very sharply, turned away, Eugenia turning with her, as their arms were linked.
Eugenia nearly choked to death, holding in the laugh that wanted to burst out of her at Susan giving Lydia the cut direct.
Still, she held herself together, steering Susan towards the garden, too, before the situation could escalate.
Her mother wouldn’t be happy if they upset Lady Bellingham on their very first day at the house party.
Just then, more hooves sounded on the gravel, announcing the arrival of another addition to the party. Curious, Eugenia paused and looked back to see who it might be. Her heart stuttered and she forgot to breathe for a moment.
She would recognise Lord D’Asti’s carriage anywhere. He was here, and she could finally see him again!
Despite Lydia openly glaring at them after Susan had dared to defend Eugenia, Eugenia tugged her friend back towards the area where new arrivals exited their carriages.
She was so eager to see Lord D’Asti again, after having to go so long without seeing him or being able to communicate with him, that she didn’t think, she simply moved.
His carriage came to a stop and Eugenia’s steps quickened until the carriage door opened and Lord D’Asti’s footman helped a girl she didn’t recognise out of his carriage.
Eugenia’s steps faltered and she went still, stiffening as a barrage of questions assaulted her thoughts. Susan, perforce, was brought to a halt beside her.
Who was this girl traveling with Lord D’Asti? Were they courting? Where was her chaperone?
Eugenia burned to know the answers to these questions, but she didn’t dare approach him and ask them.
What if he’d seen the piece in The Society Reporter?
Had he moved on, not wanting to be caught up in yet another scandal?