Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The first day of the party had finally arrived and Dorian’s feelings concerning the event were… mixed, to say the least.
On the one hand, it was looking to be a resounding success as all the guests had arrived on time and, as promised, there was no sense that this plan of his was going to explode in his face like mistimed fireworks. While on the other…
What happened last night has changed everything. I know the best thing to do is ignore it, carry on as planned, push through this weekend and deal with the consequences at a later date. But such an idea is nowhere near that simple.
“You surprise me, Dorian,” Joseph was saying, despite Dorian hardly paying his friend any attention. “In truth, I think you have surprised everyone.”
Dorian tore his eyes from where they were focused, cursing himself for getting distracted as he was trying so hard not to do. He turned to his friend, affecting a smile because he was likely being watched and did not want to appear ill at ease or give off the sense that something was wrong.
“Surprise you? What do you mean?” he asked.
Joseph beamed. “I had no idea you had so many friends as this. Certainly not enough to commit themselves to an entire weekend in your home.”
“Oh…” Dorian laughed awkwardly. “Yes, it is quite the turnout, isn’t it.”
“And so many people traipsing across your property, inserting themselves in your personal life. Again, you continue to surprise me.”
“Save the congratulations for the end of the weekend,” Dorian said with a grimace. “Assuming my estate remains in one piece, as does my sanity.”
“True enough.” Joseph slapped him on the shoulder and projected his gaze across the garden.
“I’m here for you if you need anything. So long as that something involves plenty of whiskey.
” Joseph then held up his glass, filled with golden-brown liquid, and took a purposefully large sip, followed by a coy wink.
Dorian rolled his eyes at his friend before turning back to fix his attention on the back garden, surveying the scene as a host ought to do while he looked over his guests, counted their heads, checked off their names, and ensured that everything was going as needed.
So far so good and should things continue this way I might make it through the weekend in one piece. But I suppose that is too much to hope for.
The guests had started to arrive two hours earlier, the first to do so being the Duke and Duchess of Dunmore, Penelope’s oldest sister and her husband.
Not long after the Duke and Duchess of Thornfield arrived, also Penelope’s sister and her husband, and then the Earl and Countess of St. Vincent…
another of Penelope’s sisters. The fourth sister and her husband arrived next, and the timing of it all seemed purposeful.
Here to check on their youngest sister because she needed their protection from her miserable and wicked husband.
But soon more guests arrived in tow. Various lords and their wives whom Dorian knew well, some he was not so close with, and others who he had never met but invited because they had children who were of an age with Barbara.
He was sure to greet each as they were announced, wanting to play the good host, even if Penelope did not seem nearly so eager to do so.
Once her sisters arrived, she took them to meet Barbara and since then that little side of the family had been nearly inseparable.
Ordinarily not a problem… but considering the previous evening, it felt as if it was that.
With everyone having arrived, Dorian stood back from the garden, on the balcony so he could see over the gathering and assess its merits.
The scores of guests were spread across the large garden.
At the center was an awning, under which were tables of food and drink and seats to rest upon.
To the left was a small stage with an orchestra already well into the throes of entertainment, and before them there was a space cleared for dancing; yet to be used, but that would likely change.
To the right was an area with a croquette circuit built especially for today, and many a husband and wife were already well into competing and having fun.
Some of the guests had brought their younger children, and they were toward the back where games had been arranged.
As for the rest of the guests? They wandered to and fro, mingling and laughing and enjoying the first event of what was to be a very busy weekend.
Dorian did his best to navigate through the throngs and look upon each guest to ensure they were having a good time, but as should have been predictable, his attention was constantly drawn back to Penelope.
She was across the garden, quite literally as far from him as possible.
Maybe it was a coincidence? She was, after all, with her sisters, and it was likely they had simply pulled her that way.
But it felt to him that she was trying to avoid him, a thought made more likely seeing as he had not spoken a word to her since last evening.
Still, I can’t say what happened exactly. Why I kissed her. Why I stopped so suddenly. What I wanted, what I expected to happen, or why she was even there!
It was all terribly confusing, and Dorian feared it would remain that way until the weekend ended and he and Penelope had time to talk privately. Assuming that she even wanted to.
“Your Grace!” a voice called from just in front of Dorian, pulling his attention away from the party… and from Penelope.
Dorian found who had called his name, forcing a smile and pushing Penelope from his mind. Now was not the time to worry about such things. This party was being hosted for a reason and that very reason was approaching him.
“Lord Kenbrook…” Dorian walked down the steps and into the garden, extending his arm for Lord Kenbrook to shake. “I was just thinking about you.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Not at all.” They met and Dorian took his arm, gripping it tight. “When you arrived, I was hoping to speak with you more than I did. Only –”
“Hosting duties,” Lord Kenbrook chuckled. “I understand entirely. Hence, why I thought it a good idea to find you now, before the drinks start to flow. That, and I wanted to give you a chance to properly meet my children.”
Lord Kenbrook was not a man who Dorian knew well.
Years ago they had done some small business together, but nothing remarkable or worth remembering.
In fact, until recently, Lord Kenbrook’s name was one spoken with extreme pity, his fortune supposedly gone due to a series of bad investments.
But that was of the past, as rumor had it his luck had changed and his wealth had returned with it.
Indeed, that he was here at all suggested as much.
But Dorian wasn’t concerned about the man’s fortunes. The reason he’d thought to invite him had everything to do with those who Lord Kenbrook was so eager to introduce him to. His children.
“This is Nicholas…” Lord Kenbrook turned and waved his son forward.
Twenty-four years of age, Nicholas was taller than his father but far skinnier; all limbs and no strength in his posture.
He had a kind face and simple eyes, a nervous smile, and the tendency to rub at his elbow and fidget with his hands as he spoke.
“And this is Henrietta…” Lord Kenbrook then brought his daughter forward.
She was just nineteen but already a beauty with her flaming red hair and dazzling green eyes like her father, and a sense of confidence that her brother could not match.
And when she looked at Dorian, it was in that same way a tiger might size up its prey before deciding if it was worth the effort.
“Ah, yes, good.” Dorian smiled at Lord Kenbrook’s children. “It is a pleasure to meet you both.”
“Yo – you too, Your Grace,” Nicholas stammered.
“The pleasure is all ours, Your Grace,” Henrietta said, holding her big green eyes on Dorian as she offered a small curtsey. “All mine, for certain.”
“Yes…” Dorian eyed the young woman suspiciously, not at all liking her extreme forwardness. Then he turned his attention to Nicholas, liking even less how damn awkward the boy was.
That is a problem…
He’d known Lord Kenbrook had a son of a similar age to Barbara and had wondered if they might make a decent match.
He was but one of several possible suitors this weekend, but one that Dorian was counting on because with Lord Kenbrook being the known social climber that he was, he would be only too eager to see his son married to the daughter of a duke.
Now, to look at the nervous boy who was all limbs and could not stop fidgeting, he was forced to consider that in this instance he might have missed the mark.
“All looks to be going well,” Lord Kenbrook started. He had an arrogant smirk that seemed permanently fixed on his round face. “A resounding success, Your Grace.”
“Is it true that there is a ball tonight?” Henrietta asked, fluttering her eyelashes as she spoke.
“There is,” Dorian answered her. “The garden party is set to go until sundown, at which point time will be given for my guests to bathe and dress themselves, ready for the ball. It promises to be quite the affair.”
“You have spared no expense,” Lord Kenbrook said. “And I cannot imagine the effort such a weekend took to prepare.”
“Oh…” Dorian could not help but smile. “It was no big thing.”
“And he is modest,” Lord Kenbrook chuckled. “All that is to say, it promises to be a weekend to remember. My son, Nicholas, has not been able to stop speaking of it.” Lord Kenbrook then glared at his son.
“Oh!” Nicholas stepped forward. “Y – yes, Your Grace. I… I have been looking so forward to it.”
“Tell him why, Nicholas.”
Nicholas’ cheeks turned pink and his eyes widened. He looked at his father, who glared back in warning. “I…” Nicholas swallowed. “My father was telling me of your sister, Lady Barbara. I would very much like to meet her.”
“You would?” Dorian frowned.
“Y – yes,” Nicholas stammered. “If that is acceptable with you.”
It was that. And hearing such a thing should have pleased Dorian immensely. How Nicholas had heard of Barbara, and why he was so eager to meet her… that was not his concern for now. This entire weekend was for moments like this one and Dorian would not waste the opportunity.
“How about an introduction?” Dorian said with a welcoming smile. “Lord Kenbrook, would you mind if I borrowed your son?”
“Not at all!” Lord Kenbrook cheered. He then quickly took his daughter by the hand and pulled her back. “Henrietta, let us engage in a game of croquet.”
Henrietta pouted, never taking her eyes from Dorian. “If you insist, Father…”
“So, Nicholas, why don’t you tell me about yourself?” Dorian asked the question as he fell in beside the boy and directed him across the garden to find Barbara.
Where he meant to pay attention, seeing as he needed to know as much about the young man as he could, he soon found his attention drifting… and then focusing on what should have been obvious. Such that he felt like a fool for not realizing it sooner.
Barbara was across the other side of the garden, currently standing with Penelope and two of her sisters.
To see his sister laughing the way she was, being social for a change, should have had him smiling, but his stomach flipped and then sunk because this introduction he planned on making would require him to speak with Penelope for the first time since last evening.
Still, that kiss sat with him. How he hadn’t been able to control himself.
How he had acted after the fact. And how Penelope was likely feeling because of what he had done.
No idea what to say to his wife, no idea what she might want to hear, Dorian had never felt so unsure and confused as he did right now.
He tried to tell himself not to let it bother him.
Right now, his sister was what mattered and he would deal with his feelings for Penelope later.
Easy to say, harder to do, and as he and Nicholas walked the garden together he knew already that he was in for a very long and very awkward weekend indeed.
Perhaps his sister had been right. Perhaps throwing this party was a most foolish endeavor that he should not have bothered with.