Chapter 5
If there was one thing Meredith truly loved, it was an English garden at dusk.
The Duke of Tiverton’s townhouse gardens were exceptionally beautiful.
Rather than a perfectly curated series of hedgerows, he had gravel pathways that meandered in gentle curves around the space between his house and the garden wall that overlooked the townhouse behind them.
There was a wildness to the roses and creeping vines that fringed the back of the house.
The garden shed shielded by ivy in the far corner made if feel as if the land had been forgotten under some fairy’s spell.
Yet the pots of flowers that sat atop pedestals were filled to the brim with a curated perfection of beautiful blooms that restored a semblance of order to the scene.
The blend of colors caught her eyes, and everything attracted bees and butterflies which filled the garden with a teeming sense of life in gentle motion.
With the sun setting just behind the horizon of the skyline, the world had turned the sky a lilac color and the clouds were striated with pink light as the final beams of light cut across the heavens.
I could spend my entire life in this garden, she realized with a contented sigh.
Meredith lifted the skirts of her white muslin gown and carefully stepped over a patch of peonies so that she could leave the gravel path and walk on the dew-covered grass.
There was a small little heart-shaped hole in the back garden wall that had caught her attention, and she was determined to get a better look at it.
Whoever had built the wall had created a sort of window in a lovely pattern to let someone peer between Darius’s garden and the garden of the house behind his.
She couldn’t deny she was a bit curious as she approached the wall.
To see over the top, she’d need to stand upon a bench and then perhaps a box or a crate before she would be able to peer over the other side, but with the advantage of the little window, she could see part of the other garden.
When she reached the window within the stone wall, she peeked through, taking in the wild, clearly uncared for garden of the other house.
She stared at the garden a moment longer before a movement caught her attention.
A woman was rolling in an invalid chair down the path and it seemed she was headed toward where Meredith stood.
The woman was blond-haired and in her middling years.
Meredith could tell the woman had once been exquisitely beautiful, but there seemed to be a cloak of illness around her now that had withered away the vigor and loveliness of the woman’s features.
The lady rolled to a stop and glanced around with a sigh.
Her gaze flitted past Meredith and then she jerked back and gasped, her face paling.
“Good morning,” Meredith called out shyly. “I didn’t meant to startle you.”
The woman smiled a little, the expression weary as she relaxed. “It’s all right.” She turned her chair toward Meredith to face her fully and wheeled closer.
“I’m Meredith Montague, the ward of the Duke of Tiverton,” Meredith introduced herself, feeling rather silly talking through the window of a stone wall.
“I’m Minerva Crell,” the woman said. She adjusted her blanket over her lap.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Meredith replied.
Minerva’s eyes held a hint of shadows as she nodded. “Yes…it is nice to meet you as well. It feels as though it’s been ages since I’ve talked to anyone but my servants or husband.”
“Would you like to come over for tea?” Meredith offered. She hoped Minerva would agree. The sadness that radiated off her was so strong that Meredith wanted to comfort the woman in any way she could.
“Not today, I am too tired, but soon perhaps. I would like that very much, if my husband allows it.” Minerva sighed and she pulled her shawl tighter about her shoulders, wincing slightly as though she was in pain.
“Are you all right?” Meredith asked in concern.
“What? Oh…yes…I just am rather clumsy. Always bruising myself…” She looked away and then cleared her throat as she met Meredith’s gaze again.
“I would very much like to visit with you over tea…” she seemed to be repeating herself as though she’d possibly said this to other people who wished to see her.
It struck Meredith as odd, and it worried her a little but she didn’t wish to pry into her neighbor’s life.
“I understand. Please let me know whenever you feel up to it, I’ve only recently moved to London and would very much like to know my neighbors.” She meant it too. If she could give this woman some companionship, she would be glad to do it.
Minerva’s slender hands plucked at the blanket on her lap.
“It is a pity that we will be moving to the country soon. My husband believes it will be good for my health. I admit, I love the country, but I fear I will feel even more isolated than I do now.” Once again she winced as she moved and a frisson of concern shot through Meredith.
“When will you be leaving?” She didn’t like the idea of this poor woman living out in the country when it was clear she was so lonely.
“We have not yet determined the date of our departure, but my husband has just found a house for us and is hiring staff this week.”
“Please be sure to let me know before you depart, I would like to make sure you come over at least once for tea.”
The other woman chuckled. “You won’t have to convince me, dear. I’ve see that handsome duke of yours, and it would be pleasant so share tea with him.”
“Oh, he’s not my duke…” Meredith blushed and glanced back at Darius’s house.
“Oh?” Minerva’s brows rose.
“He’s my guardian…his uncle who recently passed asked him to help me come out in society and find a husband.”
“I see. I wish I could help you there. I haven’t been out in society for over fifteen years. I daresay no one would even remember me.” Minerva’s loneliness was so clear in her voice.
“All the more reason for you to join me for tea soon. I could introduce you to people as I meet them.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“Miss Montague!” Nell’s voice called across the gardens as the maid showed up on the terrace. “You must come in now!”
“I’m so sorry, I am being summoned,” Meredith said.
“Not to worry, dear. It was lovely to have met you.” Minerva waved a frail hand at her before Meredith left her small peek hole and walked back toward Darius’s home.
* * *
An hour later, Meredith climbed out of the bath in her dressing room and accepted the towel from Nell.
The maid grinned at her. “I have your new gown laid out, miss. You’ll look splendid tonight.”
“I’m glad you think so. I am too nervous to even think about it.
” Darius had mentioned that His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, would be attending the ball this evening, and Darius had planned to introduce her to him.
As she had missed her chance to debut in the spring when she would have been presented officially in court, she was now to receive the Prince’s approval, something that they hoped would set her up for the rest of the season.
Meredith finished drying and Nell helped her into her chemise and stays.
The ball gown was one that the dressmaker had rushed to prepare for this evening.
It was a pale blue, the color of a frosted lake.
Beneath the top skirt was a layer of cream petticoats with spring flowers embroidered on the hem, and when she lifted her skirts, the petticoats would peek through, revealing the secret garden along the bottom.
Her short sleeves and bodice had creeping vines trailing along them, with budding blooms in soft blushes of pink and peach.
Unlike most ball gowns designed to be stunningly intricate in decoration, it was sedate in its embellishments, but it was light to wear and therefore perfect for dancing.
Nell tied a cream-colored sash around Meredith’s waist into a bow at the back, which accented her hips in a way that made Meredith feel very aware of herself as a woman.
Nell styled her hair in the latest fashion, letting loose curls bounce down against the back of Meredith’s neck while the rest of her hair was pulled up with pink ribbons.
It was far more fuss than she had ever been accustomed to.
Then the maid brought over a black velvet box and opened it for Meredith.
“His Grace brought this to your room while you were bathing.”
A delicate necklace with brilliant clusters of diamonds sparkled against the black velvet. Matching girandole style earrings perched neatly above the necklace on the cushions of the jewel box.
Meredith gasped, her eyes widening. “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly wear these.”
“You must. They belonged to the late duchess. She was a fine lady, or so Mr. Chelsea says. It would be an insult to not wear them if the duke wishes you to.”
Meredith sighed. “Yes, you’re quite right.” The last thing she wanted was to hurt Darius after he’d treated her so wonderfully. The jewels were the most lovely thing she’d ever seen. She simply didn’t feel worthy of them.
“Shall I put them on, miss?”
“Thank you, Nell.” She seated herself at the vanity table, facing the mirror.
A deep voice intruded from the doorway. “Allow me.”
Meredith turned to see Darius leaning against the doorjamb, partially silhouetted by the lamps in the corridor. It was like staring at a darkly attractive god of the underworld as he waited to pull her into his sinful realm.
How was it that Darius could fill her head with such fanciful ideas?
“You may leave us, Nell,” Darius said. Nell bobbed a curtsy and left.
“Darius,” Meredith said his name both in warning and with longing.
“Meredith, you look almost perfect this evening.”
“Almost? I—” She whirled back to face the mirror, searching for any imperfection, and that was when she saw Darius had come to stand directly behind her. His mouth slid into a teasing grin as he met her gaze in the mirror.