Chapter 2
“Iam so glad you are in London for the Season, Joanna. It feels like it’s been ages since I last saw you,” Lady Penelope said to her friend.
“I am happy to be here. Thank you for having me for tea.” Joanna decided not to mention that she wasn’t really attending the Season.
Yes, her family was staying in London for the Season.
Her father would surely see a few friends and acquaintances while attending to matters in the House of Lords.
But her family would likely not receive many visitors or get many invitations.
Her family’s situation was, unfortunately, well known among the ton.
She was grateful that Penelope, her old friend from finishing school, did not care in the slightest about her father’s gambling debts or their financial hardships. She was happy to host Joanna for tea, even though her father, the Earl of Northwick, disapproved of their friendship.
“How’s Aurelia doing? This is her last year at school, is it not?” Penelope asked as she sipped her tea.
Joanna carefully nibbled on a chocolate scone even though she wanted to devour it with hedonistic delight.
All she and her mother had to eat recently was plain bread and stew in an effort to stretch money as far as possible.
This morning, she hadn’t even eaten at all because she knew she was attending tea with Penelope that afternoon.
“Yes, it is. She’s doing well. She and her friends have started an unofficial book club of sorts. On the weekends, they discuss what they read at length.”
The other lady laughed. “It sounds like she’s turning into a bluestocking. How wonderful! Remember when we were the same? Mrs. Avery was so angry when she caught us reading past bedtime.”
Joanna smiled. “I remember that she caught you. I blew my candle out quickly enough.”
Penelope grinned. “I truly was a menace, wasn’t I?”
“Yes, you were.” Joanna laughed. Penelope was always getting in trouble at the finishing school they attended together.
Much to the dismay of their teachers, Penelope liked to wear her hair loose, in messy, wild curls.
On hot days, she would take off her shoes, even in the middle of a lesson, and she only took an interest in the art of conversation so she could learn to savagely insult someone in an elegant manner.
The Headmistress, Mrs. Avery, was happy to see her leave.
“I am sure Aurelia is being a perfect angel, just like you were in school,” Penelope said. “She must be so excited about her upcoming debut.”
Joanna’s stomach tightened with anxiety, and she put down her teacup. “Of course she is. She will be wonderful.” As a daughter of a viscount, Aurelia deserved a proper introduction into society.
Unfortunately, that would be too difficult, considering their financial straits. Most of their money went to settling her father’s gambling debts. Even though he had been banned from most gambling dens in London, there were still a few he frequented, so there was no end in sight to their hardships.
Having a proper Season in London was expensive.
It was even more expensive to provide the necessary dowry, should Aurelia find a suitor willing to marry her.
But perhaps they could still provide her sister with a simple but pretty debut gown, if there was still a jeweled necklace or a pair of silver candlesticks somewhere in the house that could be pawned.
Penelope reached out to place a hand over Joanna’s. “Forgive me,” she said softly. “I didn’t think before I spoke. I did not mean to—”
Joanna smiled and shook her head. “There is nothing to forgive. You are right. Aurelia will be a splendid debutante, and I am sure she’s looking forward to it.”
Before either of them could speak, a footman entered the room. He bowed to the two ladies before holding out a card to Penelope. “A message arrived for you, my lady. Lady Atwood has already taken the liberty of sending a response on your behalf.”
Penelope frowned as she looked at the card. When she read what was written on it, her face went pale. “Oh no,” she whispered.
Joanna leaned forward. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“It’s…” She shook her head and turned to the footman. “When did my mother respond? Perhaps we can stop the messenger.”
“I am afraid they have already left, my lady.”
Penelope sighed. “Thank you.”
The footman bowed and left. As soon as he was gone, the young lady sprang to her feet. “This cannot be happening. How dare my mother respond on my behalf!” She started pacing around the drawing room, wringing her hands.
Joanna looked at the card, which had been abandoned on the table. She picked it up to scan the words. “You are to have tea with the Duke of Blackwell tomorrow?”
Penelope groaned. “It’s a date! I don’t want a date!
They lead to an engagement, which leads to marriage, and I am not ready for marriage!
” A nervous laugh escaped her. “Can you imagine me as a wife and mother? I mean, sure, eventually I shall marry. But why does it have to happen now? Especially to a man like him?”
“What’s wrong with the Duke of Blackwell?” Joanna was perplexed.
“You mean the Duke of Ice? That’s what the gossip columns are calling him these days. The man is terrifying. He is probably not even capable of smiling.”
“Have you ever met him?” Joanna certainly had not had the pleasure-or displeasure-of meeting the man. But after her first and only Season, three years ago, Joanna didn’t spend any time out in society.
“No, I haven’t met him and I don’t want to.
” She shuddered. “He’s a horrid man. It’s rumored that he obliterated a bakery last year because they gave him the wrong sort of scones.
Not to mention all of that unpleasant business with the Baron of Boxton.
He ruined the man for publicly disagreeing with him on the Parliament floor. I cannot do this. I cannot meet him.”
“Calm down, Penelope. Perhaps a solution can be found.”
“You are right, but what could I do?” She turned to Joanna suddenly. There was a wild look in her eye. “Oh, I know! You should meet him!”
After that, Joanna was quite sure that her friend had lost her mind.
She stood up and put her hands on Penelope’s shoulders.
“In case you didn’t notice, that invitation was for you, not me.
A duke would certainly not be interested in the likes of me, and you know this.
Besides, if he’s as horrible as you say, then why would I want to meet him?
” Her family was vulnerable enough without her angering a vindictive duke.
“Can’t you see? You will go there as me! It will be perfect. No one will recognize you because you haven’t been active in society for so long. And you can repulse him.”
Joanna smirked. “You truly flatter me.”
Penelope rolled her eyes. “Obviously, you are lovely and charming when you are being yourself. But this time, you need to pretend to be me, but worse! Make sure he never shows interest in me again. Be nasty and vulgar. Spill tea on him. Or on yourself!”
“I will certainly not spill tea on myself.” She only had so many nice dresses to wear, and she could not afford to be careless like that.
“Please, Joanna. I cannot face him.” Penelope’s eyes were wide and pleading.
“I know my parents want me to marry, but I am not ready for it. Especially not to someone who doesn’t know how to smile.
Just go in my stead. He doesn’t know what I look like, and no one will recognize you.
I will give you some of my old dresses. I-I will even pay for Aurelia’s debut dress. ”
Joanna froze. “Truly?”
“Yes! I promise. I probably would have done it anyway.”
Penelope had been very generous with Joanna ever since news of the viscount’s gambling debts became public.
She gifted her friend with old dresses, jewelry, and other finery.
So Joanna knew she was telling the truth about paying for Aurelia’s debut dress.
With Penelope’s help, Aurelia could look as stunning as all the other debutantes.
Sure, people would still whisper about her behind her back because of their father’s debts, but they would not be able to mock her for her gown.
For at least one night, her sister would not have to feel the weight of their financial hardships.
Not only that, but perhaps she could catch the eye of a potential suitor.
Joanna nodded, determination filling her. “All right. I will do it.”
Penelope smiled with relief. “Thank you, Joanna. I promise you will not regret it.” She pulled her friend into a hug.
Joanna smiled and did her best to focus on how happy Penelope was now, and how Aurelia would look gorgeous in a proper debut ball gown, instead of how she had to go and make a fool of herself in front of the Duke of Ice.
Early in the morning, Joanna watched from the window as a carriage pulled up in front of Clifford Manor, and Penelope got out along with her maid, Lydia.
Joanna greeted them at the door. “Good morning,” she said.
“My parents are still asleep, so we must be quiet.” Clifford Manor no longer employed household staff to gossip about this early morning visit.
They had one gardener and a part-time housekeeper who currently had the day off.
That was all they could afford to keep the house in order.
“I cannot thank you enough for this, Joanna,” Penelope said. “Lydia will help you get ready. I brought some of my old dresses for you. We can get them altered to better fit you later, but at least one of them will do for today.”
The three women hurried up to Joanna’s bedroom, which was quite barren.
Most of the comforts in the house had been sold off, and all that remained was a simple wardrobe, a bed covered with linen bedding, and a small vanity that also served as a writing desk.
Neither Penelope nor Lydia commented on the plainness of the room, luckily.
It had been a long time since Joanna had a personal maid to help her get dressed and do her hair and she was grateful for Lydia’s help.
Lydia was a kind, elderly woman who had practically raised Penelope while constantly doting on her.
She would undoubtedly act as a chaperone during the date with the duke and would not tell the earl or his wife which lady she actually chaperoned during the date.
Lydia helped her into a light green afternoon dress before doing her hair into a beautiful updo and then helping with the powder on her face.
When she was finished, Joanna looked at herself in the mirror and she smiled.
She looked like a proper lady again. Her face and her waist were thinner than she would have liked due to not having enough food, but besides that, she might as well have been staring into the face of her eighteen-year-old self, coming home from finishing school to have her first Season in London.
Before she knew about the mess that her father had gotten their family into.
“You are so beautiful, Joanna,” Penelope said. “I would kill for dark curls like yours.”
Joanna smiled. Her black hair and dark brown eyes only made her pale skin look even paler. The powder covered up the freckles that seemed to dot her nose, no matter how careful she was to stay out of the sun. “You want my hair? Instead of your own golden locks?”
“Absolutely. Your hair and eyes are striking and memorable in a good way. My face and hair make me blend into the ton.”
Joanna doubted that. Penelope was exceptionally pretty, in her opinion. But she appreciated the compliments, which bolstered her courage. She would need as much courage as possible for what she was going to do. “All right,” she said. “I suppose it’s time to break a duke’s heart.”
The date with the Duke of Blackwell was at a tea shop in town. Penelope, Joanna, and Lydia rode in the carriage together. They took the long way around so Joanna would arrive late.
“Remember,” Penelope said. “You need to make a horrible impression.”
“I will do my best,” Joanna said. Normally, her family’s reputation was enough for her to make a horrible impression on people. She wasn’t used to using her own wits for such a purpose.
When they arrived, Penelope stayed in the carriage while Lydia and Joanna got out. Her friend gave her one last encouraging smile before directing the driver to drive around the block.
Joanna squared her shoulders and entered the shop.
There were only a few guests inside. Even though Joanna had never seen the duke before, she knew who he was immediately.
In one corner of the shop sat a stern-looking man with bright blue eyes and black, curly hair.
He scowled at her as they locked eyes, and a shiver ran down her spine.
The man had certainly earned the nickname, the Duke of Ice.