Chapter 4
Mia was thoroughly enjoying the Carter soiree.
There were so many interesting people to talk to, and when she saw Lord Berkeley walk into the drawing room earlier, she’d felt so much better.
He was a friendly face she could be herself around.
He didn’t seem to care if she talked too much or laughed too loudly.
In her mind, he was the pinnacle of fun.
During the nearly two years they’d been acquainted, she’d learned she could count on him to entertain her with his childhood stories.
She loved a good laugh, and he was quite witty in the retelling.
Most men wouldn’t be so willing to retell a story, even a childhood one, where they looked the fool, but not Lord Berkeley. He seemed to relish it.
“Is that really true?” she whispered to him.
He let loose a dramatic sigh. “Absolutely. As much as I’d like to embellish the story to make myself out to be the hero, the sad truth is that I was out walking when I stumbled over a trap holding the rabbit’s foot, and somehow, it released.
The poor little thing didn’t waste any time scampering off into the forest while I lay on the ground with a mouthful of dirt. ”
Mia couldn’t contain her giggles. The very image of Lord Berkeley on the ground spitting out dirt was too delicious. “You must stop. You’re going to get me in trouble.”
“My dear lady, that’s the last thing I would ever want to do,” he said with a cheeky grin. “Now pay attention. Your sister is about to sing,” he said in a mock reprimand.
She had to look away from Lord Berkeley to stop herself from picturing him on the ground, probably cursing the groundskeeper who’d set the trap. She took a deep breath and adjusted her skirts before glancing at Lord Easton. He wore a frown, and she wondered what had annoyed him.
“Lord Easton, is something amiss?” she whispered as her sister walked to the pianoforte.
“Nothing is amiss,” he said, smoothing his face. “I’m looking forward to hearing Lady Fletcher sing this evening.”
Mia thought that an odd explanation for the frown he wore, but she didn’t comment on it.
Why was Lord Easton frowning if he was looking forward to hearing Audrey sing?
That didn’t make sense to her. Had something happened since she saw him earlier?
She let that thought slip away and turned her attention to Audrey.
Her sister had the most beautiful voice she’d ever heard.
In her short time on the marriage mart two years ago, Audrey had become a favorite among the hostesses who’d heard her perform at a few events hosted by Lady Devon, but she hadn’t had much opportunity to enjoy their friendship.
Audrey had only attended a handful of events before she and Fletcher wed, and they’d all spent the last year at Dandridge Manor, caring for baby William.
Both Audrey and Fletcher had thought it would be better for the child’s well-being to stay in the country and away from the grimy air in London.
Mia agreed that the country was better for the baby, but it wasn’t better for her. She wasn’t as enamored with country living as her two older sisters seemed to be, and when Fletcher agreed to sponsor a Season for her, she was beside herself with joy.
Even though she grew up in London and was the daughter of a baron, her father had either gambled or drunk away most of their coin.
There’d been no money for any kind of entertainment.
Growing up in London hadn’t been very pleasant, but now everything was different.
She was out in Society and determined to enjoy everything she could.
Mia snuck a look at Lord Easton once more while he was engrossed in listening to Audrey sing, and then she glanced at Lord Berkeley.
Both men were deliciously handsome in exactly opposite ways—Berkeley with his black hair and soulful brown eyes, and Easton with his blond hair and startling blue eyes.
How lucky was she to be seated between the two most handsome men in the room?
Did she prefer one over the other? Not really.
She enjoyed both of them. Lord Berkeley was wildly entertaining with his stories, but Lord Easton was more mysterious, with a more serious demeanor that made her wonder what he was thinking about.
When Audrey finished singing, Mia leaned over to Lord Easton. “Did you enjoy that, my lord?”
“I did indeed. Your sister has no rival in her singing ability. Did you not enjoy it?”
She nodded. “Of course. It was wonderful, but it’s just…umm…I’ve heard her sing my entire life, so I’m kind of used to it. Of course, I certainly mean no disrespect to my sister. She’s truly talented, and I adore her. Does that make sense?”
“It does. Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate what is right in front of us.”
“Exactly.”
“Would you care to accompany me to the refreshment table?”
“Yes. I’m parched,” Mia said, standing and smoothing down her skirts. She turned to Lord Berkeley. “Please excuse me for a moment, my lord.”
Lord Berkeley nodded and walked away to chat with some of the other guests.
Mia looked for her sister to see if she’d like a glass, but she’d been waylaid by Lady Carter, who was introducing Audrey to some other guests.
Lord Easton held out his arm. She placed her fingertips on his sleeve and got an immediate jolt that seemed to travel up her arm and down her spine in the most delicious way. She’d never felt anything like it before.
What was that?
She looked at him to see if he’d felt it as well, but he was looking straight ahead. It was probably nothing, although it did make her want to spend more time in his company to see if it would happen again.
“I’m ever so glad you decided to attend tonight,” Mia said as they walked to the refreshment table, where Easton procured two glasses of lemonade and handed one to her.
“Really? You seemed quite enthralled with Berkeley when I arrived.”
“Enthralled with Lord Berkeley?”
Before Mia had a chance to clarify that he was merely a friend who told funny stories, Lady Devon came over to the refreshment table.
“Easton, I’m glad to see you this evening. I wasn’t sure you would attend.”
“Mother, you’re looking well,” he said, kissing her cheek.
“Miss Parker, you look lovely this evening,” Lady Devon said.
Mia curtseyed. “Thank you, Lady Devon.”
“Easton, may I steal you away for a moment? There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
“Of course. Miss Parker, if you’ll excuse me?” Easton said.
Mia curtseyed. “Lord Easton, Lady Devon.” She watched the handsome lord walk away with his mother.
When he’d come to Dandridge Manor when she was younger, she’d never really paid much attention to him.
He was merely the brother of Lady Kathryn.
Now that she was older and in London for the Season, she had to admit that Lord Easton was one of the most handsome men she’d ever met.
She thought Lord Berkeley was handsome as well, but there was something about Easton that drew her to him.
She wondered who Lady Devon was introducing him to and looked around the drawing room before spotting Lady Victoria.
When this year’s debutantes had been presented to the queen, Mia noticed that the queen’s gaze had lingered on Lady Victoria a lot longer than anyone else before she said, “Lovely, my dear.” It was the first time the queen had spoken to anyone.
Mia had been terrified when it was her turn to be presented to the queen.
Would the queen remark on her appearance?
Unfortunately, she merely nodded at her.
Mia had been disappointed not to receive any comment, but most of the other young women hadn’t gotten a compliment either.
What was it about Lady Victoria that had captivated the queen?
Granted, Lady Victoria was quite beautiful and had an innate grace about her.
Something that Mia knew she was lacking.
The two young women were opposite in coloring—Lady Victoria’s raven-black hair to Mia’s blond, her forest-green eyes to Mia’s cornflower-blue. Lady Victoria was also the epitome of style and grace, while Mia was the exact opposite—impulsive, with an ever-eager laugh she wasn’t afraid to release.
After Mia was presented to the queen, she and her sister moved to the outer room, where Lady Victoria and her mother were also waiting for their carriage.
Mia curtseyed to the young woman. “Lady Victoria, I wanted to compliment you on your dress. It’s quite lovely,” she said.
The young woman turned around. “Thank you. I do apologize; I did not catch your name earlier.”
“Miss Parker,” Mia said. “I’m very pleased to meet you.” She turned to Audrey. “May I present my sister, Lady Fletcher?”
Audrey curtseyed. “Pleased to meet you, Lady Victoria.”
“I’m pleased to meet you both.” Lady Victoria looked at her mother. “Lady Wright, may I present Lady Fletcher and her sister, Miss Parker?”
Both Parker sisters curtseyed. “Lady Wright, pleased to meet you,” Audrey said.
Lady Wright smiled. “Lovely to meet you both.”
“Miss Parker. I do hope we can be friends,” Lady Victoria said. “Being out in Society can be terrifying without a friend to confide in.”
“I would love that as well.”
Lady Victoria turned to her mother. “Mama, can you send a note to Lady Fletcher about our next engagement? I would be most pleased if we could meet them there.”
“Of course. I would be happy to.” Lady Wright turned to Audrey. “I know my daughter has been quite anxious about the Season.”
Audrey nodded. “My sister has voiced the same concerns.”
“I hope to see you soon, Miss Parker,” Lady Victoria said.
“As do I,” Mia agreed.
“Come, my dear, I see our carriage is pulling up,” Lady Wright said. “Good day, Lady Fletcher, Miss Parker.”
There was no chance for any further conversation. The Wright family carriage pulled up to the door, the ladies departed, and the footman handed up mother and daughter into the carriage.
That had been a week ago, and Audrey had received a note from Lady Victoria that they would be attending the Carter soiree this evening. When Mia first arrived, she hadn’t seen Lady Victoria or Lady Wright, but they arrived moments later.
When they walked into the room, Lady Victoria saw Mia first and hurried over to her. “Miss Parker, I’m so very pleased to see you.”
Mia curtseyed. “I’m pleased to see you again as well.”
“I’m looking forward to hearing your sister sing. My mother tells me she has the voice of an angel.”
“That’s very kind of her to say. You’ll be able to judge for yourself soon.”
Now, as she watched Easton chatting with Lady Victoria, it gave her pause. The brilliant smile Lady Victoria gave him at their introduction soured her stomach, and she placed her glass of lemonade on a passing footman’s tray.
Wait? Why should she be upset if Lord Easton liked talking with Lady Victoria?
Lady Victoria was her new friend, whom she liked very much, and she wanted to see her enjoy the Season. She was surprised that she didn’t like seeing Lord Easton appear so enamored with her.
It really shouldn’t matter. After all, she merely thought of Lord Easton as a friend, didn’t she?
Easton was reluctant to leave his present company, but he bowed to Miss Parker and followed his mother to the other side of the room, where she introduced him to Lady Wright and her daughter, Lady Victoria.
He’d been loath to leave Miss Parker, but if he wanted to keep his mother from making any more assumptions about his feelings for the young lady, he had to follow her to the other side of the room.
“Lady Wright, Lady Victoria, may I make known to you my son, Lord Easton?” Lady Devon said.
He wondered what was behind the sudden introduction, as he knew his mother was an acquaintance of Lady Wright, but certainly not a close friend, and he hadn’t seen the two women interact with each other in years.
He bowed. “Pleasure to meet you both.”
“Lord Easton, lovely to formally meet you,” Lady Wright said. “The last time I saw you, you were a great deal smaller.”
He chuckled. “Boys do have a tendency to grow, my lady.”
Lady Victoria curtseyed, giving him a radiant smile. “Lord Easton, good evening.”
“Are you enjoying the soiree?” Easton asked her.
“Yes, most especially Lady Fletcher’s singing. My mother was correct; she has the voice of an angel,” Lady Victoria said.
“I couldn’t agree more. Every time I hear her sing, it takes my breath away.”
“Lord Easton, will we be seeing you at the Gardner ball Saturday next?” Lady Wright asked. “Lady Gardner always holds enjoyable evenings.”
“Of course he’ll be there. My son would never disappoint his friend by not attending,” Lady Devon chimed in.
He arched an eyebrow when his mother committed him to attending, even though she was correct.
It wasn’t very often that Chandler’s parents hosted a ball, so it was important that he attend.
He’d never knowingly disappoint his friend.
Now he felt compelled to ask, “Lady Victoria, may I have the pleasure of claiming one of your dances at the ball?”
“I’d be delighted, Lord Easton,” Lady Victoria said.
“Thank you, my lady. I look forward to seeing you then.”
After another few moments of small talk, Easton bowed to the women and took his leave. Lady Wright and her daughter were amiable, and he had to admit Lady Victoria was a beautiful young woman who was quite pleasant to talk with.
Maybe it was time to switch his attention to someone other than Miss Parker. Someone who might one day see him as more than a friend.