Chapter 26 #4
“I congratulate you, Lady Westcliff. Everything looks beautiful,” Lady Samantha replied, unable to conceal her envy.
“My dear, I hope that one day you will have a home of your own and be able to host a ball like this. I am sure you would make an excellent hostess.”
Lilian took great satisfaction in seeing her long-time rival consumed with envy, but, determined to add still further to Lady Samantha’s discomfort, she continued, “I am particularly pleased that Eleanor and her new husband, General Sinclair, were able to attend this evening. This will be their first appearance in society as husband and wife.”
Lady Samantha was utterly humiliated and remained silent as her family stepped forward to greet the Sinclairs.
When most of the guests had arrived, and before the first set began, the marchioness de la Pena entered the ballroom. Dona María made a triumphant entrance, and all those present admired her graceful bearing and the elegance of her gown and jewels.
Caroline, who had recently become a close friend of Lady Westcliff, remarked to her hostess, “The marchioness is undoubtedly a most distinguished lady.”
“Yes, my dear Caroline. That diamond necklace she is wearing must be worth a fortune. Moreover, only a few days ago, I heard that His Majesty had invited her to the palace to officially welcome her to England. You cannot imagine how fortunate I feel to count such a distinguished and important lady among my personal friends,” Lilian said proudly.
“And an immensely wealthy one as well,” Caroline added, and the two ladies laughed together.
Dona María Alta Gracia had come to the ball with a definite purpose.
She knew that one of her grandson’s most important clients was Eleanor Sinclair, and she also knew that Lady Westcliff and Eleanor were related.
She therefore wished to befriend Eleanor in the hope of discovering whether she possessed any information about Mateo.
At the same time, she was determined to proceed with the utmost discretion, lest anyone notice her unusual interest in Mr Andrews de la Garza and warn him.
All the guests had assembled in the ballroom, and the first set would begin shortly. Dona María took advantage of those few moments to converse with her hostess.
“Allow me to congratulate you, Lady Westcliff. Everything looks magnificent.”
“Thank you very much, my lady. It is an honour to receive you in my home.”
Lilian then introduced the marchioness to several of the guests.
Caroline remained at her side and could scarcely believe her good fortune when the marchioness addressed a question to her.
“My dear Miss, if you would be so kind, could you tell me who those people are?” asked Dona María.
Caroline was delighted to be of assistance to the marchioness. She already imagined herself becoming intimate friends with the elegant lady, travelling in her company, and visiting the greatest courts throughout Europe.
The marchioness knew that Eleanor had married a distinguished general and suspected that the lady standing beside the officer in uniform must be her.
As for the young lady who had remained constantly at her side, she struck Dona María as the sort of social climber who would stop at nothing to ingratiate herself with a woman of higher rank.
It was the fawning and forced agreeableness that Dona María found so tiresome because it was so obviously artificial.
Those sorts of people never had an original idea or, if they did, they changed it for her benefit.
How could you learn anything from someone like that?
She could tell that Caroline would not bother to use such obsequious tones of address with her servants or anyone of a lesser social status than herself.
Miss Bingley was the type who was only kind when she felt such behaviour might win a beneficial alliance.
The worst part was when those such as Caroline assumed that others of her rank shared a similar condescending attitude.
The best revenge for this was watching them squirm and try to quickly reframe their remarks after hearing the marchioness disagree and suggest that, perhaps, such remarks were unfair or unkind.
But, by then, the marchioness knew exactly what type of person she was dealing with and was no longer concerned with their opinion on anything.
“That is Lady Campbell, although she married the general, so I suppose she is now Mrs Sinclair. The young lady beside her is a poor relation whom she has taken under her protection. Lady Campbell is a very good woman.”
“My love, your aunt is with your sister and the general. Let us go and greet them before the ball begins. This evening, you must at least dance the first set and the supper set with your handsome husband,” said Matthew.
Jane could not take her eyes off her husband. She was so happy that she wished everyone might be as happy as she was.
“Of course, my love. If I could, I should dance every set with you. But Uncle Marcus and Colonel Campbell have both asked me to dance with them, so my handsome husband will have to dance with my Aunt Eleanor and my sister.”
“It will be my pleasure to dance with Aunt Eleanor and Mary,” Matthew replied.