Chapter 24 #2
“I’m sorry,” Verity murmured with a sigh. “My head is bothering me more than I might have anticipated. Perhaps I shall go sit down. Find me in the matron’s corner, will you?”
She left before Elowen could say anything more, knowing conversation would not be fruitful.
Feeling out of sorts, Verity sat in the corner before realizing she needed to still be paying attention.
So she moved to the front row in a corner where she could watch the dancing and the various conversations playing around the large room.
“Well, there weren’t any names mentioned in the London Grey Truth, but I would bet you a shilling or two it’s the Qintby family.”
They were talking about her journal!
Straightening her spine, she turned slightly to the three older ladies sitting further down her row. Curiosity sat heavy in her gut. A few of their faces looked vaguely familiar. She sorted out their names while she listened.
“It’s nothing but a gossip rag,” the one with white hair muttered severely. “I cannot believe anyone would dare to point fingers.”
“But there were no names,” insisted the first.
“I can’t imagine it being the Qintby family. Why, they stand to loose too much should they participate in anything corrupt. There would be too many ladies left should the men go to debtors’ prison.”
The second perked. “Debtor’s prison?”
“This is why you should be reading it! You missed it all just a few weeks ago. You see…”
Verity couldn’t hear anything as someone plopped down noisily into the chair beside her. It was Octavia, limbs flailing and the chair scratching noisily on the ground; her hand caught on Verity’s glove and she felt something sticky there.
“Fancy meeting you here,” her sister said with a cheeky smile.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, I say, dearest sister, I was planning to enjoy a moment of respite with you. And to pull Elowen into the next dance. I found her a partner. But what the devil is wrong with you? You haven’t used that tone since I sneezed on the royal retinue at my first ball.”
Verity slunk lower in her seat. She couldn’t focus, she couldn’t hear, and she couldn’t take care of her sisters. Not like this.
She bowed her head and rubbed it at last, closing her eyes. All she needed was some peace and quiet. There was a storm whirling through her that she couldn’t focus on. “I’m fine. I’m simply… Tired.”
The chair on her other side shifted as her other sister took a seat and offered a lukewarm glass of lemonade. “It’s not very good, I’m afraid. It’s already being watered down. Perhaps they expect it to be crowded this evening?”
A crash sounded. Laughter and shouts followed. Intermingled in it was a familiar voice that had Verity pursing her lips. “Or,” she muttered as she stood, “They expect it to end early.”
“Do you think they would?” Octavia added with interest.
It only took a moment for Verity to locate their brother. He was being helped back onto his feet. Red in the face with a sheepish grin, he could barely stand on his own––whether it was from a punch or his drink, she couldn’t tell.
“It doesn’t matter. We’re not going to be permitted to stay after this,” she muttered with a scowl. “You get one dance, girls, and then we’re leaving.”
“Already?”
“We don’t want to upset anyone,” Elowen murmured. She nodded to a nearby server who took the drinks from her. “It’s probably for the best.”
They separated. Leaving her sisters behind, Verity managed to make her way through the crowd. It hadn’t been more than fifteen minutes but there was Lucien making a mess of everything. He’d banged his head in a fall, some sort of bet that his friends weren’t willing to explain.
“He didn’t even win,” one of them teased Lucien.
“I could do it again, I just need a minute,” he groused.
Verity slipped her hands around one arm to keep him grounded. “That is hardly a good idea.”
“Why? Do you want to dance with me?”
She narrowed her eyes at his slurred speech. “Lucien, how hard did you hit your head? We’re leaving now. And I’m calling a physician.”
“You don’t even live with us.”
“And yet I remain your sister.”
“Baby sister.”
“Hardly. Make way,” she told his friends who were still having a grand old time. “And I’d suggest you all scatter. Lady Pentaghast is on her way over.”
Muffled groans and gasps overlapped. “Not Pentaghast!”
“She smells like dirt.”
“If she tells my mother I was a part of this…”
“Let’s go!”
“Wait,” Lucien called trying to follow after them. It wasn’t hard to give him a quick tug and lead him back in her desired direction. “Where are they going? I need to get back to them. We were going to go gambling.”
Shaking her head, Verity reached the exit. Her sisters were dancing. Although she hadn’t actually expected them to follow her suggestion, she couldn’t fault them. Especially Elowen, who often hid against the walls instead of accepting suitors.
They’ll have a moment while our carriage comes around. I can give them that much.
“Verity? Are you coming home with us?” Lucien asked her.
There wasn’t anyone watching them take an early leave for the evening. Why should they? She had hardly talked to anyone. All she had done was listen, and she hadn’t even heard that much. Trying not to scowl at how the evening had fallen apart, she tried to focus on the conversation at hand.
“I don’t have a choice. We all rode together, remember?” She pointed out.
He waved his hands in the air, knocking one of her pins loose in the motion. “You’re so grumpy. Grumpy little Verity. I didn’t do anything this time.”
“You’ve hit your head,” she pointed out. “If you die, I’m going to be very upset with you.”
“Me? Never,” he said with a smirk. “I’m immortal. I can’t die.”
“We can all die. We can all…” As a lump formed in her throat, she shook her head. “Just quiet down and take your hat. I want to get you home and then get back to my home.”
Lucien grumbled all the way home about her moodiness.
She let him, and then gave instructions for a physician to be called just in case his big head had taken a real injury.
Although her sisters weren’t thrilled about staying up with him after the evening’s plans were cancelled, they were willing to take care of their elder brother.
“I wish Cassian would help,” Octavia muttered under her breath.
They had already confirmed he wasn’t at home, which Verity was further annoyed at. She had many choice words for her eldest brother. There was so much she wanted to ask, to demand from him.
But her head was pounding and the tension radiating through her limbs would get her nowhere for the evening.
“Cassian should return by the morning. Call for me if he isn’t, please,” Verity murmured. “Good night.”
“Good night,” Elowen responded.
It was an uncomfortable ride back home. Verity slouched in the carriage, watching the lanterns that she passed by, and kept her breathing as even as possible through the aching of her head.
She was glad to see there was a footman at the door when she finally returned.
“Can you have an herbal tea prepared?” She asked him quietly. “Willow bark, with some peppermint. Have it sent to my rooms.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” He took her cloak and took it down the hall with him.
Sighing, Verity found herself alone. She had a candle in one hand to lead her back to her chamber. At least it was mostly dark. Too much light irritated her eyes. Resisting the urge to yawn, she forced herself forward.
The stairs came into view just as she found someone standing there.
“Oh.” Moving a step back, she looked up. “Dominic.”
“No one expected you to return so soon from your chaperone duties. I heard you mention willow bark tea. Are you unwell?”
“I’m fine, I only…” Her gaze shifted downward where he held something in his hand. Recognizing the type of her own journal, she stiffened.
What is he doing with that?
He moved down a step, the movement jolting her from her thoughts. The wince she made didn’t go unnoticed. “What is wrong?”
“A megrim, that is all. I should be better by morning. It was a complicated sort of evening at Almack’s, I’m afraid, so we decided it was best to retire early. As for you… What entertains you this evening? A gossip journal? What are you doing with it?”
Slowly picking it up, he studied it thoughtfully before turning to look at her. “That is a very good question. I suppose I should find a proper answer to it.”
The comment made little sense to her. She tilted her head, her brow furrowing with confusion. “Is something amiss?”
“You’re full of questions this evening.” Dominic looked her over carefully. It was difficult to understand any of his thoughts. Just as she was thinking about asking the question again, he said, “We will simply have to wait and see. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“I… I suppose so.”
This conversation was too complicated for Verity to make sense of with the throbbing pain in her skull. Quietly excusing herself, she stepped up around her husband to make her way into her bed chambers.
At last, Verity was alone. She hadn’t been alone all day. There hadn’t been time to savor the success of her journal or consider all that she had been hearing. Pulling out her small notebook, Verity forced herself to make a few notes from the evening and then tossed the paper aside.
“Your Grace, are you ready to retire?” Her maid arrived.
“More than ready,” Verity groaned.
She could stand tall and fight tomorrow. But for now, she had done enough. The mysteries could wait for another day so long as she could obtain some rest.