Two years later
Laura craned her neck out of the carriage window. She counted seven carriages ahead of theirs. In a few more minutes she would have news about Anthony.
“Did you hear from the Duke of Wimberley?” Lady Maria Daventon asked her husband. “Is he coming to London?”
“I received a letter from him two months ago. He didn’t say anything about coming to London. Lady Malloy will know. She’s his aunt.”
Much to Laura’s chagrin, Anthony and her brother didn’t write frequently to each other. During the last two years, Gareth had exchanged not above five letters with his friend.
Laura tapped her foot impatiently. The carriage was taking forever. “You are eager to start the Season,” Lady Catherine remarked.
“I am. It will make a nice change. We have been prodigiously dull. First Gareth and Maria were away for six months. As soon as they returned, Lord Russel dragged away Aunt Nell on an extensive tour.”
“I hope Helena cuts short her travels and joins us,” Lady Catherine said.
Lady Maria nodded. “I miss Aunt Nell, too. But I’m happy she is enjoying her travels. Her letters from the Lake District are filled with such detail and pleasure in her surroundings.”
“We’re here,” Gareth announced.
***
“Lady Laura! I missed you last Season!” Lady Harriet cried, meeting her with outstretched hands.
“You are in good looks. The peach gown becomes you well,” Laura said.
“I’m in my fourth Season. Mother has finally let me pick my own clothes – within reason. Have you met Lady Janet? She’s Mrs. Earl now. It’s a love match. You should have seen them last Season. They kept looking at each other and sighing. It was droll.”
“Lady Emsworth has a daughter, I hear.”
“She doesn’t seem happy. Neither does his lordship. Here she comes!”
“Lady Laura! How pretty you look! What a beautiful gown! It won’t do for a married lady, though.”
Priscilla, Lady Emsworth, was dressed in a blue silk gown with a bodice that clung to her and was shockingly low.
“How have you been? I thought I might not see you this Season,” Laura said.
“Pray why not?” Priscilla demanded and narrowed her eyes. “Has Emsworth been moaning about the baby? He wanted us to stay in the country. I despaired of talking sense into him. Thankfully, his mother, the duchess, told him he was being daft. There was no need for us to stay when there was a wet nurse in the employ, and other staff.”
“How is the duke?” Laura asked, changing the topic.
Lady Priscilla grimaced. “He’s tough and in no hurry to pass on the title.”
Laura mumbled something inaudible and Priscilla sailed away, leaving a whiff of perfume behind.
“Lord Newington and Mr. Bennett have come in,” Lady Harriet said.
“Together?”
“Why ever not?”
“They were always glaring at each other. I expected them to come to blows any moment.”
“That was two years ago. They were vying for Lovely Laura!”
“Please lower your voice! Someone may hear you and the nonsensical thing will start again.”
“What’s wrong with being called Lovely Laura?”
“And being compared to Flora?”
Harriet laughed and twisted around to see if she could spot more friends. It wasn’t an easy task as the hall had filled up. “I hear the Duke of Wimberley is expected to make an appearance.”
“Is he in London?”
“Lady Malloy told us he arrived this afternoon.”
“In that case, we may be assured of his presence,” Laura said, hiding her excitement.
“Lady Selena plans to waylay him as soon as he enters. What other reason can she have for standing beside the pillar and gazing up at it? It isn’t anything out of the ordinary.”
“She could be waiting for someone else.”
“At Lady Malloy’s ball? It is unlikely. My brother told me they are laying bets at his club that she will have him this Season. She is more determined than ever after the émigré count gave her the slip and sailed away to America.”
Laura let her friend prattle on about the latest on dits. Lady Harriet had a droll way about her. She liked to gossip but wasn’t malicious. Laura usually enjoyed listening to her. Now her attention was on the names being announced. Was he coming? She thought she would keep a dance free but didn’t know how to refuse. Before long her dance card was full. If Anthony came and sought to partner her, she would have to turn him down.
Laura’s lips curved into a smile when she saw her sister-in-law. Lady Daventon was coming towards them was a bunch of debutantes who looked lost. “Laura dear, I want you to make the acquaintance of these charming young women,” she said.
The young women were looking at her with adoring eyes. Laura guessed Maria had rescued them from Lady Goodall or someone of her ilk.
Laura danced the first set with Lord Southall. He had paid her marked attention during her brother’s wedding. Now he had singled her out for the first dance. He was a good dancer and kept up a witty conversation.
Mr. Bennett claimed her for the second dance. “You needn’t fear to stand close to me, Lady Laura!” he said with an impish grin. “I’ve got rid of all those bottles of scent!”
Laura thought he had got rid of much more than the perfumes. He looked rather handsome. Taller, broader, and impeccably dressed, he was a vast improvement.
“What made you drop the habit, my lord?”
“Last year I escorted a young lady to a musicale. It was a select affair and I’d gone to a great deal of trouble to wangle an invitation. I wanted to impress her. After we seated ourselves, the lady started sneezing. She wouldn’t, or couldn’t stop.”
“You mean your perfume started the sneezing fit? I am fortunate it only gave me headaches.”
“You must allow me to make amends. May I call on you tomorrow afternoon? We can go to Hyde Park.”
Laura’s next partner was Lord Newington. To Laura’s surprise, he didn’t start a monologue about his hobbies or his sisters. Like Mr. Bennett, he had acquired a sense of fashion or possibly a change of valet. He was easily among the best looking men in the ballroom.
“Shall I fetch you something to drink before the dance, Lady Laura?” he asked.
“Some lemonade, please,” Laura said, sitting down on a curved sofa in an alcove. She spread her skirts evenly and folded her hands in her lap. Anthony hadn’t come! She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Did I conjure you up?”
Laura opened her eyes. The Duke of Wimberley stood looking down at her.
“Your Grace! I didn’t hear you announced. When did you arrive?” Laura asked, and blushed. Now he would know she had been waiting for him.
“I sneaked in through a side door. I meant to spend an hour hiding in the card room before my aunt discovered me.”
Laura felt a wave of disappointment. He hadn’t bothered to look if she was there.
“I was thinking of you, I mean, you and Gareth and Lady Daventon, wondering whether you were in London.”
“I was thinking of you, too,” Laura confessed, feeling shy. “I mean to say, I was remembering my first ball in London. It was here, in this house. I met many people for the first time. I saw you, too.”
The duke gave an enigmatic smile. Laura didn’t know what to make of it. She wished he would go. She didn’t want him standing there when he wanted to escape into the card room! She had waited for months to see him again. She had thought he held her in affection. She had hoped that affection would turn to love.
He didn’t care at all. The magic of their waltz hadn’t touched him. Her heart plummeted. How was she going to bear the Season if the mere sight of him unsettled her? She wished he would leave her. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to keep a polite smile on her face for much longer.
Fortunately, Lord Newington arrived, bearing lemonade. Laura accepted it from him.
“Your Grace,” Lord Newington said, making an elegant leg.
Laura took a decorous sip and looked at them. How had she thought Newington handsome? He and Mr. Bennett and every other gentleman was cast in the shade by Anthony.
The next set was announced. Anthony left and Laura took Lord Newington’s arm. She danced it and the sets that followed with resolute enjoyment.
When she went to bed, she wondered whether Anthony would resume his earlier practice of visiting with Gareth. And if he did, would it be wise for her to join them.