By the time they got to the Wimbornes’, they were back in charity with one another and, as they walked up the steps, gave each other’s hands an encouraging squeeze at the same time.
James had kept the dinner small, so that Elspeth and Maddie would have time to talk and catch up. No dessert was served after dinner and instead of the gentlemen going off to have their port, all repaired to a sitting room, where James had champagne and a small but exquisitely decorated cake from Gunther’s.
“I thought we should toast the bride and groom,” he announced, smiling over at Elspeth and Val.
“Oh, James, that was so sweet of you,” exclaimed Elspeth.
“Well, here you are, my sister’s dear friend, married to my companion in arms, and none of us had a chance to formally wish you happy. To Elspeth and Valentine,” he said, lifting his glass. “May they find their hearts’ refuge in one another.”
Elspeth had to brush tears from her eyes at James’s words and even Val found his throat tighten.
“My father will be at the musicale tonight,” he told them. “In order to lend countenance to me and my new bride.”
“Why, that is wonderful,” exclaimed Maddie. “I have always liked Charlie’s father…your father, Lieutenant,” she added with a flushed smile. “He has done the right thing in recognizing you.”
“Indeed,” echoed James.
* * * *
By the time they arrived at the Farrons’, the earl had been there for a half hour, and when Lieutenant and Mrs. Aston were announced, Val was disoriented for a few minutes as they went through the receiving line. Here he was, married and recognized by his father, and yet at some level he still was that lonely hardworking young boy who was George Burton’s apprentice. How on earth was a blacksmith’s lad going to get on at a duke’s party?
His face became set in a polite smile as he was introduced to friends and acquaintances of his father. Without Elspeth at his side, he would have felt very alone and he was grateful for her arm tucked comfortingly in his. He hated to admit it, but he owed the earl a great deal for appearing tonight, for his father moved them smoothly through the crowd. Val was appreciative of his father’s air of command now, for no one would have dared make an untoward comment or express surprise with the hawk-eyed Earl of Faringdon looking down at them. Not even Lucas Stanton.
When he saw Stanton, Val became ramrod stiff.
“Lord Stanton, I think you know my son, Valentine Aston?” said the earl as they reached Stanton and a group of his friends. “You and Val and Charlie were at school together, I believe?”
“Yes, my lord,” said Stanton, bowing slightly. “And I know Miss Gordon from many a delightful dinner at her parents’ quarters.”
“Mrs. Aston now, Stanton,” said the earl with a smile.
“Congratulations, Aston, you are a lucky man indeed,” Stanton told Val, managing, as always, to inject a faint note of hostility into the most innocuous words.
“Thank you, my lord,” Val replied with a polite smile.
“I knew that you were coming to London, Miss Gordon…I mean, Mrs. Aston…but I am surprised to see you here, Lieutenant.”
“I obtained leave to visit my father and offer my condolences on Charlie’s death.”
“Of course. Very sad news, my lord,” said Stanton, bowing to the earl. “To lose a son and heir. But how, er, lucky you are to have Valentine, then.”
“I am, am I not,” the earl agreed blandly and they moved on.
“Odious man,” muttered Elspeth. “I have always despised him.”
“I see my son has married himself a very perspicacious wife. I myself would call himself something worse than odious, however,” said the earl. “Charlie always hated him and for good reason, wouldn’t you say, Valentine?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I was always thankful you were with Charlie for his first year at school, for he felt protected from such predators as Stanton. It was a shame you did not stay, but I could understand.”
Val was surprised at how much the warm approval in the earl’s voice meant to him.
“The same sort of thing happened when I was at school, but much as I hated them, I never did anything to stop them. Took it all too much for granted, I suppose, which is one of the dangers of privilege,” he admitted. “Sometimes it takes a fresh perspective to change things.”
“I don’t think anything changed at Queen’s Hall, my lord,” Val said with an ironic smile, which the earl returned. For one moment he felt himself in complete accord with his father.
They had drawn closer to the dance floor and the orchestra, which had been tuning up, began to play a country dance.
“I see an old friend over there. Why don’t you lead Elspeth out, Valentine,” said the earl.
Val looked over at his wife and raised his eyebrows.
“Can you stand my lack of expertise in moving around a Society ballroom, Elspeth? I know the dance, of course, but I am used to a rowdier company,” he confessed with a grin.
“So am I, Val, so am I,” said Elspeth with an answering smile.
* * * *
Although Val and Elspeth were conscious that the gossips were having a field day, the earl’s presence protected them from any direct unpleasantness and the evening went better than any could have expected. Val’s uniform and his position as one of Wellington’s officers had something to do with this, for people were curious about the progress of the war and impressed by Val’s “daring exploits,” as Lady Madeline put it.
“I assure you, my lady, that I spent more of my time lying on icy ground watching the French for hours as they went above their very boring routines than in “daring exploits,” protested Val. But he was glad for Elspeth’s sake that his uniform brought him some respect to offset the reaction to his parentage.
He had had young Devereaux pointed out to him shortly after they arrived. He was a very innocuous-looking young man and if Val hadn’t known, he would never have suspected him of either radical sympathies or out-and-out treason.
All the players were present—James, Stanton, and young Devereaux—but none of them spent any time with each other as far as Val could tell. He would visit the ministry tomorrow and let Devereaux know exactly who he was.
* * * *
Well before the end of the evening, the earl approached Val. “You and Elspeth are welcome to stay, Valentine, but having done my part, I find I am more fatigued than I expected. I had forgotten how exhausting grief is,” he added apologetically.
“We are tired too, isn’t that right, Val?” said Elspeth.
“I am quite happy to leave now,” Val assured his father.
“I’ll have the coach drop me off first,” said his father, “and then carry you and Elspeth to the hotel.”
“There is no need, sir. We could find a hansom.”
“Nonsense. I would not want you and your lady to be traveling in a hired conveyance.”
Elspeth and the earl chatted about the evening as they drove back to St. James’s Square. “Maddie is quite a success, don’t you think, Charles? Although I did not notice a particular beau, there were at least three men who asked her to dance twice.”
“She is a vivacious and charming young lady and no doubt will receive several offers despite the state of her family’s fortune. Or lack of it, to be more accurate,” he added dryly. “I was sorry to see a fine man like James saddled with his father’s debts, but from what I hear, he has almost succeeded in clearing them. And Maddie has a small inheritance from her mother’s side of the family, which should help.”
“So you would not say that James is near bankruptcy, sir?” Val asked, suddenly interested in their conversation.
“It will take a long time to restore Wimborne Hall to what it once was, but as far as I know he has managed to extricate himself from the worst of it.”
“That is very good to hear,” said Val. If James was not in desperate straits, then it was clear that Devereaux was lying, just as he had thought.
“You are happy about James,” said Elspeth after they had dropped the earl off.
“It removes his motive,” said Val. “And I will take on that young liar tomorrow and get the truth out of him at last.”