| |
THE BALL AT LORD AND Lady Banfield’s was a lively one but Marisa couldn’t enjoy it for her worry about Lyvia. She could no more take pleasure in the waltz or any of the country dances than she could spout wings and fly. Will and his father had been gone for hours, and still there had been no word from them.
The absence of the Wycliffes wasn’t easily explained. Lady Banfield, a plump matron in a gown of violet silk, inquired of the Craethornes about them, even though Mrs. Wycliffe, late that afternoon, had sent a note explaining that they could not attend as planned because her husband had been called away on urgent business and Lyvia was unwell.
“Unwell?” Lady Banfield repeated to Lady Craethorne and Marisa, who bore the woman’s gossipy nature with forced smiles. “Tell me, dear Lady Craethorne, what malady could it be that has caused that vivacious young Wycliffe girl to miss my ball?” Lady Banfield was clearly affronted that anyone who’d originally accepted her invitation would then have the audacity not to show at one of her famed entertainments.
“What ails Lyvia, I do not know,” Lady Craethorne said. “I haven’t seen her since Sunday services and she seemed perfectly healthy at that time. I can only hope it’s not of a serious or prolonged nature. Tomorrow is the final ball at Almack’s, and it would be a terrible shame for her to miss that, don’t you agree?”
Lady Banfield, not having received the response she’d obviously hoped for—namely some bit of gossip that she would waste no time in passing on—merely nodded her turbaned head and said she must greet some late-arriving guests.
“At least,” she sniffed with injured dignity, “my ball will long be remembered for the announcement of Lord Allersdale’s betrothal to Lady Sarah Tildesdale. I declare, they do make such a handsome couple.” She rose and moved away, leaving Lady Craethorne to sigh with relief and sit back in her chair.
Marisa took her mother’s hand. “You seem fatigued, Mama. Pray, let us leave for home at once.”
“Nonsense, my dear. We’ve only just arrived. You should be dancing, not sitting here with me. Do go now. Your card is filled for the evening.”
“That doesn’t matter in the least,” Marisa said. “What matters is your health. I do not remember ever having seen you look so tired before.”
“No, my dear, I imagine that neither you nor my husband do remember, but I assure you, it’s nothing serious and shall pass with time.”
“Then let us call in the doctor the first thing tomorrow. If he declares you well, I shall believe him.”
“Very well, bring in the physician. I suppose it is about time, in any event. Now, will you go back to your waltzing? This is the next to the last ball of the Season, you know.”
“Yes, and I’m glad it shall all soon be over. The last few months have been more frustrating than I could possibly have imagined.”
“I’m sorry to hear you say that, my dear.” She patted her daughter’s hand. “At least Lord Allersdale and that lovely Lady Sarah have announced their engagement, so you have no more need to concern yourself on that account. Now, don’t look so startled that I know. My husband keeps few secrets from me these days. Had I known about his plans with Lord Dulverton before, I would’ve done all I could to change his mind on the matter. I’ve prayed you’d marry well, but it was unwise of him to think that you’d have no say-so in the matter.”
Marisa glanced across the room, where Allersdale sat with his fiancée, exchanging intimate conversation and adoring looks.
“They’re really quite suited to each other,” Lady Craethorne continued, “as you and he never would have been. No, you belong with... Well, you decide your own mind, if you haven’t done so already. No one else can do it for you. Now, which gentleman is to be your partner for the next quadrille?”
“Oh, Mama,” Marisa hugged her, overcome with emotion. “Thank you.”
“La, I am no more understanding than I always should have been. Ah, Mr. Peterson, you come to claim my daughter’s hand for the next dance. She’s been waiting for you.” She handed Marisa, still somewhat misty-eyed, over to the handsome young man and watched with a smile as they took the floor.