She stood up, brushing down her skirts, and smiling cheerfully at Vanessa. “I think I ought to tell him that to his face.”
“No, Miss Redding, you cannot?—”
“Do not worry, my dear,” she said, her smile sparkling. “I know how to put this gentleman in his place.
Chapter Seven
“Lady Vanessa! I demand a dance!”Lord Langdon shouted again, banging on the door so loudly that several of the vases on a nearby windowsill rattled dangerously.
Miss Redding set her jaw, and Vanessa had to admire her bravery as she set off across the powder room, looking as if she was not in the least bothered or intimidated by Lord Langdon’s theatrics.
When she reached the door, Miss Redding opened it several inches and poked her head out.
“Excuse me,” Vanessa heard her say, “but what is heaven’s name are you doing banging on the woman’s powder room like a lecherous drunk?
“I beg your pardon!” Lord Langdon cried on the other side of the door. “How dare you speak to me like that!”
“And how dare you disturb ladies while we are enjoying the privacy of the powder room!” came Miss Redding’s sharp retort. “Gentlemen are not allowed in this space, nor is it proper and correct behavior to bang upon the door and demand that one of the ladies—who is not even inside, I might add—come out.”
“Oh, she is inside,” Lord Langdon snarled. “I saw her go in, and she has not come out yet.”
“It is none of your business who is in the powder room and who is not,” Miss Redding said drily. “I suggest that you walk away now and desist with behaving like an uncivilized lout.”
“An unciviliz?—”
“Unless you would like me to fetch the hosts of this evening’s affair,” Miss Redding said. “I am sure that they would have an opinion on a gentleman trying to force entry into the ladies’ powder room. Perhaps they will even be able to ban you from the guest lists of anyotherballs this Season. That is certainly what I shall be attempting to do after this evening.”
There was silence from the other side of the door. Vanessa held her breath. She knew that Lord Langdon cared deeply about what others in Society thought of him. He would not want to get a reputation for behaving brutishly—especially if that reputation might get him blackballed from other High Society events.
At last, he said, stiffly and almost too quietly to hear, “Perhaps I was mistaken. Perhaps Miss Langley is not within. Please accept my apologies and enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Good day, sir,” Miss Redding said, and she closed the door with a snap.
When she turned around, Vanessa and Lady Selina both burst into applause.
“Well done!” Vanessa cried, staring up at the woman with a newfound respect and admiration. “That was most expertly carried out!”
“There is no one as clever as Phoebe,” Lady Selina said, grinning broadly. “What a horrible man, though! I am very sorry that you ever had to contemplate marriage to such a brute.”
“As am I,” Vanessa replied quietly. “And I never would have been able to break off the engagement had it not been for the Duke of Thornfield. He did me a great service by offering for my hand. Although…”
Miss Redding sat back down next to her and gave her a small smile. “It is understandable if you are still nervous,” she said. “My cousin is not known for being the easiest man. But I do believe, underneath some of his rougher edges, that he has a good heart. When we were children, he was always kind to me. It is only as he grew older and faced many challenges that he grew to be so distant and hard.”
Vanessa nodded. She could understand that. Once, there had been a time when she felt less shy and scared of everything, but life’s challenges had been difficult to overcome.
When she thought back to her childhood, her parents’ constant disappointments and critiques, and her father’s endless tirades that she should have been born a boy… an heir.
Yes, she could very much understand it.
What were the challenges he faced?she wanted to ask Miss Redding, but she knew it would not be appropriate.
“Now,” Miss Redding said, folding her hands in her lap. “We should get you cleaned up. You have streaks of kohl down your cheeks, and your eyes are bloodshot. And we willnotbe giving that terrible Lord Langdon the satisfaction of knowing that he upset you, should you be unfortunate enough to run into him back out on the dance floor.”
Vanessa had never felt so grateful for anyone’s help. After splashing some water on her face from the basin, Miss Redding helped her reapply some rouge to her cheeks from a small resin box she kept in her reticule.
“There’s nothing to do about the kohl. It’s all gone,” Miss Redding said, “but I think you still look very beautiful without it. Rather fresh-faced and angelic, if you ask me.”
“You are too kind,” Vanessa murmured, looking down at the floor. “Both of you.”
