There was a swell of murmured conversation as people speculated on who this young lady could be. George had been aware of Miss Darvey working her way through the crowd to his side, her mother scurrying after her, along with her hangers-on, Miss Burton and Miss Adams. He kept his eyes on Lord Surry, trying to ignore them.”
“I wonder who this mysterious young woman can be?” Miss Darvey asked. “Lord Hutchinson, can you shed any light on this situation?”
George turned and looked at her. “I suppose you’ll have to wait, like everyone else, until Lord Surry finishes speaking.” He saw Miss Darvey pout at his response but was too excited about his own announcement to care what the young woman thought.
“Susannah, hush,” Lady Knight whispered. “I want to hear what Lord Surry says.”
“Mama, I was merely asking Lord Hutchinson his opinion.”
“Not now, Susannah.”
When the crowd quieted once again, Lord Surry continued. “Like I said, Lady Surry and I are overjoyed to welcome our granddaughter into the family. My dear Miss Weston, would you join us?” he asked, holding out his hand.
A collective gasp went through the ballroom, all eyes turning to Lydia. Then the whispers started.
A merchant’s daughter? The granddaughter of the viscount?
Who would have guessed?
Miss Darvey’s mouth fell open in shock as she stared at Lydia.“She’sthe granddaughter?”
Lydia smiled at her before walking to the platform and taking Lord Surry’s outstretched hand to be helped up onto it.
“My darling girl, we’re so happy you’re here with us,” Lady Surry said, bussing her cheek.
“Thank you, Lady Surry. I’m thrilled to be part of your family,” Lydia said as she looked over the crowd.
There were frowns and puzzled faces, but the majority of the people in the ballroom understood the significance of Lord Surry’s announcement. Lydia was no longer a mere tradesman’s daughter. With Lord Surry’s acknowledgment of her, her status within thetonwas elevated, although some of the older matrons would no doubt never accept her and would continue to shun her at Society events.
“There’s one more announcement to be made this evening,” Lord Surry said. “Lord Hutchinson, would you care to join us?”
“Absolutely,” George said, striding to the platform. He bowed to Lord and Lady Surry before taking Lydia’s hand. “Tonight is a most joyous night for me as well because I have a special announcement to make. I’ve asked Miss Weston to be my wife, and she has agreed.”
A loud screech erupted from within the crowd. “Noooooooooooooooo. He belongs to me!”
All eyes turned to Miss Darvey, who had collapsed to the floor, sobbing. Miss Burton and Miss Adams had instantly backed away from the spectacle she was making, and Lady Knight was trying to pull her daughter to her feet and appeared to be whispering furiously at her. Lady Knight finally pulled her daughter to her feet. “Forgive my daughter, Lord Surry. She isn’t feeling herself this evening,” she said before dragging Miss Darvey out of the ballroom.
In the hubbub that followed, Lord Surry handed his wife down from the platform and signaled the orchestra to begin a waltz. George helped Lydia down to meet the flood of well-wishers flocking over to wish them happy. Some of them just to get a good look at the tradesman’s daughter who’d suddenly soared to such heights, George had no doubt the gossipmongers would be busy tonight.
Nearly everyone approached George and Lydia to wish them happy. The gossipmongers would have a field day with everything that had happened tonight, especially Miss Darvey’s emotional outburst George’s heart was bursting with happiness. The love of his life had consented to marry him, and with her elevation as Lord Surry’s granddaughter, many of thetonseemed willing to welcome her into their ranks. Of course, it didn’t hurt that they had powerful friends. No one wanted to insult a war hero duke, a marquis, or an earl by making disparaging remarks about Lydia.
Lord and Lady Surry stepped down from the platform, and he signaled the orchestra to begin playing a waltz. George and Lydia stepped down as well.
“My darling, would you honor me with this dance?” George asked.
Lydia nodded. “If you’ll excuse us, Lord and Lady Surry, my betrothed wishes to dance this evening.”
Lord Surry chuckled. “Of course, my dear. This is your night. Enjoy yourself.”
George escorted her to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. “Are you well, my darling?”
“I’m so very happy, but I do feel sorry for Miss Darvey. Our betrothal announcement must have been a great shock to her.”
“As it was to everyone this evening. I love your generous heart, but don’t worry over much about Miss Darvey. I’m sure she’ll recover her wits in no time, although I suspect it will take rather longer for her reputation to recover from the spectacle she made of herself,” he said.
“I agree. The scandal she’s caused won’t go away anytime soon.”
“You’re probably right, but all I care about is dancing the night away with my betrothed,” George said, spinning her around the dance floor.
