A memory stirred, but he had trouble bringing it into focus. “The Smyth ball?”
“Yes, my lord.”
He stifled a groan.
“Her ladyship?”
“Brought you home with Lord Worthington and Miss Stern’s help.”
How much worse could this get? Being in ones altitudes in the company of one’s betrothed. He would be fortunate if she didn’t call off the wedding. He’d probably made a complete fool of himself. He tried to sit up and moaned as a pickax hit his head.
Paken took the empty coffee cup. “You’re to stay in bed for the next hour. I shall send up a tray for you.”
Dom glanced at the mantel but couldn’t make out the numbers on the clock. “What time is it?”
“Close to two.” Paken fluffed Dom’s pillows. “The ladies will expect you for tea.”
“Ladies?”
“Her ladyship and Miss Stern. Sir Henry and Lady Stern are due to arrive later this afternoon.”
His mother and Thea probably planned to ring a peal over his head. “You said I had a new valet?”
Paken bowed. “Indeed, my lord. Mr. Wigman comes highly recommended.”
Dom started to nod then stopped when his head started throbbing again. How anyone could live through this day after day, he would never know. “I believe I’ll sleep some more.”
“Yes, my lord.” His butler left, closing the door softly behind him.
Two hours later, feeling much more the thing, he had eaten, bathed, met his new valet, and dressed. Wigman was a cheerful fellow who didn’t argue about every detail of Dom’s costume, and did not remind him of his importance with each breath. He had never known what a relief it would be particularly when his uncle’s voice was constantly in his head.
He went to his mother’s parlor, ready for the verbal flogging he was sure to receive. Merton or not, he was sure to have behaved badly last evening.
He knocked and entered the room. Thea glanced up. Her smile took his breath away, and she didn’t appear at all angry; neither did his mother. “Good afternoon, Mama, Thea.” He sat next to her on the sofa and took a cup of tea she handed him. “I’m here to apologize. I seem to be doing that quite a bit lately.”
Thea raised a brow, but her eyes danced with laughter. “The first time my brother Harry came home in his cups, Papa woke him early the next morning and made him clean the stables.”
Dom’s stomach clenched. “I take it that was the last occurrence.”
“To the best of my knowledge.” She nodded thoughtfully. “Papa says all young men need to try it.”
He had heard so many things about Sir Henry, Dom didn’t know if he was looking forward to meeting the gentleman or not.
She gave him a sympathetic look. “How are you feeling?”
“Paken tells me your parents arrive today.”
“We received a messenger this morning. Mama is still using two canes, but she wouldn’t remain at home any longer. She’s very much like my grandmother in that respect.”
He supposed he could veer the conversation to the duchess, but that wouldn’t tell him what he needed to know. For some reason, he could not remember most of last evening. He closed his eyes for a moment. “Did I embarrass you last night?”
His mother brought her cup up to cover her lips, but she couldn’t hide her chuckle.
Thea didn’t even try to hide her mirth. She laughed. “In short, no. Though if Matt hadn’t got us in the coach, there was ample room for the possibility. The only thing you did was appear in the ballroom and walk straight to me.”
“After waving,” his mother added.
Why would he . . . “Waving?”
