“If only that was all,” she sighed, shifting her position. “Our marital union was quite overshadowed by scandal. What if we are not accepted after all? This is Mama and Papa’s ball, so we are guaranteed an invitation. I am afraid that I will be shunned entirely.”
It was dark outside, the gloomy landscape flashing by as the carriage trundled into the night. Graham watched his wife in the few moonbeams that came through the window, and felt his heart constrict.
“Please allow me to have your indulgence for a moment,” he said, leaning forward to take her hand. “Even if nobody speaks to you all night, not a soul, you will at least have me to talk to. I am not a great conversationalist, but you need not fear as your conversational choices will surely not be limited to me. There are your dear parents, your friend Miss Winter, and of course your cousin, Miss Worth. There are a number of people with whomyou can speak to. Oh, and of course Jonathan will be there. He is particularly fond ofyou;I must impart to you.”
She gave him a vague, fond smile. “Thank you, Graham. That means so very much to me.”
He released her hand and sat back, watching moonlight flash across Ursula’s face.
***
She looked like a genuine vision. Her gown, of ice-blue silk, was adorned with an abundance of ruffles and ruches, cascading in a graceful torrent from her slender hips. The bodice, cut with delicate precision, was embellished with a delicate scattering of pearls and sequins. It suited her colouring splendidly. To his mind, she resembled an ice queen who was cool, exquisitely beautiful, and truly breath-taking.
It was strange to think that three full days had passed by since their kiss in the library. Graham had gone to her bedroom door once or twice since then, hand raised ready to knock. The first time, the light had gone out from under the door just as he was summoning his courage, and he had chosen to retreat. The second time his nerve had simply broken.
No, he would wait for the right time. His mother’s presence at the house did not help. She was present at every meal and sat in the drawing with them until one of them went to bed. If he hadn’t known better, he would have thought that Margaret was trying to push a wedge between them.
That, of course, could not be possible. His mother was a little sharp, to be sure, but she would never interfere between a wedded couple in such a way, he was convinced of it. It was just bad luck that was all. However, he was glad that a sudden cold had sent Margaret to her bed and kept her from attending the party tonight. She would certainly have sat in between them and kept them apart all night.
Of course, there was no information on when the repairs on her house would be completed. Graham was almost ready to give up asking.
I’m lucky,he thought, eyeing Ursula.She never complains. I am lucky in my choice of wife. Not that the choice was mine, of course.
The carriage slowed to a halt outside the Fairmont house. The place buzzed with activity. The round courtyard in front of the house was packed with carriages, making slow and ponderous loops after dropping off their illustrious cargo in front of the steps. Ladies and gentlemen in silks and satins climbed up the stone steps towards the front door, talking in genteel tones. Lights blazed from the windows, and faint strains of music drifted from open windows. Already, a good number of guests must have arrived, judging by the laughter and chatter coming from inside.
The carriage stopped altogether, and there was nothing for it but for Graham and Ursula to alight. He climbed out first, carefully handing her down. She landed on the gravel with a light crunch and offered him a grateful smile.
By the time they reached the front door, Graham realised that the evening would not go as smoothly as he had thought. Everybody seemed to stare as they went by, and whispers sprang up in their wake. Whenever he glanced down at Ursula, her face was serene and composed, but her hand tightened on his arm.
She’s nervous,he realised in a rush.I must do my best to protect her.
Lord and Lady Farendale waited for them at the door. Lord Farendale’s expression hardened, and he muttered some excuse, turning away. Graham ignored his rudeness.
Lady Farendale, at the very least, seemed delighted to see her daughter. Her expression brightened considerably, and she moved forward with enthusiasm to embrace and kiss Ursula.
“You are looking well, my darling,” she fluted, voice falsely cheerful. “Marital life agrees with you, I believe.”
Graham smiled and said nothing. He had heard a variation of that compliment applied to every single man and woman who he’d ever known to be wedded. As far as he knew, it was mere politeness, very much like assuring new parents that their baby was the most beautiful living being in the world.
“Thank you, Mama,” Ursula said, smiling. “I am glad to be here, truly I am.”
“And I am glad youarehere. And Lord Sinclair, it is good to see you.”
“Call me Graham, please. We’re family, after all.”
He shook her hand, and she gave him a wan smile.
Behind them, guests were beginning to queue up the steps, waiting to greet their hosts, and Graham realized with a sinking heart that he was going to have to move along.
“We’d best go in, Ursula,” he murmured. “Shall we find Miss Winter?”
“One last thing,” Lady Farendale said impulsively, her hand shooting out to grab her daughter’s wrist. “I had to invite Lord Ashford. I’m sure you understand, and he is here with… oh, you’ll see. Just be prepared, Ursula, dear.”
With that, Lady Farendale turned to the next guests with a wide, false smile, and Graham and Ursula were obliged to move along.
The house, of course, was full. Even so, people managed to make room for Ursula and Graham as they passed through. A pocket of space seemed to follow them through the hallway and into the ballroom.
“This is horrid,” Ursula whispered, her voice cracking. “Well bless my soul, look at them all staring openly at me. Ah…look…there is Lord Ashford, with Lady Annabella.”
