“And remember,” Mamma continued, “a lady’s proficiency in household management is how she achieves her significance, as does preserving our family’s position.”
But Lizzy couldn’t afford to waste time attending balls. They needed to start collecting clues—anything that might help Tuck find a way back home. The more days they frittered away, the greater the risk of arousing suspicion. Others might come with ties to trade and America, especially from near Baltimore, or someone might try to question Tuck about the latest war activity, only to discover his implausible ignorance. Someone might even start whispering “imposter” or, more dangerous, “spy.”
She’d have to get him back home, fake his death, and move on. “Mamma, I don’t want to—”
“Attending the Crawfords’ ball is not just a nicety, but your duty as my daughter. Society will be eager to catch a glimpse of the newly wed Mrs.Taylor, and your absence would undoubtedly raise eyebrows. You know how Lavinia Throckmorton, Araminta Wentworth, Millicent Harrington, and the others are—they’d love nothing better than to sink their teeth into another piece of gossip. It’s crucial to present a gracious and charming presence at the ball to dispel any rumors that may begin circulating about the gentleman’s background and the haste of the wedding. We wouldn’t want anyone to question your marital bliss now, would we? Not when I worked ever so hard to remarry a man like Mr.Alby to keep us all in comfort and ensure we will be able to continue dear Henry’s climb.”
“Of course not.” Lizzy was tempted to bare her teeth, hiss like a cornered alley cat. “I can think of little more that I’d rather do than please you.”
Mamma’s smile was small, but her eyes were tired. She’d battled for their position in society as long as Lizzy could remember. “What a stroke of luck that your greatest joy is in perfect harmony with my wishes.” With that, Mamma swept from the room, leaving the scent of orange blossoms wafting in her wake.
“What am I missing?” Tuck muttered after the door closed. “I mean, I don’t know all the cool waltzes, but I’m confident I can get you around a room without crushing your toes. I’m quick on my feet. What’s the problem here? And don’t you dare try to say it’s related to you not being good enough in some way, because—”
“It’s not, thank you very much,” she said, bristling. “But some fights are my fights, not yours, and I want the space and trust to fight them.”
“And you are welcome to it.” Tuck threw up his hands. “But I still don’t know why you are so against—”
“First, not one person in my family has expressed curiosity about my happiness. The entire focus is on their reputations. As long as Mr.Alby can view me as civil, obedient, and passably sweet, he can continue to view me with contempt. And Mamma, I know she loves me, but she’s always loved my brother more.” Lizzy’s admission cost her something, a toll she would be able to review once Tuck was gone and all the accounts came due. “Second, it’s a risk to you. You don’t know the ton.”
“I don’t have a clue what you are talking about. A ton of what?”
“Not what—who. It’s French.Le bon tonsignifies good manners and etiquette and consists of royals, aristocrats, and the wealthiest, best-connected members of the upper classes. Imagine fashion leaders.”
“Like celebrities and influencers,” he mused.
“They do have great influence,” she agreed. “The ton possessesits own codes, hierarchies, and an exclusive membership, emphasizing a sense of belonging, and loyalty.”
“I think I get it, sort of.”
“Our family isn’t at the top of the order there. No titles among us. The prince doesn’t know I exist. So, the knives shouldn’t be extra sharp. We are more in the middle. My stepfather made a fortune in shipping wine after his time in the navy. People drink in good times and in bad, I used to hear him say. He had hoped I could land a baronet. They come with a hereditary title that can be passed to sons. Mr.Alby wished to leave this world having secured the right for his lineage to be addressed assir.”
“I can’t help him, but if you want to call mesirbehind closed doors, I’m not going to say no.”
“There is no time for fun and games.” She began to pace, needing to expend some of the energy bottled within her. “The moment you’ve been introduced to the ton, the clock will start ticking. It’s a matter of time before you draw suspicion—it won’t be through any fault, there’s just too many ways to make a mistake. No one will dream of you coming from the future, of course. But the last thing we need is to have anyone suspect you as fake. Given my country’s tension with yours, that could lead to dangerous consequences. I’m not willing to risk your safety, or mine, for that matter. Our best chances are to be as little noticed as possible, but when you step into any room, people will notice. You’re too much. The height. Your face. The build. And then the accent.”
“What’s wrong with my face?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but it is possible to be too handsome. You do not have a look that will go unnoticed.”
“I guess you’ll have to protect me, then.”
She scoffed. “And as for what just happened, the kissing and the rest of it.”
“I know.” His answer was clipped. “We need to stop. It’s a distraction. What’s happening is normal. We have been forced together by fate or chance and there is natural attraction. But while it’s normal, I can do better.”
Lizzy blinked. Her brain was sayingnobut her mouth couldn’t form the words. She had been about to say “we need to wait until the house goes to bed,” not “we need to stop this altogether.”
“Can we request another room?” he asked. “This is a big home. I don’t want to be an inconvenience, but my guess is there is space.”
“You don’t want to sleep with me?”
“This isn’t the road to Gretna Green. We don’t need one bed. That’s skating on thin ice. We’re going to be friends, not lovers. Right?”
“Correct.” His logic made sense in her brain, even as her body demanded she reject common sense and return to the floor to tumble him in quick order.
“Friends shouldn’t know what the other person’s mouth tastes like.” He crossed his arms. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
