It was only a matter of time before she entered high Society so she might as well do it on her own terms, with a handsome lord by her side.
Emilia met Anette’s eager gaze. “I will come tonight.”
Anette clasped her hands together. “You shall take thetonby storm tonight.” She jumped up from her seat. “I will see to all the preparations. Ensure you are at Lady Shorne’s townhouse by nine tonight and do not exit your coach until Fredrick assists you out.” She paused, only to catch her breath. “Now, I have a few suggestions for your ball…”
As Emilia listened to Anette speak in a rushed tone, she hoped that she was doing the right thing. But she didn’t dare back out now.
Dressed in his finery, Fredrick waited in the drawing room, his impatience growing as he awaited the arrival of Roswell and Anette. They were preparing to attend a soiree this evening, a prospect that vexed him greatly. He couldn’t quite fathom how Anette had convinced him to go, but her powers of persuasion were impressive.
He hated attending social events, especially since he had no desire to marry. The prospect of being hounded by scheming, matchmaking mothers who aimed to marry off their daughters filled him with irritation. The forced, unwanted conversations were something he had grown to dread.
The persistent assumption that he needed a wife baffled him. He was doing just fine on his own. But he couldn’t even fathom his own lie. The truth was, he wasn’t doing well, but a wife would just complicate his already tangled emotions.
Anette’s gratingly cheerful voice greeted him as she stepped into the drawing room. “Good evening, Fredrick.”
“Good evening,” he responded. Why was she in such a pleasant mood? Didn’t she realize they were going to a soiree?
Roswell appeared by his wife’s side. “The coach is out front. Shall we depart?”
“Oh, before we go…” Anette started. “I have one more favor to ask of Fredrick.”
Fredrick eyed her with trepidation. “Which is?”
“I think it is best if you escort Miss Sutherland into the soiree,” Anette replied. “It is important that thetonknows that we are supportive of Miss Sutherland’s entrance into high Society.”
Fredrick wasn’t quite sure how he felt about this. While he genuinely wanted to assist Miss Sutherland, he had reservations about the extent of his help. His mere presence wouldn’t deter the relentless, gossiping busybodies of theton. And what if their association led to the wrong assumptions about their relationship?
Just as he was about to voice his concerns, a different thought struck him. Could he really leave Miss Sutherland to fend for herself, fully aware of how out of place she was in high Society? She stood out like the brightest star on the darkest night, rendering everyone else dull in comparison.
“All right, I will escort Miss Sutherland into the soiree,” Fredrick replied.
Anette arched an eyebrow. “That is it?” she asked. “You aren’t going to argue with me?”
“I am a smart enough man to not do so.”
“But I had a whole list of persuasive arguments,” Anette said.
Roswell chuckled as he offered his arm to his wife. “Take this as a win and move on,” he advised. “It isn’t often that Fredrick relents so easily.”
As Fredrick followed them to the coach, he hoped he was doing the right thing for Miss Sutherland and himself. He couldn’t care less about what thetonsaid about him, but he had earned that right. But he was fearful for Miss Sutherland.
Once they were all situated in the coach, it jerked forward and merged into traffic.
Roswell turned to his wife and said, “You are looking especially lovely this evening.”
Anette smiled. “You said that already.”
“Well, it makes it no less true,” Roswell responded.
Fredrick turned his attention towards the window as they made the brief journey to Lady Shorne’s townhouse. He was pleased by the profound love demonstrated by Roswell and Anette. However, he couldn’t help but find it a bit wearisome at times.
The coach came to a stop in front of a whitewashed townhouse and a footman hurried to open their door.
Fredrick waited until Roswell assisted his wife out of the coach before he went to stand by them on the pavement.
Anette pointed towards a coach that was further down the line. “I see Miss Sutherland’s coach,” she informed Fredrick. “Why don’t you go assist her out of the coach?”
“Very well,” Fredrick replied, knowing there was no reason to argue this point with his sister-in-law.
