Lord Manderbey had been roped into it on account of Lady Westmoreland owing some sort of favor to Lady Edith’s mother. But, he went on to say that he had requested that he be put down for Lady Winsome’s first, as a consolation.
Of course, she would wish the lord was taking her into supper. She really wanted to find out more about the dunning and his comment about playing cards. It seemed those inquiries would need to wait until the dinner on the morrow.
And then, this Lady Edith—why should she be dining with the lord on account of a favor? Was the lady inclined toward him? Or he, her? He’d not sounded inclined, but it was a little puzzling. Winsome Nicolet did not like puzzling. She’d read enough stories where things began as puzzling and rapidly deteriorated. Puzzling was never a goodsituation. She liked things spelled out as one way or the other.
The duke had led her into the ballroom and they’d encountered a very nervous Lord Landry. The poor fellow! The duke had taken pity on him and had gone off to arrange things with the Countess of Westmoreland. He would request Lord Landry be put down for Winsome’s supper. She would do her best to cheer him up.
Now she was surrounded by family and felt as safe as a lamb in a paddock. Of course, all too soon the ball would begin and she would be on her own. She would not allow an opportunity to pass, though, that might give her more information about Lord Manderbey and here was his good friend, Lord Wembly, standing by Verity.
“Lord Wembly,” she said, “we saw your friend, Lord Manderbey, at the queen’s drawing room yesterday.” It was vague, but as good an opening as she could think of.
“Really?” Lord Wembly said. “I wonder what he was doing there—he does not have a sister.”
“It is my understanding that his dowager wished to go, and he escorted her there.”
Lord Wembly appeared taken aback. “The dowager duchess? She’shere? In Town?”
“Indeed she is, she will come to dine on the morrow.”
“I had not known,” Lord Wembly said softly. “Gad, she’s decided to put him on a short leash, then.”
A short leash? Did that have something to do with the gambling debts that had been hinted at?
“What does that mean, Wembly?” Verity asked. “Why is he to be on a leash at all?”
Winsome silently thanked Verity, as it was just what she wished to know herself.
“As to that, I do not really know the details,” Wembly muttered. “It’s just, well she can be a strong-willed old girl. Likes to have her way.”
What way was it, though? Was the dowager here to rein in Lord Manderbey’s gambling? Or was it something else?
“Oh God, there she is,” Lord Wembly said, gazing across the ballroom.
Winsome’s eyes followed his. The dowager was just now standing by her father. Goodness, they were both drinking from flasks.
“What is she doing?” Lord Wembly asked.
“As to that,” Winsome said, “I believe my father mentioned he would bring brandy in a flask. And the dowager mentioned she might do it too. Canary, I believe she said. Considering the size of her reticule, it seems she has done.”
“Drinking at Almack’s. That is just what I mean about her!” Lord Wembly said.
“Oh dear,” Verity said laughing, “the dowager and our father coming together is bound to cause trouble.”
“Can you do something to stop it?” Lord Wembly asked his wife.
This sent Verity into peals of laughter. “No,” she said.
The orchestra had been tuning for some time, the conductor putting the musicians through their paces. Now he turned and gave a nod to Lady Westmoreland and the sets began to form.
Lord Manderbey approached and held out his arm.
Winsome laid her gloved hand gently upon it and took a breath. Here she went.
*
Leland had wishedto shake the Countess of Westmoreland. He was well aware that the patronesses must have their way, but that had not stopped his irritation over being assigned to take Lady Edith into dine.
As that was the case, he’d lurked near the doors for Lady Winsome’s arrival. He’d dropped some hints that his dining companion had not been his first choice and that he’d petitioned for LadyWinsome’s first set as a consolation. He thought she’d taken his meaning.
