Mrs. Right was invited in too, as the duke claimed Lord Tramondeley might as well get used to their way of doing things.
He was very agreeable to it, and even more agreeable to be led to the back of the drawing room by Valor, leaving the duke and Lord Ledderbey to relate the events of the evening to Mrs. Right.
They sat together, sipping their brandies, as Valor made faces over it.
Lord Tramondeley laughed and said, “You do not have to drink it, you know.”
“I know,” she said. “It tastes terrible, but it will have a good effect,I think. If ever there were a night when I might be woken by a nightmare it would be this night.”
“When we are wed, I will wake you up from them and tell you everything is all right.”
That was a rather delightful idea. Scary, but delightful.
“I’ve given up using my sloop to harass the French,” he said. “I was reminded that it would not be very responsible for a married man to do.”
Valor let out a long breath she did not know she’d been holding. “I can only say I am relieved. I would not be able to sleep wondering if you’d drowned.”
“In any case, I think I would find you too difficult to leave at night.”
This hinting at what might go on behind closed doors was another scary thing. Interesting, she wished to know all about it, to experience all of it, but scary nonetheless.
“It will be all right,” Lord Tramondeley said, squeezing her hand.
She nodded. She believed him.
They spent the rest of their time with Lord Tramondeley admiring her mussed hair and pretty eyes and other such nonsense a man in love is likely to go on about.
The duke finally got the lord and Lord Ledderbey on their way. Lord Ledderbey looked ready to fall over from the exertions of the night and the duke pointed out that the grooms left outside with his sedan chair had likely had their fill of it.
Despite the terror of the evening, Valor did not have any nightmares over it.
