Page 49 of An Extraordinary Lord

“And to think that we’re among the lucky few thousand who are favored enough to attend!”

Veronica snapped out of her reverie. “Fewthousand?”

“Oh yes!” Claudia nodded vigorously and set the ostrich plume in her coiffure bobbing. “All the cream of English society will be there.”

Thatwasn’t Veronica. But neither was a barrister for that matter. She frowned. “I don’t understand. How did Merritt secure invitations for us?”

“He sent the palace your name as his guest.” Claudia shrugged, as if invitations to royal balls were everyday occurrences. But then, for the sister of a duke, they most likely were.

“But why washeinvited in the first place?”

An odd mix of bewilderment and curiosity crossed her face. “You don’t know?”

Apparently not. “Know what?”

Claudia began to answer but then hesitated, as if thinking better of whatever she was about to say. Finally, she explained, “Merritt’s father is a High Court judge. One of the most respected and powerful in the entire empire.”

Her stomach plummeted. He’d told her that his family had worked in law for generations, but he’d never mentioned that his father was a High Court judge. Fate was surely laughing at her! No wonder Merritt judged her so critically. It was in his blood.

Sensing Veronica’s sudden unease, Claudia reached across the compartment to put her hand over hers. “Don’t be worried about tonight. We’re all here to help you if you need us. Especially Merritt.”

Oh, he wanted to help her all right. Right back into Newgate.

“Just enjoy yourself and have a grand time,” Claudia urged and squeezed her hand. “When else will you get to drink this much fine champagne and devour all the truffles you can eat?”

Veronica stifled a laugh at the irony. When indeed?

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Turning her head from one side to the other, Claudia removed her beautiful teardrop-shaped pearl earbobs and held them out to Veronica. “These are for you, to finish off your outfit.”

Claudia’s generosity stunned her. “I—I couldn’t possibly wear them.”

“But you simply must. They’ll go perfectly with your gown.”

Veronica’s eyes stung at the gesture. Obviously, Merritt hadn’t told Claudia the truth about her, or she never would have offered to loan jewelry to a woman whom society believed was a criminal.

“I might lose them…” And never be able to replace them. “I can’t accept.” But how much she wished she could! Temptation to reach for them itched at her fingertips.

“But you have to! I told Merritt I’d—” Claudia broke off and bit her bottom lip. When she started again, her eyes and voice were pleading. “As a friend—that is, I hope we’ll become dear friends—it would mean a great deal to me if you would wear them. I’ll retrieve them from you in a few days.” Her eyes gleamed mischievously. “Until then, consider them yours.”

Not wanting to offend her, Veronica reluctantly accepted them and placed them on her ears. She was struck by how perfectly the teardrop pearls matched her gown.

Claudia glanced out the window. “Our turn.” She let out a long sigh. “Finally.”

The carriage stopped directly in front of the wide portico inside the courtyard. A uniformed footman in the regent’s elaborate gold-trimmed velvet livery rushed down the wide steps to flip the step and open the door for them. With a quick bow, he reached inside to help Claudia to the ground. Then he turned back for Veronica.

The moment her slipper touched the gravel she knew she’d been swept away into a magical world. Where else could she have been, all wrapped up in satin and fur and pearls, surrounded by the glow of flickering lamps and the shimmer of crystal decorations? Bright music drifted through the large double doors that stood open wide in welcome to the sumptuously dressed guests who streamed toward the grand house. No, not a house—a palace, where she was a guest of the Prince of Wales.

Goose bumps dotted her skin. Dear heavens, she’d slipped into a fairy tale!

“This way.” Claudia took her arm and guided her toward the steps as their carriage rolled away behind them to make room for the next arrivals.

Veronica pulled in a deep breath to tamp down the excitement crackling inside her and did her best not to gawk at the spectacle surrounding her. She was playing a role tonight, she knew. Just as she knew the only reason she was here was because Merritt and the Home Office still dangled a pardon over her head.

Perhaps for a few minutes at least, she could do as Claudia had urged and simply enjoy the wonder of the grand ball unfolding around her. Perhaps she might even be able to convince herself that she belonged here.

Inside the entrance hall, a uniformed footman checked their invitations and then welcomed them to Carlton House with a curt nod of his head. They handed their wraps to a second footman with one hand and accepted glasses of champagne from the silver tray of a third footman with the other. Even the bubbles in her glass seemed to sparkle more splendidly than she’d ever seen in champagne before, and the taste of them popping on her tongue—divine.

They pressed through the crowd gathered around the grand entrance and ventured deeper into the series of reception rooms. Yards of silk and shining crystal decorated tall windows and walls, freshly cut flowers filled large urns and vases, chandeliers glittered nearly as brightly as the jewels that covered the ladies…and over it all, the sweet scent of beeswax candles mingled with the soft strains of violins and cellos.