Page 2 of Holding Onto Love

“What will she do now, do you suppose?”

“What do you mean, Mama? Who is it?”

“Hush. Hush. Go get some cakes, dear.”

“But—”

“Get along with you.”

When the debutantes scampered away, the whispers flared again.

“Someone else will take her. That’s how it works. Until she loses her looks altogether.”

At that moment, a shadow fell across Vanessa, then Lady Rose Posonby sat down beside her. A friend, thank God. Her no-nonsense blue broadcloth day dress matched the businesslike expression on her face.

“Mrs. Wardrip,” Rose said. Loudly. “How good it is to see you.”

Vanessa gave her a nod. Lady Rose’s pedigree was impeccable, which saved her from the ostracism that her bookishness and disdain for convention would otherwise condemn her to.

“Have you had any ratafia? Oh, you must,” Rose continued, touching Vanessa’s arm. “The music won’t start for a while. Come with me. I’m about to expire of thirst.”

Vanessa stood and followed Rose from the room. As they walked down the narrow hallway toward the refreshments, Rose leaned closer and said, “You haven’t heard?”

“Heard what?”

Rose’s face sagged. “Then you haven’t. About Lord Taverston. Leave it to Jane Lowry to stoop to something like this. She wants her little party to be the talk of London. Vanessa, I will spill on my gown, and we will leave together.”

“Leave?” Vanessa felt sick. Had the earl died? Her letter must be in the post, such a difficult letter to write. “Oh, poor Lord Taverston.”

“Poor Lord Taverston?”

“To lose his father—”

“His father is not lost. Not yet.” Rose tossed her head and scowled. “Honestly, I don’t know what Lord Taverston is thinking. His haste is very bad form.”

They stepped into the refreshment room. Conversation ceased. Hands holding glasses or pastries stopped before reaching mouths. All eyes focused on Vanessa. Little ripples of laughter started, then stopped. Mrs. Lowry spoke up. “We were only saying it all makes sense now. Lady Georgiana was waiting for him.”

Lady Georgiana? Vanessa scoured her brain for half-forgotten gossip; Lady Georgiana, the Duke of Hovington’s daughter, had taken the ton by storm last year when she made her debut. Vanessa had never met her, of course, but she was said to be exquisite in every way. A diamond of the first water. She had received—oh, more than a dozen proposals and turned them all down, to the amusement and then the consternation of the ton.

Rose gave her a small nudge. Then, quietly, she said, “Lord Taverston is courting her.”

Vanessa froze. She felt lightheaded. The room began to spin.

No. She would not faint in front of these women. She stiffened her spine and stretched a smile across her face.

“How lovely.”

And how ridiculous. Jasper was not even in London. He was out at the family’s country estate, tending his sick father, just as he had been nearly all of last Season while Lady Georgiana was making such a splash. If the lady had been waiting for Jasper, she would just have to wait longer.

Vanessa fetched a glass of ratafia, did not spill it on Rose, and made her way back to the music room, Rose right behind. She sat and took a gulp, wishing it were brandy.

Rose squeezed her arm. “That was brave,” she whispered.

“Oh, not so very. How do these silly rumors start?”

“Rumors?” Rose squeezed again. “Vanessa, I’m afraid it is the truth.”

“Lord Taverston is at Chaumbers.”