Page 21 of A Hint of Scandal

Chapter Eleven

Letty was already dressed in the gown she’d chosen for dinner that evening when Serafina reached their room. She’d taken a few extra minutes outside on the landing to compose herself and wipe away the vestiges of her tears, not wanting Letty to be able to see just how upset she was.

But her eyes must have still been red, because Letty shot her a sharply penetrating look and waved a dismissive hand at her maid. “You may go, Roberts. Fina and I will dress each other.”

Roberts, poker-faced and giving nothing away, slipped out of the room. She’d been a housemaid for years before being promoted to lady’s maid and suffered no illusions about the way Lady Gilbert treated Serafina, who’d been the recipient on more than one occasion of her commiserating glances.

The moment they were alone, Letty turned to Serafina, ignoring her obvious distress and with a somewhat triumphant expression on her face that deprived it of some of its prettiness. She probably needed to look in a mirror when she was feeling this vindictive. The old adage about not pulling faces in case the wind changed and you got stuck like that came to mind. “You’re probably itching to ask me how many gentlemen callers I had, I assume. Well, it was a lot more than your measly one, and one of them was a viscount. So much better than just the brother of an earl. Although I believe he’s somehow related to Captain Aubrey, or so Mama informed me after he’d left. How handy it is that she knows who everyone is related to and what they’re worth.”

Serafina, who was used to her own feelings being disregarded, fixed an interested expression on her face. Sometimes Letty’s self-centered personality grated, but this time she was glad to have the attention switched away from herself. “Of course I am. Was it great fun for you, and were they all doting on you?”

Letty’s expression softened now she was assured she had Serafina’s unwavering attention. “It was quite wonderful. You’ll never guess how many young men called on me. No, don’t even try. I was never more astonished to receive no less than eight callers, for I suspected that even though they’d expressed the desire to call, most of them would have forgotten by the time they rose this morning.”

She flicked her auburn curls with a suspicious air of nonchalance. “Although how they could forget me, I have no idea. Lord Simon Rosebery arrived first. He’s very handsome in a washed out sort of way as he’s so fair-haired. No sooner had he taken a seat then he was followed by the Honorable Matthew Lytton, whom I’d taken to be something of a bore and not at all interested in me when we danced at the ball. Even though he has the most delightful dark curls. For some reason, all he wanted to do was talk about farming. I have no idea why someone like him would even be remotely interested in things like plows and… and seed drills, I think he called them.” She giggled and shrugged. “I can only suppose he must have thought it a subject in which I was interested.”

She dimpled and warm color rose to her cheeks. “Luckily Rosebery and I didn’t have to suffer being told about the latest developments in agriculture for too long because two more gentlemen arrived.” The offhand way in which she said this seemed at odds with her previous words.

Serafina’s ears pricked at the change in Letty’s tone. “And who were they?” she asked, observing Letty’s somewhat shifty gaze.

“Lord Grey and his brother.” She paused. “I was never happier to be interrupted than by their arrival.”

Of course, Lord Grey’s brother was the one she’d intimated she’d found attractive. More needed to be discovered about this young man.

“You said eight. Who else called?”

“Two army officers, in their splendid regimentals, as well as a slightly older gentleman who Mama said was more desirable as he’s a cit which means he’s made his money in trade but is horrendously rich, so although he doesn’t have the breeding, I encouraged him, as Mama instructed.”

“Goodness.” Serafina schooled her face into an expression that conveyed how impressed she knew she ought to be, even though she was quailing inside. Despite Letty’s increasing high-handedness and selfishness, Serafina remained very fond of her oldest niece. These young men would all require research to ascertain whether they would make Letty happy if they were to offer marriage. Araminta, whose sole measure for suitability was by title or wealth, could not be relied upon to do that.

“Do you favor any of them?” Serafina enquired, as that was who she needed to begin with.

Letty gave a tinkling little laugh. “Last night I thought it was Lord Grey’s brother I preferred, but today, after seeing them all again, I think I am leaning towards preferring Mr. Oliver Talbot, the cit. After all, Louis Herbert is just a younger brother, and only of a mere viscount. Younger brothers are not at all desirable. Mama says. And Mr. Talbot is so very rich.”

Serafina pursed her lips, ignoring the dig at Captain Aubrey’s status as a younger brother. “I should like to meet this Mr. Talbot then, before you decide to encourage his suit. We need to know a bit more about him. Whether he would be a kind husband to you, should he make an offer and you accept.”

Letty, who before they’d left Milford had been sweetly amenable to Serafina’s assistance in choosing the right husband, gave a rebellious toss of her auburn curls. “Oh pooh to that. You have no experience whatsoever where men are concerned, Fina. Mama does, and she very much likes Mr. Talbot.”

“You said he was older. How much older than the other young men is he, then?”

Letty pouted as though she might be hiding something. “A few years.” This emerged as an unwilling mutter.

Serafina was not to be put off. “How many is a few?”

Now Letty scowled. “I suppose perhaps twenty…”

Serafina’s mouth fell open. “He’s twenty years older than your other callers? Is he older than your papa? I didn’t see you dance with anyone that age last night.”

Letty scowled. “Well I did, straight after supper. I don’t know where you’d got to, but you weren’t there to stop me. And I’m glad you didn’t, because he was so nice to me. So charming. He said I was the prettiest girl at the ball.” She giggled. “In fact all of them told me that, I think, so I know it to be true.”

Serafina opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again. Maybe this was the right move for Letty. A mature man could be what was needed to keep her in check, and surely someone that age would dote on a girl as young and pretty as she was. Plus he’d be unlikely to stray. Although, of course, he might have no intention of offering for her at all. She dismissed that final thought—a man of mature years would surely not be calling on a pretty debutante just to flirt. He would have marriage in mind.

“And you were indeed the prettiest girl at the ball,” Serafina said, as this was a sure way to mollify the vain Letty. “But we mustn’t count our chickens, my love. That was but the first ball you’ve been to. Best not to jump at the first man who catches your eye.”

Letty brightened. “You always say the right things, darling Fina. And you’re quite right about that. I shall encourage Mr. Talbot, of course, but if he makes an offer, I’ll think of some way to delay my reply. Who knows what might be waiting for me at the next ball, or the one after that.” She patted her curls again. “With my looks, Mama says, I would be able to snare a prince, were there one of the right age available.”

Serafina nodded, heartily relieved that the king’s sons were all too old. “And your mama is quite right.” At least this was taking her mind off what Araminta had said to her. Letty could be such a child at times, and her selfishness and vanity could be laid entirely at the door of her parents. Trying to iron these disastrous traits out of her was like banging your head against the proverbial brick wall. Perhaps what she needed was an older man who could persuade her into once more becoming the pleasant girl she’d been a few short years ago.

Serafina stalwartly refused to acknowledge the uncomfortable fact that all of the Gilbert children treated her in the same way—as someone not quite a servant but also not quite a member of the family, whom they could order about at their will. Following the lead shown to them by their parents, of course. Shunned by Araminta and Ogden and left to grow up uncared for, Serafina had found in the five Gilbert children, especially Letty, someone to lavish her love on, ignoring their faults. And in their way, they all loved her back.