Page 56 of Earl, Enemy, Husband?

‘Mother,’ Graydon said reprovingly. ‘It is more than that for us. Florence deserves to know the truth.’

She stared at him. His face was set in grim lines. He looked every inch the nobleman, his cravat tied in some complicated knot, his black coat hugging tight to his broad shoulders, his hair brushed into a style they called a le brute.

‘What more?’ she asked.

His mother tutted. ‘You tell her.’

What on earth? ‘Yes. Please, tell me. Don’t let me trip over some deep, dark secret.’

His mother’s little intake of breath indicated she had hit a nail squarely on the head.

‘The last time my parents attended the duke’s ball, my father was thrown out bodily.’

Lady Blackdown made a small sound of distress.

‘I see. Embarrassing.’

‘Ruinous.’ Lady Blackdown sniffed. ‘Utterly ruinous.’

Graydon drummed his fingers on his knee. ‘This is the first time since then that any member of our family has been invited to attend. It has taken months of hard work on my part to get us this invitation. Things will go a great deal more easily for us, provided all goes well this evening.’

No wonder he had been so keen to show off his wealth. Perhaps she should have worn the emeralds after all. Mentally, she shook her head. The emeralds looked garish with her gown. It would have looked as if they were trying too hard. Her mother’s pearls were of the finest and they suited her.

‘Do you think there is any chance of us being turned away at the door?’ she asked.

‘Not the slightest. We are invited. My father had not been invited and he went anyway.’

‘He didn’t tell me,’ Lady Blackdown said. ‘It was awful.’

‘I can imagine,’ Florence said, leaning forward and stroking her mother-in-law’s hand. ‘I promise I will do nothing to disgrace you this evening.’

Lady Blackdown withdrew her hand, looking startled.

Graydon smiled at her and she felt the warmth of his smile across the carriage. ‘I know you won’t.’

Confidence rang in his voice. Her body hummed with pleasure. Perhaps tonight he would come to her again.

He had not visited her since the night of Almack’s, though she had lain awake waiting. She had begun to think she really had made a mull of it and wasn’t going to get a second chance.

How did one approach such a thing? Not to mention that the more time that had passed the stiffer they had become with each other. The less they had spoken. The more time he had dined out at his club.

Was she supposed to invite him to return to her room at the end of the evening? Or was she supposed wait until he deigned to visit? She really wished she had a mother who could answer such questions. She certainly didn’t feel comfortable asking Lady Blackdown. She had the feeling that Lady Blackdown repeated every conversation that were had between them to her son.

Outside the carriage, dusk began to settle over the countryside. Soon, the odd little cottage that lined the road on her side would show a glow at a window. Night inevitably drew in.

The carriage slowed and turned onto a gravel drive. ‘We are here,’ Lady Blackdown said. She sounded anxious.

Graydon stepped down when the footman opened the door and helped first his mother then Florence to alight.

Carriages lined the driveway up to the house. As soon as they were clear, their coachman drove off to allow the carriage behind them to draw up close to the front door. They walked arm-in-arm to where the front door stood open and a footman awaited.

‘Perfect timing,’ Lady Blackdown said. ‘Neither first nor last.’

A maid took their wraps. When the butler announced them, a few heads closest to the door turned to watch them enter. Their glances held curiosity, but no condemnation. Florence held her head high.

The receiving line consisted of the Duke and Duchess and two younger people. ‘Their children,’ Lady Blackdown informed her quietly.

They shook hands with the ducal pair. The son winked at Graydon. ‘Glad you could make it. And thank you for that other matter. All is settled.’