AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Five
Three days hadpassed since the ball, and Aurora had not heard from Perin. She thought no more about him, for she and her mother had been kept quite busy preparing for their upcoming Christmas party. But her heart sank when Perin’s note was delivered, sending his regrets. “Mama, he says he cannot make it.”
“Aurora, I am so sorry,” her mother said with a shake of her head. “I asked him to reconsider, but I suppose his decision is firm. I know how much you like him.”
She cast her mother a pained look. “Mama, I think I am in love with him. Would you and Papa approve?”
“I would not have invited him to tea that day if your father and I did not think him suitable. Perhaps he will have a change of heart once the scandal of that fight at the ball dies down. They called you London’s Helen of Troy and made Perin out to be the villain of the piece, stealing you from that awful Rodrick, as though that puffed up rogue ever had a claim on you. Your Papa and I would never have allowed it. Rodrick was a sniveling weasel, even as a little boy.”
“It does not matter. He has made his decision. I had better get ready, or I shall be late for the concert at St. Martin’s rectory. Justine and her father will be along shortly to pick me up. Harriet is also coming with us.”
“I thought you were no longer consorting with those friends?”
“I won’t after this concert, but the tickets were purchased weeks ago, our plans made before the incident at the ball. The recital is in a church, so the outing ought to be harmless enough.Hymns for the Holidaysis the program.” She bussed her mother’s cheek. “I’ll be home in plenty of time for supper.”
But no sooner had they arrived at St. Martin’s Church than Justine’s father abandoned them at the steps and rode off in his carriage. Aurora watched his fine conveyance take off at a fast clip, almost knocking down passersby as it took the corner too fast. “Justine, what is happening? Your father was supposed to serve as our chaperone.”
“He is off to see his mistress,” she said, sounding quite unperturbed about it.
Harriet rolled her eyes. “You did not think any of us actually planned to go to the recital, did you? In a church, no less?”
Fool. Fool. Fool.
She ought to have known better than to trust them. “In fact, I did. Where are you two going?”
“To meet Rodrick and his friends,” Justine said, pointing to a sleek, black carriage led by a pair of beautiful, matched bays standing down the street. “Join us. Papa will be back to pick us up in two hours. It has all been arranged.”
“No, I am going in. I will see you back here once the recital is over.”
Harriet shrugged. “Come on, Justine. Rodrick is waving to us.”
Aurora was shaking with anger, mostly at herself for ever thinking this outing would be harmless. She wasn’t certain what to do now. She stood on the front steps, ignoring the chill wind as she looked up at the massive church doors.
Should she go in?
Hail a hansom cab and go straight home?
She tugged her cloak more securely about her, wishing she had thought to bring a scarf. But she had not planned on standing outside very long, nor had she realized quite how cold the day was turning out to be.
“Aurora?”
She recognized that deep, resonant voice and smiled in relief as Perin reached her side. “Are you attending the concert, too?”
He arched an eyebrow, the one that had been cut in the fight at the ball and was now bruised and scabbed over. He still looked devastatingly handsome. “No, I happen to live around the corner. Are you here with your parents?”
She shook her head. “I came with Justine and Harriet. Justine’s father was supposed to be our chaperone.”
“Supposed to be? What happened?”
She quickly told him how they had all taken off and left her on the steps. “It is all my fault for trusting them. I never expected…well, it did not occur to me that the church recital was a cover for their illicit liaisons. Now I am alone and must find my own way home.”
“De Veres abandoned you?”
Aurora thought if he were any angrier, smoke would pour from his ears. “Justine said he would return for us in two hours. I’m not sure I believe her.”
“A man like that cannot be counted upon. Nor does he appear to care what his daughter and her friends did once left on their own. Justine is no virtuous maiden. Nor is that silly goose, Harriet. But I do not like that you are associated with them.”
“I do not like it either. I have been silently kicking myself for my stupidity these past ten minutes. I had already planned to cut ties with them after today.”
