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Chapter One
Vicky stared out the window onto the quiet street and tried not to sigh. She couldn’t quite put a finger on why she was feeling so disconsolate. She should be beside herself with delight. And she was. Really. But her time in London just wasn’t turning out to be quite as delightful as she had expected or hoped. Perhaps it was because she was getting a little long in the tooth for being a debutante. She actually hoped it was that. But Vicky was rather afraid that it was jealousy, pure and simple, or impure and simple, depending on how sticky you wanted to be about words.
That thought finally did produce a sigh. Lady Vigilia Sherton, the middle of the Earl of Sherton’s five daughters, was jealous of her best friend.
It was a terribly lowering thing to discover about oneself. It most certainly wasn’t anyone’s fault but her own.
Georgia was the most generous of hostesses. And she didn’t evenhaveto sponsor Vicky. She was kindness personified, and Vicky felt most dreadful for being jealous of her dear friend.
But one couldn’t get around the fact that Georgia, or rather Countess Crossley, Vicky corrected herself mentally, had exactly the sort of life that Vicky wished for herself – a devoted husband, a sweet stepson, and as they’d just discovered, a baby on the way. Vicky was thrilled for her friend. Especially since Georgia and her husband had begun to worry why there hadn’t been a baby sooner, as they’d been married now for almost two years. Vicky knew Georgia would make a wonderful mother since she had observed her with the earl’s son, Christopher, after she had taken up residence with Georgia and the earl.
Vicky should actually be counting her blessings. The fact that they’d only just found out about the baby meant that Georgia could continue to sponsor Vicky for at least a couple more months. Vick didn’t know what she was going to do if she didn’t have a suitor by the time Crossley decided he couldn’t allow his wife to be gadding about any longer. As it was, the instant he found out he had wanted to sweep Georgia off to his estate and keep her confined for the next six or seven months. Fortunately, Georgia had her husband quite tied around her fingers and was able to insist that she wouldn’t be able to bear the boredom that would ensue after so long in the country.
“I can’t believe he accepted me at my word, Vick,” Georgia had said with a laugh. “He knows I love the country and Crossley. But I’m glad he did. It wasn’t a total lie. If he wants me to take to my bed until the babe arrives, I really do fear for my sanity.”
“Perhaps you ought to listen to him, George. If it took you this long to get with child, perhaps you really should cosset yourself as he’d like.”
“Don’t be a looby, Vick. I feel as healthy as a horse. I’m sure to get as big as one soon, too, with how my appetite has been. But for now, I’m perfectly fit and have no desire to miss out on this time with you. I know it’s only the strange combination of circumstances that has even allowed it. Fate forced your mother’s hand, and I’m not about to take that gift for granted.”
“Your babe on the way is a gift that ought not be taken for granted, either.”
Georgia had stared at Vicky with incredulity written all over her pretty features. “I’m fairly certain I can manage to do both at once. In fact, the babe seems to be doing everything for itself. All I need to do is eat and sleep, and he or she does the rest. So no, I’m not running off to the country just yet. I’ve finally gotten you all to myself. I have every intention of enjoying each moment of it before your mother discovers that her own babe needn’t keep her at home.”
Vicky’s face flooded with heat. She still hadn’t gotten over the embarrassment of her baby brother’s birth. It was nothing short of a miracle. One which should be celebrated. But Vicky found it disconcerting. She was a grown woman. Her two older sisters actually had their own babies on the way, which was why they couldn’t sponsor her for the Season. Rosabel had presented Wexford with his heir more than a year ago and was hoping this one would be a girl. Hilaria was struggling through the final stages of her first pregnancy, but the doctor had told them they were expecting twins. Vicky loved being an aunt to her oldest sister’s baby boy and was looking forward to the three infants on the way. But having a newborn baby brother was just strange. He was younger than his own nephew. Vicky thought her parents were too old for such goings on. Of course, they had thought so, too, which was why Lady Sherton had been in bed for months. The rejoicing on the estate when the boy had arrived safe and sound had been a sight to behold, but it was still strange and Vicky wasn’t disappointed to be away for a while.
Surely it would pass. Vicky had managed not to allow others to know about her embarrassment. It had been the subject of much discussion when she had finally arrived in Town. Everyone seemed to think it was the best jest, and it was on everyone’s lips. Of course, most were happy for her family. Finally — the long awaited heir had been born after five girls and several losses. Vigilia was only glad she hadn’t been around when their distant cousin had found out. He certainly couldn’t have been pleased, since he had been long expecting to inherit Sherton.
If only she could find a husband and get on with her life. It seemed to Vicky as though this Season business was just keeping her life in suspension. She ought to have found her husband during her first Season two years ago. But there had been all the weddings – both her sisters and Georgia got married within a few months of each other. And then Grandmother Sherton had died, sending them all into mourning and out of the social whirl.
Vicky didn’t mind staying at home. She loved their estates. With her sister Hilaria’s marriage, their father had started teaching Vicky more about the running of the estates, since Hil had been such a help to him. Of course, now, with there finally being a boy, Father would have someone to train and leave it all to. He could have left Glendale to his daughters, of course, as it wasn’t entailed. Hilaria would have been the logical choice, but of course, the man wanted to treat his daughters as fairly as possible so had never chosen one of them as his heir. Now, it was a moot point with little Augustus enlivening the nursery. Such a large, auspicious name for such a little creature.
With another sigh, Vigilia turned away from the uninspiring prospect out the window. She had to face the facts. She just hadn’t taken. Rosabel had been the beauty and, she supposed, Hilaria had been the brains. They had each contracted brilliant matches. And then there was Vicky. Neither spectacularly beautiful nor outstandingly intelligent. She was just herself. And there didn’t appear to be terribly many eligible gentlemen fighting for the privilege of claiming her hand. It was disheartening. Especially when she was forced to witness the joy and marital harmony her friend was enjoying.
It was true. Lady Vigilia Sherton was a selfish beast. She was even jealous of her sisters. But at least she wasn’t forced to actually witness their bliss on a daily basis, only suffering through pages of it whenever they wrote.
The tread of heavy footsteps in the hallway broke Vicky out of her negative thoughts and announced the imminent arrival of Crossley onto the scene. Furrowing her brow as she glanced at the clock, Vicky wondered what would have brought him home at such an hour.
“Parliament has been dissolved,” he declared immediately upon crossing the threshold, as though it were just bursting from him.
Vicky had to laugh. Crossley did his duty in the House of Lords, but it was obviously not his favourite activity.
Georgia frowned. “Is that not odd? There is usually at least another month.”
“Yes, isn’t it delightful? Now, I can take you home to Crossley just as I wished.” He nearly crowed with glee. Suddenly, no doubt in response to some sort of invisible communication from his wife, he glanced at Vicky, almost wincing.
“My apologies, my lady, I did not in the least wish to imply…”
Vicky cut him off, waving away his stammering apology. “Never mind that, Crossley, I haven’t taken the least offence, I can assure you. But quickly, you must tell us what has happened and what it all means.”
She was forced to stifle another sigh when the earl exchanged another expressive glance with his wife. Vicky couldn’t prevent her gaze from flicking between the two of them. She couldn’t interpret what they were communicating between themselves, but it seemed as though they had an entire conversation that excluded Vicky, and without a single word being said. She was reminded once more just how very jealous she was of her friend’s relationship. It was a lowering thought that she wished to ignore.
“How terribly disappointing,” Georgia finally remarked, breaking the silence and bringing Vicky’s frowning scrutiny toward her when Crossley appeared suddenly at a loss for words.
“Why disappointing? Crossley is most likely thrilled,” Vicky observed with a smile.
“Well yes, not disappointing for him, but for us.” When Vicky continued to frown in confusion, Georgia laughed. “You are still the most easy-going of women, Vick. You don’t think about yourself nearly enough. That must come from being in the middle of all you girls.”
Vicky laughed but wasn’t side tracked. “But why ought I to be disappointed? Now, Crossley will be available to escort us about as you always prefer.”
