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Chapter Three
Vicky willed herself not to glance back at Mr. Ashford Northcott. She always called him both names in her head. For one thing, since he was one of five, the same as her, just calling him Mr. Northcott wouldn’t be sufficient to differentiate him from three of his brothers. Of course, the eldest brother, being heir to the Earl of Everleigh, had a courtesy title and was Lord something or other that she couldn’t recall just at the moment in her agitated state.
If only the man wasn’t still fixated on her sister. The Sherton sisters had met Mr. Ashford Northcott during that last fateful Season before Georgia, Bel, and Hil had gotten married. Before Grandmother Sherton had passed on, and before Baby Augustus was born. It felt as though it were another lifetime, but it was, in fact, not even two years ago. But it would seem the man hadn’t quite recovered from histendrefor Rosabel. He had tried courting Bel while she was already entangled with Wexford. Vicky had been surprised by the man’s interest in Rosabel, to be honest. He seemed far too open and forthright to be interested in the prim and self-contained Diamond that Bel had become as a debutante. But there you have it. There was no accounting for taste. Just look at her, nursing atendrefor a gentleman who was obviously interested in her happily married sister. It was most disheartening.
The fact that he was still in love with Rosabel was actually repulsive to Vicky. At least to her mind. But her ridiculous heart insisted upon increasing its pace in the most ridiculous fashion whenever the handsome man came into her vicinity. It truly made her question her own sanity. She couldn’t abide the thought of a man pursuing a married woman. And her sister at that. Thus, her terribly complicated reactions to the gentleman’s frequent calls upon her and Georgia.
His conversations were always most pleasant, and he could almost always make her laugh, even though she was determined not to be amused by a rake such as him. And of course, there was the fact that his dark, wavy hair, gray eyes, and firm, solid chin and jaw made her want to stare at him for at least the next decade. On the other hand, she could hardly bear to look at him whenever she remembered that he was still pining after her sister. How could she even consider such a misalliance? It would surely be a recipe for a disastrous life.
And now, Georgia had gone and invited the dratted man to the house party. Vicky was already afraid she was being less than grateful for her best friend’s hospitality. How could she tell her how she felt about Ashford Northcott? Besides the fact that she’d already issued the invitation to the man, there was no way that could reasonably be undone.
Vicky, pondering her concerns as she climbed the stairs to her bedchamber to leave off her outerwear, reminded herself with a mental shrug that she had already accepted that she wouldn’t find her match this Season. She had already proven to herself that she could bear anything for a short period of time. However long Ashford Northcott was at the house party, while it might feel interminable, that too would pass by, and then she could enjoy the rest of her visit with Georgia until she returned home to Glendale. Then, one of her older sisters would surely be ready to chaperone her next year.
She sighed heavily. She truly didn’t want to wait another year.
“What’s troubling my lady?”
Vicky started and then laughed, surprised to find her maid waiting for her.
“My continued unwed state, to be perfectly honest. Have you heard? Parliament has closed suddenly, and we are to leave Town shortly. It seems I have failed once more.”
“Tut tut, now my dear lady,” the older servant chided, making Vicky feel momentarily as though she were with her governess rather than her personal servant. The brief sensation made her grin as the maid continued. “Seems to me, it’s the gents who’ve failed you, certainly not the other way around.”
“I sincerely appreciate your loyalty, Dolly, but either way, I haven’t made a match, and now the Season is to end, sooner than expected.”
“From what I’ve heard, there’s still several weeks yet. Some here in Town, and some more at his lordship’s fancy estate. Surely, you haven’t given up.”
Vicky laughed over the servant’s dramatic, perhaps feigned, shock.
“You should know that a Sherton never gives up. Recent family events give rather strong evidence in that regard. But perhaps, a strategic retreat for a time might be in order.”
The servant looked puzzled over her words for a moment but then shook her head firmly. “Seems to me that five weeks is surely sufficient for one such as you. Your sisters matched just that fast, once they finally put their minds to it. Surely, you are far and away smarter, nicer, and prettier than either of them.”
“Now you’re being silly, but I do appreciate your point. What you’re saying is, with five or so weeks left, a retreat would be premature.”
The maid nodded even though her expression wasn’t thoroughly convinced. “Seems to me, you need to put your mind to considering just who the countess ought to put on her list of guests.”
Vicky laughed and squeezed the servant’s hand tightly. “You are completely right, Dolly. What would I do without you? I will start contemplating it tonight at the rout.”
“Why wait? You surely know everyone who could possibly be invited.”
Vicky paced around the room in agitation. The servant was right. But it was the same old problem. During her first Season, her heart had decided to go in one direction while her mind had chosen another. But as she had told her sister two years ago, truly, as long as a man treated his servants and animals well, he would probably make an acceptable husband. She shouldn’t be so picky. She could ignore her heart.
But she feared ending up like Ashford Northcott, pining for someone not her mate. It had been so much easier to envision a convenient alliance until she methim.
There was a knock on the door scant seconds before Georgia’s head appeared around the door.
“Oh good, you’re back,” she said rather redundantly as she strode into the room and threw herself upon Vicky’s bed. “Crossley said Parliament is likely to be recalled, so we ought to plan our house party as quickly as possible. I’ve always wanted to see the estate in May, so I’m actually rather excited about this. And if it’s recalled for the summer, then I’ll still be able to come back to Town with you, as I shouldn’t be too obviously showing by then.”
“Georgia Horton Crossley,” Vicky began in a stern tone. “You needn’t be troubling yourself with me. In fact, I think I ought to return home to Glendale. Mother will, no doubt, be at her wit’s end by now and will be thrilled to have me back. And Crossley will be delighted to have me out from under his feet.”
“Don’t you Georgia Horton me, Vigilia Sherton,” Georgia countered with a mock glare as her face threatened to split into a grin. “You know, I’m even more delighted to have you than Cris might be to see the back of you. Actually, I take that back. My husband is happy to have you here, and I’m relieved that I have an excellent reason not to take to my bed for the next seven months.” Sitting up from where she had thrown herself upon Vicky’s bed, Georgia patted the place beside her. “Come now, Vick, you know your mother would rather see you wed than have your help at home. And you know even more that we’ll never have this chance again. You’re going to wed, and I’m with child. This is the last chance, the only chance, really, for me to be your hostess without any other encumbrances. Don’t shortchange me by speaking of leaving early.”
Vicky sat beside her and leaned her head on her friend’s shoulder. “I just hate to think I’m burdening you, George. I ought to have found someone by now.”
“It really hasn’t been very long at all, and well you know it. You’ve only been here a month. In fact, the Season is barely underway, since the wet spring prohibited travel for so many.”
“You were in Town a day when you met Crossley and were engaged to marry him before your intended two weeks were up.”
