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“It is time, then, is it not?” Aylesham said. “My dear sister Rebecca, won’t you kindly be seated?”
She did as instructed, and he took the crutches from her and set them aside. Then he went to a side cupboard and removed a box and a delicate-looking cane. “You recall that I had an idea I spoke of early this week. Well, I took the liberty of speaking to Dr. Archibald once again,” he said. “The doctor agreed that since Almack’s is but three days before your official healing time of six weeks is over, if you are careful and with a few precautions we discussed, we might remove your splint. Ergo”—he dropped to one knee before her—“I had the liberty of having these dance slippers made for you. They aren’t quite as comely as regular dance slippers, but I think you’ll agree that they are an improvement to a splint and a set of crutches.”
He handed her the box, and she removed the lid. Inside were a pair of ivory slippers, but one slipper had a sort of—what would one call it?—corset that went from the heel of the shoe to above her ankle. It was made of a stiff, ivory-colored fabric with sewn columns that appeared to hold whalebone. The inside was lined with soft fabric, and the entire shoe laced up the front—truly, it was much like a lady’s corset only fitted to support her ankle.
“You should be able to put a bit of weight on that ankle,” Aylesham said, still on one knee. “Would you allow me? I feel rather like Cinderella’s prince down here and may as well make myself useful. Perhaps you would assist, my love?”
Susan crouched next to him and began cutting the linen strips from Rebecca’s leg with scissors that had materialized from somewhere, and then she set the strips and the leather splints aside. She removed Rebecca’s slipper from her uninjured foot as Aylesham waited patiently for her to finish.
Rebecca could hardly speak as he slipped the customized shoe onto her foot and over her ankle, gently tightening the ribbons on it until it felt secure, then he tied a bow and affixed a knot atop the bow for extra measure. “There,” he said. “I may as well outdo Cinderella’s prince,” he said, taking the second slipper from Susan and placing it on Rebecca’s other foot. “Now, before you rise to try out your new footwear,” he said, “there is one more thing.” He picked up the cane. “You are still not to overdo it, you know, and I suspect that using both feet after such a long time will feel strange at first. This should help you feel more secure on your feet. And it looks, I daresay, as elegant a walking stick as was ever seen in the hand of any gentleman or lady.”
It truly was a lovely cane, made of pale oak that had been polished to a high sheen. The knob at the top was enamel and inlaid with mother of pearl. Rebecca ran her fingers over it and looked back at Aylesham. The duke, whose glare usually terrified others, looked back at her with warmth and brotherly tenderness.
“Thank you so much,” Rebecca said. “They’re perfect.” She dashed a tear from her eye.
“None of that, now,” Aylesham said. “I can scarcely keep my handkerchief to myself when your sister is present. I shall have to start carrying two if I’m to escort the both of you around Town.”
“He exaggerates,” Susan said. “Although he has come to my rescue—or shall I say his handkerchief has—a time or two. Shall we be off?”
Aylesham rose to his feet and offered his hand to Rebecca. “Shall we take a turn about the room first so you can see how the new shoes feel?”
“Oh, yes, please!” Rebecca said.
With his assistance, she stood.
It was truly odd to put weight on her ankle after so many weeks. She stood still for a moment, waiting for a sharp pain or any weakness to make itself known. But there was none. So, with one hand in the crook of Aylesham’s elbow and the cane in her other hand, they made their way around his study.
And then the three of them left for Almack’s.
* * *
Almack’s exceeded all of Rebecca’s wildest imaginings. The chandeliers blazed; the various scents of perfume mingled with that of melting candle wax; the colors of the ladies’ gowns created a bright contrast to the gentlemen’s evening attire. In the background, the orchestra was playing a lively reel.
Rebecca had barely entered the doors when she and Susan were introduced to Lady Cowper, one of Almack’s patronesses, who seemed congenial and welcoming.
“Don’t let that first introduction fool you,” Aylesham said after they’d walked away from her. “Lady Cowper is pleasant, especially when compared with some of the—ah, Lady Jersey!”
The patroness he addressed had cut through the crush of people and was now standing before them. Even back home in Lincolnshire, Rebecca had heard tales of Lady Jersey, who had a reputation for being a bit overly dramatic. She was a handsome woman with dark hair that nearly rivaled Susan’s and was dressed in a lavish gown of deep violet with a matching turban as well as amethysts surrounded by diamonds at her neck and ears. She didn’t look particularly happy at present and eyed Rebecca and Susan with indifference.
“I hope you will allow me to present my bride and her sister to you,” Aylesham said calmly. “The Duchess of Aylesham and Miss Rebecca Jennings. Susan, Rebecca, may I present Lady Jersey, one of the fine patronesses of these assembly rooms.”
“Duchess, Miss Jennings,” Lady Jersey said with an aloof nod. Suddenly, some sort of enlightenment struck her. “Ah, Aylesham and his duchess! Prinny is not pleased with either of you, not pleased in the least, you know.” She wagged a finger at him. “I was nearly beside myself when I heard what had happened at Prinny’s party. Didn’t attend, myself. Family and all that.” Her smile held just the tiniest smirk.
“Silence!” someone said behind them.
Lady Jersey glanced behind her to see who had spoken and then returned her gaze to Rebecca and the others. “Welcome to Almack’s,” she said before sauntering off.
“Her nickname is Silence, lest you think someone was being ill-mannered,” Aylesham murmured.
“That explains a great deal, in an ironic way,” Susan murmured back.
Rebecca stifled a giggle as her eyes followed Lady Jersey, who was now speaking in a rather dramatic fashion to an older gentleman and lady.
“I hope you’re ready,” Aylesham said. “After receiving particular notice from Lady Jersey, you are about to be inundated with introductions.” He offered an elbow to each sister. “Let us proceed farther into the assembly rooms, shall we? I’m certain we can find the perfect spot where you may rest your foot briefly before you are introduced to the young ladies and fawning gentlemen in attendance.”
They’d barely taken two steps when a beaming elderly woman approached and was introduced as Lady Bledsoe. “I’m utterly delighted to see you all here!” she exclaimed, clasping her hands to her breast. “I assured dear Lady Walmsley that I would take good care of you this evening, as she was engaged elsewhere.”
Rebecca wondered how Aylesham was going to respond to the idea that he needed to be watched over by an elderly countess. “How very thoughtful of you, Lady Bledsoe,” Susan replied before Aylesham could do so much as lift his quizzing glass.
