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The footman bowed and left.
“What a surprise for us all to hear the announcement of your betrothal at the Meltons’ assembly last week, Louisa,” the duchess said, not being one to beat around the bush.
Louisa glanced at Mama, unsure how to proceed.
Mama simply returned Louisa’s look with a raised eyebrow and a nod, which, translated, meant, “This is for you to explain, not me.”
Louisa opened her mouth to speak, although what she intended to say, she wasn’t entirely sure—
“Here you are, my dear!” Papa poked his head through the door. “I’ve been looking for you—what ho! We have a guest, I see! Always a pleasure to see you, Your Grace.” He strode across the room and bowed over the duchess’s hand and then gave Mama a kiss on the cheek.
Louisa blinked at the sight. A kiss, even on the cheek, was a highly intimate thing for him to do in front of company, even an old friend such as the duchess. And yet it also warmed Louisa’s heart to see them share their love for each other so openly.
“The combined beauty in this room quite eclipses the sun,” Papa said.
“You’re laying it on thick, Ashworth,” Mama said with twinkling eyes.
He laughed. “Not in the least, my dear, I assure you.”
“I am here to learn all about Louisa’s betrothal to Viscount Farleigh.” Once again, the duchess cut through the small talk to get to the point.
“Ah, yes,” Papa murmured, becoming a bit more serious.
“We had expected an announcement of some sort to be forthcoming, you know, but I daresay we were all caught by surprise.”
“Life does tend to offer its share of surprises, does it not?” Papa glanced over his shoulder as the footman brought in the tea service. “Here is your tea, ladies. I shall, therefore, excuse myself, as this conversation cannot be enhanced by the presence of a lowly male.” He bowed and left.
It appeared to Louisa as if he couldn’t escape quickly enough when he realized what the topic of conversation was to be.
“Milk or lemon, Martha?” Mama asked.
“Milk, please.”
While Mama set about pouring tea, Louisa reflected on what she’d observed about the Duke and Duchess of Atherton over the years.
The duke and duchess’s affection for each other was no pretense, just as her parents’ love for each other was also obvious to her. It should make her feel better to know there were married couples within the highest levels of Society who actually loved each other. Such emotions were often frowned upon and were rarely even considered when brokering marriages—and yet Louisa had always yearned for such a match.
It was utterly discouraging, she thought as she sipped her tea, to think of spending her entire life with an indifferent partner.
“Viscount Farleigh has been on everyone’s tongues the past several days,” the duchess said. She took a small bite of biscuit and chewed thoughtfully. “I vaguely remember his father, the former viscount. I saw him on a few occasions over the years, but we were never introduced.” Her tone implied that the former Viscount Farleigh’s reputation would have prevented him from having any personal connection to the duke and duchess. “Handsome man, when he was younger—” Meaning, he hadn’t aged well. Louisa had spent enough time with Mama in the duchess’s company to infer the real meaning behind what she was saying.
“I was rather hoping, Martha, if I may be so bold . . .” Mama’s words trailed off.
“Yes?” the duchess said before taking a sip of tea.
“Well, Louisa is my only daughter, as you know, and . . .”
The duchess took another bite of biscuit, obviously waiting for Mama to dig herself out of the hole she was making for herself.
“I am not nearly as adept at . . . um . . .” Mama threw her hands in the air and gave up speaking altogether.
“Leave off, Eleanor. I take your meaning and am not insulted in the least. It takes a certain skill and a bit of luck to be privy to idle chatter without actually being called a gossip. It also helps that I’m a duchess, and people seem to think providing me with juicy information is a coup of some sort.”
She dabbed at her chin with her napkin before continuing. “The Earl of Kerridge, whom we all expected Louisa to marry, is the catch of the Season,” the duchess continued. “As rich as Croesus, incredibly handsome, and Aylesham’s heir, to boot. A future duke who isn’t round about the middle and still has all his hair is a rare commodity—and he was Louisa’s for the plucking, from what I saw and heard.” She looked directly at Louisa with gimlet eyes.
How was she to respond? She couldn’t simply blurt out that she’d been won in a wager. No one could know of those circumstances beyond the few who already did, and heaven forbid those few share their knowledge with anyone else. Louisa bit her lip, holding back the words and looking at Mama in panic, passing the responsibility back to her.
Mama cleared her throat. “Sadly, Martha, they ultimately did not suit,” she said rather unconvincingly. Her eyes flickered back toward Louisa as though she knew she’d failed; it would never be enough to satisfy The General.
