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Chapter 25
It took a few more hours to cajole Jo into going to the ball. She resisted, pleaded, and tried seducing him out of the idea, but in the end, here she stood, all dressed up and ready to go to the dreaded ball.
Her hair was swept up in intricate curls, her gown was hugging her curves perfectly.
Richard entered her room with a purposeful stride only to freeze a few steps beyond the threshold, his hand on his heart. “You look ravishing, my dear.” His voice was hoarse.
He looked down at his hand and then stepped closer. “This,” he said, as he raised his hand with a beautiful ruby choker, “will be perfect on you.” He placed it against her throat and walked behind her to fasten it.
Jo’s hand instantly went to her neck. She stepped toward the looking glass and stared at the beautiful jewel.
“It’s a family heirloom,” Richard said, looking at her reflection. “It belongs to Viscountess Gage. To you.”
Jo closed her eyes and swallowed. She’d never had family heirlooms. Well, perhaps she had, but her mother had sold anything of value long before Jo knew what the word heirloom meant.
Her mother had done her best to provide for her daughter even though she’d been cursed by society to live a filthy life and sell her body for money. And that exact society was the one that now bemoaned Jo for it.
Perhaps Richard was right. They should go to the ball. He wasn’t ashamed of her. And neither was Jo ashamed of her mother. Thetoncould choke from outrage for all she cared.
She was going to go to the ball. And she was going to dance with her husband. And she was going to do it in her mother’s honor.
She jumped at the sound of the knock on the door. She wasn’t as calm and self-assured as she thought she was. Well, she was an actress; she’d work on that.
“It’s probably just my sisters,” Richard said with a smile.
Jo nodded. Richard had sent a note to his sisters to join them here and travel to the ball together. He wanted Jo to have female companionship. Besides, being surrounded by a marquess and a baron could soften the blow.
Richard’s brothers would meet them at the ball, too. But there was no one else to stand beside them.
Jo was certain the Duchess of Somerset would stand by her side, too. But she was still at her cousin’s estate, recovering from mourning her dear cousin’s passing.
It all felt surreal to Jo. Her powerful friends. This ball. The paper. It felt as though it wasn’t her life. Perhaps a dream. But then she looked at Richard and she prayed for it all to be real.
She didn’t care about anything else. As long as he was by her side.
He kissed her bare shoulder and smiled his dear smile. “Come. Let’s greet my sisters.”
Jo nodded, took his arm, and together they went downstairs to greet their guests.
“You look wonderful, dear!” Isabel said with a wide smile as she noticed Jo’s approach on her husband’s arm.
“Absolutely!” Sam echoed.
Their husbands bowed politely.
“Let’s adjourn to the parlor,” Richard said.
He offered everyone a glass of wine once they were assembled.
“I understand you’re anxious to introduce Jo to society, but is today the best day to do it?” Lord Vane asked after the pleasantries were disposed of.
“Yes. Otherwise, thetonwill speculate that we are hiding with our tails tucked between our legs.”
“I’d say that is the best course of action at the moment,” Lord Ashbury chimed in.
Richard threw him a disdainful gaze. It was obvious that Richard didn’t have much love for his brothers-in-law, and yet, here they all were, ready to land him a hand when he needed it, nonetheless.
“Do not mock it, Richard,” Sam stepped in. “You and I both know that it would be better had we more support. If Evie was here. The approval of a duchess would smooth things over quicker than anything we do.”
