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Lord Cavendish was one of the most pompous asses to ever grace London, and his wife, Lady Cavendish, was his match in everything. Towards the end of the season, they would throw a lavish ball as if to remind the rest of the Ton of their wealth.
Either that or they wished to remindthemselves, for it had been only a few years since they managed to recover their fortunes—all thanks to a distant, miserly uncle who had died without any heirs and left all of his hoarded wealth to a couple who were, even now, struggling to hold onto it.
In the past, he hardly paid much attention to Lord and Lady Cavendish and their ridiculous balls.
“In that case, Percy, prepare my clothes for tonight’s ball.”
The valet nodded. “Is there anything else you will need, Your Grace?”
Peace! Some blessed relief from this damned hell!Daniel wanted to say. Instead, he shook his head and said, “Inform Miss Melissa that she will be accompanying me to the ball tonight.”
If he was to suffer through, he might as well drag his cousin into it with him.
* * *
“Well, what did he say, Percy?”
No sooner had he finished his business with the Duke of Gilleton and left His Grace’s rooms then the poor valet was ambushed by the anxious Dowager Duchess and the young Miss Melissa.
Joyce Bolton held her breath, and when the valet nodded imperceptibly, she released it with a relieved smile.
“His Grace also gave the impression that he would appreciate it if Miss Melissa were to go as well,” Percy added.
The Dowager Duchess turned towards her niece and said, “It seems that you will need to prepare for tonight.”
Melissa put on a long-suffering expression and muttered a plaintive, “Must I?”
“Oh, do be a dear and show some support for your cousin,” Joyce sighed. “It is not every day that he actually finds a young lady he can not live without.”
“Can he not be insufferable while he is at it?”
The Dowager Duchess sadly shook her head. “I have a feeling it is only about to get worse before it does get better.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that, Aunt Joyce,” Melissa sighed despondently. She cast a glare in the direction of her cousin’s rooms. “Why does he torment himself so heedlessly? Since he is madly in love with her, he could just marry her and spare them both this agony!”
“Oh, my dear, sometimes the road is not always that easy,” the older lady replied with a knowing smile, “and then we compound it by adding more obstructions in our way.”
“In my opinion, all Daniel needs to do is get out of his own way, and his problems are solved!”
Her aunt just looked at her with a twinkle in her eyes and patted her cheek, “Then, I hope you can be just as sensible when it is your turn, dear one.”
Melissa looked horrified at the thought. “Oh, no, no, no!Non!”
The Dowager Duchess raised an eyebrow at her. “Oh, you will not be able to say that. Look at Daniel—he hardly ever expected to land himself in such a position, did he? And he has guarded himself rather ferociously the past few years.”
Although she was not quite as active on the social scene as she had been in the past, Joyce still maintained several connections from her youth, and through them, she learned that her son—while one of the most sought-after bachelors in all of London—had been less than tolerant of those who tried to cast their nets on him. A dowager countess even mentioned that he had sent a young lady to tears with his scathing remarks.
If all the beauties of London have failed to capture his interest as much as Lady Emily Montgomery has then I am all the more eager to learn how this rare woman managed to tie Daniel up in such knots!
“I was afraid you were going to say that,” Melissa sighed, “but the gentlemen in London are so…bland.”
“I am certain you will find someone who will suit you,” Joyce reassured her, patting her hand, “or your dear departed parents will never forgive me for not finding you a suitable match.”
“But I do not wish to marry a dandy!” the young lady protested.
“I am sure thereissomeone who is not as shallow.” The Dowager Duchess paused and continued, “Someone like your cousin, perhaps?”
“Heaven forbid!” Melissa gasped in horror. “I cannot decide if which one would be worse—someone so terrifyingly like Daniel or a bland dandy!”
