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Chapter Six
“He’s horrible,” Lady Josephine whispered to Lady Hermione when they ran into each other in the ladies’ cloakroom later in the evening. “And the mother—!”
“Hush, Jo, keep your voice down. Yes, they say the mother’s a shrew. But I’ve heard nothing either way about the son—he’s been mostly away from England the past ten years or more, commanding various ships and fleets. Maybe he’s not that bad.”
“He is, I can tell. I tried to be nice to him each time he asked me to dance. He barely replied, except in monosyllables. He stared out into space throughout each dance, as if he couldn’t bear wasting his precious time on me.”
“Well, maybe he and the old mother won’t likeyou, and then you’ll be free to look around thetonfor someone nicer. Come on, Jo, we must go back in, before people notice our absence.”
One person had noticed her absence.
Ace had been trailing her unobtrusively all evening, hovering on the sidelines among the servants.So this is the bridegroom-to-be. Very much the naval officer. But not much of a man, for all that. I’d beat him in the boxing ring, I wager.
He noticed Lady Josephine’s attempts to be charming to the fellow. He noticed how the great Earl and Admiral rebuffed her, every time.Why, what I wouldn’t give for a glance like that from her, for the chance to hold her in my arms and dance with her.Whenever he watched them, it made his blood boil.
* * *
Apparently, despite Lady Josephine’s hopes, the Worthingtonsdidlike her, or they liked who they thought she was. And so, after the night of the Dowager Countess’ ball, things moved quickly.
On the next afternoon after the Dowager Countess’ ball, the Dowager Countess and her twin daughters, Lady Prudence and Lady Prunella, left their cards for Lady Josephine and Lady Seraphina—a singular honor, for the Worthingtons were known not to socialize much, even among their own elite circle.
Lady Josephine and Lady Seraphina were then obliged, of course, to ride out in their carriage the same day and leave cards for the three Worthington ladies, letting them know they would be “at home” to guests the following afternoon. Ace followed them on horseback, drawing no attention to himself.
The Worthington mother and daughters arrived promptly the next day to Clover House to attend them “at home.” Lady Hermione and a few other guests were already present. Tea was served, along with a collation of delicacies: tiny sandwiches, Continental pastries and chunks of a splendid fruit cake. The latter was the pride of Clover House’s cook, Mrs. Donovan, acknowledged as one of the best pastry chefs in London.
The Dowager Countess and her lady daughters nibbled a few bites.
“The weather is mild for this time of year,” Lady Josephine remarked to the Dowager Countess.
“Indeed,” answered the Dowager Countess. “Worthington Hall, being further south, sees warmer weather earlier than the capital does.”
“I hear spring at Worthington Hall is magnificent. How you must miss it!” said Lady Seraphina obsequiously.
“Indeed,” the Dowager Countess replied. She seemed disinclined to waste much conversation on a mere widowed relation.
They chatted only with Lady Josephine and, to a lesser extent, Lady Seraphina. Seeing that the Dowager Countess had no cream, Lady Hermione attempted to pass it. She received, in return, a look poisonous enough to sour the cream.
After about fifteen minutes—barely enough time to be polite—the Worthington ladies rose. The rest of the party rose courteously when they did. Signaling a footman for their wraps, the Dowager Countess made faint excuses to Lady Seraphina about another social obligation. Then they were gone.
Upon their departure, a breeze of relief seemed to waft through the remaining party. Lady Hermione gestured to Lady Josephine to excuse herself for a few moments and join her in another room.
“They really are dreadful, Jo!” Lady Hermione said, once the girls were briefly free to talk alone. “They were too high and mighty to talk to anyone but you and ‘Phina. When I tried to pass the cream, the old biddy practically cut me, because of my mother’s current bad behavior, I suppose.”
“And, Hermie, the daughters spoke to no one but each other. They just looked down their long noses at everyone. I saw them eyeing all the furniture, as if planning on how they’d redecorate the place if they had the chance. Including figuring out what dark corner I could be left in, like a chaise with a stain on it that you don’t want guests to notice.”
“How will you ever manage it, then, Jo? Because most of the time, it will feel like you’re married to them, not his lordship the Earl. He’ll be off at sea for months at a time.”
“I don’t know, Hermie, I just don’t know.”
* * *
After that, a message came from Lady Prudence, asking if Lady Seraphina would do them the honor the following day of riding with the Worthington sisters in their carriage along Rotten Row. If acceptable, their lord brother the Earl would accompany Lady Josephine on horseback.
This was a standard arrangement. The couple would be able to chat, largely out of earshot of their chaperones, but in full view at all times.
The Worthington carriage arrived at the appointed time. The Clover House grooms had Lady Josephine’s mount, a mettlesome bay filly, brought from the stables behind the townhouse. The Earl preceded his lady sisters’ carriage, riding a striking gelding with an almost silver-white coat.
He did not dismount to help Lady Josephine onto her horse, as one would expect a gentleman courting a lady to do. Instead, he let her stand there in the road for a moment, until Lady Seraphina, standing just behind her cousin, beckoned to one of the Clover House footmen to assist.
