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Chapter Twenty-Three
The Duchess of Beaufort, the young widow, typically flaunted her late husbands’ wealth and title in throwing a lavish ball at the end of each Season since her husband’s death. She invited the most notable debutantes of the Season, the peerage with the most influence, and whoever else she deemed to be entertaining and interesting within theton.
Being invited to the ball itself was an honor. Knowing that she was going to be a part of the spectacle filled Lydia with dread. As she dressed that afternoon, she felt sick to her stomach, fearing that she would vomit all over her snow-white dress.
“You must relax,” Trinity said, pinning curls in her hair. “Else you really will give thetonsomething to gossip about.”
“I do not know how I shall bear this evening,” she said. “As soon as the duke tells someone that we’ve broken off our engagement, I shall be put on the spot to explain the reason. I cannot lie again for another fake engagement.”
“Why should there be another suitor at all?” Trinity argued. “He’s the rake. Why shouldn’t you tell everyone the truth?”
“I cannot bear to insult him.”
“Well, whatever his excuse is, it’s a lie that he would use to insult you. How can you not reciprocate?”
“Perhaps because I am not a mean-spirited person,” she sniffed. Covering her face in her hands, she sighed.
“If anyone asks you, you must raise your chin and tell them exactly the truth. He’s a rake. Plain and simple, and you will not put up with it. Tell them you put him off.”
Lydia started to protest.
“No! You will retake control by having the audacity to put off a duke. You will look so much more appetizing to any other suitor.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“That’s why you have sisters,” Trinity grinned, meeting her gaze in the reflection in the mirror as she stood behind her. Lydia reached up to hold her hand over her shoulder, smiling.
“Walk right into that ball and smile and dance like anything. Flirt with the suitors. Do not show the world your hurt, such that they may throw salt in your wounds. Patch yourself up, show everyone that you are not to be trifled with. You are worth more than he has treated you.”
Breathing deeply, Lydia tilted her head in the mirror, observing the work her sister had done with her hair.
“You look absolutely stunning in that dress,” Trinity said. “You will have an offer before the night is out, I’m sure of it.”
* * *
Even though he had been friends with the duchess since boyhood, he had never attended one of her balls. She had been a kind, sweet girl in their youth, but the power she obtained after marrying her husband had gone to her head. She had turned into a vain, fickle woman, relishing in gossip and drama.
Michael still believed that the kind, good hearted girl he once knew lived within her coy façade, but he did not want to be one of her toys. So he had avoided her public affairs, until now.
This ball was the perfect opportunity to publicly break off his engagement with Lydia and let society know that he was a single man again, once and for all. Yet, despite his hours of contemplation, he had not been able to find an excuse that would not terribly wound Lydia, and she had not asked him to help find another suitor before the ball.
As he rode with Joseph and Kitty to the duchess’s manor in Mayfair, he scowled out the window. He wished that he had been able to discuss the plan with Lydia, but the hurt he had already caused her was too great. He was also afraid that if he saw her face to face again, he would be more tempted than ever to put off his promise.
The duchess greeted them personally as they stepped up the front steps of her manor.
“Duke, how wonderful to see you again,” she cooed in a singsong voice. She reached out to embrace him, kissing him on each cheek. The whiff of her French perfume overwhelmed him.
“I’m glad you could accommodate our last-minute notice,” he said, stepping back. “I believe you remember my cousin, Mr. Joseph Conner, and his fiancée, Miss Katherine Benrow.”
She turned to them. “How do you do?”
Joseph bowed but Kitty promptly tried to pull him into the manor, so he followed reluctantly.
“I hear that you have a big announcement to make tonight,” the duchess grinned as Joseph and Kitty stepped into the front door.
“You seem to hear things before they happen,” Michael responded with a wry smile.
“I am very much looking forward to how the evening turns out. How do you think your fiancée will fair?”
