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Well, she couldn’t change the spinster part either way, since her advanced age of twenty-seven and unmarried state cast her firmly in that role. But perhaps her state was about to change. The future she’d once dreamed of—a husband and a family—was perhaps possible.
“I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity,” Nora said as the maid helped her with the earrings. “I find myself asking why I’m so lucky.”
Finished with the jewelry, the maid moved on to looping the ribbon around Nora’s head and securing it within her auburn curls. When she was finished, Lady Satterfield proclaimed her masterpiece was now complete and dismissed the maid.
Alone with Nora, Lady Satterfield gave her a wistful smile. “I had a daughter many years ago. I lost her when she was very young, so I never had the chance to watch her grow or to shepherd her through a Season. As I watched you at the tea the other day, I was struck by your charm and poise. I’d like to think my daughter would have comported herself in the same manner.”
Once again, Nora found herself overcome with emotion in the face of the countess’s praise. “I have no doubt, since she was your daughter.” She considered adding that Lady Satterfield’s daughter would never have behaved as Nora had done, but didn’t want to dwell on the past. She’d done quite enough of that for nearly a decade.
“Thank you. It’s silly, but even after all these years, I miss her still.”
Nora didn’t think it was silly at all. She felt the same about her mother. “I think the people we lose are always with us in some small way. At least that’s what I like to think about my mother.”
“What a lovely sentiment, my dear. I agree.” Lady Satterfield turned toward the door. “Shall we go down?”
“Let’s.” Nora followed her from the small bedroom located on the top floor of the town house. It was a chamber for an upper servant or a child, but it was all the Satterfields had. The countess had dressed it up nicely with a comfortable four-poster bed, elegant bed hangings, a stuffed chair, and a small writing desk. There was also an armoire and, of course, the glass hanging on the wall. It made for a crowded space, but Nora had absolutely no complaints. She’d written to her sister and her father about her good fortune. Jo had been exuberantly pleased, and Nora had yet to receive a response from their father, who was apparently in the middle of moving to his sister and brother-in-law’s sheep pasture.
After traipsing down two flights to the drawing room, Nora’s breath caught as she stepped inside. It had been transformed into a glittering ballroom.
Doors that separated the drawing room from the smaller sitting room at the back of the house had been opened to increase the space. The furniture had been moved out that morning, and the three windows facing Mount Street were thrown open, which would allow attendees to step out onto the small balconies and take a bit of cool night air. Fresh flowers and sparkling candlelight created an atmosphere of elegance and sophistication.
The back room contained some of the furniture that had been banished from the drawing room, as well as a buffet table that would later be laden with food. For now, there was ratafia, which would be a welcome refreshment as the temperature warmed. Two sets of doors opened to the terrace that overlooked the garden below would also provide a reprieve from the heat.
Satterfield entered the drawing room then, followed by the butler, and shortly thereafter, the ball was underway. Lady Satterfield had explained that dancing would begin early in the evening. The activity would become more difficult as attendance increased and the ball became a crush. She’d also indicated that, as per custom, she and Satterfield would lead the first dance.
Over the course of the next half hour, Nora was introduced to an astonishing number of people, but had yet to receive an invitation to dance. There was still a little bit of time before the first set started. Perhaps her luck would improve.
“Eleanor!” Lady Abercrombie’s high voice, coming from somewhere to the left, startled her.
Or mayhap her luck would worsen.
Nora turned slightly from her position near the back door, where she’d been enjoying the faint evening breeze. “Good evening.”
Lady Abercrombie, whose blond hair was artfully woven with luminescent pearls, took in Nora’s dress. Her gaze dipped, and her mouth pursed the tiniest amount, but it was enough to reveal her distaste. “I had a gown that color, my goodness when was it, two years ago?”
The subtle affront wasn’t lost on Nora, but she ignored the jibe. It would take far more than that to unsettle her.
Lady Abercrombie’s gaze moved past Nora, and she gasped softly. “It’s him.”
Nora turned as Kendal walked in from the terrace. The Forbidden Duke. He must have come up the exterior stairs to the terrace—but why enter in such a clandestine fashion?
Garbed in unrelenting black, save his snow-white cravat and shirt, he looked exactly like his nickname—an impenetrable fortress you could never hope to scale, and wouldn’t even bother trying.
As with yesterday at the tea, his eyes found hers, andnowNora was unsettled.
But in the best possible way.
He looked at her with frank interest, his gaze burning over her with precision and then resting on her with…approval. She’d been a trifle warm, hence the reason she was standing near the doors, but now heat suffused her flesh.
“Do you know the duke?” Lady Abercrombie whispered. She stared at Nora in disbelief.
“Do you?” Nora uttered the question with a measure of sarcasm and immediately regretted it. Not because Lady Abercrombie didn’t deserve it, but because Nora knew better than to fall prey to the harpy’s goading.
“I met him years ago, during my first Season. You were out at the same time, but I suppose your circle didn’t extend to him.” She ceased whispering. “I wouldn’t have thought it would’ve extended to Haywood either.”
Nora stiffened.
“I wonder if he’ll be here tonight,” Lady Abercrombie mused. “I’m sure he’ll be certain to pay his respects to you.” She didn’t bother with sarcasm but went straight for outright malice.
