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Lady Satterfield smiled warmly. “He just dotes on them. His father would be so proud.”
Though Nora had never known him, she agreed wholeheartedly. Titus had spent far too long bearing the guilt of not living up to his father’s expectations, and of not telling him how much he’d loved him. He’d finally found a way to forgive himself, and he credited Nora. However, she believed that they’d conquered those old demons together.
The first guest arrived just then—Lady Dunn with her new companion. The elderly viscountess now walked with a cane, but she was as alert and sharp as always. Nora greeted her along with Lady Satterfield.
“It’s always a delight to see you, Your Grace,” Lady Dunn said. She seemed to take special pleasure in addressing Nora since she’d become a duchess.
Nora bussed the woman’s soft cheek. “You look especially lively this evening.”
“You may credit my new companion.” Lady Dunn inclined her head to the tall young woman standing just behind her. “This is Miss Ivy Breckenridge. She suggested this concoction in my hair.”
The “concoction” consisted of a feather and some flowers. It gave her the height she always sought—Lady Dunn was rather petite and often employed a feather to make her appear taller—as well as a splash of youthful charm due to the posies.
“It’s lovely,” Nora said. She looked at Miss Breckenridge, whose expression was impassive. “Well done.”
The companion nodded slightly. “Thank you. Come, Lady Dunn, we must get you settled.”
“Yes, yes, a chair would not come amiss.”
“We’ve just the spot for you in the sitting room, with a perfect view of the dancing through the open doorway,” Nora said, leading them from the ballroom and leaving Lady Satterfield to join her husband in order to greet their guests.
Within the next half hour, the rooms were nearly full with the usual crush. The dancing would soon begin, which meant that Titus would sneak in the back just in time to dance with her. Nora smiled to herself in anticipation as her feet carried her toward the open terrace doors.
She caught sight of three young women standing in the corner, one of whom was the enigmatic Miss Breckenridge, whom she’d met earlier. The women were huddled together, but Miss Breckenridge kept an eye toward Lady Dunn.
Nora strolled toward them. “Hello again, Miss Breckenridge. And good evening to your friends.” She looked at the pair, one of whom possessed average height, dark hair, and spirited hazel eyes. The other was a bit shorter, with brown curly hair and the most striking blue eyes Nora had ever seen. “Good evening, I’m Lady Kendal. It’s my pleasure to welcome you to Satterfield House.”
The curly-haired woman’s jaw dropped, but only briefly for she blurted, “You’re the Forbidden Duchess.”
The other dark-haired woman elbowed her in the ribs before smiling brightly. “Ignore Miss Knox. She’s already had too much ratafia.”
Nora laughed softly. “Iamthe Forbidden Duchess.”
The woman who’d elbowed Miss Knox winced. “Our apologies. It isn’t polite to call people names.”
“Do you know that when I was your age, I referred to all the loftiest gentlemen in London as the Untouchables—men who were so far above my station that I couldn’t imagine speaking to them, let alone marrying them. Men like my husband.” She couldn’t help but laugh again.
They all stared at her, and then the woman who’d apologized laughed with her. “I like that—the Untouchables. I’m Miss Parnell, and this is Miss Knox.”
“I’m pleased to meet you both.”
Miss Knox cocked her head to the side. “Does that mean…you were like us?”
“I can’t say, but I was a fairly poor girl from the country who was lucky enough to have a cousin to sponsor her.” She moved closer and lowered her voice. “And then I had the nerve to be caught in a compromising position with a gentleman who refused to wed me. I was shipped back to the country posthaste. Ruined.”
Their eyes had widened. Miss Knox sputtered, “But you’re a duchess.”
“Only by fate. And the kindness of my mother-in-law, Lady Satterfield. She gave me a second chance when no one else would.”
“It’s like a fairy tale,” Miss Breckenridge said. She pursed her lips. “I don’t believe in fairy tales.”
Miss Parnell rolled her eyes. “Of course you don’t, but clearly this one is real.” She grinned at Nora. “Pay no heed to Ivy. She’s content to be a companion and focus her energies on helping those who are less fortunate.”
Nora looked at the young woman, intrigued. “Indeed? I should like to hear more about that some time. Perhaps you and Lady Dunn will come for tea soon.” Nora rarely invited people to their town house, but Lady Dunn and her companion were part of a special circle of friends.
Ivy blinked. “If you insist.” She sounded surprised by Nora’s interest.
Nora supposed it was unusual for a woman of her station to pay these women notice, let alone invite them to her home. She looked at the other two women. “You shall come too, since it seems you’re all friends.”
