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Chapter Eleven
Frederica peered through the window overlooking the streets of Grosvenor Square as the marquess went into the carriage that waited for him in front of his townhouse. He was dressed in a rather mysterious fashion; he wore full black except for a dark green waistcoat. He had even gone as far as to don a face mask as a part of his entertainment for the evening. Her curiosity stirred, Frederica rested the book she had been reading on the windowsill and hurried from the smaller library on the second floor.
She went into his study predictably on the desk rested an invitation. Looking at the gold embossed card, she noted the address and the name of the yearly event. Frederica gasped at the wording of the scandalous invitation that implied a night of perfect debauchery. Surely that was not where the marquess had gone to.
She discovered that she could scarcely breathe. Frederica tried to tell herself that it was not her business wherever the marquess went for his nightly fun, yet her heart would not stop pounding. Irritated with herself, she placed it back where she found it and went up the stairs to her bedchamber. She would retire to bed and get a good night's rest. Almost an hour later, she found herself in the lower drawing room of 48 Berkeley Square, after the butler had informed her only three ladies were currently at the residence. It was rather late, close to eleven in the evening, and it was a surprise there was anyone present at all.
“Is the duchess not here?” she asked, ripping off her gloves with too much vigor.
“Whatever is the matter?” Lucinda asked, beckoning her to come inside and close the drawing room door. “You seem very out of sorts.”
“I was…I am, and I was not certain where to go. Forgive me; I did not think about how late it was or if anyone should be here. I acted and have interrupted your evening,” she said, staring at the cards on the carpet and the glasses of sherry.
“There is no need to ask for any forgiveness. Miss Henrietta is yet to return home for complaining of body aches from her boxing lessons, and Lady Agatha also snuck from a ball to come over. You have company.”
They smiled at her, and some of the dreadful knots in her belly eased. Frederica took a deep breath and sat on the plush sofa by the fire. “I have a disaster. The Marquess has gone out this evening, and I suspect he has gone to a pleasure ball called Aphrodite.”
“Aphrodite,” Lucinda cried. “I have heard of it, and it is reputed to be very scandalous and great fun.”
“I have never heard of it,” said Henrietta, her eyes brightening. “It sounds rather intriguing.”
“We can tell,” said lady Agatha, staring at Freddy with sympathy, “that it pains your heart to think that Lord Wolverton might have gone there.”
“Yes. Recent interactions have led me to believe that he might, after all, be falling in love with me.”
“Oh, Frederica,” said Lucinda, “are you certain you have fallen in love with that rakehell?”
“Yes, I am certain of it, and he is rather more than his reputation. I am also quite certain of that.” She covered her face with her palms. “I am not sure why it has affected me in this dreadful manner. I feel silly!”
“Is called love and expectations, my dear,” Lucinda said gently. “We are not taught how to navigate these feelings, of course, and that we must hide them. With us, you do not have to pretend, and you are not silly at all.”
“I feel as if I should die were he to take a lover from the bounteous offerings he will have.”
As the ladies thought about this, Agatha's eyes brightened. “What if you were to go to Aphrodite tonight as well, Frederica and disrupt the Marquess plans to find a new lover?”
“I beg your pardon?”
Even the unflappable Lucinda appeared startled by this suggestion.
She straightened from the sofa, her heart racing at the thought. “Could I really dare act in such a risky manner?” She did not feel empowered or brave at the moment. There was only a sinking feeling in the pitof her stomach, a threatening sense of panic.
Lucinda laughed. “For happiness, what do we not dare do? Look at Theo and Perdie and Prue! They were all very scandalous, and they are experiencing unmatched happiness now. Taking that in mind, I would encourage you to go.”
Agatha nodded eagerly. “Perhaps I might come with you.”
“You may not,” Lucinda said firmly.
The girls shared a grin.
“I might know of a way to secure an invitation for you, Freddie though I dare see it might be too late for that now.”
Agatha frowned. “There are other ways to gain entry into a townhouse.”
“I believe you are correct,” she said. “We have been learning all sorts of skills, even how to pick a lock.”
“I do not think it will come to that,” said Lucinda, “there will probably be side doors and windows that are open and lead out to a back or side garden. All you will need to do is to slip inside and find the Marquess.”
“Is that idea not too scandalous?” said Henrietta, seeming to be the only one to offer some common-sense argument. “It does sound very exciting and risky. But how can you prevent the Marquess from obtaining a lover for the night without presenting yourself on a platter as an option?”
