Lady Camry laughed. “You’re always up to some scheming, Sophia. Sometimes I forget just how manipulative you can be.”
“Let us hope that Gerard has the good sense to call on the young lady. I would not want to force them both together.”
“I agree,” Lady Camry giggled. “And if he does, surely the others will begin to show their interest.”
“I could not agree more,” the Dowager replied. “The stakes this Season have just gone up a notch.”
ChapterFour
“Not a single caller! Who do they think they are?” the Dowager, Selina Bamber, paced angrily in the drawing room. “To think that we are the talk of London! And now they dare spread heinous tales about our family?”
Ellen sat silently and continued her embroidery. It had been three days since the Ball, and the Diamond of the Season still had not had any callers. The gossip across thetonwas beginning to run wild, from the sad truth that the Duke of Grant had scared all the eligible bachelors away, to graver untruths that the Diamond of the Season had had her innocence tainted. The other day at the modiste, she had overheard Lady Carlington say that she was the most disappointing Diamond thetonhad ever witnessed. Ellen had abandoned what she planned to purchase and had hurried home in a fit of tears.
Ellen sighed. Her mother had invited some of the highest-ranking ladies of thetonfor tea that afternoon. They were also the worst gossips, so Ellen would know if her reputation was in any harm in a few minutes.
“Put your embroidery away, Ellen,” her mother said when the doorbell rang.
Her mother’s guests arrived right on schedule. Countess Sedley was the first to arrive, followed by Duchess Whitney and Lady Shore. The last to arrive was Lady Carlington, the Marchioness of Yorkshire and theton’s major rumor peddler. The Dowager, ever the gracious host, treated the ladies to the tastiest of biscuits and pastries.
“My honorable ladies,” the Dowager began, “I thank you for accepting my gracious invitation to tea this afternoon.”
“Well, I would not pass up an invitation to visit with the mother of this Season’s Diamond,” Lady Carlington said, stuffing her face with a tart sandwich. The other ladies nodded their assent.
Lady Bamber smiled. “I wonder if you had any advice to give my daughter and me on her debut entrance to Society. I am sure you must all know by now that she’s the Diamond of the Season,” the Dowager said proudly.
“Diamond? More like a stone,” Countess Sedley retorted. She was known for her sharp tongue, and she did not hesitate to use it anywhere she went.
“What the Countess means to say is that your daughter might be the Diamond of the Season, but of what use is that if she has had no callers?”
“How is it possible that she has had no caller at all?”
“It’s scandalous!”
“I hear the Queen is thinking about recalling her title.”
“You better do something soon and fast!”
Lady Bamber tried to keep her face expressionless. It would not do at all for the ladies to see her lose her grip on her emotions. The truth was, she was beginning to get worried that Ellen might become a wallflower — Heaven forbid that the Diamond of the Season did not get courted at all for the Season, let alone get engaged.
The Dowager plastered a smile on her face. “Thank you for your kind words, Ladies. I shall ensure to rectify the situation posthaste.”
When the ladies left, after an hour of more gossip about the Season’s events, the Dowager sat resignedly on the settee. “Oh, Ellen, whatever shall we do?”
“Mama, I think that it is in my best interest if Andrew no longer acts as my chaperone.”
Lady Bamber turned to look at her daughter. “Why?”
“He is scaring them all away, Mama. I told you this earlier. I love Andrew, but he’s doing a terrible job as my chaperone.”
“Do you never learn, Ellen? How many ladies have a Duke as their chaperone? We should be grateful that your brother has the good sense to look after your welfare.”
“You always do this, Mama!”
“Do what?”
“Pick Andrew’s side over me!” Ellen sighed. “Do you not want to see me settled down?”
“Of course, I do. But this constant disrespect for His Grace must cease immediately!”
