Finally Mayhew helped him to his feet and escorted him down the main staircase and back to the public rooms. Wick wanted to wish the fellow to the devil, but on the stairs he was grateful for his steadying hand underneath his elbow. The valet took him all the way to Sunny, who was standing in the doorway to the ballroom.
‘Thank you, Mayhew,’ he said with a nod. ‘Cheswick, you have arrived at the most opportune time. I was just telling Lady Ashton how eager you are to dance.’
Wick groaned, and Sunny elbowed him sharply in the ribs. Lady Ashton had three unmarried daughters who were all out at the same time, and she was desperately trying to fob them off upon any unsuspecting gentlemen of means. As the wealthy heir to a dukedom, Wick was well worth pursuing.
He glanced at the matron and, sure enough, she was grinning at him. Behind her were three young women who all had blonde hair and willowy figures.
Wick bowed stiffly, still unsteady on his feet. ‘Lady Ashton, it is always a pleasure to see you. And you too, Lady Nancy, Lady Eliza and Lady Caroline. Now I have the delightful dilemma of choosing which young lady to lead out first.’
Lady Ashton grabbed the eldest daughter’s arm and all but shoved her at him. ‘Nancy is particularly fond of the waltz.’
Sunny gave him a little push and Wick held out his hand to Lady Nancy, who accepted it. He led her to the dance floor and took her into his arms. She was pretty enough, but she kept giggling. Waltzing with her felt nothing like dancing with Louisa. It was a slow march of death and he could barely wait for the end of the tune to arrive. Especially when he eyed Louisa waltzing with Lord Fulton. She was giggling too. How hehatedthat perfect dandy.
The tune finally ended, but Wick was only granted a brief reprieve before he had to dance the Roger de Coverley with Lady Eliza. His only solace was that Lady Eliza did not laugh. If anything, she looked disappointed to be stuck with him as a partner. He tried more than once to make eye contact with Louisa, who was now dancing with Mr Beesley. He was a second son, with a respectable reputation and even more respectable fortune. Louisa determinedly wouldn’t look in his direction, even when they touched hands in the dance.
But that was what he had wanted—for her to marry someone else. Someone worthy of her.
Wasn’t it?
Chapter Twenty-Five
Aman was standing near Mantheria when Louisa came into the breakfast room the following morning. His hair was silvered at the sides and his countenance handsome, if a bit wrinkled around his eyes and forehead. Mantheria wore a frown and appeared pale. Even her usually pink lips were devoid of all colour.
She held out her hand to Louisa. ‘You’ve finally awoken, sleepyhead. Allow me to introduce my husband to you. Lord Glastonbury, this is my dear friend Lady Louisa, who is staying with us for the season.’
Louisa took Mantheria’s hand and was not sure which of them required the most support from the connection. She was certainly glad to be holding her friend’s hand.
Louisa bowed her head. ‘It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Grace.’
Lord Glastonbury bowed to her, but he looked stern. Disapproving. ‘I have received a visit from the Earl of Rockingham, my lady. He was most distressed to learn from his wife that you had fled your family home and were in London without the protection of your guardians.’
Louisa could feel the blood drain from her face, and was certain that she was just as pale as the young Duchess. ‘Lady Glastonbury has been so very good to me—unlike my own family, who have treated me as if I were a servant in my own home.’
The Duke gave an impatient sigh. ‘Be that as it may, it is not proper for my wife—’
‘To have not introduced you to ourdearestfriend Lady Dutton.’ Mantheria cut him off. ‘Something that will have to be remedied immediately. But first, Andrew and my sisters are waiting to go on a walk with us to the park. We must bid you a brief farewell, my dear husband.’
Louisa stood stunned. She knew from Mantheria that Lady Dutton was her husband’s long-time mistress. She feared her presence in their home was causing more problems in Mantheria’s already troubled marriage.
Still holding her hand, Mantheria dragged Louisa from the room. Louisa wanted to beg for her forgiveness, but they were met in the hall by Andrew, who hugged Mantheria and then Louisa around the legs. The small embrace filled her heart. The little boy had accepted her into the family.
Andrew tugged on her hand. ‘You said we were going to the park!’
Mantheria smiled down at her son. ‘And we shall. Let us fetch our hats and wraps and we can be on our way.’
They met the other Stringham sisters in the hall. They were already dressed for their walk to Hyde Park. The butler must have been expecting them, for he held both Mantheria’s wrap and her own. Their hats were on the table beside him.
Louisa’s hands were shaking as she tied the ribbon of her bonnet. She couldn’t...wouldn’tgo back to Greystone Hall and her Aunt and Uncle Rockingham. Her soul could not bear such an existence again. But it appeared that she could not rest on Mantheria’s kindness for much longer.
Her only option was to marry—and soon. She needed to repay her friend for the expensive wardrobe they had purchased together. But how could she accept an offer of marriage when she loved Wick? And would her Uncle Rockingham even approve of any of her suitors after she had abandoned her family’s home and protection?
‘You have all been so very good to me,’ Louisa said as they entered the park, chewing on her lower lip. ‘I do not know how I will ever repay you.’
Frederica smiled. ‘I suggest gold sovereigns.’
‘I’ll take an exotic snake from South America,’ Helen said. ‘And I don’t mind if it’s poisonous. I’d actually prefer it if it was.’
Becca grinned and wiggled her fingers. ‘Diamonds. Only diamonds.’