“Of course. I’m sure she’ll be very excited,” Aaron agreed, holding it out to his brother, who took it and rushed from the room.
His eyes met Arthur’s. His friend raised an eyebrow. But this was Jack’s usual behavior.
“I am curious to meet the Earl,” Aaron said. “After all, someday, he’ll be our closest neighbor.”
“Perhaps we can have him join us when we go hunting later this month,” Arthur suggested.
“Good idea,” Aaron agreed. It would be the best way to get to know him.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the Duchess of Edgeriver again,” Lady Julia said.
“The Duke and Duchess of Edgeriver are good friends of the family,” Aaron told her. He sipped from his cup of tea. His eyes cut over to where Eleanor sat. She was frowning thoughtfully.
Aaron wished that a Duke could dance with a lady’s maid. Alas, he wouldn’t even get that. The ball could hold no interest for him, aside from making Lord Sommerset’s acquaintance. He was curious to know what sort of a gentleman he was.
Eleanor and Lady Julia were walking upstairs, after breakfast. Eleanor’s mind was still returning to her meeting with Aaron the evening before. How she had snuck back into the manor, her lips kiss-swollen.
“I want my blush silk made ready for the ball,” Julia said.
“Of course, My Lady.”
“Perhaps we can find some roses for my hair,” she suggested.
“Certainly, My Lady,” Eleanor replied as they turned down the hall, where the guest bed chambers were located.
The Dowager Duchess came down the hall. She was smiling widely, the invitation unfolded and clutched in her hand.
“Lady Julia! Have you heard the news?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“It has been so long since we last had a ball!” She was beaming. Eleanor wondered at all of the bluster.
“Go and tell your Mother the good news. I am sure that Lady Whitecier will be so excited. We shall all ride in the barouche! I am sure that I can convince my step-son to allow us to do so. Not to worry! I will be sure to convince him this very moment.” She bustled off, waving the invitation.
“I imagine that life in the country has very few amusements,” Eleanor suggested.
“I wonder how I am to get used to that,” Julia agreed. “After all, there’s always something happening in London. I do so love going to the theater.”
“True, My Lady. But you will be a Duchess, and you can throw as many balls and parties as you wish,” Eleanor said, though she wondered if that would be true.
They entered Lady Julia’s bed chamber. Once the door was closed after them, Eleanor cleared her throat.
“My Lady, I see how you look at Lord Jack.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“You glow.”
Lady Julia sighed, sinking down into an armchair. She covered her eyes with her hands. “What am I going to do, Eleanor? I think that I’m falling in love with him.”
“You didn’t believe in love.”
“Oh, but now I do.” She let her hands fall to her lap. “My Father would be fit to be tied. Imagine! His only daughter marrying a second son!”
“Maybe he’ll listen.”
Lady Julia smiled at her sadly. “Eleanor, you always think the best of people.”
“I try to.”
“What about you? I know you visit the stables often. Is it the groom who has caught your eye?”
Eleanor blushed bright crimson. She swallowed. Despite everything that they’d been through, she couldn’t tell her. Even if Lady Julia didn’t love the Duke, she might be angry with Eleanor.
She shook her head. “I just really love the horses. The countryside here is so beautiful. It takes my breath away.”
“Would that it would take mine!” Lady Julia sighed. “I don’t know how I’m going to get used to it.”
“Well, if you find that you’re able to have the marriage transferred to the gentleman who holds your affections, perhaps the two of you can live in London.”
Lady Julia sighed. “If only it were that simple, Eleanor.”
Eleanor turned away, then opened the armoire. She wished that it was. Reaching up, she took out the blush silk. It was the same color as pale-pink rose petals, and just as soft. It would make Lady Julia look like a dream.
“This one, My Lady?” she asked. For once, she felt jealous that Lady Julia would be allowed to dance with the Duke, and Eleanor would not. Instead, she would have to stand off to the side, watching.
Chapter 16
Aaron had spent the next few days playing the attentive host. He hadn’t found another chance to sneak away with Eleanor. He wondered if there might be a moment at the ball.
“Why do you not take Lady Julia for a walk?” Louisa asked. He turned toward her. She had come to his study, to plague him about which carriage they were all going to take to get to the ball at Edgeriver.
“Why are you always trying to tell me what to do, Louisa?” he shot back. He felt impatient. She had already gotten him to agree to let the ladies ride in the barouche. Had he not conceded?
“Because you should be acting like a gentleman who is courting a lady. If you were doing everything as you ought, then I wouldn’t have to point it out.”
Aaron raised an eyebrow. She was right. He folded his paper and stood up. “Very well, Step-mother.”
“Good.” She went to stand behind Aaron’s chair. “Soon, we’ll start looking for a wife for Jack. Then, a house.”
“Oh? Jack, would you like a house?”
He glanced over to where his brother was sitting, reading a book on the settee. Jack looked up.
“I’m all right. I do have the use of the townhouse in London, do I not?”
“Always, Dear Brother.”
“Then I have no need of a house at present,” Jack mused. “Nor a wife. I have many years of philandering ahead of me, Mother.”
“Jack!” she hissed. “You shall not.”
“I am only just old enough to start taking charge of my yearly allowance, such as it is,” he said. “I will go to London.”
“Louisa, you ought to let him,” Aaron said gently. “Let him learn who he is, on his own.”
“Thank you, Aaron,” Jack said, smiling. “I think I shall.”
“What has gotten into you?” Louisa demanded. “You shall not. You need me.”
“Why shouldn’t he?” Aaron asked. “He’s a gentleman, not a child.”
“You should listen to my advice, as well,” Louisa insisted. “I’ve kept our family among the most renowned of the ton for nearly two decades. Both of you treat me as though I’m a foolish lady, who knows nothing.”
“We know that, Mother,” Jack said. “But I don’t want that. How can I? I’m only a second son. I have to have a life of my own.”
Louisa’s face was sour. Aaron thought that Jack was being a very brave gentleman in that moment. Jack stood up, bowing to them, then left. He could be heard, whistling in the hallway.
“You need to start letting him be a gentleman,” Aaron said, softly. “It’s what Father would have wanted.”
“You don’t know what it’s like, being a parent,” Louisa snapped. “I can’t just let him go off to London. I know that he’s only a second son, but he’s got a destiny. He could do anything that he set his mind to.”
“He can,” Aaron agreed. “And he will. As soon as he’s figured that out.”
“He needs my help,” Louisa insisted. “As do you.” She stormed out of the room, closing the door abruptly. Aaron considered this statement. Perhaps, he ought to send both Louisa and Jack to London. She could oversee her son there, as much as she pleased. And Aaron could get some breathing space.
The more he thought about it, the better he felt. He exhaled. Yes. It was past time. He wondered how best to tell her. It would have to be done very delicately. Perhaps, he could make it feel like her own idea. He would wait until after the ball at Edgeriver.
; The day of the ball was rainy. Eleanor awoke with a headache. She got up, wondering how she was going to have the energy to prepare Lady Julia for the ball, and then attend it as well.
Needs must.
She kept herself moving. As the day went on, however, she felt worse and worse. By the time that she was helping Lady Julia dress, she felt hot.
“Is something wrong, Eleanor?” Lady Julia asked. “You look flushed.”
“Just a bit of a headache, is all.”
Lady Julia turned toward her, concern furrowing her brow. She reached up, her cool fingers touching Eleanor’s forehead. “You’re so warm, Eleanor.”
“It’s nothing, My Lady.”
Just then, Lady Whitecier entered, to see how Lady Julia’s preparations were going. She took in the scene.
“Julia! You are not yet dressed,” she said in dismay. Julia, who was in her petticoats and corset, nodded.
“Eleanor feels unwell, Mother.”
“I can keep going,” Eleanor insisted, miserably. She had heard so much about Edgeriver Hall, and desperately wanted to see it.
“No, no,” Lady Whitecier ordered. “Get into bed, Eleanor. This moment! Mellicent will dress Lady Julia.”
“I will tell Mellicent to dress you,” the Countess said. “She will be your chaperone this evening.” Lady Whitecier nodded to herself, then swept out of the room.
Eleanor went into her little room. She undressed, putting on her nightgown, then sank gratefully into bed.
She closed her eyes, letting herself relax. From where she lay, she could hear Lady Julia and Lady Whitecier talking in the adjoining room. She knew that Mellicent was in there, quiet as usual.
Eleanor imagined showing up at the ball, in a silk gown. She imagined dancing with Aaron, his hand on the small of her back as he swept her around the dancefloor.
She fell asleep for a little while, but was awoken by a soft knock on the door. She sat up.
“Come in,” she called out. Lady Julia peered inside. She was dressed for the ball.
“I just came to get your approval.” She spun, so that the silk rustled around her.
“You look perfect, My Lady.”
Julia beamed. She was in her pink gown, her hair piled in curls on top of her head. An ostrich feather arced over the top. Around her neck, she wore a diamond-and-pearl necklace.
“Now, get some rest,” Lady Julia ordered, tugging on her long, silk gloves.
“I will.” Eleanor closed her eyes, imagining walking down the staircase, dressed in her simple blue muslin gown, watching as the Duke’s eyes looked up at her. Alas, it was not meant to be.
The party from Myrtlegrove Manor entered Edgeriver Hall. The Duke and Duchess of Edgeriver were at the end of the receiving line. Along with an unfamiliar gentleman, whom Aaron could only assume was their heir—the Earl of Sommerset.
He was a blond-haired gentleman, of about five-and-twenty. He was unsmiling, though the ball was in his honor. He had no wife beside him, which meant that he likely meant to marry, and soon.
“Oh, I do wish that we could decorate the foyer in this manner!” Louisa gushed, her ostrich feather headdress blowing in the breeze. “With the cream-colored walls, and the golden accents!”
“Is it not already as you wished, Your Grace?” Aaron asked, recalling how Louisa had had it redone when she married his father.
“Yes, but it’s been some years since it was redone.” She waved her lace fan in front of her face.
“I think that you should leave it to the next Duchess of Durnsott,” he said, not looking at Lady Julia.
“Let’s not fight,” Louisa said, coyly, and Aaron knew that the discussion was far from over. “It is a ball, after all.”
He knew very well that she would continue to gripe and harangue him until he gave way. Though she did not know that he planned to send her away. She would be ensconced in London, where she could give him no trouble until the winter.
He shared a look with Arthur, as well as Jack. They were soon at the head of the line.
“Lord Sommerset,” the Duchess of Edgeriver said. “These are our very good friends. The Duke of Durnsott; his step-mother, the Dowager Duchess of Durnsott; his brother, Lord Jack Ayles.”
“And these are their guests,” the Duke of Edgeriver added. “Lord Mallen, the Countess of Whitecier, and her daughter, Lady Julia.”
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” the Earl of Sommerset said, although his eyes cut over to Lady Julia. He remembered himself and turned his gaze Aaron. He smiled, though it was an afterthought.
“And yours,” Aaron replied. “I would be happy to host you to dine at Myrtlegrove Manor sometime soon.”
“That’s very kind of you, Your Grace,” Lord Sommerset said.
“My pleasure.” They both bowed to each other. Lord Sommerset seemed to be sizing Aaron up.
“Lady Julia,” Lord Sommerset said, turning away from him. “It would be my honor to dance with you, if you are not claimed for the first dance. I hear that it’s a minuet.”
“Thank you, My Lord,” she replied. “If the Duke of Durnsott does not mind.” She glanced over at Aaron.
“Not at all,” Aaron said. “If you’ll save me the second dance.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
It was indeed odd to not have the first dance with Lady Julia, though he didn’t mind it. He wasn’t sure how he felt about Lord Sommerset, though he knew how the Earl felt about Lady Julia. When he glanced over at Jack, his brother was frowning. He wondered if Jack had wanted to dance the first with Lady Julia.
He offered Lady Julia his arm, which she took. They entered the ballroom together. The room was packed to the bursting. Large taper candles burned brightly, lighting up the space.
“You will be dancing all evening, My Lady,” Aaron remarked, letting his eyes take in the crowded ballroom.
“That’s how I would prefer it, Your Grace,” she replied.
“Is that so?”
“Well, I prefer dancing to standing around and gossiping,” she said.
“That’s admirable of you.” Aaron realized that this was the most that they’d spoken to each other in many days. He wanted to avoid leading her on as much as possible.
“I have nothing bad to say of anyone.”
How different she was from Louisa! He wondered why she had been chosen by his step-mother. He would have assumed that she would choose a lady like herself. Something about this nagged at him. Meanwhile, Lady Julia was silent beside him.
“Because you are a kind-hearted, generous lady,” he said. She smiled at him. She was the perfect English rose, in her pale-pink dress, with her hair curled expertly.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she murmured demurely.
Aaron felt guilty. He would never be able to fall in love with her. Not when he loved her maid. Her mother’s lady’s maid was following close behind them. He could feel the woman’s eyes on them.
Julia was soon collected for the first dance by Lord Sommerset. The minuet was danced one couple at a time, taking turns. It was a good choice for a first dance. So, there was plenty of time to speak with the Earl.
“What brings you out to the countryside, My Lady?” he asked.
“My parents wish for me to wed the Duke of Durnsott,” she replied.
“Well, if they would like for you to wed a Duke, I would gladly step in,” he said.
“I beg your pardon?” Lady Julia frowned. He was much too forward. Clearly full of his own self-importance.
“I am pleased to get to know you, this evening, My Lady.” It was their turn. He swept her across the floor. He was a very good dancer. No doubt, they made a very fine couple. He kept his eyes on hers, smiling the whole time.
She was going to be polite. That was all. She smiled back at him.
After the minuet, she found the Duke of Durnsott, who danced with her for the gavotte. After that, he went to collect his step-mother. This was when Lord Jack found her.
“May
I?” he asked. Julia beamed at him, the very first smile that was genuine.
“Of course, Lord Ayles,” she said, slipping her hand into the bend of his elbow.
“I love the waltz,” he murmured, holding her close. His eyes seemed to smolder when he looked at her.
Undressed to Impress the Duke : A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 13
