“If you’re nice to her, maybe she’ll show it to you sometime,” Warren told Corin.
She chuckled at the joke. “I certainly don’t mind showing it to anyone who wants to see it.”
“I might take you up on the offer,” Corin replied.
The butler returned to the room with Iris’ parents and Captain Egan, and soon the group went to dinner.
So far, so good. Damara hoped the evening would finish as well as it started. Then Anthony wouldn’t have to be sorry he’d brought her here to meet his friends. With a smile at him, she sat in her chair as Celia had instructed then began eating.
Chapter Seventeen
“What do you think of Damara?” Anthony asked Warren and Corin as they went into the den after dinner.
“Iris seems to like her,” Warren said as he poured brandy into five glasses. “I judge each lady by what Iris thinks of them.”
“I don’t know how much of an impression Damara made with Iris,” Corin replied. “Your mother-in-law, Damara, and Candace spent most of the time in silence while the rest of us—including Iris—asked Captain Egan all about his adventures at sea.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” Warren handed them each a glass of brandy. “They’ll have to get acquainted in the drawing room.”
“Poor Iris,” Anthony began. “I have a feeling she’d rather be here, and since she’s a lady, she can’t.”
“Oh, she got enough information from the captain during dinner,” Warren assured him. “She gave me the nod of approval toward the end of the meal.”
“The nod of approval?” Corin asked.
“Yes,” Warren said. “I like to get her input before going into a new business venture. She gives me a nod if she approves of it. If she shakes her head, then I know it’s not worth pursuing.”
“You two really do make an excellent match,” Corin replied, sounding impressed.
“Which is why you should go to the Duchess of Ashbourne to find a wife,” Warren said, giving him a pointed look. “She knows who your ideal wife will be.”
“I don’t know if I’ll need her services or not. I happen to think Candace is a fitting match.”
“Because of her money?”
Corin seemed hesitant to answer but then said, “All right. I do like her money. But it’s more than that. She has a pleasant disposition.” He glanced at Anthony. “It’s a nice change to feel like I’m the one leading the relationship.”
Anthony couldn’t blame him. He knew full well that Celia liked to take control over everything. He lifted his glass of brandy to him. “May things work out in your favor.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Corin joined him in taking a sip of the brandy.
“Do you ever fear for your life when you’re at sea?” Warren’s father-in-law asked Captain Egan as the two entered the room.
“Of course, I do,” Captain Egan replied. “That’s part of the appeal. You never take a day for granted because nothing is guaranteed.”
“Not to be grim,” Warren said as he gave the two gentlemen their glasses of brandy, “but have you lost anyone on your crew?”
“A few,” the captain admitted. “They didn’t heed my warning. When someone gets so puffed up with their own importance they believe their way is the best way, they won’t listen to reason. That’s when they act foolishly. For instance, you don’t do battle with a storm. All you can do is ride it out. But I had someone on my ship who thought it was a good idea to get on the edge of the deck and wield a sword at an oncoming wave.”
“He didn’t!” Corin replied.
Captain Egan nodded. “He did, and the wave took him into the sea for that. It reminded me of Caligula.” He glanced at the gentlemen. “Are any of you familiar with the Roman emperors?”
“I’ve read about some of them,” Anthony said as the men sat down. Once he got comfortable in his chair, he added, “Caligula married his sister, if I recall right.”
“Some sources claim that, but there’s no real proof to the rumor,” Captain Egan replied. “Some time into his reign, he developed a heightened sense of himself. He likened himself to one of their gods.”
“That’s not so uncommon. Other emperors did that,” Anthony said.
“Yes, but in his case, he had his men do battle with the sea god they called Poseidon. You want to guess what they brought back as spoils?”
Intrigued to see where the captain was going with this, Anthony shook his head. “What did they bring back?”
“Shells. Lots and lots of shells.” Captain Egan sipped his brandy. “One thing I’ve learned in my time at sea is that some men are caught up in their own delusions, and it doesn’t matter who they are. They can be rich or poor. Young or old. Strong or weak. The real source of power is right here.” He tapped his head. “In the mind. Good sense wins over money and brawn each time.”
“Well said,” Warren’s father-in-law replied. “That applies to every area of life. Not just the sea.”
“I’m curious, Captain,” Warren began, lounging back in his chair. “Do you ever get tired of being at sea? Wouldn’t it be nice to settle down and get married to a good lady?”
The captain smiled. “The ship is the only lady I’ll ever need.”
“Not all of us are called to get married,” Warren’s father-in-law spoke up, “though I’m glad I was.”
“I am, too,” Warren said. “A good lady can do wonders for a gentleman.”
Anthony nodded his agreement and drank the rest of his brandy.
“I suppose if I had a title, I would be inclined to take a wife,” the captain said. “However, my brother’s the one who has a title chaining him to the land, and I’m grateful for it. I wouldn’t want the responsibility.”
“Sometimes I wish I didn’t have a title to worry about,” Corin replied. “There can be so much pressure that comes with it.”
“Join me then. We’ll go out to sea together,” the captain said.
Corin chuckled. “Even if I could, I don’t think I would. The seaman’s life is no life for me. I admire you for your freedom, though.”
“Once you get the right lady, you’ll realize marriage has its perks,” Anthony promised Corin.
Warren and his father-in-law agreed, and the gentlemen turned their discussion to the captain’s upcoming trip at sea.
***
Damara sipped her tea, mindful of how she was drinking. For some reason, she wasn’t so nervous that she almost spilled the liquid on her gown, even though Iris had filled her cup to the brim. Maybe it was the sherry she’d had during the dinner that had relaxed her or the fact that these ladies didn’t seem overly concerned with etiquette, but she felt relaxed here. If only she could be assured things would go this well at Lady Eloise’s. But then, Lady Eloise was only important because Damara wanted to please Celia.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Iris spoke up after her mother and Opal left the room to check on Opal’s new dresses. “Have we bored you this evening?”
Damara smiled. “No. I actually found everything interesting. I had no idea so much went into tracking down a whale. I also had no idea there were so many things a whale provides, like oil and material to make corsets. I learned a lot.”
“It wasn’t the whaling part that interested me, to be honest,” Iris said. “I wanted to know how much of a return my husband could expect if he helped fund the expedition.”
“Yes, I suppose that is important,” Damara replied. “I know so little about how business works that such talk eludes me.”
“You’re not the only one,” Candace assured Damara. “As soon as they started breaking down the expenses and profits, my mind wandered to the upcoming ball.”
Feeling better since she wasn’t the only one whose mind had drifted to other things, Damara confessed, “I was thinking of my husband’s country estate.”
“You both did a good job of pretending you were listening,” Iris told them, an amused smile on her face. “I never would have guessed you were thi
nking of other things. I love such discussions, but the only time I get to partake in them is during the dinner. After the ladies separate from the gentlemen, I have to wait for Warren to tell me what else he learns about the prospective investment.”
Candace chuckled and poured herself another cup of tea. “Then it is the ladies’ topics that bore you.”
“No, not in the least,” Iris said. “I enjoy talking about those things, too. Well, I will admit I don’t care much about the latest fashions. My mother and Opal have conversations for hours over what clothes to get. My poor mother had me for a daughter, and I was far more interested in things my father enjoyed. Opal’s been the best thing that ever happened to her.”
“Yes, but your mother loves you,” Damara replied. “You’re very fortunate to have her.”
“I know. I am. She’s a good mother,” Iris said. “When I think of all the years she spent listening to Father and me go on and on about money, I marvel at her endurance.”
Damara laughed along with Candace at Iris’ joke. Even if Iris and her mother didn’t have much in common, Damara could tell the two were close. She wondered what such a relationship was like. It was sad that she’d never share such a bond with her own mother. Nor would she share a closeness with her father. But she was carrying a child, and she could be the kind of parent she’d always wished for. Maybe she had to go through everything she had in order to be a good mother. Surely, she could take what she’d learned from her past and make sure her child never had to face the same kind of rejection she had.
“Yes, I miss my mother,” Candace was telling Iris. Breaking out of her thoughts, Damara looked over at her, unaware Iris had asked Candace a question. “The years help to ease the ache of being without her, but there are times when it would be nice to talk to her. I’m fortunate that my father is still alive, though. Fortunately, the money my departed husband left me is enough for me to take care of him.”
Damara sensed that Candace wasn’t nearly as sad about losing her husband as she had been over losing her mother. “Do you miss your husband?” she asked. Then, realizing she’d just asked a very personal question to someone she didn’t know, she hurried to amend, “I’m sorry. Forgive me for prying into something that is none of my business.”
“I don’t mind the question,” Candace said. “The truth is, I was relieved when he died. He was a cruel person.”
Damara could understand that. She was still glad she was no longer under her parents’ control.
“Are you looking to marry again?” Iris asked Candace. “Is that why you came here with Corin?”
“No. I’m not looking to get married,” Candace replied then took a sip of her tea. “I was getting restless staying at home all the time. I wanted some excitement.”
Iris’ jaw dropped. “Excitement? Are you looking for a lover?”
A lover? Damara glanced at Candace. Did widows make it a habit of doing that kind of thing?
“No, I have no desire for a lover,” Candace replied. “I just wanted to meet new people. I don’t have a gentleman telling me what to do, and I’ve been a recluse for far too long. Except for one friend and my dear father, I really don’t know anyone.” She shrugged. “I felt like it was time to find out what I’ve been missing. There’s so much in London. I just don’t want to waste another minute of my life.” She offered them a smile. “I am enjoying this dinner party. It’s been a pleasure to meet both of you.”
Iris and Damara returned her smile, but it was Damara who spoke up. “I feel the same way. I’m glad I came here this evening.”
“Well, I’m glad you turned out to be nice,” Iris told Damara. “I worried when Warren told me you had married Anthony.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t make him a good wife?” Damara asked.
“It had nothing to do with that,” Iris assured her. “It’s just that I heard you’re getting along with Celia, and since she and I don’t like each other, I wasn’t sure how things would be between us.”
Damara’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why don’t you and Celia get along?”
“She and I don’t agree on many things.”
Damara waited for Iris to explain more than that, but Iris turned the conversation to the possibility of the three of them going to Hyde Park for a walk in the upcoming week.
Damara supposed she ought to be glad Iris chose not to elaborate on the matter with Celia. If she had, Damara might feel torn between the two ladies. By keeping things vague and discreet, she had managed to keep Damara at liberty to be friends with her and Celia. It was a smart move, really.
“I would enjoy a stroll through the park,” Candace told Iris. “What do you think, Damara?”
Damara opened her mouth to agree, but then she recalled Lord Comwright. “Are there any other activities to do in London?”
“Well,” Iris began, “we could do many things.” She turned to Candace. “You’re the one who’s seeking excitement. What kind of thing would you like to do?”
“It would be nice to go to balls and dance,” Candace suggested.
Iris glanced expectantly at Damara.
Damara shifted uncomfortably in the chair. “Is there anything we can do during the day that won’t have so many people around?” Noting their curious expressions, she added, “I don’t like to be near a lot of people.” Her face warmed. Would they suspect the truth?
Iris offered an understanding smile. “I thought you were shy. You have no need to be embarrassed. I’m shy, too.”
“You? Shy?” Candace asked. “I don’t believe it.”
“It’s true. In fact, I’m a wallflower,” Iris replied.
Candace laughed and shook her head. “I don’t believe it. You had no trouble speaking during the dinner, and you seem at ease with us.”
“At dinner, I was discussing a topic that I love. As for being with you two, I find it easy to talk to you both. It’s not the same as it with most ladies.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure why, but I do.”
“I feel at ease with you, too.”
“I do as well,” Damara agreed.
“It’d be a shame not to do something next week since we get along so well,” Candace said. “One place I have been interested in going to is the menagerie. It’d be fun to see some exotic animals.”
Damara knew for a fact Lord Comwright wouldn’t be there. He had no interest in animals unless they were horses. “I think that would be fun,” she agreed.
Iris glanced from one to the other and nodded. “All right. We’ll plan on going to the menagerie then.”
From there, they discussed a day and time to go there.
Chapter Eighteen
Damara felt much better the next day when it came time for her to go with Celia to Lady Eloise’s. The dinner party had gone well. Iris and Candace seemed to like her. Celia’s lessons had paid off. If she could manage a dinner party with success, then she could get through this afternoon’s social engagement, too.
When she came down the stairs, Anthony and Celia were waiting in the entryway. He let out a low whistle and called out, “You’re going to be the most beautiful lady there. The others will fade in comparison to you.”
Celia nudged him in the side. “Thank you, Anthony.”
Looking contrite, he turned to his sister. “You’re nice to look at, too, but I only see you as my sister when I look at you.”
“In that case, I suppose I’ll let the comment go.” She smiled at Damara. “You do look lovely. I told you the gown would accentuate your best features.”
“You have wonderful fashion sense, Celia,” Damara said when she reached them. “Thank you for helping me pick out the gown.”
“You’re my friend,” Celia replied. “I’m happy to help you in any way I can.”
“I was hoping you two would be friends,” Anthony said, turning his gaze to Damara.
Damara read the silent question in his eyes and realized he was thinking back to three days ago when she’d confided in him that she didn’t feel as if
she measured up to Celia’s expectations.
Damara smiled, an indication that she felt at ease with Celia now. Maybe she’d been overly sensitive that day Celia had taught her how to act at Lady Eloise’s.
Celia couldn’t have known how pointing out her flaws had brought up all those memories of her past. And who could blame her? Damara hadn’t told her about her mother. Damara felt like such a fool. If only it wasn’t so difficult to put away the past. She might have understood Celia better.
“I appreciate your help in preparing me for today, Celia,” Damara said. “It’s very kind of you.”
Anthony brought the two ladies in for a hug. “This is wonderful. My two favorite ladies getting along so splendidly.” He released them then led them to the door. “I know how important these social engagements are to you ladies, so I won’t keep you.”
The footman opened the door, and Damara followed Celia out of the townhouse and to the carriage. Once she was seated, she glanced out the small window and saw Anthony wave to her. She waved back.
“I’ve never seen my brother act so sentimental,” Celia mused. “That must be what happens when a gentleman is in love.”
Damara turned her attention to Celia as the footman shut the carriage door. “I’m glad you’ll be with me this afternoon.” The carriage moved forward and Damara shifted into a more comfortable position. “I’ll do everything exactly as you instructed. I want to make a good impression because it’s important to you.”
“Yes, I know you do. As long as you nod and smile a lot, sip your tea, and take little bites of the food, you’ll do fine.”
That was easy to keep in mind. “I’ll do all of that.”
“Good.” Celia grew quiet for a moment then asked, “Do you feel up to drinking and eating today?”
Damara nodded. “I ate a small amount this morning, so I have an appetite.”
“Good. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. I hear it can be difficult in the first couple months when a lady is with child. To be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t conceive sooner. My mother conceived right away. But then, I suppose all ladies are different.”
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