“I was going to join you, but I gathered they were ready to rest. Hannah is looking for you, and I think Mrs. Parker has some concerns about a room change.” Damon smiled. He lifted her hand and brushed his lips across her fingers. Before she could respond, he turned and sauntered off.
Caroline watched him until he turned a corner and was out of sight. His kiss had surprised and pleased her, and the gentle expression on his face gave her hope his regard toward her was changing.
“There you are, Lady Royston. I need to check with you about the room change upstairs.” Mrs. Parker pulled Caroline along with her up the steps. Caroline tried to concentrate on what Mrs. Parker was saying. She forced herself to give her attention to the conversation.
After appeasing Mrs. Parker about the change, Caroline started back down the stairs. Hannah was at the front door greeting more guests. She stepped back from the doorway to allow a red-haired woman and the man with her to enter.
“Lady Ferrier.” Caroline whispered the name and stopped her descent for a second. She watched as Damon came out of a room down the hall. Seeing the lady and her brother, he hurried to greet them. He bowed to Lady Ferrier, briefly touching her hand, and then turned to greet her brother.
Caroline slowly descended the stairs. She joined Damon in the vestibule. He watched her closely as she greeted the new guests. He hadn’t told her he’d invited Marguerite and her brother. There was a pounding in Caroline’s ears and for a brief moment her vision clouded. Her hands clenched and she breathed deeply, trying to calm her anger. Of course, he would know she wouldn’t want Lady Ferrier at her first house party, or any party she gave for that matter. Thankfully, Hannah sensed her problem and stepped forward, offering to show them to their rooms.
Caroline was relieved to see another carriage coming up the drive and excused herself to go down the front steps and greet the next guests. As the carriage got closer, Caroline grew more excited, it was Sara and Joan.
She flew to the open door of the carriage, and Sara and Joan fell out into her arms. “It is so good to see you two.” Caroline looked at them through the tears in her eyes. “I have missed you.”
“We have so much news and were not able to sleep last night with excitement. Your home is beautiful,” Sara said, looking up the steps to the entrance.
Joan walked around the two and viewed the large house and across the parkland. “It is peaceful. I like it.”
Caroline scoffed. “It may look peaceful, but there are deep undercurrents.”
Joan’s eyebrow raised in question. “Really? I will be anxious to hear all about your undercurrents.”
“Now you are accusing me of melodrama. I know that tone, Joan. You see yourself as the steady rock between your two romantic friends. I can’t wait to see the day when something or someone disturbs your calm,” Caroline said teasingly as she put her arms around her friends and directed them inside.
To Caroline’s relief, Marguerite and her brother were not still in the hall. “I’ll take you two up to your room. You can freshen up and join us downstairs when you are ready.”
“But you must stay with us for a good gossip,” Sara protested as Caroline went to leave their room.
“I’m afraid I can’t. All our guests aren’t here yet. I must greet them. I hope your room is satisfactory.” Caroline glanced around the large room she had assigned them. “I thought the two of you would prefer to share a room.”
“It’s lovely. Sara and I have shared rooms before and had no problems,” Joan answered reassuringly.
Caroline smiled, gave them another quick hug, and hurried to her husband’s study.
Damon sat at his desk, writing. He looked up as she entered. “I thought you would come looking for me.”
“Why did you not tell me to expect Marguerite and her brother?” Caroline stepped further into the room.
“Because I knew this would be your attitude,” he stated bluntly.
“My attitude? You bring an old flame to our house, and I am not expected to be upset?”
Damon stood and towered over his desk. “I will invite who I want, whenever I want. This is my home, and you are my wife. You will obey me, and be pleasant to all of our visitors.”
“Go to hell!” The words slipped out. Caroline put her hand to her mouth. She had overheard her father use that term once years ago and never realized she had stored it away for future use.
Damon came around his desk and grabbed her arms, pulling her against him. “What did you say?” he asked, anger evident in his eyes.
“You heard me.” Caroline pulled free of his grip and rubbed her arms. She lowered her head and studied the dark green carpet, waiting for his response. She put her hands behind her to hide their trembling.
“Your parents have much to answer for regarding your manners. Obviously they did not raise you as the lady you were presented to be.”
“My mother tried,” Caroline said grudgingly. “Why should women not be allowed to express powerful feelings? Men don’t hold back.”
“They do in front of ladies,” Damon protested.
Caroline flung her head back and stared at him defiantly. “You aren’t a gentleman. You married me for revenge and you didn’t care whether I was a lady or not. You got what you wanted. Since you feel so lowly of my father, why would you expect any better from his daughter?”
Damon walked back around and sat down. “Go, before I forget myself and turn you over my knee. I have never hit a woman before, but you make it very tempting.”
She hurried out and passed Charles in the hall by the door. When she saw his smirk, she knew he had overheard their conversation.
Straightening her spine, she nodded coolly in his direction and continued on her way to the large lounge. She would have a cup of tea and regain her control. Several guests were yet to come.
After Rook and his sister arrived, Caroline started up the stairs to her room, thinking all the out-of-town guests were here. It was time to change for dinner.
“Madame.” The deep male voice came from the entranceway. “You must be Lady Royston.”
Looking down the stairs, Caroline saw a slim, tall man standing inside the vestibule. Buckley arrived to greet him, just as Caroline started back down the stairs. She held out her hand to the strange man.
“I don’t believe we have met, sir.” Caroline looked up into dark-brown eyes. His golden-blond hair was thick and slightly longer than the fashion. He was dressed in black breeches and a white shirt with a black and silver vest and a black coat. In his right hand he held a walking stick with a curved gold handle.
He bowed deeply. “Forgive me, Lady Royston. I am Randolph Haddon, the Marquis of Milbrough. Perhaps your husband has mentioned that we were in school together.”
“No.” Caroline shook her head. “He did not, but several of his other school mates are here. Viscount Roland Stinson and Lord Edward Sylvester.”
“It will be quite like old home week,” the marquis said, still standing at the door.
“Please come in. How did you know me, Lord Milbrough?” she asked, puzzled.
A slight smile crossed his face. “Rook gave an excellent description when he came by my estate last week, at Damon’s direction, to invite me to your house party. But now I see I am unexpected, and I do not wish to put you out.”
“Not at all. We are…”
Caroline turned to see what had caught the marquis’s attention. Sara and Joan were coming down the steps. Joan’s face was flushed, her eyes staring at the new guest.
Caroline looked at the marquis again and found his eyes were intently studying Joan. “Lord Milbrough, may I have Buckley show you to your room?”
“Yes.” He turned his eyes to her. “If you are sure I am not imposing.”
“Not at all. Buckley, take his Lordship to the end room upstairs.” Caroline breathed a sigh of relief, remembering she had saved the largest room for just such an emergency.
Damon had given Mrs. Parker numbers and some names, b
ut obviously not all. Apparently, besides not mentioning Lady Ferrier, he had kept the marquis as a surprise.
Sara and Joan curtsied to the marquis as he passed them on the stairs. “Who is he?” Sara asked when he was out of sight.
“Some friend of Damon’s. Damon forgot to mention he had been invited.” Caroline spoke testily. “I don’t mind, but I would like to have been prepared.” Caroline glanced at Joan.
“He seemed interested in you, dear Joan. Perhaps you have met your nemesis. A strong man to storm your guarded heart,” she teased.
“Don’t be silly, Caroline. I, like you, have too much to lose if I marry. I will wait for you to tell me you don’t regret the loss of control of your money and your freedom, and then I might consider marriage.”
Caroline linked her arms with her two friends and walked with them into the sitting room. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that at this time. It is terribly difficult to seem less of a person after marriage.” Caroline’s eyes filled with tears, but she blinked her eyes, trying to keep her friends from seeing her distress.
“I must change for dinner. I was headed in that direction when our last guest arrived. I shall return shortly.” Caroline hugged her friends and sped up the stairs before she had another interruption.
Agnes helped Caroline into her green gown with the silver sparkles covering the bodice and sleeves. Her shawl was a thin, darker green material with the same glittering sparkles covering it. Agnes arranged her hair up and threaded a matching green ribbon through her curls. She wore the thin gold chain with the tiny ruby heart around her neck. It had been a present from her maternal grandmother.
Her grandmamma had given her the necklace a few days before she died. Caroline touched it briefly. “Be with me tonight, Grandmamma,” she whispered. It was time for her to make her appearance. She had just pulled on her gloves when the connecting door to Damon’s room opened.
“I see you are ready. Madame Charmaine did a very good job in designing your wardrobe. You appear very regal.”
“You did not warn me we would have a marquis at our table.” Caroline frowned at him.
“I must apologize, my guest list was far from complete, and you have managed the surprise guests well.”
“The marquis said you, Rook, and Edward were long-standing friends.”
Damon smiled. “Half the time I forget Rand has his title. His father died two years ago. Rand has been one of our group of foursome so long I didn’t think to tell you about him.”
“You kept in touch with these three while you were traveling?” Caroline asked. She watched her handsome husband look off in the distance. Tonight he had dressed in dark-blue pants and coat with a blue and silver vest and one of the more formally tied cravats around his tanned neck.
“I was able to keep in touch and see them occasionally. Rand married during the time I was away. His wife died the year before his father. There was some talk about her death, and he has been a recluse since that time. To be truthful I didn’t expect him to accept the invitation. I sent Rook to deliver it personally, hoping to encourage him to come. It worked, to my surprise.” Damon looked back at Caroline.
“How did his wife die?” Caroline asked in a hushed tone.
“She died when her carriage overturned. Her companion, a young man who had been showing her much attention and who had created talk concerning their behavior, was also killed.”
“I suppose the ton had a field day with the gossip,” Caroline said.
“Rand’s father managed to squash most of it. He was a very powerful man. Rand has never commented on her death or the circumstances to anyone, not even to his closest friends.”
Caroline smiled. “I’m glad you invited him and that he came. Hopefully this will be a good experience, and he will become less of a recluse. Grief held in and left to fester never helps anyone.” She knew Damon did not miss her warning.
He put out his arm and his face resumed the closed expression he so often wore. “It is time we joined our guests.”
Caroline sighed softly and put out her gloved hand.
* * * *
The lounge was full. The ladies were dressed in their formal gowns, creating a rainbow of colors, and the gentlemen stood beside them, handsome in their formal attire.
Caroline stood for a moment at the door, admiring the change in the room with people conversing and lovely flowered decorations on many of the tables. Her heart swelled with pride. The room was illuminated with candlelight, and warmth spread from a fire in the large fireplace in the middle of the opposite wall. Footmen moved around the room with glasses of wine.
Caroline and Damon separated and ambled through the room, greeting their waiting guests. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Damon stop and visit with Lady Ferrier and her brother. Caroline continued on her way around the room, greeting Edward and Katherine Sylvester, Joan and Sara, and then the marquis and Rook.
Mrs. Smitten smiled as Caroline walked up to her and her husband. The Rev. Smitten and his wife were standing with two couples Caroline had not met formally.
“Lady Royston,” Rev. Smitten said, “may I present Sir Marshall Owens and his wife, Lady Owens?” Sir Marshall was a portly man with a flushed face and thinning brown hair. His wife appeared birdlike, her nose sharp as a beak, and she had probing dark eyes. Both smiled in greeting Caroline.
“I’m so glad you could attend tonight,” Caroline said. “I’m sorry I did not have the opportunity to meet you sooner.”
Lady Owens smiled a tight, cool smile. “I understand you are a new bride, Lady Royston. You must be very busy acquainting yourself with your new home.”
Caroline nodded and looked at the other couple and the young lady standing by them. Mrs. Smitten spoke up. “This is my brother and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Upton. My brother is the barrister, two villages over, and Annie”—Mrs. Smitten nodded to the young lady—“is their daughter. Annie is the teacher I told you about, milady.”
Annie Upton was a tall, thin young woman with light-brown hair and blue eyes, a younger, softer version of her mother. She smiled hesitantly to Caroline.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Upton. I hope to have time to talk with you more during the next few days.” Caroline smiled and turned to find Damon at her side.
“Dinner is ready, my dear.” Damon spoke softly.
“Good, please excuse me,” she said to the couples. Then she took Damon’s hand and moved away from the group. “I will ask the marquis to escort me to the dining room. Perhaps you would escort Lady Sylvester.”
Randolph Haddon bowed to Caroline and put out his arm. “I am honored to have such a lovely lady to escort tonight. I must admit I have become somewhat of a hermit and have almost forgotten the beauty of a true lady.”
“You honor me, Lord Haddon, but when you know me better, you might change your mind,” Caroline answered.
“Perhaps, but I do not think I am wrong.”
Caroline was pleased to see the dining room in all of its glory. The chandelier spread light over the table. The china and crystal sparkled in the light. Name cards were placed in front of each dinner plate.
The seating arrangement had been carefully planned. Caroline was secretly gleeful to see it done exactly the way she directed.
Damon’s eyes flashed with sardonic humor when he saw she had placed Lady Sylvester and her husband to his right and his Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Christopher to his left. Damon was surrounded by the most proper couples. Lady Ferrier, much further down the table, glared briefly at Caroline.
She had seated Sara on her left and Rook next to Sara, then his sister, Sally, on his other side. Arthur, Lady Ferrier’s brother, sat between Sally and Hannah.
The marquis was seated to the right side of Caroline, with Joan next to him. She noticed Joan’s guarded face when she saw her place card. The others filled in the middle of the long table.
Caroline motioned for the servants to start serving the first course, which was turtle soup. Buckley
walked around the room filling wine goblets. Conversation flowed easily around the table. She relaxed and sat back to enjoy her dinner party.
* * * *
Rook was surprised that the young lady, who had always appeared shy and awkward in his presence, had a good knowledge of the possibilities of railroads becoming a major mode of transportation in the future. He watched the expressions on her face change when she became more engrossed in her subject.
Rook glanced over at Caroline and caught her smile. He knew what she was about. He had not forgotten her slip the night of the ball about Sara finding good in him.
Trying to appear nonchalant as usual, Rook sipped his wine and finished his soup. He knew Sara was dangerous to him. She was not the type of woman for a rake to find attractive. He could not have a fling and walk away from an innocent young lady.
* * * *
“You are very quiet, Lady Royston.” The Marquis of Milbrough broke into Caroline’s musing.
“I’m sorry. I did not mean to ignore you.” Caroline flashed him and Joan a quick smile. “Did Lady Joan tell you, she, Sara, and I have been friends as long as you and my husband? We grew up in the same area and went to London the same year.”
“Friendships are an important part of growing up and long friendships are to be treasured the most.” The marquis smiled at Caroline and nodded to Joan. “But your friend, Lady Joan, seems as quiet and introspective tonight as you do, milady. I hope you do not have a problem troubling the two of you. Perhaps I may be of assistance?”
Caroline leaned toward the marquis and whispered. “Lady Joan is rather more serious then Sara and I. She is not as easy to know, but it is worth the challenge.”
She straightened and looked down the long table catching Damon’s eye. He did not look pleased to see her whispering in the handsome marquis’s ear.
Joan had turned to Mr. Upton, sitting on her other side. He was giving her a rather lengthy and boring dissertation on property law. Caroline watched Joan pretending to show him attention. But she’d tightened her hand on her wine glass while Caroline talked with the marquis. Caroline suspected her friend was not as unaware of her other dining partner as she wanted everyone to believe.
The Viscount's Vendetta (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 18
