“Let me help you, Lady Eden,” Delia said, and dashed to her side.
“I’m almost finished,” Eden assured her. “But I still must select a gown to wear.”
“Oh, that is already taken care of. I took the liberty of having the rose silk freshened for this evening. Her Grace thought these diamond earrings would go nicely with the gown.” Delia reached into her pocket and withdrew two shiny objects.
Eden was surprised because Evelyn was very careful with her things. “She is lending me her earrings?”
Delia nodded. “I mentioned that you had not brought yours along with you.”
Eden nodded. “I did not think of it at the time.”
She had been in too much of a hurry to gather the bare necessities and leave her own home rather than endure a moment longer with her battling parents. The pair always tried to suck her into their disputes, always making her choose which one of them she loved best. In truth, she loved them both…but also heartily disliked their selfish ways. They should have been the adults, but they acted like spoiled and inconsiderate infants.
Somehow, she had taken on the role of parent. She did not mind it with young Connor, Alex, and Priscilla because they were children. But her parents? When were they going to grow up?
“I’ll thank Duchess Evelyn when I go down to supper. This is very thoughtful of her.”
“She likes you, Lady Eden.”
“The feeling is mutual. She is a lovely person.” In truth, she wished her mother was more like the duchess. Over the years, it had been Duchess Evelyn who took her in and gave her maternal hugs whenever she needed to get away from her parents. There were times when she would come to the duchess in tears.
Now that she thought about it, where had Mary been all the while? In those years, Connor had been off fighting Napoleon. His military service had lasted through much of the war, but he also had constant disruptions because his duties as Duke ofLynton had forced him to sail back and forth too often from the peninsula. Not to mention his duties to the Crown required him to sit in the House of Lords whenever Parliament was in session. His children had grown up hardly knowing their father.
Finally, upon Mary’s death, he had reluctantly bought out his commission and returned to England permanently.
In all that time, it was Duchess Evelyn who cared for the children and brought them over to Chestnut Hill whenever Eden had her neighbors over for tea. It was Evelyn who sat in the shade of the terrace watching the children as they toddled around the garden. Of course, they each had a nanny attending them, too.
Where had Mary been even then?
Not that it mattered now. She was gone and the children were left without a mother’s touch. But they certainly had a wonderful grandmother who was doing her best to raise them with love.
Before heading downstairs, Eden took a moment to knock at Duchess Evelyn’s door. “Do come in, Eden dear,” she said, opening the door herself. “Don’t you look lovely?” As she spoke, she whisked the spectacles off Eden’s nose. “But you won’t be needing those tonight.” Delia had followed her in, and the dowager handed Eden’s spectacles to her. “Put those back in Eden’s bedchamber.”
Delia bobbed a curtsy and hurried out before Eden could grab her spectacles back. “I won’t be able to see a thing,” she muttered.
“You’ll see just fine. You aren’t out hunting quail or dueling at fifty paces. You need only look at your dinner companions immediately to the left and to the right of you.”
“I would enjoy seeing the food on my plate,” she muttered.
“Whatever for? It isn’t going to crawl away,” Evelyn retorted. “My dear, you will survive the evening.”
Eden laughed. “All right. But do not berate me if I squint.”
The dowager tucked a finger under Eden’s chin while studying her features. “You are going to leave the gentlemen breathless. Walk downstairs with me. I’m sure some of the guests have already gathered in the parlor.”
Eden had barely taken two steps into the parlor before Lord Aubrey came to her side. “May I be so bold as to remark how radiant you look, Lady Eden?”
Duchess Evelyn nodded in approval. “I told the dear girl the very same thing only moments ago. Do you believe me now, Eden?”
Eden blushed.
Damien, the Marquess of Rathburne’s son, appeared about to approach her, noticed Aubrey already at her side, and veered off toward the very giggling and fan fluttering Miss Margaret Wallingford, the heiress in pink he had fawned over at afternoon tea. She seemed to adore the color, since she was once again wearing pink from head to toe.
Connor strode in moments later and immediately approached them. No doubt he only meant to dutifully greet his mother, but Eden caught his appreciative smile as he studied her.
Was she mistaken, or had his gaze lingered on her?
Lord Aubrey stepped between them and took her arm in his. “Your Grace, if you will excuse us. My parents are keen to speak to Lady Eden.”
