It was then Letty noticed two men standing at the ready behind Madam Delcour.
“Thank you, Madam. If you’ll excuse us,” Winnie, the Duchess of Richmore, said from beside the proprietress of Pleasure House.
Letty couldn’t stop staring at Madam Delcour. She was simply radiant in a black and white gown that clung to every dip and curve of her body. The bodice was cut obscenely low, revealing her ample bosom. Thick curly black hair hung in ringlets down her long slender neck.
Letty allowed Winnie to pull her to the small section of chairs. Unlike at a regular ball, there were only four chairs in a small circle. They were embroidered in black satin and were the most comfortable set of chairs she had ever felt.
She sighed, sitting back against the smooth material. Once a wallflower, always a wallflower. She could admit to herself that she had always quite enjoyed being a wallflower.
“What on earth are you doing here, Letty?” Winnie asked, radiant as ever in a dark blue gown.
Letty sighed, happy that the young duchess and the proprietress had orchestrated her escape from the crowd of admirers she had unwillingly attracted.
“I thought it would help me forget my problems,” she admitted, suddenly weary and ready to return home.
The argument she had with her parents sat heavy on her heart. She had said some rather harsh things to both of them and could still see the hurt in their eyes.
The duchess sat down beside Letty. “Yes, there are rumors about you and Meriweather, but surely you didn’t have to come here?”
“It seemed a grand idea at the time. However, I never thought I would attract unwanted attention.” She admitted her naivete clearly now that she was at Pleasure House.
“Yes, they do get rather indecorous when there is a new lady around, I’ve noticed.” Winnie sat down beside her.
“Why are you here?” Letty couldn’t help but to ask.
“Richard brings me sometimes to celebrate how we met and to forget our duties. It is a way to keep our marriage lively.” She winked at Letty.
Letty laughed, hard, for the first time since the previous evening. “Lively? Is that what we’re calling it?” she asked, remembering the same words from Winnie’s husband when they discovered her and Mac together.
“Yes, and soon you’ll understand when you and Mr. Meriweather marry.” Her words were so sure that a small portion of Letty wished there was some way for her to forgive what Mac had done to her, but there wasn’t.
Letty shook her head, fighting back the tears that wanted to fall freely. “I won’t be marrying Mr. Meriweather.”
Pain pierced her at her own confession, and not until that moment had she realized that marrying Mac was exactly what her heart desired.
The duchess took Letty by the hand. “Why do you say that? Did something happen?”
She cleared her throat, afraid that she would cry right there in the crowded ballroom. “It was all a lie. My brother paid him to pretend to care for me, and he agreed to save the print shop.”
That was the truth and it hurt, but hadn’t she told him to do whatever it took to save The Hard Truth? Letty just had not fathomed that hurting her would be the thing to save his paper.
“Save the print shop?” Winnie tilted her head back in thought. “There must be some mistake as Mr. Meriweather sent Richard a note accepting his offer of funds this afternoon.”
Letty’s broken heart filled with hope at Winnie’s words. It didn’t make sense that Mac would need to accept funds from the duke if Bertram had already paid him what they’d agreed.
Swallowing several times, she tried to speak but was unable to find her voice through the chaos that was running through her mind. Gripping her seat, Letty closed her eyes, cursing herself for wanting Mac to be innocent.
“Why don’t we get you home.” Winnie stood, looking down at Letty. “I’ll get Richard and we’ll escort you in our carriage.”
Letty shook her head. “No, I couldn’t pull you away?—”
Winnie waved her hand, then tilted her head toward the small crowd of admirers looking hungrily at Letty. “Nonsense, besides, I think it’s best that we get you away from the wolves.”
Yes, it was time for her to go home. Letty was suddenly weary and knew that coming to Pleasure House had not been her brightest idea.
“Very well, I’ll meet you both at the entrance.” Letty stood, straightening out her gown.
“Good.” Winnie gave her a bright smile. “And a word of advice …” Winnie took her hand again, giving it a squeeze. “When I was in a similar position as you, I found that talking to Richard helped.”
