His mother waved a hand dismissively. “Of course you would. You have no notion of decorum. Fine, have it your way. It might be a good thing, after all. At least she has aristocratic blood, even if illegitimately. Who is her real father then?”
“Lord Langford. And Lord Ardmore is her brother.”
“Huh. Lofty connections. I was friends with Ardmore’s mother. Lady Langford was a lovely woman. I never cared much for the marquess, however.”
“I don’t care much for the man either. He’s one of the most retrograde members of the House of Lords. He and I have often found ourselves on the opposite sides of matters. But what I really hold against him is that he never acknowledged Alice. Ardmore wishes to do so, but Alice has refused. At this point, I don’t think it matters. She’s my wife, and my title will protect her, but it would be good for her to feel that her family appreciates her.”
“Well, she might be right about that. No need to make a fuss about her parentage at this point. I’m glad to find out she was not unfaithful. I could have never forgiven her for that.”
It was on the tip of Nathaniel’s tongue to tell his mother it was not for her to forgive anything between himself and his wife, but he refrained. There was no point in doing so, for Alice was innocent.
“So, will you agree to move to the dower house without a battle? Alice and I need the space to rebuild our marriage.”
“Fine! If my help is not appreciated, I will go. Don’t call on me to rescue you when you are both floundering. I will ask one last favor, though.”
He was immediately on his guard. His mother was wily, and he didn’t expect her to give in without a fight. She would want something important in order to leave peacefully.
“Yes, Mother? If it’s in my power, I’d be happy to oblige.”
“I was planning a ball for a week hence. The invitations have already been sent out, and everything is settled.”
“A ball? You just hosted a house party and now you are planning a ball?”
“Well, if you remember, you ruined my house party by departing early. I had to cancel the ball I had planned for the final day of the house party. Hence, I’m now hosting this ball as a way of making it up to the guests.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “And when did you plan to tell me this?”
“When the opportunity arose, of course. But you have been away in London, doing God knows what.”
A damn ball was the last thing he needed now.
“And where is this ball taking place? Here or in London?”
“In London, of course. I couldn’t ask our guests to come here again for a ball. And after the fiasco with the last house party, when you left—”
He held up a hand to silence his mother. He didn’t need a reminder about the last time he was here and all her schemes to marry him off after he divorced Alice. As if he would.
“What is the purpose of this ball? I swear, if you plan to try one of your schemes again—”
“Oh, I wouldn’t do that now. It’s clear you have decided to stay with your errant wife, for better or worse. I just want to make it up to our guests. We haven’t hosted a ball in years. Now with your wife at the helm it might be even longer before we host another. And that may be a good thing, given the disaster she made out of a simple dinner party—”
“It was disastrous because you sabotaged it. Alice told me, and I didn’t believe her at the time. But after seeing your animosity towards her, I do believe it. And I only have one question. Why, Mother? What had she ever done to deserve that?”
“I did not sabotage her! The mere suggestion that I would…” At his raised eyebrow and pointed look, she relented. “Although I may not have been as helpful as I could have been.”
It was the closest he was going to get to an admission from his mother.
“Fine. You may hold your ball. I hope you are not expecting me to help with it. I shall remain here and start the preparations for your move to the dower house.”
“Splendid. I shall leave instructions on the items I want moved to my new residence, and you and the servants may take care of that. I will be traveling to London two days from now to oversee the last preparations for the ball.”
“As you wish, mother.”
With a last imperious nod, his mother stood and left in a swish of skirts. He had accomplished his purpose. Both his mother and sister-in-law had agreed to move out of Greystone Manor. And with considerably less fuss than he had anticipated. At least from his mother.
Now the only thing left to do was to convince Alice to move in. Which might prove the hardest part of his plan.
CHAPTER 31
