"Very well."
His mother spent the rest of tea discussing colours and wallpaper patterns, but he could not muster up any interest. His mother had, of course, been mistress of the castle back in his father’s day, and so if anyone was going to redecorate, it made sense it should be her – until there was another Countess of Gracewood, of course.
But he struggled to imagine that happening in his lifetime. After all, he didn’t even like to open the door to the countess’s chambers. So how could he ever have a wife living in them?
Chapter Four
"Ireally would like to go to Lady Strachan’s ball at Amblewood Castle," Grandmamma said that evening. "I know you came here to escape the Season—"
"And to keep you company," Constance interjected.
"Yes. And there aren’t many social events up here – and certainly not ones I usually am interested in attending. But Lady Strachan is a pleasant woman, and the castle is beautiful."
"Well, you know I’ll be pleased to go if it’s in a beautiful castle," Constance said with a smile. "But I would have gone anyway, if it made you happy."
Grandmamma replied, reaching across to pat her hand, "You are a good girl, my dear, and one day, you will be a mistress of a great castle, I am sure."
"I am not so confident. I would certainly like to be mistress of a castle, but I’m not sure whether I am a very good candidate for marriage – or whether there will ever be a suitable match," Constance laughed. "Let alone one with a castle."
On the night of the ball, Constance allowed her maid to pull out the nicest dress she had brought with her, and she spent a long time pinning her mistress’s hair in a delicate crown atop her head. She didn’t normally spend so much time on her toilette before a ball, but she didn’t want to embarrass Grandmamma at what seemed to be a rather significant society function for the area.
She wondered if the Duchess of Coldingham would be there. She had not yet made time to call on her, but she would be pleased to see her again. She and her sister had met the Duchess when she was simply Miss Drake, staying at the local inn on her way to Blackthorne Castle, where she had been headed to take on a position as a companion to the Dowager Duchess.
And then, in a story that Constance, of course, did not know the full details of, she had fallen in love with the Duke. A recluse, a man they had called ‘the Beast’, and she had risen from companion to duchess. It really was an incredible tale – and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer young lady.
"You look beautiful, Constance," Grandmamma said as she descended the stairs. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen you glowing so much."
Constance smiled and felt a blush rise to her cheeks. "My maid is just very talented at her work, but I usually let her spend all the time on Charity, because I don’t mind dressing simply."
"I think you are doing yourself a disservice, my dear. Charity is beautiful, yes, I will not deny that. But there is an elegance in you that you keep hidden in your plain dresses and matronly hairstyles. This…this is a beautiful version of you. And it will surely help gentlemen see the wonderful woman inside."
Constance wasn’t sure if she really wanted to attract a man who was interested solely in her looks, especially when such looks took so long to prepare. If they didn’t see her as attractive in her normal clothes, without hours of crimping and preening, then what was the point?
But she appreciated her grandmother’s compliment, and it gave her confidence as they entered Amblewood Castle. She held her head high and smiled at everyone she saw. She loved her sister dearly, but she had always known that she was the less attractive of the two, and so actually entering a ballroom without her, and where she was unlikely to know many of the guests,was rather freeing. She did not need to think of whether she was being compared. She could just be herself. And althoughherselfdid not usually like balls, she rather thought she might enjoy this one.
???
"You did agree," Mother said, standing over him as he leaned back in the chair, his valet, Thomas, standing ready with the straight razor.
"I know I did," Ezra said through gritted teeth. "But now it comes to it, I find I rather like the beard, and I do not like the thought of attending this ball."
"I expected as much," Mother said, gesturing to Thomas to start lathering the soap. "But I also know that you promised me, and that my son is a gentleman, and he would never go back on a promise to his mother."
Ezra groaned but leaned back and closed his eyes, submitting to his defeat, because she was, of course, right. He wouldn’t break his promise no matter how much he wanted to.
It felt very odd to be dressed so smartly, and for his face to feel so naked with the beard that had hidden his identity for so long shorn away.
Whenever he’d left the castle in recent years, it was not to join society like this, and yet he had promised his mother – and so here he was, dressed up and ready to surely be the topic of gossip in the county for many weeks to come.
Not much happened in Northumberland, and so the reappearance of an earl who had spent years sequestered away would certainly be a popular topic.
"You look very handsome," Mother said approvingly, when he joined her in the carriage.
"Thank you, Mother," he said stiffly, pulling a little at his navy cravat, which felt as though it was trying to choke him.
"Lady Strachan was certainly very pleased – and surprised – to get your acceptance of her invitation," Mama said, as the carriage rattled towards Amblewood Castle, which was to the south of his own. "You remember her daughter, Penelope? Well, she’s married now, of course – to a duke! But I believe she’s back for the ball, with her husband. And then the Duchess and Duke of Coldingham – he was as reclusive as you have been, of course, and for even longer! They used to call him ‘the Beast’, remember? And yet society has welcomed him back with open arms, even after all that gossip about the way his father died…"
"That was always nonsense, Mother," Ezra said irritably. "The man stayed out of society because of grief and, I’m sure, because the county decided to label him a murderer. And now they’ve forgiven him and welcomed him with open arms, as though nothing ever happened! They really are a fickle bunch, aren’t they?"
