His mother sighed, looking exasperated with him, as she so often did. "All I’m saying is that you don’t have any of that suspicion against your name. You’ve been out of society, yes – but there’s nothing to sully your reputation. You should melt back in seamlessly, without needing to worry too much about explaining yourself."
"Well, I have absolutely no intention of explaining myself. But I think you’ll find that life in Northumberland is sufficiently dull that my return will certainly be cause for gossip. I can handle gossip – and if my attending makes you happy…"
"It does, my dear. And I think, in time, it will make you happy too."
???
"May I present my granddaughter, Lady Constance Beaumont," Grandmamma said, as they were greeted by the hosts, the Earl and Countess Strachan.
Constance curtsied. "Thank you so much for inviting me," she said politely.
"Of course!" the Countess said cheerfully. "We just adore your grandmother. We’re so pleased she moved to the county, and so, of course, we’re delighted to host you as well. And you must meet our daughter, the Duchess of Dunloch – she’s just arrived with her husband, and she must only be a little younger than you!"
"I should be delighted," Constance said, although she was rather more interested in meeting the duchess she already knew than in having to make the effort with someone new.
Her grandmother held on to her arm until they reached a line of chairs, upon which she sat, keen to observe the evening rather than fully partake in it.
"Can I get you any refreshments, Grandmamma?" Constance asked.
"Oh, that would be lovely, thank you, my dear."
Constance took her time walking across the room, taking in the beautiful great hall. The chandelier in the centre of the room cast a glittering light across it, and the ceiling was higher than any she thought she had ever seen. How she would love to explore the castle more – but, of course, it would be rude during a ball. Perhaps she could make friends with the inhabitants and request a tour at a later date…
She heard the announcement of other guests but could not quite make out the names. She turned and saw a tall, handsome man in a dark suit and navy cravat. An older woman held onto his arm, and from the family resemblanceshe presumed she was the man’s mother. For some reason, she kept looking back at him. It wasn’t just that he was handsome; it was something more than that. After all, she had seen many handsome men before.
No, there was something familiar about him. She looked to his mother, wondering if she had perhaps met her in London, and it was a shared look that she recognised. But then, as she stood by the lemonade table, she gasped.
It was not the mother she recognised – it was the son. But he looked so very different tonight than he had done when she had met him before. The beard had been shaven, and his clothes were far smarter than those he had worn before. But when she saw his eyes, there was no denying that this was the man who had shouted at her at Gracewood Castle – the man who had looked so wild that she had been scared, in case he was a monster. And yet now he was transformed into this handsome prince.
She wondered if his manners had improved at all.
"Lady Constance!" cried a voice.
Constance turned at the sound of her name, her eyes torn away from the unexpected man, but she could not help but smile at the sight of the blonde-haired Duchess of Coldingham.
"It is you! I thought it was. I did not know you were visiting Northumberland again."
"My grandmother has moved up here – Lady Basingstoke. You may know her?"
"Oh yes, I did hear that a lady of that name had moved into Shelton Cottage – but for some reason, I did not make the connection."
"Well, it’s certainly an unexpected one, so I can’t blame you there. But she used to come here as a child, and she wanted to return in her later years. She was lonely, so I have come to visit. I was hoping to call on you—"
The Duchess grasped her arm and smiled. "Of course! How wonderful – you must come to Blackthorne Castle again. We would be delighted to see you. My good friend Lady Aylesbury and her husband are visiting, so it will be an enjoyable party. We’ll have a meal – oh, and perhaps some dancing!"
Glee overtook her face, and she turned to look for her husband, who was talking nearby. "I’ll check with Nathaniel later, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem."
From what Constance remembered of the man they called ‘the Beast’, he certainly would have found a problem with an impromptu plan for a party – but it seemed that marriage had changed him.
"It is so wonderful to see you again. You were so kind to me when I was a nobody and—"
"I don’t believe anybody is ever a nobody," Constance interrupted. "But I’m glad we were kind – and I’m glad to see you again. After all this time, you must tell me everything that has happened."
"Yes, of course! And the children – well, you must meet both the children. You won’t have seen Matthew since he was a tiny baby. I must tell Nathaniel you’re here!"
Constance nodded. "If I can just return these drinks to my grandmother, I’ll come and say hello."
Chapter Five
