“Things are even more dire than I thought they were, then. I know that you favour Lady Eugenia, but perhaps it is time to consider matches with other ladies. Who would be your second choice?”
Morgan grimaced, even as he asked the very necessary question.
“Lady Catherine Stewart, perhaps?” Marco sighed, hating the idea of it, even as he said it aloud. Still, he was not in a position where he could ignore the good sense of having other options. Not any longer. “She is pleasant, accomplished and quite beautiful. Like Lady Eugenia, she is the daughter of a Duke. She has a large dowry and a wealthy family. All the same qualities as Lady Eugenia. Only, I don’t catch my breath when she walks into the room, I don’t think about her when I’m away from her, and I don’t spend my idle moments imagining what our children will look like.”
Marco sighed, just thinking of Eugenia made him smile.
“My Lord, if there was another way, I would never suggest this, but I feel deeply that you cannot wait for Lady Eugenia. If there is no clear way forward, you must seek other options!”
“You are right, I will pay special attention to Lady Catherine at the Bellingham house party. Perhaps I could learn to love her?” Marco knew that he couldn’t, even as he said it. “I must go, if I do not wish to arrive too late.”
Marco pulled himself together, willing himself to do what must be done, no matter how badly it made him feel, and summoned his carriage to leave for the house party. Tomorrow, and seeing Lady Eugenia again, could not come soon enough. He prayed, however, that she would consider him – for if she would not, then Lady Catherine it would have to be.
CHAPTER NINE
THISTLEWAYTE HALL
Eugenia tossedthe Bellingham Park house party invitation her mother had passed to her onto the tea table and wiped her fingers off on her skirt, as if trying to scrub away an oily, unpleasant sensation the card had left on her fingers.
“You are going to attend, are you not?”
The Duchess studied her eldest daughter with a serene, unruffled expression. Though her words were phrased as a question, her tone sounded as if Eugenia didn’t have a choice in the matter.
“I would sooner die than ever lay eyes on Lydia Errington again, Mama.” Eugenia stared at her mother, not believing that the Duchess had even asked her such a question. “How can you expect me to show my face after what happened at Lady Duncan’s Ball?”
However, her mother just offered her a steady gaze and a serene smile, as if she had no idea what had happened, as if it was so inconsequential as to have been forgotten.
“You will be attending this house party, and you will hold your head up high. You will not acknowledge the talk of what happened at the Ball.”
“You cannot be serious!”
Eugenia shook her head vehemently.
“Not going would only seem to lend credence to the rumours. You will pay your respects to Lord and Lady Bellingham because they are our friends, and not at fault for all of this nastiness.”
Her mother’s tone brooked no arguments.
“Mother, they are your friends not mine, and I hold them fully responsible for this mess, in one fashion or another. After all, Lydia is their daughter. She created the scene at Lady Duncan’s Ball with her snide comments about Lord D’Asti.”
Eugenia was preparing for a full attack, complete with all of her reasons for not going, when she was interrupted by Susan striding into the parlour.
“Eugenia, how dare you let that little hoyden win?” Susan paused mere inches from Eugenia, so they were eye to eye. Susan’s unwavering gaze burned with the conviction that laced her words. “You must do as your mother said and attend this house party with your head held high. You have done no wrong, and you should not hide, because that will only make it seem as if you have behaved badly. You will dance and laugh, and if you become upset, Neville and I will be there to support you and make sure that you are not alone.” Susan did not even waitfor a response before she breezed back out of the parlour. When Eugenia did not follow her, she returned and waved at Eugenia to follow her. “Come, let us go choose our ensembles.”
Her mother waved for her to follow Susan, and Eugenia was left with no option but to follow.
Once upstairs, they began to plan what was needed for the duration of the house party, and have their lady’s maids pack the perfect fashions for their intended triumph. At least, that was how Susan described it. As Eugenia surveyed the array of gowns before her, she heaved out a sigh and shook her head.
“What is it?”
Susan gave Eugenia’s arm a gentle, almost sisterly pat. Eugenia reached up and rubbed the back of her neck, where tension was knotting her muscles. She could feel the beginnings of a headache coming on.
“It’s just... I’m still not certain that I wish to go to this house party. Lydia humiliated me quite soundly at Lady Duncan’s Ball, and came out of the situation looking like an angel. I’m afraid it’s left quite the bitter taste in my mouth, and I am not at all sure that I can face her, consequences or no.”
“There is one thing you haven’t considered, my dear friend.”
“Oh really?” Eugenia paced over to her bedroom window and stared out at the garden, and the maze in the distance. “And what might that be?”
“Lord D’Asti may well be at this house party, as well. I would be shocked if he were not invited. This could be your chance to rekindle your acquaintance with him and discover his opinion about the incident at Lady Duncan’s Ball.”
