Beth and Gwen exchange a glance before looking pointedly out the windows. They don’t secretly have plans for another tryst amongst those hedges. To reclaim that maze from the pain of last year. They wouldn’t risk exposure twice; that would be wrong.
Of course, if they can convince Albie to stand sentinel it might not be so bad. And it isn’t like they didn’t cover for him and Meredith over the winter when the two of them could barely keep their hands off each other, newly wedded and utterly disgusting.
Gwen squeezes her hand, her thumb stroking at Beth’s pulse, and Beth smiles, closing her eyes against memories of last year. Instead, she’ll think about last night, and bask in the happiness of their strange little family before she has to share them with the world again.
***
Gwen
“Oh, there she is,” Beth whispers, gesturing subtly across the room to a circle of older ladies.
Through the crowds they can just see her, Lady Ashmond, bright faced and boisterous, making a spectacle of herself without a care in the world. She’s been divorced three months and has apparently made the absolute most of it. The civil case was a salacious spectacle. She proved adultery, abuse, and neglect all at once, using a lawyer Gwen is almost positive Father arranged for her to meet.
Now she’s free, Montson’s hiding up north, and Lord Ashmond hasn’t shown his face in London at all, and isn’t expected this season, outside of a few crucial votes. Father’s been gleeful. And while Cordelia has given lip service to the tragedy of it all, Gwen knows she’s extremely proud.
Cordelia is amazing, and if she helped Lady Ashmond, how wonderful. The woman’s still a dreadful person, but at least she’s no longer mistreated. That’s something.
“Having a grand old time,” Gwen agrees.
“We should join her,” Albie mumbles as Bobby appears with a tray of drinks, handing them down the line.
“Thank you,” James says, his voice almost too soft to hear over the milling crowd.
They arrived early in the evening, despite Cordelia’s concerns, and the dancing hasn’t even started yet. Albie promised her the first three too, so she wouldn’t have to stand on the sidelines without Beth. Though honestly, getting drunk with Albie sounds like more fun than dancing.
“They’re all staring,” Beth whispers.
Gwen glances around. They are attracting a fair bit of attention. It’s nothing new, the disapproval. The Havenfort girls and their scandalous mother/stepmother, running out on the Ashmonds. Of course, Cordelia looks radiant across the hall, with Father glued to her side. No more cavorting for him. He’s thoroughly henpecked and delighted with it.
Gwen really can’t get enough of seeing them together, happy and serene. It was a hard winter. She’s never seen Father so worried—bringing doctor after doctor in to make sure Cordelia was healthy. To make sure that the baby was safe. Nerves filled their home, but now—
They’re here. Everyone is all right. They’ve two more months before the baby comes and decides the fate of Father’s title. And settles the household bets. She wants another girl, sod the title. But Beth’s rooting for a boy, for the variety. Mrs. Gilpe, Mrs. Stelm, and Miss Wilson have a whole pool going with the staff, and she’s almost positive Cordelia’s thrown something in too. Father definitely has.
“Gwen, the cards?”
Gwen absently pulls out the new set of cards she and Beth have been toiling over for the past few weeks. Last year, she couldn’t be bothered, but Beth—Beth has brought new blood to her party games, and they’re going to make the absolute most of this season.
They needn’t think about the birth yet. Cordelia had Beth, after all, and she’s perfect. Everything will be fine.
“Oh, give them to me,” Beth says, tugging the cards from her hands.
Gwen takes a deep breath, shaking herself from her dour thoughts. It’s time for fun.
They’ve the whole season, and this year’s round of Spot-the-Scion will be one for the books.
“Are you finally going to let us play, then?” Bobby asks, leaning over Beth’s shoulder.
He’s had as much of a growth spurt as James, and has become equally handsome. He’s a head taller than her now. His larger nose fits his sharpened features. And while Albie seems to have grown narrower with the increased family responsibility of the last six months, Bobby’s become quite bulky, as if he’s spent the past half year boxing and riding and turning all of his feelings into activity. The bulk suits him.
“Only if you think you can keep up,” Beth says, holding out her wrist so Gwen can pin the scorecard to the back of her dance card.
She passes cards to Albie and Bobby, and then over to James. She did promise Father they’d introduce him to people. This will give him a crash course in the ton.
Though she’s not sure he’ll truly appreciate Beth’s new rating system.
Beth pins Gwen’s card just before the band strikes a few warning chords. Bobby steps around them and offers Beth his hand. Gwen keeps hold of Beth’s fingers, gripping tight so she can’t step away.
“Don’t,” she whines, feeling besotted and foolish and utterly unembarrassed by both.
