“I’d rather like to try and find a love like you have with Reid. As a widow, I have a freedom I’ve never been allowed before. I have new opportunities to find what I’m looking for and explore what excites me. I can now move about in society without a chaperone and can converse with a man without fear of scandal or ruination.” Priscilla blushed thinking about how her previous actions had negatively affected her new friend.
Before she could continue, Elise reached out and placed a comforting hand on her arm, as if reading her thoughts.
“No, none of that. What’s in the past shall remain in the past, I am quite content with my life now.” Priscilla gave her a grateful smile as Elise hesitantly started again. “I understand you wishing to stretch your wings before considering marriage again, but there are ways to do that without having an affair. I’m not judging, mind you,” she added quickly. “It just seems like a more radical action than I would expect from you.”
Priscilla expelled a breath, trying to find the words to make Elise understand. “That’s just it. I think if given free rein to live as I choose, I would be a bit more radical. But before, I always lived to please others and suppressed that side of myself. I’ve done what was expected of me, and now I want to explore. Before Stern became ill, I experienced what occurs between a man and a woman, and I know enough to understand that it could be enjoyable with the right partner. I want to experience more.”
At that admission, Elise began to blush ever so slightly. In general, Elise wasn’t missish, but people usually did not discuss these things so openly.
“See, that. That right there,” she said pointing at her friends warming cheeks. “I want to understand what brings that expression to your face when you think about marital relations. I’ve heard that it can be quite pleasurable when done right, and I want to experiencethat.”
All things considered, as Priscilla’s husband had been more than forty years her senior when they wed, performing her wifely duties could have been much worse. But Stern was a kind man. They got along well and formed a friendship which had made their relations more awkward rather than anything unpleasant. He’d always been gentle with her in the short time before he fell ill, and though she hadn’t exactly enjoyed it due to said awkwardness, she’d seen the potential for it to be something quite wonderful.
After the past few years spent either as a caretaker or in mourning, Priscilla wished to be a bit wicked—to indulge her more reckless self and find enjoyment now that the world was open to her in an all-new way.
“I think I might rather enjoy being a bit of a wanton if given the chance.” She sent Elise a wink before both women dissolved into laughter.
West was running late for the Wrexham’s ball after waiting for his mother to finish getting ready, but he was begrudgingly grateful upon seeing that the receiving line had dispersed by the time they arrived, allowing him a more discreet entrance to the gathering as the new marquess.
Now in the ballroom, he steered his mother toward the chairs set out on the fringes of the ballroom, allowing older members of thetonto sit and observe the dancing. Several of his mother’s friends were already seated and would no doubt be sharing gossip all evening.
“My dear, I know you are hesitant to entertain the idea of marrying to help the estate, but do at least try to be sociable and dance with a few eligible ladies tonight,” his mother said quietly as they reached the chairs.
“I promise I won’t dismiss anyone out of hand, but I also refuse to choose a wife simply because of the size of her dowry,” he said firmly. “I’d like to get matters of business settled before marrying, but if I meet a young lady I like, I’ll not neglect the opportunity to get to know her better.”
His mother gave him a warm smile, and he kissed her cheek before leaving her with her friends.
Now free, he made his way toward the refreshments, in desperate need of some spirits to get him through such a gathering. Halfway across the ballroom, a grin split his face as he saw Reid Claybourn, the Earl of Weston, making his way toward him.
“Hampton,” Weston said, gripping his hand in greeting and giving it a vigorous shake.
“I think you can safely call me West at this point, we’ve dined together and are outside the walls of Westminster.” Weston agreed under the condition that he called him Reid, which he was more than happy to do. He liked the earl and appreciated how, as the leader of the Whig party, he took him under his wing when he claimed his seat in Lords.
“Come, let me bring you over to Elise, I know she’ll be glad to see you,” the earl said, leading him to an adjacent room. “In fact, we’re holding a dinner tomorrow for some dear friends who’ve just married. Why don’t you come? I’ve included a few others from Lords on the guest list. I’m hoping to talk with them before this week’s vote on labor laws, and I could use your support.”
“Sounds wonderful, but shouldn’t you ask your wife before adding additional guests to her table and messing up her seating plan?” West asked with a chuckle.
“Elise won’t mind, she’s used to me going rogue. Ah, there she is now talking with Lady Priscilla.” Reid gestured over toward the fireplace, where the countess was standing with another woman. “I can almost guarantee Elise has asked her to join as well, so you’ll be evening out the numbers if you come as well.”
As they waded through the crowd, Reid was briefly stopped by a man who had a procedural question about the upcoming vote. West took the opportunity to glance at the women and noted the other dinner guest Reid had pointed out. She looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t place her. “Lady Priscilla?” he asked as Weston turned his attention back to him.
“The Dowager Duchess of Stern,” Reid said in answer to his unformed inquiry as to who she was. “She’s the daughter of our hosts this evening and is fully reentering society after being widowed.” West looked over at the chestnut-haired woman across the crowded room as he processed that she was both the daughter of a marquess and a duchess. He absently rubbedhis eyebrow while thinking she was just the kind of woman his father would have wanted him to marry. She looked over and caught him examining her, their eyes briefly connecting before he averted his gaze.
Reid was mentioning something about how amazing it was that she and Elise were now friends after she had played a part in her ruination. Suddenly, West was struck by a memory from a few years prior, a clear image of a younger woman who’d been quite catty and often had a sneer on her face. He did know her, having encountered her at social functions.
He would hardly have recognized her, even knowing they’d been introduced previously. Observing her from across the room, he watched the firelight dancing across the pale skin of Lady Pricilla’s throat as she threw her head back in laughter. She appeared completely different from the haughty and dismissive young woman he had witnessed before with her joyful expression.
Hearing her mirth, West was irrationally seized by the urge to stride across the room and kiss her senseless.
Where on earth had that thought come from? Yes, she was undeniably attractive, but he didn’t know her to be the kind of woman he would want to associate with.
The room began to clear as the music started and dancing commenced. Finally able to maneuver through the crowd, they made their way towards the women. Lady Weston beamed when she saw her husband approaching, and the pure love in her eyes tugged at West’s heart. Reid quickly kissed her on the forehead before turning back to him to make introductions.
“I suppose I should formally introduce you both. I’m sure you’ve seen each other around at season events before, even if you’ve never truly met. Lady Priscilla, Dowager Duchess of Stern,” Reid said as she extended her hand.
West smiled despite himself as he bowed over her hand. “Robert Beaumont, Marquess of Hampton, though all my friends call me West. It’s truly a pleasure, Your Grace.” She quirked an eyebrow at the mention of his more informal name but didn’t comment.
The four talked niceties for a bit before the women graciously excused themselves. Though nothing significant had been exchanged, he noted how her presence seemed to fill the room around them. She smiled and laughed with Elise like a true friend, not at all resembling the snobby young woman he remembered from before. He felt an odd pressure in his chest as he watched her walk away with the countess. It was unfortunate that he could never consider her as a possible match; her credentials making her someone his father would have loved.
