Resolute, Liliah squared her shoulders and studied herself in the mirror once more, recognizing the light in her eyes as a fierceness that faded when she let fear control her heart.
No more.
Growing into the woman she’d become meant putting folly behind her once and for all.
Whereas before she was fearful of potentially carrying Luc’s child, she now prayed she did.
Forever she’d have a piece of him, even though she would never have his heart.
And that would be enough.
It had to be.
Liliah strode to the door and took the stairs to the foyer, giving a curtsey to her father as he strode into the hall.
He barely gave her a nod before striding to the waiting carriage.
Liliah followed, wearing her determination like armor, daring her father to manipulate her.
He was silent for the first half of the carriage ride, then he shifted slightly, the movement causing her to take note. “You will not dance with Lord Heightfield tonight.”
Liliah tilted her head. “Is he planning to attend?”
“I care not,” her father replied hastily.
Liliah nodded, hoping her father would drop the subject.
“You will dance with Meyer, however,” he added.
She paused but a moment. “Yes, I will.” It was of utmost importance that she portray a solid engagement now, lest people suspect should she conceive.
“Good,” her father replied, then turned his attention to the passing scenery.
Liliah planned out the evening. At first opportunity, she would seek out Rebecca and suggest they meet during the week at the park, that she might notify her of the plan. Then, at the first waltz she would whisper it to Meyer, praying for his approval. It would be better to Rebecca once she had gained Meyer’s cooperation. Surely the plan would be in all their best interests?
As the carriage pulled up to Morrison Hall, the duke stepped out and all but abandoned Liliah as he sought out several other gentlemen, and then certainly would find the faro table. As she walked into the manor, she traveled down the hall and into the ballroom. A tingle skated up her spine and she turned to an Ace of Spades, the dowager widow Lady Markson, watching her closely. Apparently her father made previous arrangements for her to be chaperoned.
Liliah grasped the hand of a footman as she stepped out of the carriage and into the torchlight. Her soft yellow dress captured the firelight and made the fabric shimmer slightly. Her cap sleeves didn’t ward off any of the evening chill, but she had elected to keep her pelisse at home, expecting the ballroom to be overly warm with the sea of humanity within. Her slippered feet were silent as she took the stairs with several others. She nodded to those who welcomed her, and she found her way into the Morrisons’ grand ballroom. English lavender dotted the tables, lending a sweet fragrance to the room along with a muted splash of color. The room wasn’t well populated yet, as they had arrived just as the party began, and she didn’t see any sign of Meyer or Rebecca—or Luc, she thought.
She lifted a glass of lemonade from the table and took a sip of the sweet and tart liquid. While awaiting the arrival of her friends, she thanked Lady Morrison for the invitation, and conversed about a potential whist party for a few select friends. As she was finishing up the dialogue, she noted the entrance of Lord and Lady Grace, without their daughter.
Liliah tilted her head as she watched their entrance to the ballroom and then excused herself from Lady Morrison with a gentle curtsey. As she made her way to the door, she still didn’t see Rebecca. She approached Rebecca’s parents. After the formalities, she directed her attention to Lady Grace, who was standing quite regally in her pale blue gown with a peacock feather in her golden hair. “Is Rebecca well?” Liliah asked.
She didn’t miss the quick exchange of glances between the two, and awaited Lady Grace’s response. “She’s well enough, simply out of spirits for the day. I’m sure she will attend the Reimers’ rout next week,” Lady Grace replied, then made her excuses. Lord Grace offered his arm to his wife and they continued into the room, leaving Liliah perplexed and suspicious as to why Rebecca was out of spirits, though she likely knew the cause.
Yet she had hoped they had made some sort of tenuous peace.
But truly, how was Liliah to expect it to last? She needed to speak with her friend, and made a mental note to ask Lady Grace to convey a message to her daughter.
Liliah took another sip of her lemonade and watched as her father skirted the ballroom, shaking hands with several peers before entering one of the many gaming rooms. Thankfully she was more than aware of her father’s shrewd and miserly opinion of gambling, lest she be concerned he waste their fortune on faro. The man never bet more than a few guineas, though he had much more to spare.
It was a mystery, as much of her father was, yet she expected it was one of the few things he actually enjoyed in life—odd as it was.
The music began and several couples lined the dance floor in a reel formation. Lord Jaymeson approached her and requested a dance, which she readily accepted. He was a kind sort of fellow, one of the older bachelors and quite forthright about his search for a wife, but Liliah didn’t expect that he had turned an eye toward her as a prospect, not with her betrothal to Meyer being public knowledge. It was a carefree dance and a delightful and worry-free partner she found in Lord Jaymeson, who smiled encouragingly and easily continued light conversation when they happened to turn about together. All in all it was a delightful beginning to an otherwise unproductive evening.
Lord Greywick and Meyer arrived during the reel, and Liliah kept a mental awareness of Meyer’s position within the ballroom so that she might meet him after the dance. As the music came to an end, she clapped gratefully and nodded a kind smile to her partner as she took her leave of the dance floor.
The ballroom had grown considerably more crowded in the span of the dance, and it took some time to wind around the congregated London elite. The strains of the cotillion started, and Liliah neatly dodged a potential dance partner and intercepted Meyer.
