Chapter Seven
“It could have gone much worse.”
Grace sighed as she picked at her piece of toast on her white china plate. Normally more than happy to break her fast and enjoy whatever cook prepared for the morning meal, this morning she wasn’t as inclined as usual.
Samantha’s comment didn’t exactly help, either.
“Yes, it could have been worse. I could have permanently injured Lady . . . whatever her name was,” Grace replied, giving up her pretense at eating and instead lifting her teacup.
“I assure you there was no permanent damage.”
“No, not to her at least, just my reputation.” Grace sighed dramatically and took a long sip of tea.
“Lady Downing.”
Grace lowered the teacup. “Pardon?”
“Lady Downing, that’s the lady you, er, upset.”
Grace set down her teacup. “Of course you’d be able to find a way to say it in such a delicate manner;upset.” Grace snorted, earning a glare from her former governess. “Pardon, but I did more than merely upset her.”
Samantha cleared her throat delicately. “Well, it is of no consequence. No one will even remember that now. We need to thank Lord Sterling for that.” Samantha lifted her teacup and shrugged a shoulder delicately.
Grace frowned. “Why? Not that I’m against thanking him, I’m just failing to understand what part he played.”
Samantha lowered the teacup, then glanced to Grace with a questioning expression in her hazel eyes. “My dear, Lord Sterling doesn’t dance with women.”
Grace blinked, then tipped her head in confusion. She’d heard about men like that, and she was quite certain she met a few of them in India, but... “Oh, I had no idea. I suppose I wouldn’t though.” She blushed and glanced down. “I suppose many women in London are disappointed with his . . . alternative choices.”
When Samantha didn’t readily answer, Grace glanced up in confusion.
“Alternative choices?” Samantha blinked, then her eyes widened. “Good Lord, I didn’t mean that.” She set her napkin down, even though she’d just picked it up. “How do you evenknowabout that . . .” Then she held up her hand. “Never mind, I don’t need to hear.” Samantha shook her head. “No, it’s not that. It’s that Lord Sterling doesn’t dance with anyone. He’s quite the confirmed bachelor and I’d be willing to guess that the last person he danced with was his wife.”
It was Grace’s turn to be surprised, and she nearly choked on the tea she’d just sipped.
“He’s married?” She lifted her napkin and patted her lips, trying to process the information and think back to the conversations. Never once had he mentioned, or anyone else mentioned, his wife.
“Was, dear.Was.” Samantha clarified. “It was a long time ago. She’s passed since then, but it was quite an upset and scandal about six years ago. I wasn’t even out in society andIknew about it.” Samantha’s gaze widened, and she shook her head slowly, as if mourning for whatever he’d endured.
“Oh. What was the scandal?” Grace asked, leaning forward expectantly. Absentmindedly, she picked at her toast and popped a corner into her mouth.
“Well, it’s quite the long story, but it was one of the few cases of divorce I’ve ever actually known to take place. Most of the time, in the ton, if there is . . . unfaithfulness. . . in a marriage, it’s kept secretive. But this . . . this kind of unfaithfulness was impossible to keep in the dark.”
Grace leaned forward, eagerly anticipating the story. “Well?”
Samantha took a deep breath. “Lord Sterling met Rebecca Standson in her first season. I never saw her myself, but she was known as a great beauty. She was nearly an incomparable of the season that year. A lady of gentle breeding, very fine manners, and tolerable fortune, she was a very respectable prospect—which was the most enticing factor for Lord Sterling. Heathcl—Viscount Kilpatrick—has said much about his friend, but the most defining character trait used to describe Lord Sterling is the great weight he places on propriety and respectability.” She nodded her head for emphasis.
“Yes, I’ve heard that,” Grace agreed.
“So, it takes no great intelligence to see that a man searching for a respectable wife would find Miss Standson a very promising prospect.”
“It would make sense,” Grace agreed. “So, he offered, she accepted, and they were married.”
“Yes.” Samantha concurred.
“And then she was a strumpet?” Grace leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms in disapproval.
“No. Not in that way,” Samantha answered.
