“There you are, darling. Are you enjoying the party so far?” Jules pivoted just as his mother approached from the opposite end of the foyer and took hold of his arm.
If Bethany and Jules both took after their father in appearance, Tabetha most definitively carried on their mother’s blonde beauty. And despite the fact that she was nearing the half-century mark, their mother remained a handsome woman.
“How could I not when you’ve done all the planning?” Jules covered his mother’s jeweled hands and proceeded to stroll alongside her to whatever destination she had in mind.
“I do try to be original,” his mother said with little modesty. “So many house parties consist of the same activities over and over again. It’s especially difficult this time of year, when we cannot count on the weather to cooperate.”
“I hear that yesterday’s activities provided the utmost of enjoyment.”
“Did Lady Felicity tell you that? She is looking prettier than ever, if I say so myself.”
Jules tilted his head, making a cracking sound before he could stop himself.
His mother cringed. “I do wish you wouldn’t do that.”
“I’m sorry.” But she’d forget the cracking as soon as she discovered that her future daughter-in-law would not be the daughter of one of her dearest friends but of a man who made American whiskey for a living.
“Have you spoken to her privately?”
His mother’s question drew his attention back to her. “Who?”
“Why, Lady Felicity, of course. Can I be so optimistic as to hope for an announcement on the night of the ball? It would make for an excellent end to the party.”
Luckily, they’d arrived at the entrance to the dining room, where he suspected his mother would wish to inspect the seating arrangements and décor.
“I hate to disappoint you, Mother—”
“So you must intend to surprise me. Have I ruined your surprise, darling?”
Jules ran a hand through his hair without answering.
“It’s just that she’s waited such a long time. And you, Julian Elias Fitzwilliam, have achieved your thirtieth year. It’s high time you do more than simplycontemplatesetting up your nursery if you’re ever to beget an heir.”
“I see your point, Mother.” Jules winced. “But what if—”
“Oh, no! Smythe, you cannot seat Lady Turlington beside Mrs. Reddington! Do you want an outright war to break out at my dinner table?” His mother fluttered around the table with several harried-looking maids in her wake. She glanced over her shoulder. “We can discuss this later, Jules, darling. And if you could, please, be a dear and arrive in the drawing room early this evening. I’ve a thousand things to do and only a few hours to do them. It doesn’t show well when the host is missing.”
Jules exhaled but nodded. He hated to disappoint her. Perhaps it would be best if she came to know Miss Jackson a little better first.
He waited outside the dining room doors and after the room became silent, he slipped back inside to make a few corrections to the seating arrangement himself. Because, after all, how could his mother come to appreciate her future daughter-in-law if she didn’t really know her?
He made a few other switches as well, placing Lady Masters between Greys and Spencer. Chuckling to himself, he silently closed the door behind him.
He had at least three hours of correspondence to address before dinner was served. How in God’s name would Blackheart manage his ducal responsibilities while also acting as a butler? As a major in the army, Blackheart’s brother, Lord Lucas, certainly couldn’t take over.
It was possible Blackheart would surrender before the charade even began. The thought added a skip to Jules’ step as he sauntered to his study. It would be rather entertaining to see how the lords and ladies responded to the sight of three gentlemen making a mad dash through the park wearing nothing but regret.
Entertaining, indeed.
Chapter 9
DIFFERENT IDEAS
“Hold onto the post while I tighten this.” Charley inhaled and then gasped when Daisy cinched the laces of her stays.
Charley had always been slim enough not to actually require the stays all women wore. “Why are you doing them up so tight?”
“To enhance your melons.” Daisy grinned.
