He gave her an odd look. “I promise this will soon be over, Virginia,” he said.
THECAREW MANSION RESEMBLEDa palace. Situated on the outskirts of Greenwich, surrounded by hundreds of acres of both park and wood, the house could easily accommodate all three of Devlin’s homes. As Devlin’s carriage entered the square drive, passing a maze and a sculpture garden, Virginia saw that the line ahead consisted of the most elegant and grand coaches she had ever beheld and the dread congealed. As they waited their turn to alight, she asked, “How many guests will be present?”
“Several hundred, I think,” Devlin replied.
He did not speak again, sitting beside her, his long legs crossed, as dashing as ever in his uniform. Virginia was immobilized—it was hard to breathe. Devlin did not seem to notice. He appeared distracted, but what matter could so preoccupy him she did not know. His tension seemed to match her own—and it belied his bland facade.
A half an hour later their carriage door was opened and a footman helped Virginia down, Devlin following. They started up the wide stone staircase that led to the open front door, following a dozen other parties.
“Captain O’Neill, sir, how fine to see you again.”
“Lord Arnold, Lady Arnold.” Devlin bowed to the smiling couple. “May I present my dear friend, Miss Virginia Hughes?”
Virginia felt her cheeks flame as two pairs of interested eyes came her way. Lord Arnold was a portly man with a kind face, his wife of average looks and figure, her eyes bright and indicating a superior intelligence. Arnold bowed; his wife nodded. “A fine night for a ball, is it not, Miss Hughes?” He smiled.
He had no clue yet as to her terrible status. Virginia nodded. “Very fine,” she managed. She glanced at his wife, but Lady Arnold simply regarded her keenly, not saying anything, a polite smile on her lips.
They followed the Arnolds inside, Devlin and Arnold briefly discussing a motion recently passed in the Commons. Virginia gaped at the ceiling above—it was several stories high—and just beyond the huge front hall, she could see into an even larger, grander ballroom. There, a good two hundred guests were mingling already, and the room was alive with the jewel tones of the ladies’ gowns and the thousands of crystals shimmering in the overhead chandeliers.
“So you are an American?” Lady Arnold said as they paused on the receiving line.
Virginia started and swallowed. “Yes.” Knowing she flushed, she added, “We do not have balls like these at home.”
“And where is your home, my dear?”
“Virginia, my lady.” Virginia waited for the next terrible, inevitable question.
“And how did you come to be in England?”
Virginia wet her lips. “My parents died. My uncle is the Earl of Eastleigh and I came to spend some time with him.”
“Oh, I am so sorry about your parents,” Lady Arnold said.
Virginia thought that beneath her very bright eyes, she was kind. “Yes. Thank you.”
“And Captain O’Neill? Is he a family friend?”
Virginia hesitated. Should she get this over with? Would it not be better to do so, sooner rather than later?
Lady Arnold said politely, “I do not mean to pry, of course, but I have never seen the captain in the company of a single woman.”
She wet her lips. “He has been very kind. I am…staying at Waverly Hall.”
Her brows lifted with mild interest. “Oh, yes, the home he purchased from your uncle. Is your family in residence there?”
“I’m afraid not,” Virginia said. And she simply could not go through with it. “Excuse me, my lady, but the captain beckons.” And aware of some surprise, she hurried over to Devlin. His regard was searching.
“I am afraid I may not play our charade well tonight,” she said tersely.
“You need not play any charade, tonight, Virginia,” he said. “You need to merely be with me, at my side, until we leave.” His jaw flexed and he looked away, as if he could not meet her eyes. “My lord Carew.” He bowed, facing an older, heavyset gentleman. “May I present my dear friend, Miss Virginia Hughes?”
VIRGINIA’S HEADACHE KNEWno bounds. She stood apart, watching the many dancers, having no recollection of the steps as the line of men and women formed and broke, partners circling and changing couples before meeting yet again. Devlin spoke with several men but a short distance away, and she knew from their repeated glances in her direction that these men distinctly understood her status in the world.
She was miserable.
“Would you like to dance?”
She whirled and met Tyrell de Warenne’s smiling countenance. “My lord! I’m afraid I have forgotten the steps,” she confessed. Then she realized she had forgotten to curtsy and she hastily did so.
