CHAPTER1
Spring 1815
It was a well-known fact that when one wanted to put a dowager duchess out to pasture, one placed her on Kent’s Row.
It was a fine street, of course, with tree-lined walkways and brightly colored doors to welcome those who came to call at the neatly kept townhouses.Still, there was no denying its purpose, which Valaria felt keenly as her carriage rumbled to a stop in front of one of the tall homes, sunlight dancing off the bright Roman cement walls.
Number 106.That was hers now, her home after two years of living at a far finer residence of her late husband, Silas St.Clare, Duke of Gooding.For some women, especially of her tender years, the switch to the smaller abode might have been a little shocking.After all, most of the duchesses on the Row were in their sixties or even older.They were not expected to dance or twirl or laugh too loudly anymore.
And yet as the carriage door was opened and her footman helped her out, Valaria tilted back her fine bonnet and breathed a sigh of…relief…at this new home.A place where she could hide.
Being put out to pasture sounded perfectly fine to her.
Of course she told herself that, but then the grief washed over her and she gripped the edge of the carriage door briefly before it passed.Then she forced a smile as her new butler, Higgins, came down the short set of stairs to greet her.
“Your Grace,” he said, executing a small bow.“Welcome home.”
Her smile wavered slightly but she managed to maintain the mask as she inclined her head toward this man she had met but once before today.Her old butler had remained at the duke’s residence, after all.Along with almost all her familiar servants, save for her personal maid, Fanny.
“Thank you so much, Higgins,” she said.“I’m sure the new staff has done a wonderful job preparing the home for me.I look forward to seeing it now that it is filled with furniture and life.”
“Indeed, Your Grace,” he said, and motioned toward the door.“I shall give you a tour straight away if you are not too tired from your journey.”
She gave a small laugh.“The twenty minutes across London, you mean?Yes, I think I can manage.”
She was about to follow his gentle direction into the house when she saw two ladies coming up the street together at a rapid clip.It was evident by their focused stares in her direction that they were coming to her.
Her stomach turned a little at the attention, but she cast a quick glance toward Higgins.“Neighbors?”she asked softly.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
He drew a breath as if to identify her impending guests, but before he could, Valaria gasped, “Why, that is the Duchess of Turnbridge and the Duchess of Sidmouth.They are of an age with me—are they visiting someone here?”
Higgins shook his head.“No, madam.They both live on the Row.Two and three houses down, respectively, on the other side of the Dowager Duchess of Winchester, who is your direct neighbor to the north.”
Valaria’s eyes went wide at the mention of one of the most respected dowagers in London, but she could not ask more because the two ladies arrived at last, in a smiling cloud of perfume and perfectly coifed hair and beautiful gowns.
“Your Grace,” the Duchess of Sidmouth said, stretching out an elegant hand in greeting.“Good afternoon, and welcome to Kent’s Row.”
Valaria shook the offered hand.“Good afternoon, Your Graces.How kind of you to welcome me.”
And it was kind, though she had to assume this direct approach was also driven by a desire to have the first look at their new neighbor.She could see curtains along the row were drawn back, other dowagers watching this exchange and, Valaria was certain, judging her.
Her stomach turned at what they might see.What she might show accidentally.This was her new life, after all, but could it truly be a happy one after everything she had endured…and done?Could she have a future with the secrets of the past just waiting to haunt her?
She realized the women were still talking and forced herself to focus.
“I am the Duchess of Sidmouth, but you’ll find many of the dowagers don’t stand on ceremony here.Too much Your Gracing gets very confusing.So I am Flora.”
Valaria smiled at Flora.She was petite and curvaceous, with dark red hair that hung in little ringlets around her pretty face.
“You and I came out the same year, I think,” Valaria said.
Flora nodded.“We did, indeed.I always admired your beautiful gowns.And you may not recall it, because that year was such a crush of debutantes, but you were of help to me—”
Valaria caught her breath.“I do remember!Someone had spilled wine on your gown, wasn’t it?”
“A rival,” Flora agreed.“Someone interested in my eventual husband’s fortune.She purposefully spilled the wine to keep me away, and you just appeared out of nowhere and swept me off and cleaned me up.”
