Then he left the room and shut the door firmly behind him. He staggered as he made his way back toward the ballroom. He had no doubt Ramsbury would follow his order and leave in the morning. And Finn would talk to Marianne and they would come to some understanding. But nothing would ever be the same. The only thing that would remain as before was that he would spend his days pretending. Pretending everything was well, all while he tried to find some way to resolve the damage that had been done.
And that was nothing new at all.
CHAPTER 6
Esme stared at the crumpled page of London’s notoriousScandal Sheetgossip rag. Every week Jane stole a copy for Esme to enjoy, and normally she did. There was some fun to peeking back into the life she’d once led. But today she had read the main item three times and felt no pleasure at the voyeuristic experience. Only worry.
A certain wallflower who just spent time at her brother’s estate has come home and within days become engaged to a once-wicked earl! Who knows what wiles were employed to land such a catch, and if the stunning development will damage the lifelong friendship between the groom and his equally powerful now future brother-in-law? Earls will be earls, it seems.
The blind items of the sheet were never meant to be difficult to decipher, just easy to deny if someone wanted to make claims of damage against the paper. It was obvious this was referring to the Earl of Delacourt and his best friend, the Earl of Ramsbury.
“Oh, Delacourt,” she said softly as she pushed the paper aside.
She could only imagine his feelings on the subject. He’d always been protective of his sister, she’d known that even when he was little more than a phantom her father adored. To have her marrying someone well known as a scoundrel and under what sounded like potentially scandalous circumstances…
Well, it would weigh on him.
“You look like you will cry,” Jane said as she entered the parlor and flopped herself into the chair across from her at their small table. “What could possibly be in that paper to make you look so?”
She shook her head. “I’m being ridiculous, I know.”
Jane folded her arms. “Is this about that marquess again?”
“He’s an earl,” Esme corrected softly.
Jane pursed her lips and dragged the paper to herself, reading the blind item swiftly. “I see. And is he the one marrying the sister or the one who lost her to his friend?”
“He’s the one who is seeing his sister marry a friend,” Esme admitted with only a brief glance toward Jane.
Her friend snatched the paper up and crossed to the fire, where she tossed the page in. When she looked back, her expression was lined with worry. “Esme, you’ve worked hard to build some safety for yourself. To break free of a world that would have likely killed you had you stayed. Why would you endanger all you’ve created over someman?”
It was a valid question and Esme put her head down on her arms because she couldn’t face Jane when she answered. “I don’t know! I’ve known plenty of handsome men, been attracted to men over the years, but I wouldn’t risk myself for any of them. I suppose that the fact that my…my father cared for him might have something to do with it.”
Jane’s mouth dropped open. “He knew your father? Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
Esme looked up at her. “Because you’d give me the very look you are now. I knew you would scold.”
“Why shouldn’t I? That is even more reason to stay away from this man! Far away. He is actually from your old life—if he ever found out who you were…”
“I know.” Esme shook her head. “I know you’re right. I’m being the worst kind of fool and I despise myself for it.”
Jane sighed. “I’m sure I can’t imagine what it must be like to walk away from everything you ever cared about. Everything you ever knew.”
Esme looked at her, saw her friend’s strength and steel. “Of course you do.”
Jane softened a little and took her hand. She gave a little squeeze. “I’m spending an evening with a very fine merchant tonight. He’s taking me to the theatre.”
Esme was grateful for the change of subject and nodded. “How exciting. What will you wear?”
“The blue silk, I think. As long as you weren’t going to wear it tonight.”
She and Jane often shared gowns, with Jane stuffing the bust to fill out the space Esme needed more of. What was the point of spending twice the money on clothing when they could economize and save even more just in case? In their world, there were so often unexpected issues. Like one’s foolish obsession with an earl, for example.
“No, I didn’t intend to wear it,” she said when she realized Jane was waiting for the response.
“Excellent. And what will you do tonight?”
Esme glanced toward the fireplace. The paper was long gone now, nothing more than ash, but she knew what it said. If hissister was back in Town, Delacourt was, too. So she might run into him at the Donville Masquerade.
