“As ye sow, so shall ye reap. No one is going to come to his rescue,” Lord Berwick said. “His friends who were with him that night have all fled the country. I called upon the Bishop of London today. The prelate at St. Simeon’s is no longer there.”
“Where have they put him?” Berry asked.
“He’s been sent off to one of their foreign outposts to convert the populace. I don’t think we shall ever see him in London again.”
“Lady Miranda told me that Pullingham’s father-in-law sent him off to Italy without Lady Pullingham,” Berry remarked.
Lady Berwick smiled as she nodded. “Yes, it is true. Lady Pullingham has packed up their townhouse and is selling it, so I think she expects he will stay gone for good. She got what she wanted out of the marriage, a title and children, one of whom will eventually inherit an earldom. So there’s no more need to put up with that wastrel.”
They arrived at the impressive Stanhope residence, which was awash in torchlight. Carriages were lined up in a queue that stretched around the corner. Gideon estimated it would take them another ten minutes to reach the head of the line.
But he had settled his coattails just as Horace instructed and had no concerns about his appearance as their carriage movedcloser to Lord Stanhope’s porticoed entrance. The evening might go completely amiss, but Gideon could proudly report to Horace that his coattails were free of wrinkles.
As it turned out, he need not have worried about his reception. Lord Stanhope greeted him warmly.
“Ah, London’s hero. First saving the British Museum’s priceless statuary, and mere days later saving the lovely Lady Berry and my dear friend, Lord Berwick. Who will you save next, I wonder? Welcome to our home, Mr. Knight.”
“A pleasure, my lord. I appreciate the invitation.”
“Everyone is eager to meet you,” Lady Stanhope said, smiling broadly. “Having you attend is quite the coup for us. You have made our balltheevent of the Season.”
After greeting their host and hostess, Gideon joined Berry and the Berwicks as they made their way into the ballroom. Berry laughed softly when she noticed him counting the chandeliers on the ceiling and taking note of the paint colors.
He winked back at her and smiled.
Footmen briskly walked around balancing trays of champagne-filled glasses in one hand as they made their way through the crowd of lords and ladies who would never think to mutter an apology if they bumped into them and almost spilled the trays. Gideon had worked as a footman at such eleganttonaffairs back when he and Bonham were scrambling to earn whatever they could.
It struck him as odd that he was on the other side now. But he made a point of being considerate to the footmen and thanked the young man who had offered him a glass of champagne. He took one for himself and another for Berry.
It was not long before guests surrounded him and Berry, for they were the talk of the ball and everyone wanted to be introduced to him. She was completely in her element, charming everyone with her dazzling smile and gracious comments.
The Stanhopes opened the ball with a quadrille.
All eyes were on Gideon as he led Berry onto the dance floor. He hopped about with lordly perfection and performed his glissades with the best of them.
He managed the waltz with supreme ease, for all felt right with the world once Berry was in his arms.
Miranda, Gwendolyn, and Suzanna were in attendance, so he danced with them, too. Only Gwenys was missing, because she would not make her debut until next year. The ball was a crush, and he could see how someone as young and naïve as Gwenys might have difficulty at such an affair. It overwhelmedhim, and he had years of experience out in the world.
Berry did not dance with anyone but him because Dr. Farthingale had not given her permission yet. Gideon did not think she minded having to sit out most of the dances, and no one was going to question her medical excuse. While he danced with the ladies of Duchess Square, she spent much of her time chatting with several other young ladies, who turned out to be Dr. Farthingale’s nieces.
Berry introduced him when he rejoined her. Apparently, the nieces had married quite well.
It turned out Daffodil Farthingale was one of Berry’s good friends. She had married the Duke of Edgeware. “I call her Duchess Daffy,” her husband teased.
“Because he is an oaf and a scoundrel,” she said with a gentle laugh. “It is DuchessDillie, and I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Knight.” Dillie then introduced Gideon to her other sisters and their husbands. He tried to keep them all in order but knew it was an impossible task. Rose Farthingale was married to a viscount. Laurel had married a Scottish baron. Daisy’s husband had been awarded an earldom for his valor during the war. Dillie had an identical twin, Lily, who was married to the grandson of a duke.
Miranda came over and whispered in his ear. “See, they are a tradesman’s daughters who all made love matches with peers of the realm. Times are changing, Mr. Knight, and many of the younger peers are all for these changes. As for family, do not think having one is always ideal. Edgeware’s parents hated him—I mean, really hated him—ever since he was a child. His mother wished him dead. Dillie was his salvation. She is his heart and soul now, and has gone a long way to repairing the severe damage his despicable parents caused him. So, having a bad family is sometimes worse than having no family at all.”
He nodded, but made no further comment. He still harbored anger over being cast off by his parents, for they had tossed him aside with as much concern as one might give a pair of old boots.
Just like Edgeware’s situation, he knew Berry was going to fill that gaping hole for him.
Miranda was asked to dance by a slightly inebriated Scot who complimented her red hair while drawing her away to partner him in a quadrille. “Are ye sure ye are no’ Scottish, Lady Miranda? Ye certainly look Scottish to me.”
“Perish the thought,” she said, smiling sweetly at the man as the insult flew over his head.
Berry appeared at Gideon’s side. “Oh, poor Miranda. He’s going to step on her toes, for sure. He’s one of the Duke of Solway’s relatives down from the Highlands. They are known to be a bit wild. Not in an evil sense, like Hawthorne or his friends. They are just keen on making noise and having a good time, mostly while drinking too much.”
