Two of the dowager’s sons walked by—Lord Trevor and Lord Trey—and she presented them with her best smile. Only Lord Trey returned the gesture. Then again, Trey didn’t have a good reputation, and Diana would do well to stay away from him for fear of being ruined.
Walking up the lane from the road, three men caught her eye. She recognized two of them she’d met several times before, Lord Henry and Lord Elliot. They were with someone who looked oddly familiar, but she knew she’d never been introduced to him before. The tall man was quite handsome, if she dared admit, and extremely muscular. His over-jacket stretched tightly across his shoulders, and his breeches appeared entirely too formfitting and showed off his exceptional build.
Her cheeks heated.Good heavens!Why would she think such a thing? Yet it was hard not to, especially the closer the threesome came toward her and the more she could see of the stranger.
She straightened and folded her hands in her lap, adopting as proper of an appearance as possible. A bee buzzed by her face, but she dared not swat at it, although she couldn’t allow it to sting her, either. The last time that happened, her face had swollen and she’d become sick. Trying not to be obvious, she blew at the bee, hoping it would take the hint and leave.
The closer the three men strolled, the more the bothersome insect irritated her. Still, she continued to blow at it, hoping it wouldn’t sting her. The handsome stranger finally looked her way and grinned. Diana’s heart flipped in a silly rhythm. She smiled back and inclined her head.
The small group walked right by her without saying anything, although the stranger watched her over his shoulder as he passed. Once they were out of her vision, she swatted the bee, and the insect finally left her alone.
Closing her eyes, she couldn’t get the handsome man out of her mind. One way or another, she needed to get an introduction.
A burst of giggles brought Diana out of her daydream, and she snapped her eyes open. From around the wide tree, three girls sat on the wraparound bench. Sighing, Diana leaned back against the thick trunk and frowned. She didn’t have many friends her own age here in Mayfair.
“Did you see that dress she was wearing?” one of the girls asked in a low voice. “Why, it’s ghastly, to say the least. She wore that gown last Season, but it appears as if the sleeves are different. Even the color is fading.”
“And what about her mother?” another girl piped up. “That woman sticks her nose into conversations that are not her concern. In fact, she interrupted me while I was walking with my mother not too long ago.”
“How disrespectful,” a third voice said. “Why can they not realize nobody wants them here?”
“Except the dowager Duchess of Kenbridge.” The second girl snickered. “She is just too nice to turn anyone away. Pity she can’t see the country paupers for what they truly are.” She huffed. “You know, there is a reason the Baldwins aren’t invited to most social events.”
“Well, except for Miss Baldwin’s older brother, Mr. Cole Baldwin.” One girl giggled.
Diana’s throat tightened, making it difficult to breathe. They were talking about her and her family! They had been talking abouthergown!
She pulled herself tight against the tree, praying the girls on the other side wouldn’t notice her listening. Nothing could move her away now, even if she didn’t want to hear another degrading word they said.
“In a way,” the first girl said, “I do feel sorry for Miss Baldwin and her brother. It’s not their fault their father is a gambler and squanderer.”
“Very true. It’s no wonder their mother flaunts her daughter in front of all the eligible men. I heard that in order for their family to stay out of debt, Miss Baldwin will have to marry a very wealthy man.”
The girls’ laughter made Diana’s stomach churn. Could what they were saying be true? Impossible! Her father wasn’tthatbadly in debt, was he? And if so, why hadn’t her mother said anything?
She glanced down at her day gown, picking at the sleeves. This had been new three Seasons ago. Every year since, her mother had done her best to make alterations, telling Diana she could still wear it after it was spruced up and nobody would notice. Perhaps her father’s gambling had depleted the family funds after all. Why else wouldn’t her mother buy new gowns for them? Mother made Diana think her father would come into a lot of money very soon. Had this been a lie?
“Oh, look,” one of the girls exclaimed. “There’s Lord Tristan.”
Diana had no idea who Lord Tristan was, and at this moment, she didn’t particularly care.
The other two sighed dreamily. “Oh, Jane, I’m so utterly and completely jealous of you. I wish Lord Tristan’s family wanted him to marry me!”
Jane chuckled. “Well, it’s true. Our families are trying to arrange a marriage, but Lord Tristan insists he’s not ready to settle down.”
“Well, if I know you, Jane, you’ll convince him soon enough.”
“Indeed I will,” she gloated.
Rustling of silk faded from the other side of the tree, and Diana dared take a peek to see if the girls had left. They had. She breathed a relieved sigh then embarrassment washed over her. The weekend party had just begun, but she wanted to leave immediately. Feigning illness may be the trick in getting her mother to take her home. If others felt the same way these three girls did about Diana’s family, she could not stay a minute longer. She didn’t want everyone gossiping about them behind their backs.
She left the bench and hurried toward her mother, who stood next to Lady Greenly and Lady Sutherland. Now that Diana knew what others were saying about their family, she noticed the forced smiles the older women were giving her mother. Her heart wrenched. Did her mother know or even realize they were being made to look like fools at this gathering?
Slowly, she joined her parent and stood next to her. When there was a break in the conversation, Diana tugged on her arm. “I’m feeling quite ill, Mother.”
Esther frowned. “You do look a little peaked.” She caressed Diana’s cheek with her knuckle. “Perhaps you should go upstairs and lie down until dinner?”
“Well, actually, I was hoping we could return home,” Diana answered softly.
