Lucinda’s heart thumpederratically as she entered the front drawing room the next morning. Marianne came immediately to her and clasped her hands. Her smile made Lucinda return it. She was a sweet young woman, so open with her emotions. You knew exactly where you stood with Lady Ashton.
“We are so glad you are here. Mother is afraid you will not forgive her for last night.”
The dowager duchess was twisting a kerchief in her hands, and Lucinda took a breath to steady herself before moving towards Marianne’s mother. This could go two ways, but she hoped that whatever the woman had to say would be sincere.
“Oh, my dear,” the dowager began. “I must apologize for last night. I did not know what you had been through.”
What exactly had she been told? “Thank you, Your Grace. I am sorry for my part. I admit I was not myself last night.”
“Well, no wonder. Taken in the middle of the night like that. You must have been terrified. I cannot understand why someone would do it in such a manner. So, please, forgive me for my hasty words.”
Lucinda did not know what to think about the apology, so she simply said, “Of course.”
Marianne ushered her over to the sofa. “Please, come sit with me and let us get to know you a little, in your words.”
“I am not sure what you would like to know. There is not much to tell.”
“Marianne tells me your father was Viscount Foxton. I remember him. He was the ambassador to Prussia, if I recall correctly.”
Lucinda sat up straight. Someone who knew her father! Questions swirled chaotically in her head. “What was he like?”
“Well, it was many years ago, but from what I remember, he was tall, and he too had auburn hair, just like yours. People held him in high regard, but when he went to Prussia, most of the ton lost touch with him. He may still have friends in the ton who can tell you more.”
Lucinda knew that her hair color came from her father. He had always been so proud of her hair. The family legacy, he had called it. Our crowning glory. “What of my mother? Did you know her? What was her name?”
The dowager’s eyebrows shot up. “I did. Edwina Shorten was a sweet girl. She made her debut a few years after me. I was already married by then, but I remember she was a beautiful girl. She had many admirers, but your father was all she could see.Her father, on the other hand, was not so happy, if I remember correctly. They were on opposing sides of politics, you see.”
“Edwina Shorten,” she said, as if testing the sound of it on her lips. “I never really knew my mother. I was still young when she died, about seven I think. My father only had one small portrait of her, but I do not know where it is now.”
“Oh, Lucinda. It must have been so lonely for you without your family. I had a governess and dance tutors. I see now how fortunate I was to stay at home.”
“I did not know any better, I suppose, but I always wondered why none of my extended family ever came for me. Holidays, especially Christmas, were hard. All the girls left, but of course I had nowhere to go, so I just stayed with Miss Covington.”
“It is shameful, my dear, utterly shameful, but now you are here, and Marianne and I will take good care of you. Tony will accompany us. I will not let him shirk his responsibility to you. Have no fear of that.”
“Thank you both. I can never repay you for your… help.”
“Nonsense, my dear girl. You will be the diamond of the season, but we have much to do to get ready. Now, should we have tea and find a schedule that will suit? I promise I will not force you to do anything you are not willing to do.”
“Well, I do desperately need new dresses as you heard last night. I am sure that Lord Ashton will now get my monthly allowance, but I am not sure if it will cover all I need.”
“Pish posh, you leave all that to me.” The dowager picked up a teapot. “How do you take your tea, my dear?”
“Just black, please.”
“No cream or sugar?”
“Milk upsets my stomach so I avoid it if I can.”
At the dowager’s expression, Marianne interjected, “It is not as uncommon as you think, Mother.” Marianne passed Lucindaa cup of tea. “My friend Rose cannot abide milk either, so you are not alone there, Miss Sterling.”
“No milk it is. Now, Madame Millicent is afabulousmodiste and she may have some ready-made dresses you can have altered to take home today. Normally, I would shudder at such a thing, but you need some decent clothes to wear. I sent her a note this morning, so she is expecting us. If you are happy to go that is.”
Lucinda sipped her tea before answering. “Yes, thank you, I am grateful for your time.”
“Marianne informed me about your desire for a husband. That is not surprising at all. While there are many men to choose from, there are only a few that I would approve of for you or Marianne to marry. So, my dear, just like our gardeners we must weed the bad ones out. Tony can distinguish between men seeking heiresses and those genuinely looking for a good marriage. He seems to have a knack for it.”
Lucinda should be thrilled and delighted that her plan was coming to fruition. Instead, all she could think about was her plan was actually coming to fruition and how was she going to survive this? She had spent so much time dreaming about it, but now it was real. It was happening. And she was going to be going to balls and dancing with strangers and hoped one of them would want to marry her. She was going to be presented to the queen and have her come out, which she should have had years ago.
