“Clara?” Aunt Maude interrupted me. “Please join us. Alec, this concerns you, as well.”
Alec stiffened. “I had hoped to get some work done this morning.”
“I’d like for you to hear our plans, so you know what to expect.”
Lady Mandeville lowered her eyes, as if she was embarrassed that Aunt Maude was speaking so freely about what we were about to do.
“I hope you don’t mind, Lady Mandeville,” Aunt Maude said in her no-nonsense way. “We’ve corresponded for months and there is no use pretending that you’ve come for a social call. This is a business transaction, and I believe Alec should be present for the discussion.”
Lady Mandeville cleared her throat. “People are usually more discreet about my services.”
“We will be the height of discretion beyond this room,” Aunt Maude said, lifting her chin just slightly. “But this is the command center, and I want all of us on the same page, so to speak.”
“However you’d like to proceed, I am at your service, Mrs. Hill.” Though Lady Mandeville spoke the words, I could tell it rankled her. She might be desperate for money, but she didn’t want to admit it.
Alec slowly joined us, sitting on a chair near the sofas while I sat next to Aunt Maude. Everything about his mannerisms and countenance told me this was the last place he wanted to be, but Aunt Maude would demand that he stay if he tried to leave again, and we’d both learned it didn’t pay to fight her.
“I’ve ordered tea,” Aunt Maude said, “but I think we can do away with the small talk as we wait for it. Please let me know what you have planned for Clara.”
Lady Mandeville glanced at each of us before she said, “Queen Victoria only hosts four drawing room presentations a year. Two before Easter and two after Easter. If anyone wants to enter high society in London, and a debutante wants invitations to aristocratic events, they must first be received by the queen. We’ve already missed the first two drawing room presentations, but the third one has been announced, and I secured a place for Miss Clara to be presented to Her Majesty.”
Aunt Maude straightened her back and offered a pleased smile.
“The only problem is that the presentation will be in four short days.”
My heartrate escalated. I’d thought I’d have more time to prepare.
“Do not fear,” Lady Mandeville said. “From the moment you entered this room, I saw your natural elegance. I will spend the next few days instructing you on what to do during the presentation, but it won’t be too difficult, and it will accelerate your entrance into society. Do you have a gown to wear?”
“Yes,” Aunt Maude said, even though Lady Mandeville had addressed me. “We had it sewn for her in Paris.”
“Wonderful. Now”—Lady Mandeville glanced at me again, clearly uncomfortable speaking so openly—“I have made a list of eligible bachelors who are in need of an heiress. But I just heard the most marvelous news yesterday.”
Alec repositioned himself in his chair but did not speak.
I tried not to look at him, afraid I would give away my true feelings in front of Lady Mandeville.
“Ames Welby, the 7th Duke of Severton, has just arrived in London.” Lady Mandeville’s eyes widened with excitement. “He is a confirmed bachelor, or so we thought, and lives a very secluded life at Pickering Castle near Ravenscar on the coastal moors. I’ve heard rumors that he has finally decided to take a wife and he’s in need of a wealthy one.”
Ames Welby, the 7th Duke of Severton. As the name solidified in my mind, I had a strange, unsettling feeling come over me. This was the man. The one I would marry. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I just knew.
I glanced at Alec, but he stared down at his hands clasped on his lap.
“Not much is known about his family,” Lady Mandeville warned, “but if it’s a duchy you’re after, then I believe we should move with all haste. I have heard that there are several other heiresses in town for the season and they’ll all have their sights on the duke.”
“Of course.” Aunt Maude leaned forward with anticipation. “Whatever you think best.”
No doubt she was thinking about Louise Garfield.
“I will secure an introduction to the Duke of Severton immediately,” Lady Mandeville said, “and then I will make sure we are at all the right events where he will be invited, and I will introduce His Grace to Miss Hill as soon as possible.” She paused and studied Aunt Maude. “There is one way I canguarantee Miss Hill is welcomed into society here, and that she is placed in front of all the right people.”
“Yes?” Aunt Maude lifted one brow.
“I can arrange a dinner party, here, with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.”
Aunt Maude’s eyebrows shot up.
“The prince is a good friend of mine,” Lady Mandeville said as she examined her gloved hand. “And he is always eager to meet the newest and prettiest American heiresses.” She glanced at me and then returned her gaze to Aunt Maude. “However, if we’re being candid, I would require an additional . . . inducement to see that it is done.”
