The Duke of Severton had not called on me that morning or sent any messages. Soon, I would know if he had passed me over.
“Have you heard from the prince yet, about my dinner party?” Aunt Maude asked.
“Not yet,” Lady Mandeville said. “But that doesn’t mean we should give up hope. I will let you know as soon as possible.”
When the carriage stopped, a footman opened the door and Alec exited, then he helped each of us alight. As I laid my hand in his, he gave it an encouraging squeeze.
My heart squeezed with it. If he felt the same way for me that I felt for him, how much harder was it to watch me go through this difficulty? And to try to encourage me?
I offered him a sad smile.
Lady Randolph Churchill stood just inside the front door, next to her husband. As each guest arrived, she greeted them in turn, commenting on one thing or another until they moved into the house.
When it was our turn, her gaze fell on me and for a heartbeat, I was afraid she would turn us away.
Instead, her face beamed and she said, “My darling Miss Hill, how lovely to see you.” She leaned forward and placed a kiss on both of my cheeks, then said, close to my ear, “Keep your head up, my dear. You’ve just as much right to be here as anyone else.”
When she pulled back, she greeted Lady Mandeville, then Aunt Maude, and finally Alec.
We arrived later than most and the house was full of people, many of whom I’d already met, though there were others who were strangers.
The first familiar face was Lily Parker. She saw me from the other side of the foyer. She was standing with her mother and an older, portly man with gray hair and watery eyes. She crossed the foyer to greet me.
“Hello, Miss Hill. I’m so happy you’ve come.”
“Thank you.” My gratitude carried far deeper than pleasantries. “You’ve been so kind to me.”
“Us Americans need to stick together.” She glanced over her shoulder, and I caught sight of Louise Garfield—standing next to the Duke of Severton. As Louise spoke, she was laughing, and she put her hand on his arm in a playful, flirtatious manner. His serious expression didn’t change as he watched her, but that meant nothing when it came to the duke.
“I’m sorry,” Lily said. “I suspect that you liked him.”
“It’s—complicated.”
“Aren’t all relationships?” She sighed. “My mother is set on me marrying the Earl of Cranford.” This time she looked over her other shoulder to the man she’d been standing with, the one who had been at the opera with her. “He is twice my age and has a daughter even older than me. And he has no country estate but lives full time in London.” Her brow furrowed. “I’ve resigned myself to making a good match here so my younger sisters can marry well in America, but I do not care for city life and wouldprefer to be as far away from London as possible. With a man more suited to my age and tastes,” she added.
“I’ve always imagined a little cottage by a stream would be ideal.”
Her blue eyes lit with pleasure. “That sounds delightful. I don’t mind a ball, and enjoy the company of close friends, but this crush of people is almost unbearable.”
“I believe you and I will be good friends, Miss Parker.”
She smiled. “Please call me Lily.”
“And I’m Keir—Clara.” It had been several months since I’d almost slipped and given the wrong name.
“We’ll storm the castle together, shall we?” Lily asked with a sparkle in her eyes.
I nodded.
“Lily, dear.” Her mother called for her, a new man, even older than Lord Cranford, at her side. “Lord Parkhurst would like to meet you.”
“Perhapshehas a cottage by the stream,” she said with a bright smile. “Ever onward.”
As Lily walked away, my gaze returned to Louise and the duke. She was still monopolizing his attention. She spoke incessantly, laughing at her own jokes and giving the duke as many flirtatious looks as she could manage.
“There you are, Clara.” Annabelle appeared out of a small group of people and came to my side. “I’ve been meaning to visit with you since we arrived in London, but it’s been such a rush of activities.”
“Hello, Annabelle.”
