“Perhaps. Also, the marquis or Sir Randolph could have mentioned to someone that I am in Town. And you were right when you said it would be almost impossible not to have been noticed after what happened with Sir Randolph in the park. That in itself was enough to set tongues to wagging for months.”
“From what you told me about it, I wish I had been there. It all sounded so bizarre.”
Susannah headed toward the drawing room with Mrs. Princeton following her. “In a way, it was. The marquis is certain of Sir Randolph’s innocence and I don’t doubt him, but I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Miss Prattle. Her brother truly did her a disservice in confronting Sir Randolph in public.”
“I’m sure she hopes she will never have to show her face in public again.”
“That would be my guess, too,” Susannah said thoughtfully, having some knowledge of what the woman must be going through.
“It looks as though you also had two notes delivered while we were out. They are probably invitations. Should I open them for you?”
“Let me see.” Susannah stepped closer to Mrs. Princeton.
“Look here, one is obviously from an ill-mannered boor. It is addressed simply to Susannah. That is shameful. Who would dare be so informal to a duchess?”
Race?
“Should we just throw it away without opening it?”
Susannah’s chest tightened. “No, of course not. I will see who it’s from.”
Mrs. Princeton gave her the letters. The first one was properly addressed to her as the Dowager Duchess of Blooming, as her title demanded, and the second a bold, black script that simply said Susannah.
It had to be from the marquis.
Not wanting Mrs. Princeton to think she was eager, Susannah slowly opened the formal invitation first and scanned the words. “It’s from the Duchess of Blakewell. She’s inviting me for tea tomorrow afternoon.”
Mrs. Princeton smiled. “The wife of Lord Raceworth’s cousin, how very nice of her.”
“And expected. No doubt Lord Raceworth told his cousin, the duke, and his duchess that I am in London, and now she feels obliged to invite me for tea.”
“And well she should. Would you like me to put this on your calendar and send her a message that you will be delighted to attend?”
“No, thank you, Mrs. Princeton, I won’t be going.”
Mrs. Princeton’s bushy gray eyebrows rose. “Oh. I don’t understand. A duchess has asked you for tea. It’s only polite to accept.”
Susannah felt no regrets about declining. She hadn’t come to London to once again become embroiled in Society with its strict rules. “She will understand that since I’ve so recently arrived in Town, I’m not accepting many invitations right now. Make the decline very nice, and be sure to thank her for her kind offer.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Clearly her companion was disappointed by Susannah’s answer, but she said nothing else. Susannah stepped away from Mrs. Princeton and willed her fingers not to tremble with expectancy as she carefully unfolded the second note. It read:
I want to see you.
Race
That was all? He was incredibly presumptuous and brazen, and for some reason she couldn’t fathom, it thrilled her.
I want to see you.Not when, not how, not where, not what for. But he wanted to see her. For some silly reason, her hopes soared.
Suddenly Susannah smiled and then laughed softly.
“What is it, Your Grace?” Mrs. Princeton asked anxiously, taking a step closer to her. “Is it anything you can share?”
Susannah stepped back and folded the paper. She recognized the gleam in the woman’s eyes. Mrs. Princeton wanted it to be from a gentleman.
“Only that this is not an invitation, and you do not need to write an answer for me. I think I will go up to my room and rest before dinner is served.” She took in a deep, satisfying breath.
