Before I could tell her that I agreed, Lady Bodonel, the gossip, stepped in front of us. “Your Grace, I don’t know why you didn’t insist on the duke coming with us. You should’ve demanded it. He could surely dance a bit with his stump.”
I closed my eyes in anticipation of Patience exploding, but none came.
“No. My husband will do what he wishes. I support him as he supports me.”
Lady Bodonel was viscountess, lower in station that my friend the duchess, but one would never know from her manners. Her waving fan of ivory lace came too close to Patience’s cheek. “I only want the best for him, you know?”
I looked at Her Grace, and she at me, perhaps waiting for which of us would tell the Lady Bodonel the truth, that no one, absolutely no one thought she wanted the best for anyone but herself.
Patience was kind, but no fool. “Show the duke.” Her tone was stern, deliberate with an edge. “Show his family and friends too. Support his wishes and let him be.”
Lady Bodonel frowned as if she ate sour lemons and then charged away. Hopefully it would be the last we saw of her until it was time to return to Sandlin Court. She was staying with us while something was painted at her residence. To avoid her, the duke seemed to lock himself in his study.
Looping her arm with mine, Patience moved us in the opposite direction. “The duke and Lord Gantry have decided to stay at Sandlin Court to discuss strategies. That means they’ll smoke cigars and read maps. Sounds as if Gantry is planning a trip.”
“Maybe that is what the duke’s been up to, helping his friend.”
She laughed and shifted in time with the violin and harp music playing. “I’m not sure. His tactical planning is not for Wellington. I might have had Mr. Gerard shuffle Busick’s papers and he saw nothing from that commander.”
This time I took her hand and swirled her around to distract her. “You and the duke are too sweet. He’s as concerned about you as you are about him. A perfect match.”
“Buckles?”
That voice. I cringed and turned to greet Lady Lavinia. “Evening, ma’am.”
“Do you have any other shoes?” She shook her head at me.
“Why do you wear them everywhere?”
“I like these slippers. They are comfortable. Lady Lavinia Nell, this is Her Grace, the Duchess of Repington.”
Patience folded her arms. “Oh, yes. I heard about you.”
Lavinia took out something that looked like opera glasses and gawked at my friend. “You are rather pretty and such a nice necklace.”
Fingering the ruby the duke gave her, Patience nodded. “Thank you for the assessment, I think.”
“I was just telling Buckles here that I remember seeing those slippers in a certain barrister’s office. I thought the women here were upstanding.”
Patience stepped a little closer. “How would you know about seeing slippers if you too weren’t at a barrister’s office?” She pointed at Lavinia. “I hear you are known to be a scandal with or without your slippers.”
“Rude even with that slight accent.” Lavinia sputtered, her smile dropping away. “Just tell Buckles to let everyone have a shot at the rich earl and see who wins.”
I shook my head. “Lady Lavinia, the earl is an independent thinker. He’ll give sway to whom he pleases. Why are we women fighting over him?”
She huffed again. “It is his choice, but the man does not know what’s in his best interest. There are ways to fix that. Excuse me.”
I had a bad feeling that Lavinia had horrid ideas on how to fix Daniel. That couldn’t be good. I hadn’t seen Daniel in two weeks. Though we’d exchanged letters every day, he hadn’t ventured again to see me at Sandlin Court. He wanted an uncompromising yes. He wasn’t settling for anything less.
I think I was ready.
At the front of the room, a footman said, “Lord Ashbrook.”
Warm and tingly, butterflies flew in my stomach.
This was a formal ball. Men wore black breeches, white shirts, and waistcoats. Yet, the earl’s cravat seemed whiter than snow. His cream waistcoat had silver threads that sparkled like his eyes. Even the fabric of his breeches held hints of silver in the hem. The man shimmered like a star fallen to earth.
Did he see me?
