“If you’d told me how you felt, I would have helped you.”
Helen pressed a hand to her mouth. “As I said, I’m not as brave as you are, and I hope you’ll forgive my words one day.”
She reached out and squeezed Helen’s hand. “I still love you.”
Helen hugged her, whispering, “I’m sorry.”
Isabella held her back. If there was one thing she’d learnt from the horrible experience of losing her child, it was to keep those she loved close.
* * *
Anthony watchedas the guests for the ball moved into the ballroom. But as he greeted the guests, and too many stared at his face, he couldn’t deny the discomfort bothering him. The guests had already seen him, but apparently, his face was a constant source of shock and attention, judging by the mutters, gasps, and looks.
Grandmama instead was radiant, almost jubilant. She showed a broad smile and fanned herself with a certain energetic flair.
The idea of giving a ball at Sirocco House had been his, after all. It was a way to show himself to society after his absence from London. and once his brother was there came with the added bonus to make sure Patrick didn’t have a change of heart regarding his love for Sophia. Once they were seen together at the ball, Patrick couldn’t easily change his mind. But above all, he wanted to celebrate his marriage and his wonderful wife.
“Why are you so happy?” he asked Grandmama.
“Waiting for all the guests to arrive here from England or other parts of the Mediterranean has been annoying but very rewarding. Look at Lady Acton. She’s panting. Her face is all red. She isn’t used to the hot weather, and I asked Rogers to have the path to the house lit with large braziers. It’s unbearably hot there. A sauna.” She smirked. “Lord Gully has sweat patches under his armpits. Lady Howe is so overheated she can’t even speak, thank goodness. She doesn’t say anything worth hearing anyway. She looks like she might have a fit at any moment. And Lord Lambton hasn’t recovered from the seasickness. He’s all green.”
Anthony frowned. “Grandmama, did you invite these people to watch them suffer in the heat?”
“I didn’t tell you anything so as not to upset you, but each and every one of them made cruel comments about your face after you showed yourself in the House of Lords.” She snapped her fan closed. “I replied to the comments with polite remarks, but they didn’t stop. A lady never makes a scene, but she doesn’t swallow insults without reacting, either. This ball in the middle of the Ionian Sea is exactly what they deserve.”
“Remind me never to upset you, Grandmama.”
“Your Grace, Gloucester.” Lord Lambton bowed, huffing. “Wonderful house.” He dabbed his green face with a handkerchief.
“I trust you had a pleasant journey.” Grandmama stopped a passing footman carrying a tray of canapés. “Would you like a canapé, Lambton?” She selected one with creamy cheese and watercress on top. “They are delicious. Some of them are made with smoked fish. You can taste the sea. Nothing like a rich meal after a long journey across the sea to restore the spirits.”
Lord Lambton pressed the handkerchief to his mouth. “If you’ll excuse me.” He hurried out of the ballroom.
He exhaled. “Grandmama.”
“What?” She had another canapé. “Lambton said you could find a job as a circus freak. Serves him right.”
“Stop torturing our guests.”
“No, I’m having too much fun.” She fluttered her fan and stared at a young lady who was whispering behind her gloved hand.
The whispering ceased immediately, and the young lady composed herself.
How Grandmama could do that was a mystery.
Anthony instead couldn’t take his eyes off his wife as she entered the ballroom from the balcony with Helen at her side. The trip to Mytos had healed her both in body and spirits.
“Isabella is enchanting,” Grandmama said.
“She is.”
“Even in that pink gown.”
“Please, Grandmama.”
“Well, tastes are tastes.”
Sophia came from the balcony as well a few moments after Isabella and Helen.
