Page 52 of The Season of Lady Chastity

“Go on, Bastian. The doctor will care for me.”

Bastian had no more stepped over the threshold and into the corridor than his mother’s chamber door shut. His last glimpse inside was of his mother smiling up at the physician.

Bastian had been distracted by Lady Chastity to such an extent he’d utterly missed his mother’s growing affection for the doctor. It had happened without him noticing. His mother was achieving what Bastian had set out for her. She was moving forward…while Bastian was now the one holding onto the past.

Perhaps he could learn something from his mother.

Chapter 14

The ballroom was brimming with Christmastide cheer: holly, garland, red and silver material hanging from the walls, large fir trees bordering the dance floor, and servants in bright green livery uniforms. The evening ball, which followed the garden wedding and meal, could not have been grander.

Lady Camden was proving herself the lauded hostess she’d always been.

A yuletide log had been set up in Chastity’s chamber hearth when she returned to dress for the ball. Matching wrapped gifts had been placed on both Chastity’s and Prudence’s pillows. The entire country party was exquisite, even more so than what she’d expected.

Despite her plummet into the moat the previous day, her ankle was no longer tender, and her pride had recovered. It had helped that not many had witnessed her disgrace, and those who had were not prone to malicious gossip. Most of the men had been off on the hunt and leagues ahead of Chastity, Edith, Luci, and Ophelia and, therefore, had no notion of what had transpired or why only three women had been present at the end of the hunt and not four.

She’d fully expected talk of the late-morning excitement regarding her tumble from the saddle to run rampant at their evening meal the night before, but no one had even so much as alluded to it.

Chastity was happy for the discretion of Montrose’s guests.

“Shall we?” Edith asked. “I am certain there are many gentlemen clamoring to place their names on your dance cards.”

After the furtive glances she’d received at the morning wedding, Chastity did not doubt she’d have at least a couple of dance partners.

Triston chuckled, slipping his arm around his wife. “They are more than welcome to ask; however, they will need to be approved by me.”

Prudence scoffed.

“You are both radiant,” Triston said as they halted at the top of the stairs leading into the ballroom below. “I cannot imagine more suitable gowns for the pair of you.”

“They were our mother’s,” Chastity shared. If Triston was surprised by the revelation, he did not show it.

Prudence had chosen a puce confection with an overlay of silver lace, while Chastity stayed fast to the blue gown with the plunging neckline. It had fit almost perfectly without any alterations needed, except for some of the black beading and an update to the waistline. Chastity could practically picture her mother wearing the dress and how she must have waltzed into a crowded ballroom, attracting every gentleman’s notice—much to the chagrin of Chastity’s father. She would have likely worn her hair piled high atop her head with lengths of black ribbon and beads threaded throughout—and so, Chastity had done the same.

They began down the steps and into the crowded room, Chastity taking the opportunity to scan the space from her elevated position.

Lord Mansfield was nowhere to be seen, just as he’d been absent from Luci’s wedding and the meal that followed.

Perhaps his mother had taken a turn and needed to return home.

Disappointment flared, despite Chastity knowing that Bastian had never declared anything more than friendship. They’d shared a few private, intimate moments that had increased her hopes for a future courtship, but Bastian didn’t owe her an explanation for his absence. If anything, Bastian was due a thank you from her. He’d always allowed her to be…herself. Merely because she’d gained hope that he’d begin a proper courtship, did not mean it was what he wanted. Chastity knew enough to know that simply desiring something was not everything needed to make it true.

“Father missed the ceremony.” Prudence sighed.

“Yes, but he—and Lord Camden—arrived directly after the wedding feast.” Triston had taken over the task of reassuring his two younger siblings, a duty he hadn’t wanted any part of until he met Edith. Had his wife changed him for the better, or had he been pushed to focus on things other than himself? Chastity didn’t care, as long as the new Triston remained. She relished his doting. “He should join us shortly. He demanded the pair of you dance at least one set this evening. And before either of you agree, know that his stipulations excluded me, Colin, and Roderick as partners.”

There were not many other men to choose from—at least without them being too old, already wed, or otherwise unsuitable.

Chastity had already deemed it necessary for her to circulate with the other guests. It is what she had set out to do when coming to Oxburgh Hall, after all. She was not foolish enough to believe that there was more than one lord she hoped to dance with. Yet, her father had only demanded one.

“Good evening, my sweet girls,” their father’s voice boomed from behind them. “Torrington.”

Prudence and Chastity did as they always did when shown any attention from their father—they fell into their roles as devoted daughters, even though their ages dictated they should not.

“Father,” Prudence said, smiling broadly. “You are here!”

“I said I would come. It took a bit longer for the travel than I expected.” Their father glanced at Triston. Their discord over the last several months had only intensified when their father continued to visit Esmee. “Though I promised I would join you, and here I am. May I introduce Lord Camden and his wife, Lady Camden.”