Page 24 of The Mistletoe Duke

An ache swelled in her chest. Meg took them reverently and studied them, barely acknowledging the tears in her eyes.

Susana misunderstood her hesitation. “Tessa would want you to wear them.”

“Oh, I know. It’s just… I miss her.”

“We all do. But remember, she’s still with us. In spirit. And Tessa would want you to wear these shoes, dance until your feet ache, and have fun tonight. Don’t you think?”

“Dancing until my feet hurt isn’t all that fun,” she teased with a smile. She could remember that, at least, from her long-ago season.

Susana shot her a grin. “It does depend upon with whom one is dancing.”

Meg chuckled. “I daresay.”

“Come along. Now that your hair is done, let’s get you dressed. I also have some sapphires for you to wear. They will make your eyes shine.”

“Oh, I couldn’t…” It was far too much borrowed finery.

But Susana wouldn’t hear of anything less than perfection.

Chapter Six

The problem with being the host of a house party, Jonathan surmised, was that one had to attend it. Most specifically, one had to attend to the guests.

Normally, this wasn’t something he was loath to do, but at most of his parties, he invited only his friends.

This was his mother’s party.

She’d invited her friends.

And so, as the festivities began, he stood in the receiving line and greeted Lord and Lady Jersey, Buckingham, George Ponsonby, and Charles Sutton as well as many other faces from the 5th Parliament. It occurred to him that this was very much like being at work. He was surprised when Lord Castlereagh arrived with rival George Canning—he had no idea why Mother had invited them both—she was probably hoping for a sensation which would, at the very least, make for interesting conversation.

When the Pickerings stepped up, with their stunning daughter Glorianna, his mother gave him a nudge with her elbow.

Apparently, this guest had been invited for him.

He bowed over her gloved hand and murmured a welcome. She went pale, then red. Her lips moved but no sound came out.

Her mother nearly had apoplexy. “She’s very pleased to meet you,” she insisted, to which Glorianna nodded fervently.

Pickering chuckled. “A shy one, our girl,” he said, slapping Jonathan on the shoulder. “But very accomplished.”

“Very accomplished,” Lady Pickering agreed. “Wait until you hear her play the pianoforte.”

“Oh,” Jonathan said to his mother. “Is there to be a musicale?” There was hardly any chagrin in his tone. He deplored musicales.

“But of course,” Mother said, whacking him fondly with her fan. “Tomorrow afternoon at two sharp.”

Jonathan nodded. Excellent warning.

Glorianna moved on to greet his mother, and Lady Pickering leaned in and told him how much her daughter loved children, and didn’t the duke have two girls?

Egads.

After the Pickerings came the Mountbattens, and their lovely Louisa. She was pretty and young and certainly not tongue-tied. She loved living in London, she said. Adored dancing and painting and shopping. She also informed him she had an infatuation with hats. Especially hats with ribbons. Weren’t ribbons the most delightful things?

Naturally, he agreed.

But, truth be told, he was happy to move on to the Pecks.