His Forbidden Debutante (6 page)

In truth, she thought of Lord W and their enchanted dance frequently, though she knew the entertaining fantasy was all for naught. She’d never see the gentleman again and didn’t know his name. Nor could she pursue the subject. Her not-so-subtle enquiries into Randolph’s identity last year had yielded nothing but odd looks and questions she wouldn’t, often couldn’t, answer. Wilhelmina behaved as persistently as a bloodhound with the scent of fresh prey when she protected her younger sister, and everything Livie did seemed to fall under the category of sibling surveillance. And she understood why. Despite numerous conversations to the contrary, Wilhelmina still harboured misplaced guilt over the carriage accident that had damaged Livie’s legs. Dashwood’s protective supervision was another subject entirely. While she appreciated his role as protector, master of the house and brother-in-law, his well-meant interference at times seemed overbearing. Must she be the object of everyone’s concern?

She loved her sister and brother-in-law thoroughly. Their generous welcoming of her into a new, wonderful life surpassed most all of Livie’s dreams, yet her greatest hope held fast. To be independent and adored as well as Dash loved Wilhelmina, perhaps beyond the idyllic examples before her – Livie dreamed of this daily.

She blinked behind her spectacles and gave her head a little shake.

‘Good heavens, that must be the most captivating design. You’ve stared at that illustration for no less than ten minutes with a faraway expression on your face.’

‘Aunt Kate,’ Livie answered with pleasure, her words loud and clear to compensate for her aunt’s hearing loss. ‘I was lost in a daydream, but you are correct. This gown is exquisite.’

‘Let me see.’ Aunt Kate accepted the magazine and settled on the cushion beside Livie. ‘Oh my, you are correct. I’ve never seen such beautiful detail.’

Livie nodded. ‘I have the perfect slippers to match.’

‘My dear, you have the perfect slippers to accompany every dress.’ Aunt Kate barely managed the words as she laughed at her reply.

The two were lost in a fit of giggles when Wilhelmina entered, a smile on her face as soon as she spied them huddled over the magazine and cheerfully recovering their composure.

‘Wonderful. I’ve found you together.’ Wilhelmina raised her right hand where she clasped a folded note. ‘Whatever has captured your attention and tickled your fancy will soon be forgotten when I share the news in this message.’ She took a seat across from them before she opened the white paper and skimmed the words. Then she eyed them with a glint of mischief in her eye. Silence stretched taut.

‘What is it, Whimsy?’ The words burst out before Livie could stop them. ‘It’s cruel to make us wait when you promise your announcement will be delightful.’

Her sister smirked in a fashion only older siblings accomplished and then cleared her throat to read aloud the invitation in her hands. When she finished all three ladies chattered at once.

‘A masquerade. How exciting.’

‘It’s barely the start of the season. Lord and Lady Dabney must wish to capture attention straightaway. I know everyone in my tea circle is overflowing with well wishes concerning your debut, Livie.’ Aunt Kate beamed with the comment.

‘That’s because they’ve known me for years and…’ – Livie hesitated, unsure of the proper way to express her realisation that most friends and relatives had accepted her as lost to dancing, socialising and independence – ‘…my circumstances have been far from the usual.’

‘Which makes your come-out all the more extraordinary and celebratory.’ Aunt Kate wrapped an arm around Livie’s shoulders and hugged her tight. ‘London may try to throw a rival affair to the gathering we’re planning, but it will only be on your special evening that others realise previous invitations were mundane practice for the event of the season.’

‘I’ve never seen you so devious and vehement,’ Livie answered through her laughter, although a thrilling spiral of anticipation wound its way around her heart.

‘Oh, you have no idea,’ Wilhelmina chimed in. ‘While I might pester you with decisions about flowers and decorations, Aunt Kate has overseen each choice, insisting on the best and, of course, I agree.’

‘You will be the crowning jewel of the season, a diamond of the first water.’

The mention of gems nudged Livie’s memory of the shoe clips and her daring move to wear the accessory before returning them to Lott’s Majestic Shoe Shop. The masquerade posed the perfect opportunity. If anyone were to notice the clips or question her, she’d be completely concealed by her mask and costume, able to spin a tale suited to the reply.

‘A masquerade will be great fun. The theme of Aesop’s Fables is intriguing. I’d like to be the Peacock, although the lesson of the fable will not favour me.’

‘Aah, yes.
Fine feathers don’t make fine birds.
You are indeed a fine bird.’ Wilhelmina laughed before she continued. ‘Dash and I have decided to depict the Dove and the Ant.
The grateful heart will always find opportunities to show its gratitude.
’

‘You don’t know every moral by heart, do you?’ Livie couldn’t resist the tease. Despite the long term she’d spent confined to bed, it was Wilhelmina who’d read endlessly and possessed vast knowledge of the works of notable poets and authors. She twisted on the cushion to face Aunt Kate. ‘What will you be?’

‘Something enchanting and bold.’ Aunt Kate’s face lit with a mischievous desire for adventure. ‘I don’t often have a chance to dress anonymously and steal a dance from a handsome suitor.’

Exactly.

‘What are you thinking?’ Wilhelmina leaned closer, as intrigued as Livie.

‘Perhaps I’ll become a beautiful shepherdess or bejewelled queen.’ Aunt Kate straightened her petite frame and notched her chin higher.

‘I don’t believe there’s a fable written about either, but I’ll dedicate myself to research before we prepare for the party,’ Wilhelmina assured her.

Livie hardly tended the conversation. The masquerade offered at least two opportunities for her to practise the waltz along with a number of other numbers once her dance card filled. Bravo to the Dabneys for their excellent timing. If Esme also received an invitation and Livie remained by her friend’s side, there would be an overflow of suitors who defaulted to claim a dance once Esme’s card was complete. No doubt, Esme would enchant in a costume that rivalled everyone else’s. Her friend possessed an unmatched allure and beauty. It did Livie well to watch Esme closely and polish her social graces now that she’d be attending formal functions.

‘You should be a darling little fox, Livie. Your sable pelisse would be the perfect addition to your amber gown. With your face hidden behind an elaborate mask and fur-trimmed combs in your hair, there won’t be another costume as lovely.’ Wilhelmina narrowed her eyes as if envisioning the costume.

‘I will have to conceal my spectacles under the mask. Do you think it will be difficult?’ The necessary eyewear threatened to dampen Livie’s previous excitement, and her enthusiasm faltered.

‘Not at all. We’ll be sure to measure the ribbons carefully so you’re not uncomfortable. You could never go without them.’ Wilhelmina adopted her mothering tone.

‘No, of course not. I’d truly miss my dance steps then.’ She adjusted the glasses on her nose as if to emphasise her point.

‘When is the party? Will we have enough time?’ Aunt Kate, forever intuitive, steered the conversation towards the particulars.

‘Tomorrow evening at nine o’clock. The affair was first planned for three days hence but Lord Dabney has been called away on important business and, in a drastic measure to salvage the preparations, Lady Dabney has amended the date.’ Wilhelmina stood, her fingers ticking off tasks as she moved to the door with a mutter. ‘Our masks and costumes top the list. I will enlist the help of several maids to organise our disguises.’ Then she was gone as suddenly as she’d arrived.

‘Sometimes I feel as though Whimsy hardly remembers being an unmarried miss.’ Livie’s comment held a wistful tone.

Aunt Kate softened her chuckle by taking Livie’s hand in her own. ‘She worries about you after all you’ve been through. You may wear the spectacles in this family, but it’s your older sister who needs to refocus her vision. You’re all grown now and she must allow you room to flourish. Especially as your debut draws near.’ Aunt Kate’s smile held the gentle gift of unconditional love.

‘I know. It comes from her feelings concerning the accident, but none of what happened on that horrible night is Wilhelmina’s fault. I wish she’d free herself from the guilt.’

‘It’s as ingrained as her sisterly love, but worth it all the same.’ Aunt Kate added a small nod of reassurance. ‘Do not worry of it. It will diminish in time.’

Chapter Five

‘Give me the diamonds and don’t test my patience. My time is valuable and yours is borrowed.’

The cold directive sliced through the dense fog in the concealment of a cluster of pines at the south end of Hyde Park. The weather and late hour guaranteed their anonymity, yet if unlikely circumstances prevailed and anyone happened upon their circumspect conversation, the two men existed as distant spectres lost in the shadow of overgrown tree limbs.

‘There’s a slight problem.’ Hawkins despised delivering the news and accepting responsibility when Booth’s carelessness had caused the derelict mistake. ‘The package will be detained.’

‘You assured me this matter would be handled without complication. I’m on a schedule and your bloody mistake is set to ruin everything. Get me the diamonds or you’re not going to like the new rules.’

Barely controlled anger edged the words. Hawkins pressed his fingernails into clenched palms, unwilling to show weakness but equally unnerved by the result of the conversation thus far. No one would hear the echo of a pistol shot nor see the slice of a knife. He well understood the stakes of the game played. Yet he needed more time. Given that, he could deliver the diamonds as promised. ‘A minor oversight and no need for alarm.’ His voice cracked and he damned himself with a litany of silent curses.

‘Smuggling and thieving are hanging crimes.’ The rustle of fallen leaves and snapped twigs signalled his lordship’s approach. ‘Not your usual stint in Newgate.’ His presence crowded Hawkins’ peripheral vision, not allowed to turn and face the man who paid for the deed. ‘When the bottom falls out, no one will accept the word of a common dipper over the testimony of a respected member of society.’

‘Understood, sir.’ Then, as an afterthought exposing cowardice more than solution, Hawkins continued, ‘Booth is at fault, but I’ll reclaim the delivery and remedy the situation. He lost track of a shipment.’

‘He lost track of a fortune and I’ve very little time to see it recovered because...’ The low-voiced answer signalled dismissal, the padded sound of departing footsteps accompanied by one last comment. ‘I won’t be the one dangling from the noose if this falls apart.’

Penwick considered the open invitation on his desk. A masquerade at the start of the season was an intriguing proposition, the ideal distraction before leaving for Clipthorne to visit Claire. He tapped the corner of the folded note against the desk top. What were these restless feelings and why had they reared their ugly head all asudden?

His soon-to-be wife deserved better. No matter he was a respectful suitor who as a habit followed etiquette’s rules to the letter, unnerving regrets were still very much with him, anxious to haunt whenever he dared let down his guard. He owed his intended truer commitment. Perhaps he should purchase a gift to prove his devotion. Not that a present would erase his conflicted ennui, but it might assuage his own discomfort. Still, he wouldn’t wish to appear contrite.

Loathing his self-recrimination and unusual contrariness, he flicked the corner of the invitation with the tip of his finger, his behaviour of late out of character and ill-fitted. He’d done little of which to feel penitent, but the very devil, when had he become so indecisive, his mind and heart misaligned?

He rubbed his temples in hope of banishing the unwelcome condition and his eyes returned to the desk blotter where Dabney’s invitation waited. He couldn’t stop living because of an inconvenient irascibility. He was an earl with a world of responsibilities. Besides, a masquerade provided the fortuitous opportunity to practise his waltz and better prepare for his wedding day, all the while disguised. He opened the inkpot and signed his acceptance with a sweeping stroke. Then, with the tilt of the candle at his elbow, he pressed his signet ring into the wax and sealed it done. Hell, he needed to clear his mind of the muddle that somehow had taken hold.

Closing his eyes to summon peace, he relished the dark until an image of the beguiling beauty from the dance studio formed with startling clarity. Who was the lady? Her eyes glittered with delight behind petite, wire-framed glasses, her smile capable of enchantment. He’d never forget the way they’d moved across the dance floor, as if created to exist within each other’s arms. Was she the reason he no longer felt comfortable with his impending future?

He forced his eyes wide and mentally listed Claire’s attributes to chase away a sense of disagreeable guilt. Claire claimed all the required components of an earl’s wife from demure laugh and sharp intelligence to amenable nature. On the best of days this exercise served sufficiently to chase away lingering hesitation on his part. His marriage plans were arranged and settled. Yet he’d never danced with his intended, not having the opportunity as of yet, and knew not their compatibility beyond a formal parlour or arranged social function.

From his understanding of the responsibilities of title, marriages were arranged much like business transactions. He’d already blurred the line of proper courtship by choosing a bride who lacked standing, no matter she possessed innate poise, a lovely face and limitless fortune.

Their relationship had grown beyond friendship to admiration, one of mutual respect after introductions at a charity event where financial status outweighed lofty title. Still discomforted with his newly forced responsibilities, he’d enjoyed Claire’s connection to the alternate and more normal world he’d left behind. And there was no overlooking the wealth her family possessed, her father’s diamond jewellery business highly respected and remunerative throughout England.