Masquerade Secrets (8 page)

At least she had until she had been kissed by Bradford.

She hadn’t felt the same since. It had been little over a week and she could still remember the feeling of his arms around her, the spicy scent of his skin, and the rich taste of his lips. It had been more than she had ever imagined she could feel in a man’s arms.

And she wanted to feel it again.

It was hopeless. If she hadn’t learned that during last week’s musicale, she needed to. At that moment the cloudy sky erupted, dumping buckets of water onto their moving vehicle. The horses slowed, finding the instant mud under their hooves difficult to maneuver through.

Her mother looked up from her needlepoint. “Oh dear, I fear this weather will make us quite late for dinner this evening.”

Charlotte smiled as if the weather was a boon. “If anything, it will make our entrance all the grander for being the last to arrive.”

“Quite right, my dear,” her mother said with growing enthusiasm. “All eyes shall be on the two of you.”

Charlotte bounced with excitement at the prospect, but Aubrey didn’t join her. All she wanted was peace and time to recuperate in the country. Bradford had unlocked a longing within her that she hadn’t known existed. She needed to find a way to close it off and resettle her mind back to a life of spinsterhood. It was too dangerous for her well being to believe, even for a moment, that there might be a chance at happiness with Bradford.

While her sister would be pursuing a marriage with one of the bachelors at the party, Aubrey had every intention of escaping into the serene outdoors as often as possible.

The rain finally stopped after a few hours, the clouds parting to show a glimpse of the setting sun. With any luck they would be late enough where they would need to take a dinner tray in their rooms.

They weren’t so lucky.

Eager to be out of the confines of the carriage, her family waited for the footman to open the door, but just barely. Fortunately, the rain had let up and they were able to walk into the Viscount’s estate without the aid of an umbrella.

“Good Evening, I am Laverston, the Viscount’s butler. Allow me to show you to your rooms.”

Laughter echoed from down the hallway where the other guests were assembling for conversation before they entered the dining room.

“What time will dinner be served?” her mother asked, clearly wanting to join the group.

“In forty-five minutes. If it pleases you, I will inform my lord that you will join them.”

Her mother looked over her two daughters, beginning at the top of their heads and ending at the hem of their skirts. “I believe we shall have enough time to change and freshen up. Please inform the Viscount we will join the party.”

“Right away, my lady.”

Charlotte and Aubrey were to share a room during their stay, which didn’t bother Aubrey in the slightest. If she were forced to endure another’s company, she could do far worse than her excited sister.

Her mother nodded in approval at the pastel colors that dominated the room. Aubrey knew that her mother favored lighter colors, garnished with a touch of lace. “We will be in the room across the hall from you. I’ll send Bitsy in as soon as she is finished unpacking a gown for myself,” she said before leaving quickly to attend to her own appearance.

“Are you unhappy to be here, Aubrey? You were very quiet throughout the journey.” Charlotte looked over her shoulder as she began to untie her laces.

Moving toward her, Aubrey swatted her sister’s arms out of the unnatural position. “Here, let me help you with that.”

“Thanks.”

“And it’s not that I am unhappy. In fact, it is nice to be back in the country air again. I was just lost in thought.”

“Is something the matter?”

It would be so easy to tell her sister everything that had happened between Bradford and herself. She would understand, empathize with her. But Aubrey couldn’t bring herself to confide in her sister.

What had happened between them on the terrace was like a dream. It was special, private. And she didn’t want to share it with anyone.

Besides, she couldn’t bear to see the look of pity on her sister’s face. There wasn’t anything that could happen between the two of them and Aubrey knew it. Her sister would too.

“Not at all. Just a bit tired. Mother has been ordering the household around like a general in battle all week. I’ll be grateful to take to my bed tonight.”

Charlotte chuckled at the analogy. “Mother has been truly fearsome. I hope to never be on an opposing side from her. I would be destroyed.”

While they poked fun at their mother, Bitsy entered and the whirlwind of silk and petticoats began.

With two minutes to spare, their family descended the staircase and was led to the rest of the group.

The conversation quieted as they entered the room, waiting for her family to be announced. The tingling feeling she had had before the masquerade returned. Odd.

Everyone knew who she was. The mask was off. But there was definitely something in the air. Something heavily charged and ready to strike at a moments notice.

“The Viscount and Viscountess Norcliff, Lady Aubrey, and Lady Charlotte,” a liveried servant announced in the doorway.

After a few nods of greeting, many people turned back to their conversations. While her parents spoke with an older gentleman, whose name escaped her at the moment, Aubrey glanced around the room to take stock of the other guests. And to look for him.

Most of the people there were whom she expected to see. A mix of eligible bachelors and heiresses were scattered amongst their families and chaperones. The occasional widow was thrown into the mixture, no doubt to create a little diversity among the guests.

Lady Victoria was in a corner, speaking softly with another gentleman. But that gentleman didn’t happen to be the duke. Where was he? Had he not arrived yet?

“Dinner is served,” another servant announced.

Forgoing tradition, couples filed into the room regardless of rank and found their assigned seats.

Arm and arm with her sister, she was pleased to see that they were seated in the middle of the table. In her opinion, the middle was always the best because conversation from either end of the table could be listened to. It didn’t matter how dull your dinner companions were next to you if you could join in with others.

After a servant assisted her into her chair, she was pleased to find an elderly gentleman next to her. While he may lack in conversation at points, elderly people didn’t care for the confinement of propriety and tended to say or do things that were outside of what was acceptable. Which made them all the more fun.

However, to the left of her, the chair was empty and she was left staring at Lady Victoria on the other side of the empty seat.
Great
.

Standing at the head of the table, Viscount Lawrence gestured for the men to take their seats. “I am grateful that everyone has arrived in safety this day, and I hope that the next two weeks will be both entertaining and relaxing.” He smiled cheerfully to the group in front of him and Aubrey was surprised to see a dimple flash in his cheek. “I must apologize to my sister and Lady Aubrey for the empty seat between them. The Duke of Wathersby was delayed by some business, but I have been informed that he will join us shortly.” As he tilted his head to look over the group, his damp black hair shimmered in the candlelight like shiny ink. “Enjoy your meal, and may this be the first of many fine evenings together.” He finally took his seat and raised his glass to drink to his toast. Many followed suit, tasting the tart white wine.

Glancing to the open seat again, her eyes met Lady Victoria’s before she pointedly turned away, clearly snubbing Aubrey.

Aubrey couldn’t care less. The woman was not someone she wanted to speak with or even pretend politeness with. It was best to let Lady Victoria take the brunt of criticism for her rudeness than for Aubrey to be moved to violence. On more than one occasion, Aubrey had felt compelled to slap her. Fortunately, she had always been able to reign in that impulse.

Soup was served with fanfare as the servants moved quickly, but also quietly, through the room. The spicy vegetable flavor was magnificent, and Aubrey couldn’t help but feel grateful for the fantastic chef she would obviously be enjoying over the next two weeks.

“The Duke of Wathersby,” a servant announced from the doorway.

Aubrey’s heart leaped into her throat. He was here. Glancing up at him, she felt her heart jumpstart, racing so fiercely she was worried others in the room would hear it.

Dressed in his evening wear, she couldn’t imagine a man more handsome than he. His fitted coat, closely tailored so that it emphasized the breadth of his shoulders, showcased the thickness of his arms. The pure white neckcloth was starched to straight points, drawing the eye up to his chiseled facial features. His jaw was pleasantly square, giving him the appearance of dependability. His light brown eyebrows, which matched the exact tone of his hair, crested over kind eyes. There wasn’t anything cunning or devious in the duke. He was everything a man ought to be.

And completely out of her reach.

Viscount Lawrence stood in greeting. “Wathersby, how fortunate. Come join us.” He held out is hand, offering the chair between Lady Victoria and Lady Aubrey.

“Thank you,” he said graciously, only hesitating for a moment when he caught sight of Lady Victoria.

Aubrey quickly smiled into her napkin. If Lady Victoria had seen his reaction to her, she was pretending that nothing was out of the ordinary. She wouldn’t care if the duke liked her or not, nothing would interfere with her plans to have him.

The conversation around the table resumed once he had taken his seat.

Taking a bracing sip, Aubrey tried to still her nerves. She had thought that the next time she saw him, she would have her feelings under control, but her body seemed to mock her. Her stomach kept turning over, flipping in knots. Would she always feel this way around him?

“Good evening, Your Grace,” she finally said smoothly. “I am glad you were able to join us.”

Did he look grateful that she had just taken him away from Lady Victoria’s grasp? She had the overwhelming urge to hide another smile behind her napkin but fought it. There was definitely relief and gratitude in his expression.

“As am I. How could I pass up such a wonderful meal and such interesting company?”

The comment brought a slight blush to her cheeks. She was still so unused to receiving compliments that she didn’t quite know how to accept them. “You’re too kind.”

His lips quirked. “I’ve embarrassed you. I apologize.”

“No.” She shook her head slightly. “Please don’t apologize. I fear I’m not used to receiving compliments.”

His look of astonishment confused her. “You can’t be serious. Surely you jest.”

Could he honestly not know that she was a wallflower? She had always just assumed that he asked her to dance after he had danced with Lady Sera because he felt sorry for her. Could he have not realized her situation because he had been so enraptured by Lady Sera?

Leaning forward slightly, Lady Victoria came into her view, clearly listening to their conversation. “Come now, Wathersby. You can’t be ignorant that Lady Aubrey rarely dances or that she is seldom the sole company of other men.”

Heat stained Aubrey’s cheeks again, but this time the color had nothing to do with being flustered by compliments and everything to do with shame. Lady Victoria’s comment had come out in a sugary voice, the tone sounding kind to anyone that overheard it, but her words were meant to demean, to belittle Aubrey in front of the duke.

Bradford’s face became shuttered, hard, as he looked at Lady Victoria. If Aubrey had ever wondered about his feelings toward Lady Victoria, she wouldn’t now. His distaste for her was easily read. At least for her, who had years of experience watching others. He was not pleased. In fact, he looked furious.