Must Love Dukes (8 page)

“You must try this on, darling. It was made for a French lady with obviously exquisite tastes. I talked the seamstress out of it with my English powers of persuasion.” He paused to laugh over the memory. “It was a bit of a job. If only you could have seen the way she tried to shoo me from her store. I believe I still have a few holes where she tried to make use of me as a pin cushion.”

“Oh, surely not. You hardly look holey to me.” She chuckled and gave him a shove on the arm. For a moment they were children again. Laughing. Talking. She was not being forced to marry and he was not consoling her. Then the moment came crashing down as she traced a finger over the seed pearls that ran in a band around the high waist of the blue gown. She would be wearing this dress to the commencement of her horrible fate this evening.

“When I saw it I knew you must have it for your first ball. Isn’t it glorious? Pull it out. Wait until you see the pearls along the hem and dotting the puffed sleeves. Exquisite!”

“Nathaniel, this is too much. It’s beautiful.” She pulled it from the box, holding it up in the afternoon light. “My, but it’s cut low. I couldn’t possibly wear this. It’s unseemly, is it not?”

“Posh, try it on. That is the style of all of the gowns now, darling.”

“Well, you do know the fashions more than I do. You always have. And I’ve hardly had the need to keep up with such things, living in Whitby and all.” Her voice trailed off as she gazed down at the ice-blue silk dress she held in her hands. What would it feel like to wear something so fine? She almost cried in relief that she would not have to wear her old clothes.

“You will look the picture of youth and beauty tonight,” he said quietly, somehow reading her fears of looking the old maid.

“You are the best brother I could ever ask for.” She leaned her head against his arm, unable to take her eyes from her first ball gown.

With a grim smile, she knew there would be no jumping from windows. She would meet this challenge head on as she did all others. She would wear her ball gown as if it were her armor in battle. She reached up and grabbed her mother’s pearls from around her neck, trying to pull some strength from their bumpy surface. She was lost in a distant thought of her mother when she heard Nathaniel’s voice calling her back to the present.

“Those aren’t Mother’s pearls, are they? I hadn’t noticed them until you began fiddling with them. How did you get them back?”

“I bought them back,” she said defiantly. The memory of that fateful day last spring was coming to mind far too frequently now that she was in London. However, it served to further steel her nerves for the oncoming war. For if she had survived that incident unscathed and truly as if it had never happened, then she would survive this, too. There was only a tiny note of trepidation left within her as she dropped the pearls back to rest around her throat and smiled at her brother.

Nathaniel looked dumbfounded. “How? You’ve been at Bixley for the past year.”

“Oh, I managed to accomplish it,” she replied evasively. “Now, I do need to begin getting ready for the evening, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course. I need to do the same. I’ll see you downstairs in an hour.”

“Yes, and thank you many times over for the clothes.”

“Don’t even think of it. The daughter of a peer does not appear in a ballroom in an old country dress. Our brothers should know better.”

“Indeed.” A silence fell between them with nothing more to say on the subject of their brothers. With a final nod, he turned and left the room.

Lillian lifted the gown off the bed. Pulling it up in front of her, she gazed into the mirror across the room. She may not be ready for tonight’s events, but at least she would be walking in to greet her future in a lovely new gown.

***

She had barely been able to string two words together on the ride through town. Lillian was simply too nervous to discuss what fashions would be seen this season or anything else Nathaniel attempted to inject into the silence of the carriage. However, now that they were here and the threat of the evening looming in the distance came into sight, she finally found her voice.

“About the dresses and such you bought for me… Nathaniel, how can you afford it all? Not to put too fine a point on it, but you have no inheritance and no employment.”

“That is a rather fine point, darling. I assure you I do just fine.” His gaze shifted to the window with a smile. “Oh look, we’re here. I simply adore the Dillsworth home. With all the white stone and the columns, I half expect Roman gods to walk out the door.” His eyes flashed with anticipation as he clasped his hands together. “It’s simply fabulous.”

All of Lillian’s questions and wonderings about her brother’s life situation fell into silence as the door to the carriage opened and a liveried footman held out a white-gloved hand to assist her to the ground. She stepped down, watching as groups of ladies and gentlemen made their way toward the door of the Dillsworth home.

She was so in awe at the sight of the elaborate evening wear donned by the other partygoers that Nathaniel had to cough to get her attention so he could escort her inside. Light shown in the windows of the grand home, beckoning her feet to move forward toward its ethereal glow.

As she reached the front steps and merged into the forming crowd waiting to greet the hosts and be presented inside, Lillian didn’t feel there was enough air to breathe or room for her heart to beat inside her gown.

This was it, her come-out, and she was only experiencing it five years too late.

When she looked back toward their carriage, ready to surrender and flee, Nathaniel nudged her forward. Looking up into his face, she took a breath, lifted her chin to the oncoming battle, and relaxed her face into a serene expression just in time to be escorted over the threshold to meet her fate.

The glow of a thousand candles glinted off jewels of every shape and size. Lillian could not believe the elegance of the Dillsworth home, the starkness of so many intricately tied cravats, the almost overwhelming scent of roses, or the fact that she was standing amid it all. She and Nathaniel made their way into the ballroom.

Everyone here seemed to know one another, yet she knew not a soul. A single friendly face would be most welcome at the moment. What if she was forced to stand alone all evening? The sound of music became louder as they reached their destination. Looking up, Lillian could see a balcony wrapping around the dance floor, which was covered by a roof of glass.

“I believe you could use a drink. I’ll run and get you champagne, darling. Wait here for me by this column. And do stop fidgeting with your pearls.” With that, he was gone and she was alone. Somewhere at the ball, Solomon lurked, but she didn’t see him at the moment. However, her eyes were trained on the swirling movements on the dance floor and she could not in a million years imagine Solomon dancing.

“Lillian?”

She turned at the sound of her name uttered by an exuberant female voice. Who here would even remember her when she had been so removed from society for so long?

“Lillian! I knew that must be you! It’s been ages!”

Relief flooded through her at the sight of Sue Green, spritely and rosy-cheeked, standing there in a rose gown. Her hair was the same light brown color it had been years ago at school and her face had not aged a day.

“Sue! You have no idea how happy I am to see a friendly face here tonight. It’s been ages, has it not? We must catch up!”

“Yes, we certainly must! Isn’t this ball exquisite? I always love attending the Dillsworth affairs. Have you tried the cakes in the parlor yet? They never last very long, especially the ones filled with strawberry jam. You would think from year to year they would realize the popularity of the cakes and prepare more. But alas, we are forced to clamor over a single table of sweets as soon as we arrive to get one. Who are you here with?”

Sue beamed up at Lillian, awaiting answers to her questions. It was nice to see some things in life were consistent, such as Sue’s ability to fill both sides of a conversation.

“Two of my brothers are here as my chaperones. One is getting me a drink and the other I choose not to think about. Who is with you this evening?” Lillian assumed that Sue, like everyone else their age, was married, but didn’t want to ask the wrong question so as not to offend.

“My family. You remember my sister Evangeline. It is her come-out this year. She is preening in the upstairs ladies’ retiring room at the moment. You remember how she is, unable to take more than two steps away from a mirror to this day. It’s rather annoying, if I can be honest,” Sue finished with a laugh.

“I believe she must have been ten years old the last time I saw her. I don’t want to think about how young we were. Does this mean you’re not yet married?”

“This is my fifth season, if you can believe that. If I have to return home with my mother at the end of yet another year, I may die. And with all of the focus on Evangeline’s come-out, it’s very likely I’ll meet that doom in a few months’ time.” Sue made a slicing motion across her throat and pulled a face of pure horror.

“You mustn’t end it all when we’ve only just met up again after all these years. If it eases your mind, consider this is my first season and I’m a year older than you.”

“What happened to keep you away so long? I’ve thought to see you in London for years now. Every year I’ve kept my eye out for you, as well as some of the other girls from school, but I had lost hope that I would see you again.”

“Papa became ill. Family matters kept me in Whitby until now. I’d thought to become an old maid and live out my days in peace, but it seems my brothers have other ideas.”

“Whitby’s loss is my gain this evening, Lillian. I’m thrilled to have someone to converse with, other than Evangeline and my twin cousins. Oh, here they all are now.”

As introductions were made to Sue’s sister and cousins, Lillian couldn’t help but notice how beautiful Sue’s family was. It was as if she came from a family of exotic wood nymphs, with their hair all hanging in perfect ringlets around rose-colored lips and large eyes. Lillian felt a pang of sympathy for Sue who clearly took after some lesser-being side of the family. Sue was lovely, yet surrounded by the radiance of her family, she appeared rather plain. They had settled into companionable discussion of the evening’s fashions when Nathaniel returned carrying two champagne flutes.

“Here’s your champagne, darling. It seems you have found friends already. That’s splendid.”

“We’ve just been becoming reacquainted. My brother, Mr. Phillips, this is Miss Green, her sister Miss Evangeline Green, and her cousins, the Misses Fairlyn.”

“Good evening.” Nathaniel offered a slight bow as the ladies dipped a quick curtsy, before turning his attention back to Lillian. “Since you have found friends, do you mind if I find a few of my mates?”

“Of course not. Don’t let me keep you from having an enjoyable time here.”

“Thank you. I’ll check on you after I’ve won a few hands of cards.” Nathaniel disappeared into the growing crowd surrounding the dance floor. Lillian stood watching the swirl and swish of skirts as the ladies moved around the floor. It was quite lovely to watch.

She turned her attention back to Sue in time to see Evangeline being led to the floor by a young man with dark hair. As the crowd around them thinned to join the couples on the dance floor where they participated in a country dance, she watched the color drain from Sue’s face in an instant.

“Sue? Are you well?” Lillian asked.

“Oh, yes. Quite.”

“You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

“In a manner, I believe I have.”

Lillian followed Sue’s gaze across the crowded dance floor but saw nothing alarming. She looked back at Sue. “Clearly something has you distressed. Is there something I can do? Do you need a drink? The champagne has helped my nerves considerably.” She took another sip as if to prove her point.

“No, thank you. Although perhaps I could use some air. Will you excuse me?”

“Certainly,” Lillian replied.

Yet Sue had only taken one step away when she halted. Her complexion turned from white to a dark pink that rivaled the color of her gown. What—or who—had Sue behaving in such a way? Lillian turned her confused gaze from Sue to the faces of two men moving their way through the crowd, just in time for her own heart to stop.

“Thornwood, good to see you out in society,” the Marquess of Elandor offered as Devon paused in the main hallway of the Dillsworth home to procure a drink from a passing footman.

“I’ve come for the sole purpose of tormenting a friend. After surviving this crowd, I’ll surely go back into hiding for some time to recover.”

Elandor stepped out of the path of a lady with a nod of his head in her direction before turning his attention back to Devon. “It is good to see you here, at any rate. I’ve been meaning to speak with you.”

“Oh? With regard to the House of Lords, I suppose.” Devon knew Elandor more by sight from Parliament than he did personally. Elandor was rumored to be so consumed with law-making and his position in society that he had no time for or interest in ladies or sport. He had a dusting of gray at his temples, but still every lady passing in the hallway batted her lashes at him. Devon drained the champagne in his hand and asked the footman for something stronger, settling in for a long talk about the laws of their fair country.

Elandor spoke in an all-business tone as he answered. “In a manner, yes. It is about the House of Lords. You see, I’m head of His Majesty’s Treasury and, as such, of any advancement the Crown oversees. I would like someone with your experience to serve alongside me.”

“My experience? Truly, you must have me confused with someone else. I have no background in finance.”

“You have an interest in shipping and you’ve spent a great deal of time on expeditions, have you not?” Elandor’s eyes narrowed.

“I have.” Devon couldn’t see the connection between funding for the Crown and his interest in shipping or exploration. He needed to find Steelings. He hadn’t come here to get more involved in society or Parliament.

“We supply funding for ventures deemed worthy by the Crown.”

Devon poured two glasses of whiskey from a decanter the footman brought back on a tray and nodded toward Elandor as if he was interested in their conversation. He took a drink from one glass, wincing over the wretched quality of the liquor. “I’ll give your suggestion some thought, though I would much prefer to be the one aboard the ship instead of signing papers to send others.”

“Very well, think about it. I think you’ll find there is more to it than signing papers.”

“I’m sure. Very involved. Nice to see you, Elandor.”

“Yes, I must be on my way, as well. I am to meet someone in the card room. Think about what I have said, Thornwood.”

“I will indeed,” Devon called out to his retreating form.

Not wishing to get involved in any more pleasantries, he made his way down the hallway to the less populated refreshment room. Steelings could usually be found near any table of sweets, so that was where Devon would wait. He leaned against a window enclosure, allowing the fire of the whiskey to slip down his throat, numbing him to its taste and soothing his growing agitation over attending this damned ball. Setting one empty glass on a side table and beginning on the next, he glanced once more at the door just in time to see Steelings striding in. His friend appeared harried but had a look of determination in his eyes.

“Steelings, there you are. I was afraid I would have to find someone else to torment for the evening,” Devon said, clapping his friend on the back as he approached.

“I’d hate to disappoint you, Thornwood. I was delayed by some devastating emergency involving my cousin’s gown. You would have thought the world was coming to an end, all for a missing bead of some sort. There were tears and wailing.” Steelings shuddered.

“That does sound like quite the dramatic beginning to the evening. I do hate it when they wail, though. How are we to deal with that? Where did you leave them?” Devon looked around but only saw a few gentlemen fetching drinks from the refreshment table against the far wall.

“I made my excuses in the hallway. Now that you’re here, I must begin my search for Suzanna.”

“Ah yes, the mysterious Suzanna. What does this vixen look like?”

A dreamy haze filled Steelings’ eyes as he said, “I would know her anywhere. She was just over five feet, hair the color of burnished gold…”

“
Burnished
gold?
” Devon chuckled at the description. His friend must be far worse off than he had originally believed.

“Very well, blondish-brown if that’s more to your liking.”

“No, I believe I prefer ‘burnished gold,’ although I don’t see that color in this side parlor. Perhaps we should look in the main ballroom?”

“Yes. Isn’t there a door that adjoins the rooms over there behind that potted palm?”

“Indeed. I recall making use of it once when Miss Rashings had me in her sights years ago. It made for a timely retreat.”

“The face of a horse, that one, and the hindquarters to match,” Steelings mused as they made their way to the door.

“That is actually a bit kind where that particular lady is concerned.” Devon’s chuckle was lost to the sounds of the orchestra striking up a country dance from the balcony far above the chatter of the room.

They arrived in the ballroom from the far side of the main entrance, thus avoiding the crush of people now flowing through the entrance. Devon never ceased to be amazed by the glass roof above the Dillsworth ballroom, half expecting it to fall in shards on his head, half entranced by the view of the stars it provided.

The crowd had grown thick under the starry sky, with couples dancing the night away while society matrons looked on in appreciation. Somewhere in this room his mother sat ensconced with her friends. With any luck, she would not become aware of his presence and he could avoid her altogether. Although it was highly unlikely that Devon’s name would not be mentioned. After all, this was the first public event he’d been coerced into attending in over a year.

“There are well over a hundred ladies here, and most of them are moving around. This could take all evening,” Devon complained as a group of them passed by.

“You act as if a moment spent in a ballroom will poison you for life. This will be simple. I’ll find her within a matter of minutes. Before you know it, you’ll be back drinking in one of those lovely hovels you so enjoy,” Steelings returned, his eyes scanning the crowd without blinking.

“Very well. Just over five feet, you said? You couldn’t be searching for a tall chit. No, it would have to be a tiny, hard-to-find one.” Devon had spent only a few minutes looking through the dancers on the floor in search of
burnished
gold
when Steelings jabbed him in the ribs.

“I’ve spotted her friends over there by the first column near the main door. She must be nearby. Let’s make our way in that direction.”

“By the first column, you say?” Devon abandoned his drink to a pedestal holding a large vase of roses and moved to follow his friend, who was already slipping between conversations and gathered matrons. He caught up to Steelings as they rounded the corner of the dance floor. It was slow progress to walk in such a crowd.

As he passed, he mused to one lady, “What a lovely example of the Java peafowl.”

She blinked, the feathers on her head quivering at him. “What did you just call me?” she asked in outrage as Devon continued to weave through the throng after Steelings.

Ladies all seemed to duck behind fans to chat at the moment he walked by. The whisper of madness floated in the air around him. Was that truly all anyone cared about? How dull their lives must be for his existence in a ballroom to start their chatter.

He could suggest hobbies or contributions to the betterment of mankind to them, but such talk was not done at a ball. No, he had been swatted with too many fans by too many ladies over the years for discussing foreign soil at just such an event as this to try it again. God, how he hated balls! Why must being accepted in society require one to be so dull?

He only narrowly missed being detained by Lord Fanning, who stepped forward to speak to him. His wife pulled the man away with a hiss of disapproval. Devon offered to her in passing, “Lady Fanning, I remember you having many more wrinkles last I saw you. Your face creams must be working.” He continued to trail behind Steelings, not hearing her response.

Just then the crowd shifted enough so that he could see the group of people they were walking toward. An older couple was deep in conversation near the wall, and standing just before them were two ladies. The petite one in the rose gown seemed to be staring straight at Steelings. Perhaps this was his Suzanna. She was attractive, but not the exotic beauty Devon had imagined would catch his friend’s attention. How odd.

Devon’s eyes slid to her right where another lady stood taller than her companion, dressed in faint blue and with golden blond hair that swept away from her face to reveal pink cheeks and full lips that were currently pursed in concern.

“Bloody hell,” he heard himself say.

Her gaze had just shifted to his, and for the first time since their night together a year ago, he looked into Lily’s clear blue eyes.

Was it truly her or a trick of the light in the ballroom? He watched as her hand moved to fidget with the pearl necklace at her throat. Lily had made the same motion with the same necklace. Her hair was arranged in a knot on the back of her head, not like the loose curls of a year ago, but it was the same hair. Her gown was not the out-of-date fashion that she had been wearing when he saw her last, but her slim curves were the same.

What was she doing here? How had she gained entrance to such an event? Had she convinced someone she had ties to the peerage? Why here? Why now?

She’d vanished into the night, only to turn up by way of a chance meeting in a ballroom a year later? He tamped down the disbelief swirling through his head as they neared the two ladies in question.

He heard Steelings at his side offer a cordial greeting. His eyes only narrowed a fraction as he nodded in Lily’s direction.

“I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced. I’m Lord Steelings, and this is the Duke of Thornwood,” Steelings stated.

“I’m Miss Green,” the other lady said.

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady.” Devon’s eyes only darted to the smaller woman for the briefest of seconds before landing back on Lily. He did not want her to slip away as she had a year ago. He had wasted a month looking for her!

“Your Grace, my lord, may I introduce my childhood friend, Miss Phillips. She’s from Whitby and only arrived in town recently for the first time. Isn’t that right, Miss Phillips?”

“Miss Phillips from Whitby.” Devon allowed the words to drop like anvils from his mouth as he looked into her stunned face. “This is your first time in our fair city?”

She cleared her throat before stammering a quiet, “Yes, yes it is.”

“I should like to show you the sights, then. Although, with the season now in full swing, I don’t know if there will be
time
. Speaking of, I don’t suppose you
have
the time? Do you…have the time?” It was a subtle statement that no one but the thief of his pocket watch would catch. He watched in satisfaction as her bright blue eyes widened.

“No, I don’t, Your Grace. I…I was about to leave when you arrived. Please do excuse me.”

“It would hardly be gentlemanly of me to allow you to
vanish
without an escort. Please, allow me.”

“Oh, um, perhaps I can stay for a moment,” she uttered in a breathless voice.

“I’m pleased to hear it,” Devon stated. His anger from a year ago flowed back into his veins, simmering just below the surface.

Steelings didn’t seem to have noticed anything amiss because the next words out of his mouth were, “Miss Green, would you care to dance, if there is room on your card this evening? I am interested to hear about your family’s well-being since I saw you last in the country.”

The rosy-cheeked lady replied, “Certainly.” She then turned to Lily with a tight smile. “I trust you will survive the duke’s company for a few minutes.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Miss Phillips said confidently, although her eyes told a different story as she fiddled with her pearl necklace.

“Yes, I have a feeling she can fend for herself quite well,” Devon said with something between charm and a snarl.

Once the other couple left for the dance floor, Lily said, “I am not sure what interest you have in me, Your Grace, but I really must be leaving.”

“You’ve developed quite the habit of leaving abruptly, haven’t you,
Lily
?”

“My given name is Lillian. Although I do not recall giving you leave to use it.” Her chin rose in defiance in the same way it had when he’d first laid eyes on her outside the Stag and Doe.

“That matters not. ‘Lily’ suits you better anyway. I have no use for calling you Lillian.”

“You must have me confused with someone else,” she blustered, taking a step away from him to create a gap he instantly closed.

Did she truly think to pretend to be someone else and deny her actions of a year ago? He simply could not allow that. With a smirk creasing the corners of his eyes, he leaned toward her to say, “Do I, Lily? So you don’t have an affinity for drinking sangarees and a weakness for being kissed here…” He reached out to run one gloved finger across her collarbone before she could react. “Just where your pearls lie at your throat?”

“Do
not
touch me with such familiarity,” she hissed through gritted teeth as she took a step away from him. “How dare you say such things in the middle of a ballroom? Passersby may get the wrong idea entirely by the tone of your banter.” Lily’s hand moved to touch her lips as she glanced around to ensure no one was listening.

If he did not know otherwise, he would think her the primmest of all the misses at the ball this evening. Who was she trying to fool, and to what end? After the way she’d deceived him, he had to know of her plots of thievery now. If not for his sense of satisfaction, then to protect the poor sod she had targeted tonight.

“If what you say is true and we do not know one another, then why are you blushing so? Why did you touch your lips at the mention of my kisses? Are you going to say it never happened? After all that passed between us…after you stole from me?”