Page 76 of Yours Truly, the Duke
She’d heard every word he said as she left the drawing room in a huff yesterday afternoon. It had taken a while to come to grips with the reality of their meaning. In short, he was getting through to the children in only a few days when she had failed to do so for over a year. Elise was talking to him and Charles had almost stopped stuttering. All because of Wyatt’s easy-mannered attention to them. And he’d accomplished more than he knewabout. Bella hadn’t had an accident in the bed since they’d been in his house.
There was still no doubt in Fredericka’s heart that the duke was a rake of the first order. He cared more for his clubs, tournaments, and friends than anything else. On that she was clear, and his actions proved it: not staying for their wedding buffet because he had to get back for games, resisting her appeal to stay in London because she would be in his way. Too, she couldn’t forget the times he’d plied her with ravishing kisses that only made her want more of them. But even with all stacked against him, he was making a sizable difference in the children’s lives for the better. She couldn’t overlook that and not acknowledge it by thanking him.
Attending the ball would be a good start.
After an additional deep, steadying breath she knew the time had come. Prolonging the event wouldn’t make it easier. She walked through the open doorway and into the ballroom. Immediately, she was filled with awe at what was before her. It was the most stunning room she’d ever seen.
A silvery glow of light washed the atmosphere and people of the festive event. Large, richly detailed embroideries and tapestries hung on the tall walls, while the ceiling was painted with a classical scene of Venus holding a golden apple against a blue sky. Life-sized statues of cherubs and urns filled with colorful flowers were scattered about the room. Large Corinthian columns had been wrapped in pale blue tulle, clippings of bright green ivy, and strings of beads made to look like pearls.
Ladies extravagantly dressed in colorful silk with crowns of jewels and feathers in their hair mingled with gentlemen wearing black coats with long tails, white shirts, neckcloths, and waistcoats. Everyone wore whitegloves. Some of the guests stood alone simply watching the movements in the room while others were cloistered in intimate groups chatting among themselves.
There were only two steps down from the entrance level to the main ballroom floor, but it suddenly felt as far away as Paddleton. Fredericka searched the crowd for Wyatt. He was taller than most men and should have been easy to spot, but a quick glance of the large gathering showed no sign of him. To the far side of the room was a vast dance floor where guests twirled and swayed to the orchestra’s sprightly tune. She searched the faces and heads of brown hair. Wyatt didn’t seem to be among them.
Tension caused her legs to wobble again as her mind filled with questions she had no time to study over. What if he had decided not to attend after all? She hadn’t seen him all day but that wasn’t unusual with his practices and training schedule. What if he had gone to one of his clubs tonight or elsewhere? What if he’d decided to spend the evening with his mistress? Her heart swelled, tightening her chest and throat alarmingly. What had made her think Wyatt would be here waiting for her when she’d told him she wouldn’t attend?
The thought of fleeing before anyone saw her standing alone suddenly seemed the best thing to do. There was no time to ponder the pluses and minuses of staying or going. She had to make a decision now. Searching the crowd one last time, she spotted Jane standing near the front of the crowd, staring at her with a knowing smile.
Panic erupted inside Fredericka. Was it too late to flee? Her eyes closed tightly for a moment. In a deep cleansing breath, she willed her strength to return. When her lashes rose, she knew she wouldn’t give her cousin the satisfaction of watching her run away.
Swiping barbs with Jane was never easy but wouldbe better than being alone in a sea of strangers who were laughing, talking, and dancing. She would enter the room unaccompanied and handle any questions with grace and—A gasp choked in her throat. Her heart felt as if it stopped beating for a few seconds and then started racing. Dressed in his formal evening attire, Wyatt was walking toward her looking tall, powerful, and more handsome than he ever had.
“Fredericka.” Smiling as he bounded up the two steps, his gaze swept down her face with a tender expression of caring as he took hold of her hand. “I’m glad you decided to come,” he said, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze.
All she could think for a moment was that he was glad to see her. Relief slowly settled through her as he lifted her hand to his lips for a kiss.
“I hoped that if I left you alone today you would come to this decision.”
The thoughtful, sincere words calmed her fears like a ray of sunshine on a dreary day. Her anxiety about the evening melted away. “I had to do it for the children.”
“Only the children?” he asked with a quirk of his head and a twitch of an engaging smile. “Never mind the reason. You’re here. You are always beautiful, Fredericka, but especially so tonight.”
“Thank you,” she answered softly, feeling as if she were the belle of the ball. “I’m sorry I overreacted to your game with the children yesterday. It’s always been so important to me that they never misbehave or do things that aren’t proper.”
“They didn’t, but none of that is important anymore.” He turned and looked at the crowd. “People are waiting to meet you. And just so you know in advance, your cousin and her husband are here too. We’ve already said our hellos.”
She looked over his shoulder to see if she could catch a glimpse of Jane watching them. For the moment, she was nowhere in sight. “I hope it wasn’t an awkward meeting for you.”
“Not for me. Tomkin seemed more uncomfortable than his wife. He was probably behind his brother making the wager at White’s. In any case, he obviously condoned it. Knowing every eye was on the three of us, we were civil and made it through our short conversation without any real daggers being thrown.”
Fredericka smiled gratefully. “That’s good to hear. I can’t promise Jane and I won’t aim a few at each other.”
Wyatt chuckled. “I expect you’ll both be polite. Now that you are here, all the attention will be on you.”
He turned and looked behind him. “Grant and Priscilla are standing close by. I’d like to introduce you to them. Priscilla has been pesty about wanting to meet you ever since we married.”
Fredericka stiffened at the word “pesty.” Certain words triggered hurts from her past and “pesty” was one of them. Jane and Angela often used the word to describe Fredericka when she wanted to play with them. For a moment, she wondered if Wyatt felt that way about her. After all, she had pushed her way into his life when she’d come to London.
“I won’t force you if you’d rather not,” he said when she failed to answer.
“I don’t mind,” she answered.
“You look uneasy about it. You don’t still think there is anything between me a—”
“No, no,” she said sincerely. “Truly, you made that clear and I believe you. I’m happy to meet Miss Fenway and her brother.”
“All right,” he answered with a nod. “Priscilla can beforward at times. You may not appreciate how nervy she can be considering you always want everything so proper. She speaks whatever comes to her mind and sometimes it’s quite bold. Just know, she means no harm.”
Forcing past the old haunts that wanted to rear up and ruin her evening, Fredericka lifted her chin and said, “That’s good to know. I remember you are very fond of her.”
