Page 9 of Betting on a Duke
Chapter Five
London, 1817
“Can you believeyou are reentering Society?” Clarice said to her friend, another widow her age, Letitia Fernsby, the Marchioness of Rutherford, who lived one street over, as they traveled to the first ball of the Season. They had both been widowed for nearly two years. Clarice had attended several house parties during the last Season, and she had been rumored to be having an affair with one Mr. James Caldwell. However, they had only been friends.
“It’s strange to think of it,” Letitia said with a smile. “I have no idea what to expect, and I’m shaking with excitement and trepidation. The only time I attended Society functions was on my dear late husband’s arm.”
Clarice found herself giggling nervously. “Yes. I feel excited and anxious.” Letitia and she had many things in common, except that Letitia and her deceased husband had adored one another. Letitia also had a son to keep her busy during long, lonely days and nights. As for Clarice, her marriage had been the kind that nightmares were made of. While her friend had been devastated by her husband’s untimely death, Clarice was, and please forgive her for this, thrilled to be free from her husband and tormentor after five long years of marriage.
But Clarice had another reason to be nervous and apprehensive about this Season. What if she happened across her father? Her mother had sadly passed away the previous year. And from what sheunderstood, her father, at the advanced age of sixty, was looking for a young bride to provide him with an heir. She already felt bad for the poor girl, whoever she turned out to be.
“You turned somber. Are you worried about the Westport Ball?”
Clarice toyed with her pretty, blue reticle that matched her dress. “No and yes. I suppose I’m worried I might see my father. I hear he’s looking for a young wife. Please stay as far away from him as possible. He may be handsome and appear charming, but underneath that exterior is a selfish, spiteful, and downright despicable man.”
Letitia leaned forward and clasped her hands. “I know, and I’m sorry for what he did to you. If you see him, pretend he doesn’t exist. Come to me, and I will help you escape.”
“You are a much stronger person than I, Letitia. Thank you for being my friend.”
“It is my pleasure, and you are a fighter for what you endured during your marriage to Chesterfield. You are stronger than I am. I would have run away or drowned myself in a lake if I found myself married to someone like Chesterfield.”
Clarice gasped. “No, you would not have. And please remind me how strong I am when Chesterfield’s great nephew and heir arrives. I don’t want to live with him and I’m too young to retire to the dower house. I will essentially be without a home.” Her entire being chilled at the thought of it. Just then, their carriage came to a stop. She didn’t want to think about her father, or her dead husband, or anyone from her past. She wanted to go to the ball and enjoy herself.
Letitia had insisted on using her carriage, believing it would attract less attention than the one with the Chesterfield emblem on the side. She hoped her friend was right. A footman helped Letitia down the stairs and then assisted her in exiting the coach. When Clarice stood and looked at the line of elegantly dressed members of thetonwaiting to enter Westport Hall, she almost jumped back into the carriage, telling the driver to take her back home.
The only thing that stopped her was that she wasn’t a coward. Not anymore, at least. She had endured a lifetime of misery during her five-year marriage, and she was ready to face whatever the future might be.
Letitia wrapped her arm through Clarice’s. “My goodness, all the gowns are gorgeous!”
“They are.”
“We were so fortunate to run into the Duchess of Blackstone and the Countess of Langford at Gunter’s. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been introduced to Madame Serena.”
Clarice had a modiste but had been hoping for an introduction to Madame Serena. No other modiste created such beautiful gowns. “Do you think they will be in attendance tonight?” Clarice asked as they moved quite quickly up in the queue, which surprised her.
“I hope so. I’ve never met either the duke or the earl, and I’d love to see the duchess and countess again.”
“I met the duchess last year before she married the Duke of Blackstone.” By now, they had reached the butler, who relieved them of their cloaks. They went up the exquisite marble staircase faster than Clarice could believe, and they found themselves before the elderly Duke and Duchess of Westport.
Clarice curtsied. “Your Graces, thank you for inviting me into your lovely home.”
The duke bowed, his eyes lowered to her chest, and Clarice fought not to bristle at his leering. His Grace was certainly no gentleman, and the rumors she heard about him were obviously true. “The pleasure is all ours, my dear.”
The duchess smiled at her, saying, “We are thrilled you came. Please enjoy yourself.”
Clarice waited until Letitia finished with the receiving line before she moved to the large opening of the ballroom where the master of ceremonies stood introducing the guests. When it was their turn, onceagain, she wanted to turn around, run down the staircase, and hide inside the carriage until the ball was over. Yet she managed to take a deep, calming breath and stiffen her spine as she handed the master of ceremonies her invitation.
“The Most Honorable, the Marchioness of Chesterfield.” When her name was announced, many occupants of the ballroom turned and gawked at her, freezing her in her step, so she waited for Letitia to be announced.
“The Most Honorable, the Marchioness of Rutherford.”
Letitia wrapped her arm around hers. “That was quite unnerving, having all these people stare at us. I feel like a lion in a zoo, being seen for the first time.”
“Indeed,” Clarice murmured, afraid to speak loudly in case people were eavesdropping. “Do you see anyone you know?”
“Let’s take a turn around the room. With any luck, we will see people we know and want to see.”
They promenaded behind mostly couples. However, several women were taking a turn with either their companion, family member, or friend, as they were.
