Page 3 of The Sainted Duchess
“I am quite certain,” she replied, hoping to sound sure of herself.
Violet held her gaze, then inclined her head.
“Then I will help you want wisely.”
They moved again. A pair of matrons stationed themselves like sentries near the open doors to the terrace, fanning with the deliberate grace of those who enjoyed being noticed even when they claimed otherwise.
“Did you hear about Lady Pelham’s niece?” one murmured.
“The one who trapped Lord Whitcombe? Insufferable business.” The other’s eyes gleamed with delight. “A maid found her in his bedchamber in the small hours. She is a countess now.”
“Imagine the nerve.”
“Imagine the planning.”
“Men are stupid creatures at night.”
Maria’s feet slowed, for she had caught onto something interesting for a change. It was idle gossip, yes. But it was a brand new perspective that she had not yet considered for herself.
Trapping a gentleman into marriage?Maria wanted to shrug off the idea at first. For it sounded rather cruel. But then, a part of her wondered if this was the most effective way.
Violet kept walking two steps before she realized Maria had fallen behind.
“What is it?” she turned, suddenly worried.
“Nothing,” Maria said, but the syllables held more weight than they should. She did not look at Violet; she could not, as she felt too ashamed by herself for considering the idea that had taken root in her mind.
In earnest, she felt entirely out of place. How was she to know what was proper and what was not? No one had really ever taught her how to be a proper lady, and now it felt like things were expected out of her that she did not know how to do.
Of course, it would be foolish to let anyone know of that. It was one of her deepest insecurities, after all. No, she would simply bite her tongue and never let anyone know.
“Maria…” Violet’s voice was growing rather weary now, and it would not take a genius to suspect that something was off with Maria.
No, I must not let the mask slip.
“I just got distracted,” Maria plastered on a smile. “You know, the things you overhear. I just...”
“Pay no heed to anything you overhear,” Violet frowned as she gave her advice, “you will find that the ton loves to talk and gossip about anything.”
“Anything?” Maria’s eyebrows shot up. She wondered if they were talking about her. And oh, how curious would she be to be privy to those conversations?
“As I said,” Violet reiterated. “It is better to pay no heed to them. Nothing good comes from idle gossip.”
But it has given me an idea that has never before occurred to me.Maria would never admit this out loud to anyone, of course. But she was beginning to seriously consider the prospect.
Yes, it would be improper to trap someone into marriage. But to someone as desperate as herself for finding a husband, it wouldbe an easy way to do so. And would it really even be that bad if her intentions were pure?
It was the intention that mattered, after all.
Violet was looking at Maria with a strange expression now, almost as though she would tell that something was going through her mind. But Maria could not come clean yet.
“I will try not to pay any attention to them,” she replied sweetly.
Before Violet could answer, Nicholas reappeared at Maria’s elbow. With him stood another gentleman she had not yet noticed. He was not as tall as her brother and had a noticeable nose that stood out from the rest of him.
“Maria,” Nicholas said, “may I present Mr. Peter Morton?”
Peter bowed with the sort of clean, exact grace that made one forget to be uncomfortable. He did not reach for her hand, but he waited until she offered it, and then took it only long enough to brush the barest kiss above her glove.
