Lady Thorpe fumed at such turkish treatment. “How dare they say such things! Of me or Lady Mays!” It was simply not to be borne.
On the inspiration of her anger, Lady Thorpe looked around for her hostess. As soon as she spied Lady Mays, she approached her. Nodding to Lady Mays and another lady who had engaged her ladyship in conversation, Lady Thorpe waited until the other lady had finished and moved away.
Lady Thorpe smiled almost shyly up at her tall hostess. “Lady Mays, I wished to tell you how honored my husband, Lord Thorpe, and I are to have received your kind invitation.”
“Thank you, Lady Thorpe. I hope that you continue to enjoy yourself,” said Lucinda, smiling politely.
When making out her guest list, Lucinda had consulted Lord Mays as to whether there was anyone in particular he would like her to include. She had insisted upon deferring to his lordship in this small way, for she was truly grateful that he had lent her Mays House without question. Lord Mays had been gratified and had supplied her with a few names. The Thorpes had consequently received their invitation to the supper and ball because they were particular friends of Lord Mays.
Lucinda had thought the Thorpes to be a pleasant couple when she had met them and had thereafter very nearly forgotten their existence. She knew that the youthful couple were not so much her junior in years, but she felt worlds apart from them in experience. Theirs had apparently been a fairytale romance, their attachment having been formed at first sight and their marriage taking place a scarce six months later.
“Mays House is wonderfully appointed. I do not believe I have ever seen so many beautiful objects in one place in my life,” said Lady Thorpe.
“Lord Mays, my late husband, was a great collector of things of beauty,” said Lucinda noncommittally. Though she was still smiling at Lady Thorpe, her attention began to wander. She had heard far too often already that evening the same sort of comments.
“You are very beautiful and, yes, gracious, too. It is really unfair that you should be talked about so rudely,” said Lady Thorpe.
When Lucinda’s astonished gaze centered on her face, Lady Thorpe’s eyes began to dance. Quite matter-of-factly, she observed, “Disagreeable old cats, don’t you agree?”
Lucinda was surprised into a gurgle of laughter. She looked at the lady with blossoming curiosity. “Lady Thorpe, I suspect that you are an original.”
The youthful lady’s eyes twinkled. “I don’t think that I should like that reputation. One would forever be trying to live up to it. And it would distress Gerald so,” said Lady Thorpe. “He is the most dear thing, but terribly unimaginative.”
Lucinda was set laughing again.
Lord Wilfred Mays came up at that moment. He was pleased to note that Lucinda seemed to be on good terms with Lady Cecily Thorpe. He was of the opinion that Lucinda needed to surround herself with some merry souls who would shake her out of her too-serious mien.
He addressed the two ladies with his crooked smile. His eyes were warm with approval. “I see that you two ladies are fast becoming acquainted. Nothing could be better, Lucinda, for Cecily and Gerald are solid to the bone. Their overtures of friendship are not lightly given or lightly meant.”
“What a flatterer you are, Wilfred!” said Lady Thorpe, turning pink with pleasure.
“Is he not? But I think him to be kind-hearted, too,” said Lucinda. She smiled at her cousin-in-law. “Indeed, I do not believe that I have met anyone kinder.”
Now it was Lord Mays’s turn to flush. He cleared his throat. “It is easy to be kind when one approves of someone.”
“We are honored indeed, Lady Thorpe,” said Lucinda, laughing.
“You will end by turning our heads, Wilfred, and then you will see how insufferably set up in our own estimation we can be,” said Lady Thorpe. She put on a haughty expression and tilted one brow in laughing challenge at her hostess. “Isn’t that so, my dear Lady Mays?”
Lucinda could not resist entering into the vein of the thing. “Oh, indeed, my dear Lady Thorpe,” she said. She languidly waved her fan.
“Then
we should come to look down our noses at poor Lord Mays and at best bestow only a condescending smile of recognition upon him.”
“You are roasting me, the pair of you,” said Lord Mays, grinning again.
Lucinda laughed. Shutting her fan, she tapped him lightly on his sleeve with it. “I at least could never look down my nose at you, Wilfred, whatever the provocation. You are too good a friend to me.”
Lady Thorpe cast a swift startled glance at Lord Mays as his face settled into lines of gratification. There was a warmth in his eyes when he looked at Lady Mays that was unmistakable. Lady Thorpe was amazed by the thought that came into her head. Lady Mays was certainly an acknowledged beauty, but surely his lordship had not actually come under her spell.
The musicians at the other end of the room struck up a familiar air, diverting Lady Thorpe from her astonishing thoughts. Several couples began forming up sets. “Oh, I do adore the quadrille!” she exclaimed. “I wish Gerald was with me now, for I would at once have him take me onto the floor.”
“That’s right. I haven’t seen Gerald of late. Where has he gotten himself off to?” asked Lord Mays, glancing about casually.
A shadow crossed Lady Thorpe’s face. A measure of vivacity left her face as she replied, “Gerald wished to sit down at cards for a few moments with Mr. Stassart.”
Lord Mays and Lucinda exchanged a quick look. Lucinda was horrified. Lord Thorpe was a mere babe, little older than his eighteen-year-old bride, and a thoroughly easygoing young gentleman. It appalled her that he should be in her cousin’s selfish, callous hands. Something of her feelings must have expressed themselves in her expression, for Lord Mays gave a slight nod of reassurance.
“I think that I shall wander over to the cardroom and see if I can wrest Gerald free. I wished to speak to him about a hunter that I saw yesterday, for he told me a few weeks ago that he wanted to acquire one,” said Lord Mays casually. After a few more departing words, he left the ladies.
Lucinda put her arm through Lady Thorpe’s and in a friendly manner said, “Why don’t we two go after some lemon ices? I am all of a sudden parched. The ballroom has gotten to be so warm. I have been thinking of opening a few of the windows. Do you think that anyone would have any objections?”
“Oh no, not to speak of,” said Lady Thorpe, willingly entering into her hostess’s concerns. She allowed herself to be borne off toward the refreshment tables, saying, “Some of the more rigid might talk of the evils of the night air, but for my part I would far rather risk a putrid throat than have melting candle wax drip down upon my head!”
“So should I,” said Lucinda, chuckling. “Very well, then! Upon the approval of the very original Lady Thorpe, I shall give the orders to scandalize the rigid.” They had reached the refreshment table, and she signaled a servant to her to give the orders for some of the windows to be opened.
“As though you needed anyone’s approval, my lady,” said Lady Thorpe, making brisk inroads on the lemon ice. “Why, as a widow, I suspect that you may do very nearly anything you wish and not risk censor.”
Lucinda gave a half smile. She cast a glance down at her shorter companion. “But you said not a few minutes ago that I am discussed, and not at all in a friendly manner. Therefore it seems clear that I, too, must be careful of offending certain individuals’ sense of propriety.”
“It is all jealousy and envy,” said Lady Thorpe dismissively. “None of them realize at what cost to you this came.” She waved her hand, encompassing the elegant mirrored ballroom with its numerous sprays of sumptuous blooms, the branches of candles that created a blaze of light, the milling, noisy crowd.
Lucinda raised her brows, both amused and astonished by the lady’s assumption of worldliness. “And you do?”
Lady Thorpe shrugged her slender shoulders. “I think that I should horsewhip any woman who dared to make sheep’s eyes at my Gerald. I have heard how ill-treated you were at your husband’s hands. How he could have set his mistress over you, I cannot fathom! Why, there is not a lady here tonight who can hold a candle to you. I have observed the way the gentlemen look at you and heard the flatteries. I think that his lordship was a great fool.” She realized of a sudden that she was taking liberties with their short acquaintance. Lady Thorpe colored to the roots of her bright hair. “Forgive me, Lady Mays! I should not have spoken in such an intimate fashion to you.”
“Pray do not apologize. I am not at all offended. In truth, I find your forthrightness rather refreshing,” said Lucinda, laughing. “Though I must tell you in all honesty that mine was not a blighted love match, as you seem to think, so do put that out of your head. Lord Mays and I contracted a marriage of convenience. It did not prove satisfying to either party. There! You will understand now that you must not make me out to be some tragic heroine.”
Lady Thorpe regarded her hostess for a moment, her head tilted in the manner of an inquisitive little bird. Her eyes were thoughtful and keenly observant. “I do not think that quite true, my lady,” she said slowly. “I suspect that there is more of tragedy in your life than you have allowed anyone to know.”
Lucinda was startled and not a little dismayed. The girl standing beside her had just displayed a discernment that was far beyond her years. Lucinda wondered uncomfortably how she could turn aside Lady Thorpe’s too-close probing.
The lady herself put an end to it. “But I shall not tax you, nor shall I speculate. I am not one of those obnoxious tabbies always going about sniffing for a morsel of gossip! Your private affairs are your own, Lady Mays.” Her gaze was caught by something beyond Lucinda, and her eyes lit up. “Here is Gerald now, with Lord Mays!”
The gentlemen came up, greeting the two ladies. Lord Thorpe immediately took his wife’s hand, gently swinging it to and fro. “Wilfred tells me that you are pining for a quadrille,” he said teasingly, looking down into her piquant face.
Lady Thorpe cast down her lashes, her mouth making a pretty moue. “Indeed, my lord, it is only the truth. But I had no one to partner me and so you discover me quite forlorn.”
“What! Isn’t there anyone about to dance attendance upon my pretty wife?” Lord Thorpe looked around as though in earnest search. “Do not fret, my girl. I shall at once engage the services of a suitable cicisbeo!”
“Oh, Gerald!” Lady Thorpe lightly hit her husband in the chest with her small hand. “You are a monstrous tease! As though I should like anyone half as well as you to squire me!”
“Surely Wilfred here—”
Lord Thorpe began laughing as his scowling spouse once more punched him with her dainty fist. “Yes, I tease you most abominably. Come along, then. This set is just forming up. Let us show everyone how it is done.”
Lady Thorpe made a departing wave as she and her still-laughing lord hurried off.
“They are a sweet pair,” murmured Lucinda. She shook herself and smiled at Lord Mays, who still stood beside her. “I think that I envy them, Wilfred. I wonder whether I was ever so carefree and happy and confident with my world?”
“I would like to see you like that, Lucinda,” said Lord Mays with unexpected seriousness.
Lucinda stared at Lord Mays, quite taken aback at the tone of his voice. She was even more startled when he seized her hand in an uncomfortably tight grip.
Chapter Eleven
“Lucinda, I have felt for some time that you are in need of the influence of good friends and merriment.” Lord Mays spoke with unexpected fierceness.
“Why, that is precisely the reason I came to London, my lord,” said Lucinda, trying to understand his lordship’s sudden earnestness. She did not know what to make of it.
Lord Mays shook his head impatiently. “No, I do not mean this!” He swept the oblivious crowd with a dismissive glance. “I mean spending time with people who care for you and value you. Most of these here tonight see you only as Lady Mays, the beautiful and rich widow. They express their respects and make overtures of friendship, but it is scarcely the same thing.”
He smiled crookedly at her. “And you know it as well as I, for I can see how guarded is the expression in your eyes. No, I want you to be able to laugh and jest and rest completely assured that you are with trusted confidantes.”
“Bravo, my lord. It is just what I was myself telling my lovely cousin only a few days ago.”
Lord Mays uttered something low under his breath and broke away from Lucinda. He stared at the gentleman who had come up so inopportunely, a decidedly unfriendly expression in his frowning eyes. “Stassart. How is this? I would never have guessed that any of us would see your face outside the cardroom as long as there were games of chance to be had.”
Mr. Stassart smiled, but his blue eyes were suddenly very hard. He flicked an imaginary speck from his elegant sleeve. “In truth, my lord, the cards palled. Naturally I came at once to seek out my fair cousin. You must know that I have a great fondness for Lucinda.”
Lord Mays gave a shout of laughter. His gold-brown eyes gleamed as though from a good joke. His good humor was inexplicably and completely restored. “Dipped already, Stassart?” He bowed to Lucinda and sauntered off, whistling.
Ferdie stared after Lord Mays. “I do not think that I care for his lordship,” he said softly.
Lucinda was indifferent to his opinion. “Do you not? Whereas I count him as one of my closest friends.”
“One can only decry your naiveté, my dear cousin. However, I did not come up to argue the doubtful virtues of Lord Mays’s character with you.” Ferdie cast a soulful glance at her amused face. His entire attitude was worshipful as he carried her hand to his lips. “I can scarcely keep myself from you, Lucinda. Behold, I fly to your side like a moth to the lovely flame.”
Lucinda shook her head at her cousin and forcibly withdrew her hand from his insistent clasp. “What do you want, Ferdie? Is it as Lord Mays said? Have you lost again? Do you wish me to frank you at my own card tables?”
Mr. Stassart swept his hand to the front of his frilled shin, assuming an appalled expression. “Cousin! That the thought could even cross your mind is a dishonor. I would not dream of importuning you for such a purpose. No, I am well able to frank myself to whatever tune is required.”