Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

G lastonbury Manor shone brilliantly, the lights pouring over the colorful and decorated members of the ton. Delicate beading glimmered and sparkled. Sheaths of gorgeous silk and cotton fabrics in divine shades swirled around the dance floor. Everyone had come to the first ball of the marriage season in their best finery including Olivia and Marina Linfield.

Marina had swept her hair back into a low chignon, allowing a few loose curls to frame her pretty face. A simple, delicate tiara inherited from their mother perfected the piece. The silver complimented the matching trim on her pale blue dress, decorated with elaborate flowers at the hemline. Olivia was a vision, and Marina's eyes sparkled with pride as she escorted her sister into the ball. She herself had worn her hair loose about her shoulders and sported a stylish but less catching dress in blush. It accentuated the rosiness of her cheeks and complimented her eyes in an understated manner.

"You are going to take their breath away," she whispered to Olivia, who was teeming with excitement.

Olivia smiled at her as they parted, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder. "Mama would have been so proud to see how you care for us in her absence."

The Earl of Carlisle was always assuring Marina that he had everything under control and that she needed to appear more like an unwed lady and less like a young mother. Marina argued that her siblings, who already lived, were more important to her than babies she did not yet have the privilege of holding. Besides, at two and twenty years, she was well on her way to becoming a spinster. There was little hope of her finding a suitable marriage, and she might as well continue to keep her siblings happy.

"Mama would be proud to see your dance card filled," Marina teased, touching her sister's cheek gingerly before leaving her in the company of their father. She did not want to dissuade young men from approaching her sister, so she sought out her friend Kathrin Harrington. Marina found the shy brunette hiding from the throng near a column. Her ivory dress was stunning against Kathrin's pale skin and her pale blue eyes were striking, framed by long, dark lashes.

"You are the loveliest wallflower I ever saw," Marina sighed, approaching from the right. Kathrin startled then settled immediately when she saw who had spoken.

"Not if I must stand next to you."

"What have you learned tonight?" Marina asked her friend.

"Very little," Kathrin admitted. "Although the man of the house seems especially jolly, I do not think it is simply because of the turnout for the ball. I believe that the scandal sheets must be correct, and his beloved nephew must be in attendance. Or at least expected to attend."

Marina wrinkled her nose. "Is that so?" She spotted the master of the manor and smiled to see him engaging gleefully in food, drink, and conversation. Emmanuel Hayward was known to be a pleasant but lonely man who was liable to talk you to death about his nephew. He was, Marina speculated, perhaps the reason that the ton knew quite so much about Phillip Hayward's dastardly ways. Certain things men could brag about in open court while a fraction of their boldness would ruin a woman forever.

"Quite," Kathrin continued, unaware of the trip Marina's mind was taking. "My brother is about his age. Perhaps they were at school together. I should ask."

Lady Marina grinned and nudged her friend playfully. "Don't tell me that you, too, are enamored by the idea of this man. We all know what he has been up to these past ten years as it has been printed in the papers whether he was here to speak of it or not. Imagine what we have not heard."

Kathrin's lips quirked up. "I am not. But that is because a man like Phillip Hayward would never bother with the likes of us. I am not in the habit of speaking to anyone but you, and you are not in the habit of speaking like a fine, reserved young woman."

"Just what will they do with us?"

Phillip's first hint that something was awry was the line of carriages dropping people off at the door. In his panic, he did not look to see how anyone was dressed. His alarm came from his assumption that all of these people—like him—were rushing to his uncle's side to see him off to the afterlife. How cruel was fate, to separate him from his uncle for so long only to rip them apart again just when they would be reunited?

It was only when he was entering the reception hall that the music hit his ears, and the scene before him told the truth about where he was: his uncle had lied to him in order to get him to a ball. Phillip took a moment to collect himself, pinching the bridge of his nose, eyes shut. It was not lost on him what month it was and therefore, what the meaning of this ball must be.

Phillip made a mad dash into the main room of the party where he quickly spotted his uncle. Their eyes locked on one another, and Emmanuel made a swift excuse to leave his company and begin to shuffle forward with a big, tentative grin on his face.

But Phillip was faster.

"What is the meaning of this, Uncle?"

"Phillip! You've arrived! Come, my boy. There is plenty of drink. We will discuss the little trick I've played over a glass of brandy."

Phillip felt his temper rise. His jaw set into a hard line, and his eyes flashed with a familiar fire behind them. Emmanuel's face dropped.

"Your behavior is deplorable, Uncle. Have you any idea the distress you have caused me? I thought you ill, yet here you stand with rosy cheeks and on your own two feet! Why would you send me that note at all?"

"It was necessary, nephew," Emmanuel said in a hushed tone, trying to indicate through flickers of his eyes that Phillip should become aware of their growing audience. "I knew that if I told you the truth of the event tonight you would not come. You've not attended any balls as long as I've known you."

"That is nonsensical. I have attended balls at your request, and if you had only told me ahead of time and allowed me to make the proper arrangements, I?—"

"You're right, boy. I am a silly, short-sighted old man. I apologize for my slight. I thought it an innocent trick, but you have proven that I underestimated your passion. I'm happy to know that you care for me so, but please , I implore you, let us go and get some drink and unwind those tensions of yours."

It was only in this moment that Phillip at last realized that the chatter in the room had grown still. He turned around, coming face to face with a room full of eagerness and curiosity. Everyone appeared to be staring at him, and he hung his head, allowing his uncle to lead him away, ashamed at having caused such a scene and embarrassing his elder in his own home.

"It is I who should apologize," he muttered. "I have caused you great shame, I'm afraid."

"All's well. You're the most anticipated guest at this party. They're merely getting a look at what they came to see."