Chapter Ten

August had tried to stay away.

He had thought to remain in the country for a few more weeks, but the pull to see Lady Georgina was simply too great to bury himself there. He returned to town early, surprising his entire London staff, who rushed about once he had arrived. His butler told him that the Duke of Seaton himself had stopped by merely minutes earlier, checking to see if the marquess was in town and if he would be attending the opening ball of the Season this evening.

Redding had asked if August wished for a note to be sent to His Grace, but he said no. Just because he was in town again, he wasn't certain if he wished to commit to attending the first event of the Season, knowing the entirety of Polite Society would turn out for this event.

He had left to visit his London tailor, finding the shop deserted of clients. Ragland had told him everyone had picked up what they would be wearing to the Pennywise ball this evening, saying his workers were still busily sewing in the back, and would be booked throughout the entire spring and summer.

August tried on the remainder of his wardrobe which the tailor had been working on and found that everything fit him extremely well, even better than his military uniforms had. He had his footman carry the garments to the carriage and returned home, closeting himself in his study.

It was there that he found the mounds of invitations, four neat stacks sitting on his desk. He opened them one at a time, seeing that he had been invited to dozens of events over the next two months. He wondered if those who issued invitations had seen his father's death notice in the newspapers and thought they now invited Peter, the new Marquess of Edgethorne. If so, they were certain to be surprised when he set foot in the doorway. In any case, they bore the name of the Marquess of Edgethorne, and he saw the favor of reply was asked for in each instance. Since he had not responded to tonight's affair, he hesitated, wondering if he should attend or not.

He dined alone and returned again to his study, where he sipped a snifter of brandy, hoping it would calm him. Finally, he decided he would go to the Pennywise ball. It had already started a few hours earlier, and he did not think at this point it would matter if one more guest slipped in.

Summoning Pole, he had the valet help him into his new evening clothes. August studied himself in the mirror, looking at everything but his face. He still cut a fine figure in clothes, but he was worried about the reaction he would receive when others saw what he now looked like.

Still, he had promised Peter that he would go to this Season and find himself a bride. He had already determined it could not be Lady Georgina Strong. She would have massive numbers of suitors, based upon her beauty alone. He hoped those gentlemen would get to know the lady herself and her sweet nature. His greatest hope was that she might honor him with a single dance.

August would live on the memory of that for the rest of his life.

Steeling himself, he ordered for his carriage to be brought around and climbed into it. He noticed the streets were empty of vehicles, and he supposed everyone who lived in this part of town had already arrived at the ball hours ago. His carriage dropped him in front of his hosts' townhouse, and August dismissed the driver, telling him he would walk home since it was but a short distance. The coachman looked at him as if he belonged in a madhouse but knew better than to challenge the word of his employer.

Approaching the door, he removed the invitation from his inner pocket and knocked.

When the door swung open, the footman who answered it gawked at him. August presented his invitation, and the servant accepted it, his eyes resting on the invitation and not the late-arriving guest.

"Come in, my lord," the footman said.

He stepped inside, and the footman closed the door.

"Where is the ball being held?"

"Up the stairs, my lord. The ballroom is just to the right."

Presenting a confidence he did not feel, August mounted the staircase and went to the ballroom. He heard no music playing and stepped inside, finding the massive space empty, save for a lone musician, tinkering with this violin.

He approached, clearing his throat. The man looked up, his jaw dropping.

"Is the ball over?" he asked.

"N-n-no, my lord. It is the supper hour," the musician stammered, his eyes dropping to the ground so he would not have to look upon August.

"And where might supper be held?"

Keeping his gaze lowered, the violinist pointed to a set of doors across the room. "Out that way, my lord. Then to the left. You will find the other guests dining there."

"Thank you."

Moving across the empty ballroom, his heels clicked against the polished floor, echoing as he walked. When he reached the far side, he could hear noise. Exiting the ballroom, he went down a corridor, the sound of conversations growing louder as he approached.

August went to stand in the doorway and took in the scene. Dozens of tables had been set up, and the lords and ladies of Polite Society were dining on a heady variety of delicacies. His one good eye swept the room, seeing an empty spot here and there, but he had no desire to join the guests sitting at any of the tables.

Then his gaze fell upon Lady Georgina.

She was a vision of loveliness, her dark hair swept high, a few loose curls artfully escaping. Her gown was of the softest shade of blue, and he knew it would bring out her cornflower blue eyes. She was laughing at something the man on her left said, and August was shocked to realize she sat next to an old friend of his. Two vacant seats were at their table, but he did not know if they were occupied by others or not.

Suddenly, he knew he had made a terrible mistake and turned to go.

But at that moment, Lady Georgina glanced over her shoulder, their gazes meeting. He saw her lips curve into a sweet smile.

Without warning, the supper room fell completely silent. All conversation had ceased, and August could feel hundreds of eyes upon him. From those sitting closest to the door came audible gasps since those occupants were near enough to bear witness to his hideous scars. He silently berated himself, thinking the scars had faded and weren't so horrible after all. He never should have come.

He heard one man's voice demand, "What is he thinking, coming here, looking like... that?"

The entire room heard the man's comment, and immediately, conversation broke out across the room. It had been wrong to come here, invited or not. Wrong to make a promise to his brother which he would not be able to keep.

Turning to go, he halted in his tracks.

Lady Georgina was making her way toward him.

He could not shun her in front of this entire crowd. August mustered every bit of courage within him and stood his ground as she approached him. From the corner of his eye, he also saw someone else headed his way, most likely a footman ready to ask him to leave.

But he only had eyes for the lovely creature who had now reached him.

He bowed to her, and she curtseyed, offering him her hand. He bent and brushed his lips against her gloved fingers. The room, which had been buzzing, quietened, eager to watch the scene played out before them.

"I did not think you would be coming this evening, Lord Edgethorne," Lady Georgina said.

"I returned to town sooner than expected, my lady. It is good to see you again."

They gazed at one another a long moment, and then he heard a familiar voice say, "Edgethorne! How good to see you."

He released Lady Georgina's hand and turned, finding the Duke and Duchess of Seaton, along with the dowager duchess, standing before him. Tears prickled at his good eye, knowing they had come to greet him in a show of support.

The duke enthusiastically pumped August's hand, and then he greeted both duchesses.

"I went to see if you were in town," His Grace said. "They said you would not be back for a week or more."

"My plans changed," he said vaguely. "I am sorry I missed your call."

The duchess smiled at him. "We do not have any space at our table, but I am certain a footman can bring a chair so that you might sit with us."

"That will not be necessary, Your Grace," a deep voice said. "We have more than enough room at our table."

August smiled gratefully at Lord Blankenship, who offered his own hand.

"It is good to see you, Edgethorne. It has been quite a while since we last spoke."

"You know one another?" questioned Lady Georgina.

The viscount nodded. "The marquess and I were good friends during our Eton and university days. Come, sit with us," he encouraged.

Turning, August nodded politely at the Seatons and then followed Blankenship, who had taken Lady Georgina's hand and slipped it through the crook of his arm, heading back to their table.

The room erupted in chatter following these exchanges, and he could feel the eyes upon him as he went to the table. He greeted the two gentlemen at it, having known one from their school days at Eton and the other at university. Both men offered him their hands, but neither could look him in the eye.

Lady Georgina was the one who introduced him to the two ladies at the table. Each offered him her hand a bit shakily, appearing quite unsure as he took it. He told himself that he had expected this kind of reception. That people would be horrified by his appearance. That there would be talk. Plenty of it. But he would push through and find a bride on the Marriage Mart.

Then he looked at Lady Georgina as he took his seat, and thought it would be a false move to ask any woman to be his wife when this beauty held his heart.

August could not begin to consider her for his marchioness, however. She was the daughter of one duke and sister to another. While his title and wealth would be more than sufficient for her family, he could not burden her with the gossip he himself would face the rest of his life. Besides, Lady Georgina was a bright light who should be allowed to shine and bring happiness into the life of many. He would spend all his days at Edgefield, in self-exile. Not that she would ever consider his suit, but even if she did, it would be unfair to put her in such circumstances with that type of marriage.

"Are you hungry?" Lord Blankenship asked.

"I suppose I could get a bite to eat from the buffet," he replied.

"You might want to try the dry cake, my lord," Lady Georgina recommended. "I found it most delicious."

"I will accompany you," his friend told him, and the two men went to the buffet, which had no line at this point.

Again, August tolerated the stares from others, hearing some of their comments, which were not uttered under a breath but boldly said aloud so that he could hear them.

"It is an embarrassment to have him here."

"Poor man. No one can even bear to look at him."

"He should leave and never come back."

After taking a few items from the buffet, he looked at Blankenship and shook his head. The two men returned to their table, where August busied himself trying to force himself to swallow a few bites.

Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned, seeing a woman in her sixties glaring at him.

"Marquess or not," she said in a loud tone, "you have no place here, my lord. Why, your appearance sickens me so that I cannot even finish my meal."

Naturally, the room had fallen quiet again and heard the old woman's remarks to him. August started to rise and apologize, but Lady Georgina placed her hand on his forearm, urging him to keep his seat.

She turned to face the woman. "I will have you know, Lady Mills, that Lord Edgethorne is one of the kindest and bravest of men. He has sacrificed much in the name for king and country in the fight against Bonaparte. It is because of the courageous men such as Lord Edgethorne that you are able to sit here in all this splendor, wearing your diamonds and fine gown and dining upon delicacies."

Lady Georgina's eyes narrowed at her subject. "You—and others—should be grateful for the service which Lord Edgethorne has given Great Britain. Your comment was most inappropriate. Lord Edgethorne will now accept your apology, my lady," she said firmly.

The entire room took in a quick intake of breath, on the edge of their seats, leaning forward to see what might happen next.

Lady Mills seemed stunned into silence, and Lady Georgina prompted, "We are waiting, my lady."

The old woman visibly swallowed and looking in August's direction—but not directly into his face—mumbled, "Thank you for your service to His Majesty, my lord." Then she turned away.

Once more, the entire supper room erupted, buzzing about the encounter between Lady Georgina and the outspoken elderly woman.

"You did not have to defend me, my lady. But I am most grateful to you and the courage you showed on my behalf."

"Polite Society spends too much of its time judging others on their looks. It is about time they went deeper. You are a person, the same as we all are, Lord Edgethorne. None of us would wish to be treated so shabbily."

"That was a courageous thing to do, my lady," the viscount said to Lady Georgina. "I am honored to have shared this supper with you, and I thank you for defending my friend when no one else did."

The viscount looked to August. "And I will try to live up to the standard which Lady Georgina has set for us all, my friend."

"Thank you," he said humbly, knowing she had risked her reputation of the first night of her come-out.

People began exiting the supper room after that, returning to the ballroom for the rest of the evening.

August returned to his food, eating a few more bites simply because he had nothing left to say to those at his table. He heard Blankenship ask if he could call upon Lady Georgina tomorrow afternoon, and she granted him permission to do so.

He looked at the couple and thought they would be good together. He would do what he could to encourage his friend to pursue the lady.

Even if his heart would break as he did so.

"Shall I return you to the ballroom, Lady Georgina?" Blankenship asked.

"No, thank you, my lord. I wish to speak a moment with Lord Edgethorne. He is supposed to come to tea tomorrow, and I wish to confirm the details."

Their table emptied, and she turned to him. "I do hope you will accept my invitation to tea, my lord."

"How can I not, after you so bravely spoke up for me, my lady? I only hope it did not ruin your chances with other gentlemen present tonight."

She snorted. "Either they will dance with me as they are supposed to, or they will be cowards and choose not to do so. If that is the case, I would not have been interested in them anyway."

August thought how he had wanted to dance a single dance with her, and so he said, "If you find any of those gentlemen behaving in an ungentlemanly manner and not approaching you for your scheduled dance, then I would be happy to take their place. If it would not be too much of a hardship on you," he added, giving her a way to let him down gently.

She smiled brilliantly at him. "As a matter of fact, I actually have one open spot on my dance card. It is the final dance of the evening, my lord. Would you care to dance it with me, Lord Edgethorne?"