Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“ W ell done, Your Grace. It is quite stunning indeed.”

“Thank you.” Margaret smiled at Mrs. Lancaster as she turned to face the ballroom.

Every surface was decked beautifully with either dried flowers or autumnal leaves. The large fireplace, big enough to hold a whole rhinoceros, was full of flames, emanating great heat across the room. The tables full of glassware, punch bowls and food glittered in the candlelight.

“I can never remember the ballroom being so beautiful,” Mrs. Lancaster whispered as in the distance, the sounds of coaches could be heard arriving.

“Never?” Margaret said with interest. “Did Theodore’s parents not hold any balls?”

“They…” Mrs. Lancaster looked awkward, fidgeting with a set of glasses nearby which were already well laid. “They had other things on their mind. They were not especially warm to those they welcomed to the house,” she added in a confessed whisper, then blushed red, as if she feared she had said too much.

“What were they like? Theo’s parents?” Margaret murmured softly as footmen and maids now entered the room, standing to attention behind tables, ready to serve food and drinks.

Mrs. Lancaster looked Margaret in the eye with such an expression of sadness in her face that it stole Margaret’s breath.

“Has the master not told you about them?”

“I know his father has passed and his mother is still alive, is she not?” Margaret wrinkled her nose. Was it not strange that Theo’s mother was alive but he never spoke of her? Was it not even odder that she had not been invited to this ball?

“Yes. If the master has not told you about them, I should not speak of it.” Yet Mrs. Lancaster’s fidgeting grew all the worse.

Margaret tilted her head to the side, watching her kindly housekeeper with great care. Never before had Mrs. Lancaster retreated so much into herself and looked so nervous.

“Did you not like them?” Margaret whispered.

“What? Oh!” Mrs. Lancaster looked scandalized at the idea. “I have been in service to this family for decades. I am incredibly loyal to them. The Duke is the best master I could ask for.”

“Theo, perhaps, yet you are avoiding speaking of the duke and duchess that came before –”

“Your Grace, your guests have just arrived.” Mrs. Lancaster pointed at the open doors and the people now arriving, in glittering autumnal colors of soft red and golden gowns, and men in black tail suits with copper-hued cravats. “I shall be in the corner if you need me.”

“Thank you,” Margaret hastily added, though she did not turn at once to greet her guests. She stared after the housekeeper, now even more curious at the lady’s silence on Theo’s parents.

Whatever they were like, there was little love for them in this house. The staff never speak of them, Theo certainly never speaks of them… are they all trying to forget the last duke and duchess were ever here?

Theodore appeared in the room beside their guests and began to greet them. Margaret hurried to his side, accidentally bumping his elbow with her own. When he turned and smiled at her, such warmth spread through her that she quickly forgot her curiosity about the past.

They greeted each of their guests with kindness and a welcoming air. There were people Margaret had never met before, and others that she knew all too well.

“My dear! So good to see you at last.” Lady Sedgwick’s voice made Margaret stiffen.

She knew well enough that Lady Sedgwick was on the guest list. Theodore had suggested it.

She commanded the gossip in the ton, and if they were to spread the impression of a happy couple together, completely respected, with any hint of a scandal completely forgotten, then they had to perform for Lady Sedgwick. They had to persuade her to believe there was nothing left to whisper about in this house.

“Lady Sedgwick, you are most welcome,” Margaret said as she and Lady Sedgwick curtsied. “I trust you have been well?”

“Very well indeed. The gossip sheets keep me very entertained, even though your name has been missing from them for some time now.” She angled her head, clearly trying to catch Theo’s attention with these words, but he was busy greeting some gentlemen behind her.

“I am pleased to hear it.” Margaret maintained her dignified air, determined not to shake under the woman’s suspicion. “Well, I suppose gossip sheets cannot write about a couple being happy, can they? Such news would probably bore its readers.”

Lady Sedgwick released an amused giggle.

“Perhaps so.” She sighed, as if she were a child and someone had stolen her greatest toy. “Well, I wish you well with your ball, my dear. It shall be interesting to see just how much of a success it is.”

She walked away, wafting her fan in front of her face in the most animated manner. Despite Margaret’s temptation to let the anger get to her —the fury with which she wished to tell Lady Sedgwick that if she had just come looking for gossip, she could leave right now —Margaret let it go with a shuddering breath.

Such women have to be invited. It is the way.

The next people to arrive made Margaret smile so much that she quite forgot the upset Lady Sedgwick had caused.

“Margaret!” Evelina called as she hurried into the room, Gabriel at her side. At once, Theo and Gabriel shook hands and talked together, as Evelina and Margaret embraced tightly. “How are you?” Evelina whispered attentively in her ear. Clearly, it was no question made just out of courtesy. Evelina genuinely wanted to know the answer.

“I am well,” Margaret assured her, stepping back and looking her sister in the eye. “How are you?” She gestured down to the bump now clearly beginning to show for Evelina.

“Oh, I have some sickness now.” Evelina nodded, a paleness to her skin. “It comes and goes.”

“You need to keep eating,” Gabriel said smoothly, moving to Evelina’s side as Theodore followed them. “If she does not eat for so long, the sickness returns.”

“A lack of eating, eh?” Theodore said with interest. “Perhaps both sisters forget to eat when they are busy.” He looked meaningfully at Margaret. She rolled her eyes at him, rather pleased when he smiled at her.

The awkwardness of the incident in his study two days before they had dealt with by firmly ignoring it. When they had come together for breakfast the morning after, neither of them had mentioned it.

Margaret felt the pain still in her gut that he had discarded her so quickly on the settee. He had gone from showing affection, even protectiveness, to tipping her off his lap.

What was so wrong in that moment, I wonder, to cause such a sudden change in manner?

“I have to apologize for something in advance,” Evelina whispered in a rush, looking between the two of them.

“For what?” Margaret asked.

“This,” Gabriel muttered warningly.

Behind them, someone else entered. It was Margaret’s father. James walked straight toward them then stumbled as he looked around the ballroom, his jaw dropping as he took in the sight of the ballroom.

“I had to invite him,” Margaret said gently. “His presence is hardly a surprise.”

“It’s his mood we’re apologizing for,” Gabriel explained. “We gave him a lift here. It is an offer I am already regretting.” He sighed and offered his hand to Evelina. “Come, let’s get you something to eat. I don’t want you feeling nauseous now.”

Evelina looked at him with such softness in her gaze that Margaret watched the two of them go with a strange twisting feeling in her gut. It took a whole minute of staring after them to realize what that feeling was.

Jealousy.

She wondered how it would feel to have Theodore take her hand like that, smile at her in that way, and to show such simple yet meaningful protectiveness.

“Lord Edlerglen,” Theo addressed her father, urging Margaret to turn back and face them both.

James had control of his awe now and turned to face them both. There was an eagerness in his stride that made him bound in his steps as he halted beside them.

“My congratulations to you both. This ball… it is quite something, indeed.”

“It is all because of your daughter,” Theo said, his voice taking on a deep tone. “She handled all the preparations.”

Was that a compliment?

Margaret caught his eye. There was a small lifting to his lips.

“Your money can certainly purchase many beautiful things, Your Grace.” James’ words made both Margaret and Theo snap their heads around, staring at him. The plainness of the discussion about money was so crude that Margaret felt her insides writhe in embarrassment.

“Well, Father. You have many acquaintances and friends here tonight. Please, enjoy yourself.” She tried to wave him on, further into the room, but he gave no sign of having heard her. Instead, he took a small step towards Theo.

“Well done indeed, Your Grace,” James said again. “Clearly, the ton thinks highly of you. Look how many people have come to celebrate at your ball this evening.”

“People come where money is,” Theo said in such a warning tone that the stony tone seemed to vibrate through Margaret. “Would you not agree, my lord?”

“Oh, yes, yes.” His answer came swiftly, though he barely seemed to pay attention to the words. He had now picked up a fine punch glass from nearby and was turning it over to admire how it was made. “Even this glass alone must have cost a fortune. What riches you must have.”

Margaret pinched the bridge of her nose in humiliation.

“Father, please.” She hurried to drop her hand again. “Let us not talk of money tonight. Come and enjoy yourself with your friends.”

“You’ll have to learn to ignore my daughter, Your Grace.” James abruptly laughed, the sound like a dog barking. “I usually do. She sticks her nose in and speaks when she’s not always welcome to.”

Margaret stood numbly staring at her father, her jaw slack.

She may have endured anger and frustration at her father for many years. Her love for him had even been tested to great limits, but to be so insulted by him in front of her husband was atrocious. Her hand laid over her stomach as she wished to quell the twisting of her gut beneath her skin.

“I beg your pardon?” Theo’s voice took on a dangerous tone, having dropped at least one octave in pitch.

“I said –”

“I know what you said,” Theo uttered sharply. “I was just marveling at a gentleman’s ability to insult and embarrass his daughter, not only in front of so many people, but in her own home. Are you aware of the insult you have just given?”

“Insult?” James actually laughed. “No, no, no. There is no insult meant, Your Grace.” He was pink-cheeked and with horror, Margaret realized he must have already had some wine this evening before he had come. “She is a woman, Your Grace.”

“Father…”

“Is that enough to insult her?” Theo said between gritted teeth.

“She is young and foolish, too. If she is hurt by things, you mustn’t take it seriously. Maybe someday women will learn to have thick skin like men.”

Margaret reached behind her toward the punch table. To her surprise, Yates stood there, brandishing forth a punch glass. Rather impressed at his capacity to read minds, she mouthed thank you and took the full punch glass he proffered toward her, taking a quick gulp.

“You will not speak again in this way,” Theo snapped. The tone was so harsh that people nearby even turned to look at them.

James fell still, the smile on his face dropping with the falling of his cheeks.

“I will not have you insult my wife in her home, nor will I have you treat her in this way in public. You owe your daughter an apology.” Theo motioned a hand toward Margaret. “ Now.”

James quaked. The way he fidgeted, adjusting his cravat and the lapels of his tailcoat, Margaret suspected he was craving another glass of his usual wine or brandy.

“I owe my daughter no apology,” James insisted. “She knows I only jest.”

“Does she?” Theo hissed.

“Besides, why talk of things when there are other things we could speak of?” James was back to trying to laugh off the matter, gesturing to the grand ballroom. “Tell me, how much did this cost, Your Grace?”

A small sound escaped Margaret, the embarrassment overwhelming. She took a quick sip of her punch as Theo stepped forward.

“You have done enough damage for one evening.” Theo towered over James whose smile quickly vanished as he returned to fidgeting constantly. “I have no wish to talk to you anymore this evening, just as I suspect your daughter has no wish to speak to you either.”

“But I –”

“Leave us.” Theo gestured further into the room. “Now.”

James hesitated, not yet moving away.

“Would you prefer I demand you leave the ballroom entirely and take your leave?” Theo hissed.

James stepped back. He offered a quick incline of his head in some semblance of a bow, then he scurried off further into the ballroom. He made his way towards Evelina and Gabriel. Evelina was eating as James appeared beside them, trying to draw them into conversation.

“Theo,” Margaret whispered, “it does not matter.”

The rage was practically wafting off him. She had seen him angry before, seen him annoyed, many times, but this was something entirely different. His whole body was tense as his eyes, narrowed to slits, glared at James across the room.

If looks could kill indeed.

“It does matter,” Theo muttered sharply. “To treat you like that. In front of others! Here, in your home!”

“Theo, please.” She laid a hand on his arm, trying to calm him. He instantly laid a hand over hers too, his palm startling warm against her fingers. “Do not let him ruin our night.”

“And can you so easily brush off his insult to you?”

“Of course not,” she acknowledged, shaking her head. “Yet if I took him to task on every insult he delivered, I would never be able to hold my head high.”

Theo looked stunned, his jaw slack.

“This is not to be borne,” he muttered. “Enough of this. Come.” He turned his hand, taking her palm in his own.

“Where are we going?”

“To dance.” He led her away towards the other dancers.