Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

A fter the kiss, things changed between them. Not in any massive way or anything that would be immediately obvious to anyone else, but to them it was everything.

They were moving forward with their life together. They were finding happiness in each other.

Make no mistake, things were still moving rather slowly between them. In part because neither of them quite seemed to have the nerve to try for another kiss, but that wasn't to say it hadn't helped them to feel freer to express affection.

It wasn't anything huge, William pressing a hand to her lower back as they walked, Rebecca leaning against his side as they sat in the parlor in the evenings.

The newfound warmth blossomed between them as the evening of the dinner party drew closer and closer.

It seemed like not time at all before the day of the dinner party arrived. When she dressed that night, Rebecca could hardly hold still.

"Are you feeling all right, your grace?" Mary asked as she valiantly attempted to do the fidgety woman's hair.

"Of course I am. I'm just eager to get down stairs so I can make sure everything is ready."

"You checked most of it before you came up and everything was on track then, wasn't it?"

"I suppose, but there is always more that needs done."

She frowned. "I'm not sure if that's true."

"Of course it is."

"But at a certain point, aren't you just making work for yourself so you have something to worry about?"

Rebecca frowned. "I think everything I can think of to worry over very much worth worrying about."

Mary made an odd face. "What ever you say, your grace. I just want you to know I am sure everything will go wonderfully for you."

"Thank you," she sighed. "I just hope you're right."

Mary just smiled for a moment before stepping back. "There, I'm all done with your hair. Do you need anything else before you go down?"

"No, I think that should be everything for the moment, but thank you for asking."

"Then I will see you after the party. I can't wait to hear how it went."

"As though you won't hear about everything from the rest of the staff long before you see me."

Mary hid her smirk with a curtsy. "I hope you have a wonderful evening, your grace."

"Thank you. So do I," Rebecca said before making her way down stairs.

She paced from the parlor to the dining room over and over again, making sure everything was perfect. She checked the place settings, the seating cards, parlor's set up, she even went down to the kitchen once to make sure all was well there. She was on her tenth check of the dinning room William came over to her.

"There's nothing to be so nervous about," he assured, placing a hand on her shoulder. You are going to do great."

"I hope you're right," she sighed leaning into his touch.

"Of course I'm right. Do you want to tell me what part in particular has you so worked up."

"I think it's just a bit of everything."

He frowned. "So there's nothing in particular you're worried about."

She hesitated.

"You can tell me, whatever it is, I'm here for you."

"I know. If I'm honest, I suppose I'm just a bit worried about my family."

"I can understand that, but you don't need to be so worried. Things will be different here."

"I hope you're right, but what do we do if they try and cause a scene?"

"If they try something like that, then we'll handle it."

Rebecca paused, nodding for a moment. A frown creased her face. "It means a lot knowing you have my back in a situation like that, but even if they try, we should do our best to avoid stooping to their level."

"What do you mean when you say that? They are your family and this is your party so I want to know what you would want if something happens."

She thought for a moment. "I think we should do our best to try and ignore them."

"How so?"

"If—well, when really—they start trying to stir up trouble, I think we should just do our best to avoid giving them the reaction they want. This is my first dinner party and I don't want to let them ruin that."

William hesitated. "I can understand the logic to what they are saying, but I hate the idea of them disrespecting you in your own home."

"I won't say I'm wild about it either, but it's all right. I'm used to it. Their words don't mean as much as they once did."

"Still…" he trailed off.

"And," she squeezed his hand. "If they go too far, I will still step in and stop them."

"What are you considering too far?"

She shrugged. "I'll know it if I see it."

He huffed. "Very well, but if I think they have gone too far, I will step in."

"I can respect that, but please try and give me some kind of warning before you do."

"I will agree to that as long as you don't try to stop me."

"I won't. I trust your judgment."

He smiled. "Thank you for trusting me. Now that that is settled, you should try to relax a bit."

"How can you expect me to relax at a time like this? There's only a little over an hour and a half before the party."

"I know. You look lovely by the way, but that's all the more reason you should take a moment to relax before the guests start to arrive."

Rebecca opened her mouth to reply, but before she could she was cut off by a footman.

"The Sutton family has arrived, you grace."

"Already?" William blinked.

But Rebecca just laughed. "I should have known they would be here early. Please let them know I will be right with them."

"Of course, your grace."

"Perhaps its a good thing that they came so early," William mused.

"How so?"

"Well, if you're busy talking to Penelope, you won't be able to worry or overthink."

"I suppose that is a good point," she frowned. "But what about you?"

"I'll be joining you of course."

"Then I'm glad to hear it. Shall we?"

The pair made their way into the Parlor where Penelope and Lady Sutton were waiting.

"Rebecca, or should I say Duchess Danton," Lady Sutton smiled, pulling her in for a hug. "It's good to see you doing so well."

"Thank you, and the same to you. It's good to see you both. It's been too long."

"I'm sure Penelope feels the same way. It's been the better part of a whole week since you have last seen each other. There's no b=doubt you have much to catch up on."

Rebecca laughed, but knew her friend to know that it was likely quite true.

In fact, given just how long the pair sat talking, there was no doubt about it.

Patrick Monaghan arrived almost exactly on time. He motioned for the woman beside him to step forward.

"Everyone, I would like you to meet my wife, Rosemary," he said.

Pleasant greetings were exchanged and he continued. "Shall we head into the dinning room then?"

"Not yet," Rebecca said, chewing her lip. "We're still waiting for a few more guests."

Lady Sutton hesitated. "May I ask who?"

Before Rebecca could reply, Penelope nudged her mother and whispered something in her ear.

The woman appeared surprised for a moment before she composed herself.

"Of course. In the meantime why don't we all sit down for a bit. There's no need to rush what is sure to be a fine evening."

Rebecca offered a relived smile. "Indeed. I feel the same way.

So the six of them sat and waited.

Most of them were able to pass the time amicably enough, but Rebecca struggled to focus.

It felt like her family would never arrive, but finally the foot man announced the arrival of the Viscount of Glourshire and the Lady Dorothy Crowton. Rebecca didn't doubt that their late arrival was precisely calculated to humiliate her without injuring their standing in the ton.

The air in the room seemed to shift when they entered. Dorothy's eyes darted over every surface as if she were searching for something. After a while she must have found it because a wide grin spread across her face.

Solomon on the other hand seemed to be a completely different person than she was used to. No sooner had they stepped inside, than he was approaching Rebecca.

"It looks like you put in quite a bit of effort for us," he said with a tight smile.

She hesitated, waiting for the next part of that sentence. The part that would cutr her like a knife, humiliate her in front of everyone, but it didn't come. "Thank you?" she said after a moment.

He nodded then moved to go speak with Lady Sutton.

Rebecca blinked in shock, turning to William. She caught his eye for a moment, but before she could approach him, Dorothy approached her.

"Well, isn't this all rather quaint," she scoffed. "It's easy to see it's your first time hosting."

She looked away, taking a deep breath. "Shall we move to the dinning room for dinner?"