Chapter 5

Chapter Five

V ictoria took her brother's hand as Matthew helped her alight from the Mowbray town carriage and onto the pavement out front of an elegant mansion in Silver Street the following evening. She smiled as she noticed that her slippers perfectly matched the golden trim of the rich blue carpet which ran from the street all the way to the front door. Hopefully it was a good omen.

Tonight's social gathering was no quiet friends and family dinner party—it was a major ball which would be attended by most of London's elite. This evening the Kembal family were making their first official foray back into the haut ton .

On either side of the path stood a virtual legion of footmen, all clad in blue and gold. As Victoria and Matthew made their way along the carpet, each member of the honor guard bowed in turn.

Her grip on her brother's arm tightened, a sudden bout of nerves threatening to get the better of her. She wasn't sure if she was ready to launch herself onto the marriage mart with such short notice. Or in such a grand style.

I should have asked Mama for more time; insisted she wait.

But the only thing the Duchess of Mowbray was delaying tonight was her arrival. She and the duke were going to make their entrance a little later in the evening. Victoria was still trying to understand her mother's reasoning but had decided to put it down to yet another of Lady Anne's schemes to draw attention to herself. The duchess wanted to send a clear message to the matrons of the ton . She was back and ready to reclaim her rightful place at the top of the pecking order.

Speaking of drawing attention. I'm not entirely sure I can carry this gown off.

The bustline revealed far more skin than she had ever shown in public before tonight. As she and Matthew stepped into the main ballroom, and Victoria took in the crowd of guests, all she wanted to do was go home.

Being strong while standing in front of her bedroom mirror wasn't quite the same as venturing out into society. The added pressure of being an unwed miss on the hunt for a husband only served to make things worse.

Even if she was the daughter of a duke, this felt too much. Too desperate.

"Smile and nod. You are the definition of grace under pressure," whispered Matthew. "Just don't squeeze my arm so tight, I'm beginning to lose feeling in it."

She let her fingers loosen their vice-like hold on her brother's arm. "Sorry, I'm just so nervous. I'm not used to being seen."

Or so much of me being seen.

Serafina's golden gown, and the way it hugged Victoria's curves, captured many sly glances. The male gaze was mostly one of approval, but from the women at the party the responses to Victoria's appearance was more mixed. She could sense the different types of looks. There was some admiration, even a spot of jealousy. The occasional whispered, "That's a beautiful gown," had her smiling.

But the older matrons of the haut ton , typical to form, were somewhat less kind. "What on earth is she wearing?" "Her mother has clearly lost her mind." "A scandalous amount of cleavage." "Where is the Duchess of Mowbray's good sense, did she leave it behind in Rome?"

Victoria took all of it in. Before the family's scandal had broken, she'd never realized how caustic polite society could be, how judgmental. She and Coco had protested when the Duke of Mowbray had decided to send his two younger daughters for an extended stay at the Kembal family country estate in Leicestershire, but now she had a better understanding as to the reasons behind her father's decision. He'd done it in order to spare both her and her sister from the knives of London's elite.

She swallowed deep. There were some people who reveled in this sort of attention, of having all eyes on them. Lady Victoria Kembal was not one of them.

If this is what it feels like to be noticed, then I don't think I want to be seen.

The only thing stopping her from turning around and heading straight out the front door were the comforting words of her brother. "What you are seeing on their faces is not disdain Victoria, it's fear. They know that through you, Mama is going to reclaim her position. And from the expressions on some of those women's faces, I suspect they might just have put two and two together and come to the realization that you've decided to make a late season move to find yourself a husband."

She offered him a tight smile. Brothers were a pain in the proverbial, but they were also the best in these situations. Matthew had become her rock during the long months that their mother had been gone. And while she and Richard had done their utmost to keep their father from going mad after the duchess had announced she wasn't coming home, it had been cheeky Matthew Kembal whom she'd been able to rely upon during the worst of those days.

And now he was helping her to navigate through the dangerous shoals of London society. She'd miss him terribly once she had secured a husband and moved out of the family home.

Victoria sighed. "Why does all of this remind me of a game of chess?" She pointed at the other guests, most of whom were moving slowly around the ballroom, sizing one another up. They looked for all the world like they were contemplating their next strategic move.

Her hopes for eventually marrying hadn't been built on such an open battle plan, rather she'd imagined that one day she would meet some nice man at a private dinner party, and they would fall in love over a shared passion for recipes, spices, and the very best places to dine in London. Their marriage would be one based on enjoying good food and the unspoken understanding that everything tasted better with lashings of salted butter.

This public statement of intent was nothing like her heart's desire. Victoria dampened down her sadness. She'd agreed to this endeavor, knowing full well how much it meant to her parents. A spotless match for their second eldest daughter would do wonders for the Kembal family's reputation and standing. She had to think of her three other siblings who would all eventually look to find their future spouses.

Matthew hummed his agreement. "It feels like chess, because that's exactly what it is. Consider Mama as the queen. She will be looking for check mate."

And we are just pawns?

"Though I'm still at a loss as to why you caved when she decided to press you into this hunt for a husband. She should have focused her attention on regaining her rightful place in society and left your marriage plans until next year. I know that if Gideon were still in town, he would have argued strongly against it."

The Marquis of Holwell would have been firmly in the ‘no' camp, but as he was many miles away at the family estate, there wasn't anything he could do.

Lady Anne was champing at the bit to regain her rightful position. While she'd been away, someone else had taken the Duchess of Mowbray's place in the rankings. And with rank came power. Their mother wanted her power back. A smart match for her daughter would be the perfect solution.

And as much as she resented feeling like her future happiness was being overlooked in the grand scheme of things, Victoria could still see her mother's point of view. She understood just how important it was to the duchess to see both her unwed daughters settled into good marriages.

"I think our mother is afraid that if she waits too long to put one of us back out into society, both Coco and I will end up as old spinsters left on the shelf. And if that happens, it would be nothing short of a disaster. A resounding condemnation of her as a mother."

Things had changed—she couldn't believe she was actually defending the duchess.

"Yes, well there are those of us who might be inclined to agree on that last sentiment about her skills as a mother," said a grim-faced Matthew, shooting her a brief sideways glance.

Matthew was one of the Kembal siblings who was yet to find it in their hearts to forgive their mother for having put them all through such pain. His easygoing, carefree nature didn't currently extend to Lady Anne.

Offering a polite smile to a passing guest, Victoria decided it was time to let it all go. She had other things to worry about tonight. Some of the men on her mother's suitable husband list were expected to attend this evening's ball.

In the hour or so before their parents were due to arrive, she and Matthew had been given the task of locating each of the eligible gentlemen and deciding whether they might be someone whom Victoria would wish to be formally introduced to by the duke and duchess.

"So who are we looking for in this swirling mass of bodies?" asked Matthew, peering at the gathering.

The list was mercifully a short one. Victoria sucked in a breath. "The Earl of Surfleet. The Marquis of Guiseley. And the Duke of Saffron Walden," she said, rattling off the names her mother had given her earlier that morning.

Matthew groaned, then guided her in the direction of an alcove, away from the crowd. When they were out of earshot of everyone, he let go of Victoria's arm, and turned to face her. Her brother wore an expression of barely restrained disgust on his face.

"The Marquis of Guiseley can come straight off your list. He is a rake of the worst kind. The cad has sired several children with various servants in his household, the most recent one being only two months ago. You don't deserve to be married to a man like that, and I'm surprised Mama put him on her list. Though since she's been away, she might not be up-to-date with the latest on-dit."

The siring of bastards with household maids was yet another thing unwed young ladies were not meant to know about, but with three brothers who cared about her future, Victoria had learned much about the sordid underbelly of London's so-called elegant society. Of the dangers that men unwilling to keep their hands off their female servants posed. The marquis was struck from her list.

"What about the Earl of Surfleet?"

She'd met the earl on one or two previous occasions, and she hadn't been completely nauseated with either his appearance or his calm demeanor.

I can imagine marrying someone like him. A nice kind man.

"Boring," huffed Matthew. "Though his estate is only thirty odd miles from our family seat at Mowbray Park. He does have that in his favor. But again the man is as dull as a piece of plain bread with no butter. I can guarantee there won't be a pinch of spice in your life with him."

That didn't augur well for a life of wedded bliss. Victoria wanted safe, but not dull. She ached for the passion of their parents' marriage, but preferably without all the drama. Without the fighting.

"So, he is also off the list?"

"Hmm." A pensive Matthew put a finger to his lips. "Let's keep him as an option. Worst case you have him court you for a time, and then you can discover if a warm soul lives under that pallid face of his, though I do doubt it."

A footman approached bearing a tray of drinks. Matthew reached for a glass of orgeat, but Victoria gave him a tut of disapproval. "If I am going to go through with this marriage thing, I am not going to drink another glass of sickly sweet orgeat."

She selected a glass of champagne from the tray and smiled at her brother, adding, "I am dressed as a sophisticated young woman, not an insipid miss, remember."

He chose a glass of brandy for himself, then once the footman had moved away, said to her, "Go easy on the champagne, you don't want to…"

Victoria sighed. "Yes. I know. I need to appear interesting but not too forward. Be memorable, but not—too memorable. Show that I can sip a real drink like an adult, but not get tipsy. This isn't my first time out in society."

Lady Anne had carefully set out the manner in which Victoria was to behave at functions, making it clear that a man in need of a wife didn't want a simpering miss, but nor did he want a potential spouse who flouted the rules.

"Alright, but you'd better nurse that glass of champagne, take small sips while we see if we can locate the last bachelor candidate for your hand. The Duke of Saffron Walden."

"Do you know him?"

Matthew shook his head. "No. He's a bit older than me. Older than Gideon in fact. I might have to ask other people to point him out."

A rogue. A bore. And an unknown. That was an ominous sign if there ever was one.

The duchess hadn't had much to say about the Duke of Saffron Walden, other than he possessed a sizeable estate some fifty odd miles north of London. He was aged somewhere in his thirties. Had never been married. He didn't make a habit of mingling too much in society. But he had a spotless reputation, which would make him perfect in Lady Anne's eyes.

As Victoria stared at her champagne, a sudden thought struck. She'd been so focused on getting ready for this evening, she hadn't had time to eat. Alcohol and an empty stomach was never a smart combination. "What do you think about us going and finding the supper room? I need food."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "We've just got here. I haven't even had a chance to catch up with any of my friends. And now you want to go and eat."

He was doing her a favor in coming tonight. Unlike Richard who owed her a lifetime of good deeds, Matthew wasn't in Victoria's debt.

"Sorry, that was rude of me. I tell you what, sister dearest. How about you head to the supper room and grab a bite to eat. In the meantime, I'll go and conduct a quick sortie mission and see if I can find this mysterious duke. We can meet back here in half an hour."

What an excellent brother. They worked well as a team. "You are full of good ideas, Matthew. I promise to recommend you to all my friends when they start looking for a future spouse."

He gave her an odd look, then headed off in search of the Duke of Saffron Walden.

As Victoria made her way across the other side of the room in search of the supper room, she pondered the duke's name. Saffron was a spice. An expensive one. Wouldn't it be amusing if she ended up marrying a man who had food in his title?

Victoria stopped and asked a footman for the location of the supper room. At this stage of the evening, a little after eight, few guests would be partaking of the food. An early visit to the supper table was always on her list at parties. She'd found it paid to look over the offerings before deciding whether it was worth returning when the official suppertime of eleven o'clock was announced.

I just need a small plate of sandwiches, that should keep the wolves at bay.

Making her way through the door of the supper room, Victoria's steps slowed as she took in the tall, well-dressed gentleman who was standing with his hands clasped behind his back, closely examining the offerings at the largest of the tables. He raised his head and looked at her.

All thoughts of food disappeared from her mind as she found herself staring into a pair of blue gray eyes that took her breath away. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. Victoria let out a strange noise that was half sigh, half groan.

Please god, don't let him be the Marquis of Guiseley.