Chapter Sixteen

E ffie came downstairs and found only James waiting in the foyer. Even though he wore his black evening dress, she still saw him more as the sea captain who had blazed into the life of the Strongs and not the duke he was. She moved toward him.

"How was your emergency?" she asked. "I am sorry you and the captain had to miss teatime with us today."

"Drake and I solved the issue for the most part. It will still take time until we know if things will be a success. Thank you for asking."

"I have not been to visit either Strong or Neptune Shipping since I came to town this spring. I would like to do so sometime."

The captain appeared. "I am glad you are taking an interest in the businesses, Effie. You're more than welcome to come with me to the office any day you choose." He grinned. "Then again, you are busy with the Season. I saw all those gentlemen in our drawing room today and the bouquets they sent. Are you leaning toward a certain admirer?"

"If you are asking if I have fallen in love at first sight with anyone, Captain, the answer is a resounding no."

"It does not have to be love at first sight," James told her. "Sometimes, you find that love grows from a friendship."

"Then the only love that has struck me has been my deep, abiding affection for Lady Ada," she said saucily. "We simply took to one another from the moment we met. I already look upon her as a sister."

"Speaking of that," James began, "I know you had wanted to have another outing to Gunter's with all the female Strongs and Lady Ada. I have arranged for that to take place tomorrow afternoon at one o'clock."

She squealed and hugged him. "You do not know how happy that makes me. It means one less time I have to sit in a drawing room and smile politely at guests. Well, suitors. I always enjoy guests that come to visit us, but I must be honest, James. Most of these eligible bachelors haven't much of anything to say."

Effie glanced up and saw Mama and Sophie descending the stairs.

"We are a complete party," Mama announced. "Aunt Matty has decided to stay home this evening. She has already claimed Daffy for company, and they are curled up in bed together with a book for company."

As they got into the carriage, she knew not all her sisters and cousins would attend tonight's musicale. From what she understood, it would only be Mirella and Georgie who did so. The evening featured two musical acts, one being a pianist, and the other an opera singer. The two sisters coming tonight both practiced their pianofortes daily, something Effie had abandoned long ago. She hoped she would not be bored this evening and if she were, she wanted to hide her boredom from their host.

"There will be no receiving line tonight," Mama explained to her. "A musicale is a smaller, more informal event. Sometimes, it is so intimate that it is held in a drawing room, with only fifty to sixty guests invited. Other times, it will take place in a ballroom, with chairs placed about the musician or singer."

With both a pianist and singer performing this evening, Effie thought a larger guest list might be expected, and she turned out to be correct in her assumption. They were ushered to the ballroom on the first floor, and she saw several rows of chairs surrounding three sides of a dais, which held a pianoforte and chairs for the musicians who would accompany the opera singer. She quickly estimated the chairs would hold eighty or so for the performance. She spied Lady Ada, who stood with her brother and Lord Ashmore.

Mama introduced Effie to a few people she had yet to meet and then smiled, saying, "Go see your friends. Enjoy tonight, my dearest."

She made her way over to Lady Ada, who greeted her with enthusiasm. "You remember Lord Ashmore?" her friend asked.

Offering her hand to the viscount, she said, "I most certainly do. How good to see you again, my lord."

"The pleasure is all mine," he replied.

She turned to the Duke of Waterbury, who smiled warmly at her. That smile made her cheeks heat slightly, as she once again recalled the brief kiss between them. He took her hand and kissed her gloved fingers, causing her heart to speed up.

"Lady Effie," he said. "I see there are not nearly as many Strongs present tonight as were in the ballroom last night."

She laughed. "Georgie and Mirella are the accomplished musicians in our family."

"Do you play the pianoforte or another instrument?"

"All the Strong women were given lessons on the pianoforte," she replied diplomatically.

A slow smile appeared on his lips, lips which she had not noticed before but could not look away from now.

"You either do not enjoy playing—or you do not play well."

She sucked in a quick breath, thinking him quite perceptive. "Why would you say so, Your Grace?"

"It was the way you stated it, my lady. I believe you do not have the passion for music which your other sisters do."

"It is true. I did take lessons. I can play." She paused. "Abysmally, that is," she revealed.

He laughed, and Effie was drawn in by it. This man did not smile—or laugh—often, but when he did? It caused a person to sit up and take notice.

"Might I say how much I admire your locket? I noticed you have worn it these past two nights. The E is beautifully engraved. The locket represents you, my lady. Simple, yet elegant."

Every man who had complimented her last night had talked of her cornflower Strong eyes or how pretty her gown was. Or how pretty she was. No one had noticed anything else about her. Again, the duke had surprised her.

"You think me elegant?" she asked, not quite believing it.

"I do." He gazed at her a long moment, causing Effie to warm under that gaze. "You move with a natural grace, Lady Effie. And a confidence which most women simply do not possess. You never try to be someone you are not. You are comfortable with who you are and the way you live your life. I think it must be your unusual upbringing."

"Unusual?" she asked, although she was discovering just how different the Strongs were from others in Polite Society.

"I like how you can talk about more than fashion or the weather," he said. "You have to remember, I have been present as you and Ada have spoken many times these past few weeks. You have a good understanding of politics and economics, as well as how an estate should be run. In fact, I would like to speak with you about that very topic someday. I have heard some of your ideas and would like to tell you a bit about Waterside, my country estate in Kent. I have a few matters I would like to share with you and get your advice on."

Effie couldn't help but glow. This was the first man of the ton who was seeing the true her.

"I would be happy to discuss that with you, Your Grace."

"I am hoping a musicale does not last nearly as long as a ball," he said, glancing about to see if anyone had overheard his comment.

She chuckled. "Sophie has assured me it doesn't. It should start promptly at nine o'clock, where the pianist will play for up to three-quarters of an hour. Then the guests will be provided with a light snack for half an hour or so. The second part of the program will then commence. I hear tonight it is an opera singer from Italy. Sophie said we should be done by eleven o'clock or so."

"Thank goodness for small favors," he quipped, causing her to laugh again. Then he asked, "Would you care to go riding tomorrow morning in Rotten Row, my lady? I feel the need to be on horseback. The earlier, the better."

She found she did want to ride. With him.

"I would be delighted to do so, Your Grace."

"How early would you care to go?" he asked.

"Seven is not too soon for me," she replied. "I prefer getting up early. Country hours suit me much better than city ones, especially city hours during the Season. If we go that early, it should not be crowded at all then. In fact, we may have all of Rotten Row to ourselves."

He nodded thoughtfully. "I shall ride over to Seaton's and collect you at seven. We can go straight to Hyde Park."

"Yes," she agreed, looking forward to the ride and talking more with him. "That would be lovely."

She looked up and saw that they had been joined by three other gentlemen who were speaking with Lady Ada. Lord Ashmore had not left her friend's side, however, and Effie believed she was witnessing a romance in the making.

"He is quite smitten with her, isn't he?" the duke said quietly to her.

"Yes, he is. I think it a good thing. Lord Ashmore seems very nice."

"He asked me this afternoon if he might sit with Ada at this event. Naturally, I told him I would sit with them. Would you care to join us?"

Effie hated to take up more of his time than she already had, knowing Waterbury needed to circulate in order to find a woman who appealed to him. Still, it was only the second night of the Season, and the duke had plenty of time to find a bride.

Selfishly, she replied, "Yes, I would enjoy joining the three of you."

"Then I shall gently pry Ada away from the others."

Waterbury entered the conversation, speaking to all three gentlemen, and then he said to his sister, "Ada, we should be taking our seats since it looks as if the evening is about to begin."

Turning to the viscount, the duke added, "Ashmore, why don't you join us?"

"I would be honored to do so, Your Grace."

That led the others to fall away, and the four of them went to where the chairs were arranged.

"The farther near the back, the happier I will be," Waterbury told them.

Ada smiled indulgently at her brother. "My brother is not one for music," she explained. "While we will be listening to the pianist, he will be doing something in that head of his."

"Probably conjugating Latin verbs," the duke said breezily. " Amō. Amās. Amat . While I recognize and even appreciate the talent it takes to play a musical instrument or sing an aria, I have no interest in it. I do not play any instrument, but I do enjoy singing, though. Some of the old folk songs. My nursery governess used to sing them to me, and I still recall many of them."

Spontaneously, Effie said, "Then you should come some evening when all the Strongs gather to sing. Georgie and Mirella play for us, and Silas leads us in all manner of songs. James and the captain have taught us several sea ditties. They are not appropriate for Polite Society's ears, which is most likely why we enjoy singing them so loudly."

His eyes gleamed. "I may have a greater appreciation for music than I thought. I will happily accept such an invitation to learn a few naughty verses, my lady."

They seated themselves in the back row of one of the sections. Mirella and Byron stopped to visit with them before they moved to the very front row, where they sat next to Georgie and August.

"I see your sisters and their husbands have claimed prime seats," the duke said.

"Most likely, they will play every note in their laps that tonight's featured pianist hits on his keyboard. I will tell you now—before he even touches a key—either of my sisters would outshine him. It is a shame women cannot have musical careers, because Georgie and Mirella are immensely talented."

"I look forward to hearing both play, as well as learning a few wicked songs."

The final guests took their seats, and their host announced the pianist. As he played, Effie knew she was correct in her assessment. Both Mirella and Georgie played these same pieces with more passion and skill than this man would ever possess.

They applauded when the first part of the evening concluded, and Waterbury waited until her sisters and their husbands reached them. He rose and greeted the two couples, asking if his foursome might join them in the light refreshments being offered.

"We would be happy to have you do so," Byron said. "I know Lady Ada, but I do not recognize your companion."

The duke introduced Lord Ashmore to the others, and they went to the far side of the ballroom, where small tables had been placed. August and Byron said the men should retrieve food and drink, so the duke and viscount joined them, heading to one of several buffet tables set out.

Mirella said, "I hear we are to go to Gunter's tomorrow. I am so looking forward to my first visit of the spring there. How did you find it, Lady Ada? Effie said it was your first time at the establishment."

Her friend spoke enthusiastically, saying, "It was marvelous. My brother told me of our visit tomorrow." She hesitated a moment. "Would you mind if I asked Lord Ashmore to join us?"

"I think that is a splendid idea," Georgie proclaimed, smiling at Lady Ada. "Although I do believe it will be all the ladies seated at one table, while the gentlemen are at another one."

"Oh, I am certain Lord Ashmore would not mind," Lady Ada said quickly.

"Perhaps you could invite him to your brother's townhouse and the three of you could travel in the ducal carriage together," Georgie suggested.

Lady Ada's cheeks pinkened. "That is exactly what I will do, Lady Edgethorne. Thank you for the suggestion."

The men returned, bearing plates of cake and cups of punch. Effie heard Lady Ada ask Lord Ashmore to go on tomorrow's outing and saw the tips of his ears redden slightly.

She turned to the duke. "Lord Ashmore will be joining us tomorrow at Gunter's. My sister suggested, for ease, that the viscount travel in your carriage to Berkeley Square."

He looked from his sister to the viscount. "I see a little matchmaking occurred in my brief absence."

She smiled fondly at her friend, telling the duke, "Sometimes, a little matchmaking might be a good thing. It will give them a chance in the carriage to further know one another. In her chaperone's presence, of course. I hope Lord Ashmore is comfortable with you being present, so that he might open up more to Lady Ada."

"She told me he was intimidated meeting me, simply because I was a duke."

"Most of the time, others are intimidated by a man bearing such a lofty title, Your Grace."

"I have not mixed enough in Polite Society to be aware of that. I only attended one Season and a limited number of events, at that. This is the first time I am taking advantage of the full slate of affairs offered. For Ada's sake."

"And to find a bride of your own," Effie reminded him.

"Yes, that is true."

She knew it to be so, but suddenly, the idea of helping this man find his duchess did not sit well with her. She needed to shrug off such odd feelings if she and her family were to help him find a woman appropriate for the rank of duchess. One who would understand his past and support him. Effie saw Waterbury had the potential to be a leading member of the ton for decades to come, and he would need for his duchess to possess an equal amount of confidence and leadership. It was too bad Georgie was already so happily wed to August because her sister was the exact type of woman the duke needed to find.

Effie decided she must start paying better attention to the eligible ladies of the Season. Waterbury seemed to respect her opinion, which flattered her. If she could advise him on selecting the right bride, he could make a successful marriage.

Again, it disturbed her that the thought of him wedding bothered her. She warned herself of growing too close to him. He was slowly becoming a friend, just as Lady Ada was. She could not think of him in any other manner and promised herself to keep the duke at a distance.

After tomorrow's ride in Rotten Row.

She would appear churlish if she canceled the outing after having just agreed to it, and he did appear anxious to ride. Yes, riding would do the both of them good.

Then she would have a talk with him and make certain she pointed him in the right direction so that he might find his duchess.

Because Effie knew of all the women in London, she was the last person who should take on that role.