Chapter 15

"Girls, why don't you allow your granny her space." Jane sweetly cajoled the kids. They giggled and held on tighter to Prudence. Colin groaned at this, and Jans shot him a quiet plea not to interrupt.

"Remember our deal, girls. You always have to do the right thing, especially when an older person tells you to." She shook her head as they still held on tight to their grandmother's skirt. Margaret's eyes shone with mischief as she whispered into Louisa's ears sending her into a giggling fit.

They wanted to play dirty. Jane had the right trick up her sleeve to get them to do her bidding. Hands placed on her knees, she squatted to reach their height "When the dark comes, I won't check under your beds for monsters. No! I'd rather call them out and they'll feast on your skin," She croaked.

The girls squealed in fear, letting go of their great-grandmother's clothes and running into the house. Jane chased after them begging them to slow down.

"Let's have tea and socialize for a bit once you are done, Jane?" Prudence shouted after her and got a shrill as a positive reply. She had come back a few minutes later, panting like a dog chasing a cat.

Jane would have found it pleasant if they had sat under the canopy to take their tea. As it would have allowed her to keep enjoying the lively afternoon. However, the dowager had suggested the tea room. She complained that it had been left unused for years and she'd love Jane to use it often. Colin had agreed on this.

A tea room exists in this house?

.

Prudence led the way as Jane and Colin followed closely. Jane soon found out why she never knew about this room. It was located at a secluded corner of the quartet wing of the house. The housekeeper had somehow skipped this room when she showed her around.

Was that intentional or did she not know of the room?

"The room has been locked for some years now. Tea parties used to be hosted in it. But it lost its use after the former Duchess passed on." Pain laced with her voice. "I'm sure the room wasn't shown to you." She tried for a laugh. "Most of the staff have forgotten it exists," she finished, unknowingly answering Jane's raging internal questions.

The door was left wide open. At Jane's first glance at the room, a small gasp escaped her.It was a bright and airy room. The walls were painted white but appeared light blue in places where the sun's rays hit. There were aboutseven medium-sized wooden tables with four cushioned chairs each surrounding the table. Several windows allowed for fresh air into the room.

"It was their mother's favorite place," Prudence muttered as she went around the room, touching the furniture and antiques that decorated the room. Her eyes darkened with grief that disappeared as fast they came.

It transferred to Colin. He bowed his head as if in reverence. He had not been close to his brother or his wife. Still, he had grown up under this same roof with his brother. It must hurt being in a place his brother and wife often used. Jane was saddened by their grief but she was glad Prudence insisted they use it..

One way to heal from pain was to move forward. And what better way to do that than to open the tea room again?

Immediately, they were seated, and a maid rushed in with tea.

"It's my favorite," Prudence announced. She stretched out topick up her tea cup. In one swift movement, she pinched her index to her thumb through the cup handle and supported the cup with her index.

"You must have heard of the upcoming ball. It has been the talk among the ton." She gracefully sipped from her cup before leaning back in her seat.

Jane squeezed her face, confused.

What ball?

Jane was a lady. However, she found Prudence's movement to be graceful compared to hers when she drank tea. So, she copied Prudence's movement, keeping a coy expression while at it. Her eyes caught Prudence's sharp ones and noticed approval. She took a sip and placed her cup back on the table.

"If it is the talk of the ton like you put, why haven't we gotten an invite?" It was a rather curious question seeing as the ball was popular yet news to her, a new Duchess of the ton. Although she asked no one in particular, her gaze was fixed on Colin.

Colin had been quiet for most of the time. During the walk to the tea room, he had offered polite but empty replies. Jane had assumed he had pressing issues in mind and had focused on Prudence for conversation. Now he stroked his chin as if lost in thought.

Jane's eyes narrowed in annoyance. Colin was purposely evading her question. She turned to Prudence who sat quietly watching them. If anyone knew Colin best, it would be Prudence. "Why is he being so difficult?" she asked, concealing her displeasure.

"Colin, why does the newest duchess of the ton not know about the impending ball?" Prudence sternly questioned.

It was obvious to Jane that even as an adult, the dowager still had a sway over Colin. She knew his buttons to push. And she was gently pushing it at the moment. Jane knew Prudence would get Colin to speak. But she wished he had replied to her when she had asked.

"Well, I would not deny that I got an invite," he briskly stated.

"And did I get one too?" Jane asked staring into his eyes. She couldn't believe her husband. He knew about the ball and said nothing about it knowing full well that her position in society was currently fragile. If she gets an invite she would have to attend to avert bored minds from probing into her absence and life. He should know better that she needed these balls to socialize with other high ladies of the ton.

She suppressed a scream. Her blood was pumped with righteous anger. She shot daggers at Colin. He had the decency to fidget with his hands, losing her intense eye contact.

"When I get an invite, you get one too, my sweet." he teased her to pacify her fire. It worked when she sighed and smiled at Prudence.

Her mind began to spin with what she was going to wear for the occasion. Since it was the talk of the ton, several influential members of the society would be present. Aside from that, this was her first official ball since she became a Duchess. She would have to be elegantly dressed to give the people a good first impression. None of the clothes in her wardrobe could effectively achieve this.

Will I get a new dress? What color would it be? Who will sew it?

"Nonetheless, I won't be attending the ball." Colin's words punctured a hole in her thoughts, dragging her back to reality

"Why?" Jane shot at him. He couldn't be serious, right?

"No reason…" he drawled. "I do not feel the urge to be surrounded with silk and velvet fabrics blowing around and sweeping the floor. Neither am I keen to engage in conversations with other men when I should be handling my estate issues." He finished with a flourish of his hand. Shaking the cup he held without spilling the contents.

For someone who said he had no reason, he had a lot to say. Jane turned to Prudence again, hoping to recruit her assistance. But Prudence rolled her eyes at her and shrugged. She found it amusing. But, Jane was in no mood to laugh.

Why would he get an invite and not tell me? Why should he decide not to go?

If he wasn't going. She wasn't going to either. She could imagine herself standing alone in the big ballroom. The thought didn't boost morale.

Instead of chastising Colin, Prudence focused on Jane. "You should still go, regardless." She dropped her tea cup and saucer back on the table. Her expression was a manifestation of her determination to guide the new Duchess. Jane knew she pleased the dowager. But she knew there was much more she needed to do and learn as a Duchess to fully gain the dowager's approval.

"I can go without my husband?" Jane asked incredulously.

"Yes, you can," Colin answered beating Prudence to it.

Jane wondered why he didn't tell her about the invite and was now urging her to go. She sometimes wished she could see into his mind. Maybe then she would know what sometimes plagued him and understand his actions better.

"But I don't want to go anymore," she muttered under her breath

"Going to a ball alone doesn't mean anything. You are already a titled woman. Your position in your household is secured. However, your position in society isn't just yet." Prudence lectured, cutting the air with her hands as she spoke.

Jane listened attentively as she went on.

"You must attend this ball. Especially as your husband won't be going. You'd have to adequately represent him," she finished.

"That, I do understand, however, I do not wish to go to my first ball as Duchess alone," she said to Prudence but shot an accusatory stare at Colin who was busy drinking his tea.

"But you have to. And you won't be alone, you'll be surrounded by men and women of caliber." Prudence assured her.

That was what she feared. But she smiled and agreed to go to the ball.

"That's splendid!" Prudence exclaimed and winked at Jane. "Tomorrow, we go shopping for an elegant ball gown befitting you, Your Grace." She let out a smile on the last statement.

She would get a new dress after all. One good thing out of all these. She smiled at the thought.