Chapter 9

There was no point in dissecting the conversation between Mr. Gibbs and Miss Starling, Ada decided. The situation was clear. They were engaged. To be married. All that remained was for him to sign the blasted contract. Which he would do. Because why on earth wouldn’t he?

Miss Starling would make him a marvelous match. She was pretty, perfectly poised, and elegant in a way Ada could never hope to be. Most important of all, she was a somebody. Ada wasn’t entirely sure what sort of somebody the lady was, but pedigree had wafted off her like a heavy perfume. It had been impossible to ignore, considering her fine gown, exquisite bonnet, diamond encrusted brooch, expensive parasol, and perfectly styled hair.

Ugh!

Ada dropped her head onto the work table and muttered a very unladylike curse.

Of course the one man she happened to meet and like and possibly—or rather definitely—dream about one day marrying would be firmly attached to another. It was just the sort of disastrous outcome she’d have expected if she were the heroine of her own novel. Except in that novel she’d somehow end up gloriously happy in the end. Reality, however, promised a far more dismal outcome.

She straightened and returned her attention to the distraction the encyclopedia offered. Each of the twenty volumes had now been beautifully bound. She was currently working on the spines, which she’d decided to complete before adding the title and volume number to the front cover.

Emily would be pleased. Ada was certain of it. The books comprised some of her best work to date and would be a handsome addition to Lord Rosemont’s library.

She filled the next tray with letters and numbers, clamped the book into place, and pressed the heated stamp onto volume three’s spine.

“This just arrived for you,” Uncle James said, entering her work space before she managed to add the gold leaf. He held a white envelope toward her.

Ada stared at it for a brief second before setting her tools aside and accepting the missive. The lettering on the front was unfamiliar to her. It didn’t look like Mr. Gibbs’s and yet the stationary was quality. She glanced at her uncle. “Any idea who it’s from?”

“None. It was hand delivered by courier, but I’ll wager you might find out if you open it and read the contents.”

She grabbed a sharp knife and broke the glossy red seal, then retrieved the thick card that had been tucked inside the envelope. Puzzled, she turned it over, unable to fathom what it was or that it had been sent to her.

“It’s an invitation,” she muttered. “To the Marquess of Axelby’s ball, two weeks from today.”

“Really?” Uncle James took the card from her and read it himself.

She shook her head. “It must be some sort of mistake.”

“A curious one, considering both of our names are on it.”

Baffled, Ada peered at the card Uncle James was holding. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Things don’t always have to.” Uncle James handed the invitation back to her. “But in this instance I’d hazard a guess that your Mr. Gibbs might be involved.”

“First of all, he’s not my Mr. Gibbs.” If anything, he was Miss Starling’s. “And second of all, I cannot believe he’d do so without informing us first.”

“I’m no expert in such things, Ada, but I don’t believe it’s common practice to warn people about invitations they might be receiving.”

“Perhaps not.” She set the invitation aside. “We obviously can’t go.”

Uncle James leaned back on his heels, arms crossed. “I don’t see why not if we’ve been invited.”

Ada gaped at him. “Neither one of us has the right clothes for such an event nor the polish required to mingle with aristocracy. We’d only embarrass ourselves, which is why I’m unhappy with this invitation. If Mr. Gibbs did procure it, he did so without any thought of the impact our showing up might have upon us. Clients of ours will most likely be there. Can you imagine how they will react if we show up?”

“To be honest, I hadn’t really considered it. I’ll agree that you may have a point. But, I’m also inclined to think the best of people instead of the worst. It’s possible we might enjoy ourselves, and you might even gain additional admirers.”

The hope in his eyes was crushing. “None that will want to court me once they realize I’ve got no fortune to speak of.”

“You’ve got more of a fortune than you realize,” Uncle James said with a sad sort of smile. “A pity you belittle yourself as much as you do.”

She sighed. “You know what I mean, Uncle James. None of the people we’ll find at the Axelby ball will care about my winning personality or how kind I might be. They’ll only want to know who my father was and how much I might have inherited from him.”

“And?” Uncle James gave her a pointed look that forced her to address the facts of her birthright.

“The answer to that is an idealistic adventurer and nothing.” Papa had not possessed a title. Worse, he’d spent most of his money financing his travels. Fortunately for Ada’s sisters, they’d been of marital age at the time, so he’d made plans for them. As such, they had both had decent dowries. Too bad Papa had believed there was plenty of time to make arrangements for Ada.

“He wasn’t a complete nobody,” Uncle James tried. “Your father was a gentleman. And I realize this may surprise you, but I am too.”

“In name only.”

“Which is all that really matters.”

If only that were true. Ada, however, didn’t believe it for one second. Mr. Gibbs was a duke. More than that, he needed money to finance his lifestyle and offer his sisters the futures they deserved. He could not give his attentions to a woman without means. Certainly not when Miss Starling obviously offered the sort of convenience he required.

“I’m of the opinion that you ought to think about this carefully,” Uncle James advised. He placed his index finger upon the invitation and slid it toward her. “Don’t make a hasty decision you might regret.”

“Very well,” she agreed, even though she already knew what she had to do. Sending her regrets was the only logical option – a decision she chose to share with her friends when they met for their next book club meeting.

“This is so unbelievably romantic,” Harriet said with a sigh. She followed the comment by slapping Ada on the arm. “Why didn’t you tell us you’d gained a duke’s notice?”

“Because nothing can come of it.” Ada glared at the cup of tea she’d been served. “I am who I am and he is who he is. We’re an impossible match.”

“The best fairytales feature impossible matches,” Harriet insisted. “Obviously he’s interested or he wouldn’t have made sure you got invited. It’s the perfect opportunity for him to ask you to dance.”

“Which would result in disaster considering I’ve not had a dance lesson since I was little. Plus, I’m not a hundred percent sure the invitation was issued because of him. I’ve not seen him since the picnic I spoke of.” She’d chosen not to mention the flower deliveries, just in case Harriet swooned and required smelling salts for her revival. One would think she were the one who’d gained a duke’s notice.

“Can you think of anyone else who might be behind it?” Emily asked. “Just to be clear, I had nothing to do with this, Ada, though I do wish I had. But I’m not well enough acquainted with the marquess to make such a request. However, I do believe Westcliffe might be. For one thing, he has the command that comes with his title. For another, I’ve also seen the pair together on numerous occasions, so it’s not a stretch to suppose he called in a favor.”

“Not that it matters.” Ada picked up her teacup and took a long sip while wishing it might have been spiked with something a little stronger than tea. “My showing up would be laughable. I wouldn’t fit in.”

“What does your uncle say?” Harriet asked. “His name was on the invitation as well.”

Ada shrugged. “I believe he’s all for it, but I’m not sure he realizes just how foolish we’ll look.”

Emily tilted her head and studied Ada a moment before saying, “He is gentry though, is he not?”

“Technically speaking, but he’s been out of Society for as long as I can remember. After all, he did decide to do the unthinkable by using his inheritance to go into trade.”

“Quite right,” Emily murmured. “Unfortunately there are a great many members of the upper class who would frown upon such a thing.”

“Which is why we cannot go.” Ada slumped in her seat. “Uncle James is such a good man. His business is respectable. But I worry people will think he and I are stepping out of line – venturing into a world we do not belong in.”

“And you’re worried you’ll be mocked for it,” Harriet said, voicing the biggest concern Ada had been wrestling with since she’d received the invitation. She gave her friends a helpless look and nodded.

“I suppose your concern is legitimate,” Emily said, but a thoughtful look in her eyes informed Ada that she was trying to plot a way through this tangle. “However, I shall be in attendance too, and I’m sure Papa will lend his support if I ask it of him. Between us, we’ll protect you.”

“That’s awfully kind of you, Emily, but—”

“Westcliffe will too, I believe,” said Harriet, her eyes glazed over by dreamy wonder.

“Not to mention Axelby,” Emily added. “As host, it will be his duty to make sure you’re both comfortable and that you’re kept apart from anyone who might pose a threat.”

“I don’t know,” Ada said. “It feels rather risky.”

Harriet snatched a biscuit from a nearby plate. “Most things worth having involve risk in some form or other.”

“Any number of things could go wrong,” Ada told them both despite feeling as though her argument was starting to lose steam.

“The same can be said of crossing the street,” Emily pointed out. “And if the next argument you plan on making relates to your clothes, you needn’t worry. I’ll have my maid hem one of my gowns by an inch and send it over.”

“Emily, I couldn’t possibly accept.”

“As for your uncle,” Emily said as though Ada hadn’t spoken, “I’m sure we can figure out something. My brother might be of a similar size. I’ll have a word with him later when I get home.”

Ada stared at her friend – a woman she’d known for less than a year. “I’ve no idea what to say. Thank you, Emily. Thank you ever so much.”

“Does that mean you’re going?” Harriet asked, reaching for another biscuit.

Ada produced a throaty laugh that caught her somewhat by surprise. “I suppose it does.”

She smiled at her friends, hiding all her misgivings. Not just from them, but also from herself.