Chapter Four

One week later

"Are you quite ready?"

Lillian lifted her chin and looked out at the gathered crowd. She was wearing the same gown, the same ivory gown that every young lady wore during their introduction to the royal family and thus, with a nod, she stepped forward and made her way down to the very front of the room where the royal couple sat.

And then, it was over.

Lillian's nervousness, which had risen into a crescendo, fell and broke apart as she stepped out of the room again and was quickly congratulated by her mother. "That was all that I had to do?" she asked, as her mother laughed and squeezed her hands.

"Yes, my dear, that was all you had to do and you did it very well! The Queen took note of you, I am sure, for I saw her eyes linger on you as you curtsied and she does not often observe in such a way." Lady Galesbury, seemingly now quite satisfied, gestured to Lillian to step out back towards the hallway. "Now, we must linger for a little longer and then we can take our leave."

"I should like to see Lady Dinah," Lillian answered, as she made her way back, going to stand with the crowd within the room, now watching the other debutantes make their way towards the royal couple. "I know that she was also very anxious about this moment."

Her mother nodded, her voice dropping to a whisper as they stepped in together. "I think it an excellent thing that you have both become better acquainted already."

"As do I." Lillian smiled to her mother and then turned her attention back to watching the debutantes. In the last sennight, she and Lady Dinah had taken tea together twice and had written various notes to each other, their friendship blossoming in a way that Lillian had not anticipated. They had both felt a great deal of nervousness about their come out and to be able to share that without fear had brought a great relief.

"There she is." Lillian clasped her hands tightly as Lady Dinah walked into the room, her hand clasping tight to the Duke of Wrexham's arm. Lillian's gaze, however, was not on her new friend but rather on the Duke himself, taking him in, studying him in a way she had not been able to do before now. It was the first time she had seen him since that day at the inn, for whenever she had come to take tea, he had not been at home. That had not been a disappointment to her, of course, for she had been there to speak with Lady Dinah rather than with the Duke himself, but now that she saw him again, now that she was able to let her gaze linger on him, Lillian felt a flicker of interest within her heart.

The Duke of Wrexham was broad shouldered, with a robust frame and a sense of strength about him as he walked. His presence commanded the room and Lillian was quite certain that every eye was on him rather than on Lady Dinah. His gaze was fixed to the royal couple but there was a light smile on his lips, his chin lifted as though he knew his place in society and was not about to hide from that. There was with it, a sense of pride about him and Lillian smiled at that. Clearly, the Duke of Wrexham was pleased to have Lady Dinah by his side, glad to be the one to present her to society. In all that Lady Dinah had said this last week, she had never spoken one word of sadness or upset about him. Instead, every single word on her lips had been of gratitude and happiness over her situation. That spoke well of the Duke's character.

Though he is a Duke and you only the daughter of an earl, Lillian reminded herself, as the Duke and Lady Dinah passed her. It would be foolishness to let myself get caught up in any sort of feelings as regarded him. No doubt someone like him will marry the daughter of a Duke or mayhap, a Marquess. To think that he might look to me would be more than a little ridiculous.

All the same, she could not quite remove from her mind the way he had grinned at her, light in his eyes despite the pouring rain and the mud which had splattered its way up his arms. Nor could she forget all that he had spoken of as regarded his own attempts to free the wheel, finding his quick and intelligent mind to be of great interest to her. Though, she considered, most gentlemen were highly educated so she ought not to be surprised by that.

"Have you spoken to the Duke of Wrexham as yet?"

Lillian glanced up at her mother. "No, not yet, Mama."

A slight disappointment spread across Lady Galesbury's face. "He was never present when you went to take tea with Lady Dinah?"

Lillian shook her head no.

"Ah, well. Let us hope that this proposed dinner happens very soon though we are also meant to be meeting this evening, are we not?" The disappointment faded, leaving a smile now on Lady Galesbury's face. "You will be with him again at the ball, since you are to walk with Lady Dinah. Mayhap he will dance with you, Lillian, would that not be a good thing to be so singled out?"

"Though, I am sure that the Duke will dance with many a young lady," Lillian answered, softly, as Lady Dinah curtsied before the royal couple. "There will be no special notice given to me and that is just as ought to be expected." She shot her mother a quick glance. "Pray, do not think that just because I am acquainted with Lady Dinah that there might be some special connection between the Duke and myself, Mama. That is not a thought that I am permitting myself to entertain." She kept her gaze steady as she looked back at her mother who, sighing, then shrugged lightly.

"I understand what you mean, Lillian," she said, quietly. "Though a connection to a Duke, no matter whether or not anything comes from it, is always a good thing.

Lillian said nothing, simply watching the next debutante make her way to the front of the room, and then the next one. Over and over, her thoughts returned to the Duke of Wrexham but repeatedly, Lillian pushed each and every one away. She was not about to let her mother fill her head with all manner of hope or expectation when she herself knew that it would be foolish to do so. Yes, she was here to make a match and yes, the Duke of Wrexham had not rejected her assistance when it had come to the carriage but that did not mean that she had to, thereafter, pursue him. What if he had come to London solely to care for his cousin and make certain that her future was settled before he began to look at his own? She was not about to push herself forward, demand that he take notice of her and ruin their acquaintance by doing so!

"We should take our leave soon," her mother whispered, as Lillian glanced back at her. "There is much still to prepare for this evening and we cannot linger here for too long."

"Whenever you wish to take your leave, I shall be ready," Lillian answered, finding that she had no real desire to stay any longer, now that Lady Dinah had been presented. "Are we to go to the milliner's still?"

Her mother nodded and after a few more moments, led her from the room.

***

"Might I go to the bookshop for a short time?"

Lady Galesbury smiled as she and Lillian made their way to the carriage. "Mayhap. Though I do have a small surprise for you."

Lillian looked back at her, a sudden kick to her heart. "A surprise?"

"Indeed." Lady Galesbury gestured to the carriage and, as Lillian turned to look, the door opened and a familiar face revealed itself to her. Her heart leapt and she rushed forward, her hands outstretched. "Weatherly!"

Her brother grinned at her as he jumped down from the carriage. "My dear sister, you did not think that I would not be present for your come out, did you?"

"I thought you were to be in Bath for the Season!" Lillian exclaimed, as her brother chuckled. "Father informed me that you had a good deal to do at your estate, also and he did not expect to see you here in London." Her brother had, for the time being, inherited a smaller estate and, some months ago, had moved to reside there permanently. Lillian knew that her mother and father were both hopeful that the new responsibility would encourage him to take a wife but, as yet, Harry had shown no real interest.

"My estate is doing very well and Bath did not have as many delights as I had hoped." Harry tilted his head just a little. "I do hope that you are not upset at my arrival?"

"Upset?" Lillian exclaimed, only to laugh and then embrace him again. "My dear brother, how could I be in the least bit upset? I am delighted to see you. Thank you for coming to be with me this Season, I am truly glad that you are here."

"That is good, then." Her brother caught her hands and squeezed them gently. "Now, I presume that all went well with your presentation to the royal family?"

" Very well," their mother put in, as Harry leaned in to kiss her cheek. "I am sure that the Queen took a little more notice of Lillian than she might have done other young ladies."

"That is because you are the most remarkable, the most beautiful and the most elegant young lady she has seen this Season – if not in all Seasons," Harry said, making Lillian flush with pleasure at his kindness. "Now, Mama, I should like to take my sister for a jaunt around London. I can take a hackney and you can have the carriage."

"No, no. I shall call a hackney and you and your sister may take the carriage," Lady Galesbury answered, smiling warmly at them both. "I am afraid that our visit to the milliner's will have to wait, Lillian, unless your brother wishes to take you there?" She cast an arched eyebrow in Harry's direction but the way he wrinkled his nose made both Lillian and their mother laugh. Within a few minutes, Lady Galesbury was on her way back to the townhouse – with strict warnings that they had to be back home well in time for dinner given the come out ball was this evening – and Lillian and Harry were in the carriage, with Harry rapping on the roof to tell the carriage driver to go.

"But where are we to go, brother?" Lillian asked, as her brother grinned. "I presume it is not to be the milliner's, then?"

Harry chuckled. "Now, do not tell me that you are disappointed I am not to take you there?"

"No, not in the least!"

Again, her brother laughed, clearly well aware of what caught Lillian's interest and what did not.

"Then shall we visit the museum? I know that you will be just as intrigued as I, though I do not think there shall be very many young ladies there."

Lillian beamed at her brother, delight flooding her. "I should love to visit the museum! I have not been there yet this Season, though we have only been here for one sennight thus far."

"Then the museum it shall be!" her brother declared, with a broad smile. "I am truly delighted to be here with you, Lillian. I am certain you shall have success this Season."

"Mayhap I shall," Lillian answered, with a soft smile. "But our father has made it quite clear that I am only to accept the interest of a gentleman that I truly care for – and who truly cares for me, just as I see in our parents and their marriage."

Harry's face grew suddenly serious, his eyes searching hers. "And that means that they will have to know all about your curious mind, your love of numbers and the skills you possess… skills that are a good deal more useful than embroidery or painting, I might add."

Understanding what her brother meant, Lillian nodded quickly. "Yes, of course. The ton might wish to consider me a bluestocking but I do not care. If I am to find a gentleman to marry me, he must not have any concern with such a thing. I am a learned young lady and I want very much for any gentleman with an interest in me to accept that." She spoke without pride, without conceit but instead, with a simple understanding of who she was and what she wanted. "And if he does not, then I will have no interest in him!"

At this, Harry grinned back at her, the light coming back into his eyes. "Excellent! I am glad that, not only have you come to such a decision yourself but you have also had father's guidance and blessing. That means a great deal."

"Indeed it does." Lillian sat back in her chair, folding her hands gently in her lap. "Let us see how the gentlemen of London react to having a young lady in the museum with them!"

At this, her brother chuckled rather ruefully but Lillian only smiled, knowing that there would be some in the ton who would think poorly of her for even being present in such a place but Lillian did not care. Those who thought she should not be present in a museum were not the sort of gentlemen she would be interested either so, in that regard, this visit to the museum might prove more useful to her than any ball she might attend! Smiling to herself, Lillian looked out of the window and let out a small, contented sigh. Thus far, the day had gone very well indeed and this visit to the museum was going to be the best part of her day, she was sure.