Masquerading with the Duke: Ducal Encounters Series 4 Book 2, page 23
‘So we did.’ Zach put his domino back on and donned his black mask. ‘Hope we don’t scare the little devils.’
‘That I very much doubt. Leo and Josh are still full of the things they got up to yesterday and Charlotte hasn’t stopped crowing because she was allowed to stay up later than they were.’ Frankie chuckled. ‘She never wastes an opportunity to remind them that she is the eldest and therefore entitled to the most privileges.’
They made their way up to the nursery and found Amos, suitably attired for the masque, there ahead of them.
‘You look lovely, Mama,’ Leo said. ‘All golden.’
Amos had Miranda in his arms and Charlotte clinging close to his side. ‘Can we see the ballroom now, Papa?’ she asked, bouncing up and down impatiently on her toes. ‘You promised that we could.’
Amos glanced at Zach, who shrugged. Thus a small procession of children made their way down three flights of stairs to the ballroom on the lower ground floor. It faced the side of the estate, away from the reception rooms that were normally used.
‘Good heavens,’ Zach permitted his surprise to show. ‘Quite a transformation.’
Amos nodded, smiling as the children whirled around the middle of the floor, showing much enthusiasm and little coordination. Miranda fell and landed on her bottom with a thud. She laughed as Charlotte pulled her to her feet.
‘Flowers, Papa,’ she said, pointing wildly.
And there were flowers everywhere, adorning tables and every conceivable surface. The gallery where the musicians would soon be setting up was also festooned with blooms that gave out an intoxicating scent. There was a multitude of candles waiting to be lit and chairs for those wishing to sit out the dancing lining the walls. The supper room adjoining the ballroom was beautifully laid out, the tables covered with crisp white cloths and set with delicate china embossed with the ducal crest. A card room had also been prepared; a traditional means of respite for the gentlemen. One entire wall was made up of sets of double doors, all of which had been thrown open to the terrace beyond.
‘We used to have fencing lessons in this room,’ Amos said. ‘I suppose we shall have to think about doing something similar for Josh and Leo soon.’
‘I can’t recall the last time we held a ball. Certainly not since we’ve been married,’ Zach said, glancing guiltily at Frankie. ‘That’s remiss of me.’
‘Mother insisted upon holding a ball when you graduated from college,’ Amos replied, ‘in the hope of marrying you off. She did the same thing to me but then gave up when neither of us fell for the charms of the females she forced upon us, so Vince didn’t have to suffer the same indignity.’
‘Father had become unwell by the time Vince’s turn was upon us. I think that’s what prevented Mother. She was never one to give up that easily.’
‘Well, Frankie,’ Amos said. ‘You’ve worked wonders with the ballroom. I sincerely hope that your efforts will be rewarded in the form of generous donations to the orphanage.’
‘Oh, I didn’t do much. I had the ideas but poor Faraday and Mrs Jessop have been run off their feet putting them into practise.’
‘Right, come along, infants,’ Zach said, when the children started to get too animated and there was danger of a dispute breaking out between Leo and Josh.
Amidst much protesting cheeks were kissed, heads patted and the little ones eventually went off with their nurses, bribed with the assurance of a bedtime story.
‘Peace,’ Frankie said, throwing back her head and smiling. ‘But not for long. The family will be arriving to dine with us soon. We had best go up and greet them.’
‘Can I take this damned thing off now?’ Zach asked, shrugging out of his domino before Frankie had time to respond.
*
Martina had been quiet all day, a situation that Ariana had remarked upon, anxiously asking her if anything was wrong. Martina tried to reassure her sister, unable to tell her the reason for her preoccupation. She was still furious about the way Redrow had manhandled her, to say nothing of his threats to do more. His outrageous arrogance made him dangerous and unpredictable. A faint smile touched her lips when she considered the manner in which she had got away from him. But she knew that by fighting back she had only made him more determined to exert his authority over her. He would be here tonight, hiding behind a masque, and she would be unable to really enjoy herself for fear of him somehow getting her alone in a situation where he would be able to overpower her with his superior strength.
‘You look enchanting,’ Ariana said, standing back to examine Martina in her midnight blue gown. ‘You were right about the colour. It suits your complexion and affords you an air of sophistication.’
‘I’m not sure about that, but I am very pleased with the gown. And you should be with yours. For once we don’t look like poor relations.’
Ariana smiled. ‘I don’t think we’ve ever been looked upon in that light, but I know what you mean. Anyway, if you are ready, we ought to go down. The duchess is working on a tight schedule and we mustn’t put her out by being late.’
‘Of course. I am perfectly ready.’
The family were gathered in the drawing room when the girls went down; all of them including the Harrisons, the Adlers, and the duchess’s most intimate acquaintances. Martina tried to pretend that she was not scanning the room in the hope of finding Jared in occupation of it. She knew he had not been invited to join the family before the masquerade but had foolishly hoped that he might be there anyway.
He was not.
Everyone looked very elegant and there was an air of festivity about the proceedings.
‘Good, we’re all here,’ the duchess said, looking beautiful in a golden gown that perfectly matched the colour of her hair. ‘We can go through to dinner.’
The girls were swept into the dining room in the midst of the family throng. Everyone seemed to be in the best of spirits. Martina was not surprised when Lord Amos offered them both his escort. She knew that it was Ariana whom he really wanted to have to himself. She could see it as clear as day in the way that he looked at her with such possessive intensity. Surely Ariana must know it too, but whenever Martina broached the subject of her friendship with their rescuer Ariana brushed it aside.
Martina smiled as she took her seat amidst such a close-knit family, feeling generously embraced by it, yet still somehow an outsider. Unsettled, she toyed with her food, speaking only when spoken to, but Ariana and Lord Amos were enjoying such a lively conversation that neither of them appeared to notice her introspection.
As soon as the meal came to an end, the duke stood.
‘Well, gentlemen, I suppose we cannot avoid putting the dominos on now. The next time we have a masquerade, my love,’ he added, addressing the duchess, ‘please make it in the winter.’
Everyone laughed.
‘Don’t worry, Zach,’ Amos said. ‘I’ll wager fifty guineas that the weather will break tonight.’
‘And rain on my masquerade.’ The duchess looked outraged. ‘It had better not!’
‘We had best make our way down to the ballroom,’ Lord Amos told them. ‘Since we are all supposed to be incognito, there will be no reception line, but Faraday will discreetly check everyone’s invitations, just to ensure that we don’t have any infiltrators.’
‘Do you intend to dance, Lord Amos, or shall you hide yourself away in the cardroom?’ Martina asked mischievously.
‘I shall certainly dance with each of you, if you’re willing to risk standing up with me.’
‘I cannot imagine you making a habit of trampling on toes,’ Ariana said, ‘and so I suppose we can be persuaded.’
‘Very graciously put,’ Lord Amos said in a tone of affectionate amusement.
‘This room looks wonderful,’ Martina said, gazing about it in awe. ‘I haven’t been in it before. It’s quite magnificent.’
‘It isn’t often used,’ Lord Amos said, ‘which seems like a pity.’
Martina wandered away, leaving Lord Amos alone with Ariana. She could recognise all the family members, even in their masques, and yet they all looked mysterious. The musicians were tuning their instruments as the first of the guests spilled into the ballroom, apparently as impressed by its splendours as Martina had been, given the exclamations of delight she overheard. She listened to the hubbub and watched as the first dance formed up, the duke and duchess at its head. She stood to one side, close to where a number of chaperones sat together, observing the proceedings and chattering incessantly. She heard one of them openly assessing her charge’s chances of attracting Lord Amos’s interest.
‘He will have to remarry at some stage,’ the old woman said. ‘His children need a mother. Might as well be to my granddaughter. She’s a pretty and biddable chit and will give him no trouble.’
Martina moved away, having no desire to hear more. The poor man, she thought. It seemed a very great pity that Lord Amos’s situation should be speculated about in such a fashion. He was still in mourning for his wife, despite the fact that Ariana seemed to bring him out of himself. He smiled much more frequently now than when they had first met him, and she credited Ariana with bringing that change about. He hadn’t felt threatened by her at first, Martina thought, because she didn’t attempt to do what this old lady clearly expected her granddaughter to do, which was to throw her cap at him. A friendship had sprung up between them, necessitated by Ariana’s position in the nursery where she had primary care for his children. If her sister’s affections were engaged, she appeared content for Lord Amos to decide without undue pressure if he felt an answering interest in her.
She wondered when Jared would arrive, or if he was already here. She was perfectly sure that she would recognise him, yet the huge room already seemed crowded and it was hard to keep track as yet more people spilled into it.
‘May I have the pleasure of this dance, mysterious lady,’ a voice she would have known anywhere asked in her ear.
Her heart leapt as she turned and smiled at Jared, resplendent in a silk domino almost exactly the same colour as her gown. His eyes glistened with good humour behind his masque.
‘Why certainly, kind stranger,’ she replied, her spirits lifting as she placed her gloved hand in his and allowed him to lead her into the dance.
Suddenly the threat posed by Redrow no longer seemed quite so intimidating, and she resolutely put all thoughts of him from her mind. She would dance with the man who increasingly filled her thoughts, enjoy herself and put aside all her other concerns; at least for now.
Chapter Eighteen
Jared had recognised Martina the moment he entered the ballroom, her masque an inadequate disguise for her elegance and beauty. The dance was a reel, which required energy and precision of movement, leaving them with little breath to spare for conversation. When it came to an end, Jared didn’t have the least intention of releasing her so that she could dance with others. The benefit of a masque meant that the usual rules of conduct didn’t apply.
‘Would you like some lemonade?’ he asked. ‘Or a glass of wine. It’s very hot in here.’
‘No thank you. It must be warmer for you in that domino. Lord Amos insists that it will rain this evening but the duchess refuses to allow her masquerade to be inconvenienced by the elements.’
‘Well then, shall we stroll outside before the rain decides whether or not to defy her.’
She smiled and placed her hand on his sleeve, all the while scanning the crowd, no doubt worried that Redrow would somehow accost her.
‘There’s no need to concern yourself,’ Jared said. ‘He isn’t here.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘The masques are not much of a disguise. I can easily recognise all the people I know. And you can be sure than I am better acquainted with Redrow’s features than I ever wished to be. Besides,’ he added, ‘Ramsay is outside and will get word to me if he turns up.’
‘A comforting thought, but I remain to be convinced. It’s such a crush, and with so many conveyances arriving, Mr Ramsay could easily miss him.’
‘Ramsay will be very upset if he learns of your lack of confidence in his abilities. But that is neither here nor there. I am confident that Redrow won’t show his face. Since my efforts to expose him at the fair yesterday came to nothing, Lord Romsey has devised a plan that will send him scuttling back to London, where hopefully he will overplay his hand.’
‘I knew you were up to something yesterday but I don’t suppose you will tell me what it was.’
‘Not a chance,’ he replied, grinning.
Martina shook her head. ‘I cannot imagine Mrs Redrow missing this engagement for any consideration. She talked incessantly and in a most animated fashion about it whilst I was still in her employ and promised all her friends who did not receive invitations that she would give them a full account of the proceedings. She was also quite determined that Mr Redrow would publicly give a large donation to the orphanage.’
‘How very vulgar,’ Jared replied as they wandered outside and a welcoming breeze touched their warm cheeks.
‘Quite. I think she hoped that would compel this family to take her supposed friendship more seriously. As though they would be influenced by such an obvious gesture.’ Martina gave an emphatic nod, still looking greatly concerned. Jared felt an overwhelming need to eradicate the worry lines from her delicate brow and make her smile. ‘Accept my word for it, Mrs Redrow will not miss this masquerade.’
‘Perhaps she came alone and made some excuse for her husband.’
‘No.’ Martina’s tone was adamant. ‘He’s very careful not to upset his wife. Beneath her genteel exterior lies a will of iron. If she is content with her social climbing and has sufficient funds to carry off the grandiose gestures that she thinks those she wishes to impress will not see through—’
‘You are very observant.’
‘I may not understand English ways but I do understand people and what drives them. Ariana and I would not have survived for very long if we had not developed that skill. Anyway, as I was saying, provided Mrs Redrow is content, it leaves her husband free to do…well, whatever takes his fancy.’ She twitched her nose. ‘She would not accept a summons from his minister as a justifiable excuse that couldn’t allow for one day’s delay in order for them to be here tonight, especially since Parliament is in recess.’
‘Did something happen yesterday?’ Jared fixed her with a suspicious look. ‘Did he insult you, threaten you in any way?’
‘Why do you ask?’
‘You seem distracted. On edge.’ He sent her a sensual smile. ‘Do I make you nervous?’
Several heavy drops of rain interrupted whatever response she had intended to make.
‘It seems the elements are daring to defy a duchess,’ he said, steering her back into the ballroom seconds before the deluge began in earnest.
‘There you are.’ Lord Amos smiled at Martina. ‘You must lend Martina to me, Braden,’ he said. ‘She promised me this dance. I shall return her to you immediately afterwards.’
‘I am not Mr Braden’s property,’ she protested as Lord Amos led her away.
Jared smiled at her spirited response, then turned to watch the rain pelting down onto the terrace, enjoying the coolness of the wind that caused the candles to gut. Several footmen set about closing the doors.
‘No sign of our mutual friend.’
Jared turned to Romsey, his mop of thick blond hair giving his identity away despite his masque. ‘Martina insists that he will be here somewhere.’
Romsey shook his head. ‘He’s been backed into a corner. He has no time for dancing.’
‘That is my opinion too, although Mrs Redrow seems very determined to attend. But if that’s the case, they should be here by now. I think Martina is worrying needlessly.’
‘Mr Braden, just the very man.’ Lady Romsey glided up to him, the mellifluous timbre of her voice every bit as pleasing to the ear as the lady herself was to the eye. ‘You must take pity on me and offer to dance. My husband appears to have developed two left feet.’
‘We just danced, my dear,’ Romsey pointed out mildly. ‘You are far too lively for these old bones.’
Jared smiled at the softness of Romsey’s tone as he fixed his wife with an indulgent smile. He clearly adored her, and it was easy for Jared to see why. She was a lively combination of mischief and sophistication; a perfect foil for the seriousness of Romsey’s mien brought about by the burden of his responsibilities.
‘I should be delighted,’ Jared said, offering her his arm.
*
Martina enjoyed dancing with Lord Amos. He was, unsurprisingly, an excellent dancer and an engaging conversationalist. Even so, Martina sensed his slight detachment, as though he didn’t think he deserved to be dancing and enjoying himself. She imagined he must be thinking about his dead wife, as he so often seemed to, and her heart went out to him.
She noticed Jared pass down the dance partnering Anna. He winked at her. When the dance came to an end, the duchess took control of Martina, introducing her to a few of the people she didn’t know. When she was finally free to wander about, making it look as though she wasn’t attempting to accidentally run into Jared, he was nowhere to be seen. She wondered if he and Lord Romsey had gone off to speak in private somewhere, or if Jared had become bored with proceedings and disappeared into the cardroom, as a great many of the gentlemen appeared to have done.
She somehow doubted it. He seemed determined to remain with her. Or was that a product of her wishful thinking? She had no way of knowing and possessed too much pride to continue scouring the crowded room, hoping for a glimpse of him. Besides, the press of bodies made it feel as though the room was closing in on her. The heavy rain had eased and turned more moderate. Rain was a rare commodity in her native Spain and was therefore something to be cherished. She loved the sound of it, and the fresh smells left in its wake. She had seen absolutely no sign of Redrow. He might keep a low profile but his wife most certainly would not, so it was safe to assume that Jared was in the right of it. They had not come and she need not worry about encountering him.
