Clearly, not many in this room know of her father’s fall from financial grace. He has somehow maintained his reputation.
“You are most welcome tonight,” Maggie said with a smile. “I hope we’ll be able to welcome you again for a dinner soon. Do you have a wife sir? Pray, bring her, too.”
“I’d love to.” Mr. Bates smiled fully. “Ah, here comes a friend of yours, I believe, Your Grace.” He nodded at someone moving toward them through the crowds. “I have engaged in business with his father in the past, too.”
Cedric.
Theodore smiled as his friend moved toward them. Cedric was as charismatic as ever as he turned to Mr. Bates with a full bow.
“Mr. Bates! It has been too long. How are you, my good sir?” He took Mr. Bates’ hand and shook it as if they were old friends indeed.
“Very well indeed.” Mr. Bates smiled, clearly quite delighted with this fresh company.
Theodore felt a twinge in his gut which he tried his best not to identify.
“Now, at last!” Cedric clapped his hands together and turned to face Theodore and Maggie. “You have kept your wife to yourself for too long, my good friend.” He slapped Theodore on the back good-naturedly. “I could hardly blame you for wanting to keep this beauty to yourself, but come, now you must introduce me.”
“Maggie, this is my cousin and a very good friend of mine. Cedric Pembroke, the Earl of St Vincent.”
Cedric flamboyantly bowed, then as he stood straight, smoothly took hold of Margaret’s hand. It was all in one swift movement, as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back.
Theodore’s stomach twitched much more violently now. Why was it that Cedric could kiss his wife’s hand with such ease, but Theodore pulled back, afraid how she would take such a kiss?
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Maggie said quietly.
“Oh, no, the pleasure is all mine indeed.” Cedric had still not released her hand. “No wonder you have been keeping her hidden here, Theodore, but surely it is time to share now? Your Grace, would you care to dance?” Cedric was already pulling on Maggie’s hand, drawing her away.
Say no. Please.
“I would be delighted. If you don’t mind?” Maggie turned to Theodore, checking with him.
I cannot refuse, can I?
“Of course. Enjoy.” Theodore forced a wooden smile. As Maggie was drawn away toward the dance floor with Cedric, Mr. Bates moved back to his side.
“You are clearly not quite the man I thought you to be, Your Grace.” Mr. Bates’ voice was filled with a kind of awe. “To welcome us all into your house as this, to have such friends and the love of a wife like that… makes a man think. Perhaps I have become the man I never wanted to be. Perhaps I have been duped by scandal sheets.”
This is what I always wanted, wasn’t it? So be excited, Theodore!
“I cannot tell you the relief that brings me, sir.” Theodore forced that smile to stay in place. “Perhaps we could have a meeting some time to discuss business matters?”
“I’d like that, very much, though I wager your mind is not on business at this moment, is it?” Mr. Bates laughed, nodding toward where Cedric and Maggie were now dancing.
Theodore’s gut twisted unpleasantly again.
What is this feeling?
He wasn’t quite sure, but all he knew at that moment was that he wished he had not invited Cedric to this ball.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“They’re here! They’re here!” Maggie called out as she ran down the stairs, her feet hurrying on the steps.
Theodore left his study, peering out down the corridor at the sudden excitement. Maggie was as he had never seen her before, full of excitement, carefree, as she ran toward the door.
In her excitement, she hadn’t finished getting ready, for Betsy ran up behind her, still trying to put the final pins in her hair.
“Your Grace, we are not finished,” Betsy said pleadingly.
