“Ah, there you are, Lady Sophia.” She quickly nodded in Ruth’s direction. “I am afraid I have business to discuss with your sister. If you would not mind affording us the courtesy of privacy?”
Sophia’s lips parted and her face, so previously flushed from the sun appeared to pale. Ruth reached for her sister’s hand, but Sophia pulled it away, shaking her head.
“Of course, Your Grace. I trust your conversation with Lady Caster was a pleasant one?”
The Duchess blinked as if surprised by this question posed so soon after she’d dismissed Sophia.
“It was vexing, to say the least. She attempted to invite us to Caster Hall for after-dinner tea. To – as she put it – celebrate our breaking free from the unfortunate presence of Lord Cragshade.”
Sophia smiled, exposing her white teeth. “How lovely, I hear Caster Hall is beautiful, and there is a Pall-Mall Court, perhaps we could play?”
The Duchess’s lips twitched and for a moment there was something akin to regret written on her face.
“One day, I am sure we can. Not this time, however. For – and this is a lesson you and Lady Ruth, had best learn at once – one never allows one’s lower-ranking neighbors to show one up. If anyone is going to host others to celebrate our newfound release, it is I who shall do it. Thus, we are now tasked with arranging after-dinner tea for Lord and Lady Caster and I suppose they will wish to bring their son.”
“We?” Ruth asked, surprised to find the Duchess looking directly at her.
“You are the future Marchioness of Rotham, are you not? And you hope to succeed me, do you not?”
Ruth’s eyebrows shot up with shock at this statement. She could produce nothing akin to words and only meekly nodded.
“Well then, a tea we will host. Perhaps you can entertain with some of your music during the event. Now, Lady Sophia. Please.” She indicated with her hand toward the door as if addressing a servant who’d wandered into a room they did not belong.
Sophia departed; her eyes cast down at the marble floor. Ruth’s heart broke for her sister, seeing now for herself what Sophia just described.
“Lady Ruth, I am sorry to hear that my husband’s nephew was the one who caused you such grief. I am pleased to see he has been apprehended and no longer poses a threat.”
“As am I, Your Grace,” Ruth replied. She stepped from one foot to the other, waiting. To her surprise the Duchess sat down next to Ruth, her legs crossed at the ankles, arms folded in her lap.
“Now, Lady Ruth. It seems as though my son is not going to change his mind regarding his choice. This means that you and I must have some civility. So, when we host the tea tomorrow, you will be seated beside me, you will assist me in serving and you will engage in civil whispers, as much as you might despise it. If this is what you want, to marry my son, you will do it right. You will make society forget about this unfortunate face of yours by being the most gracious hostess.”
Ruth listened to her future mother-in-law with awe, wondering just what led to this change in behavior. She still despised Ruth, it was easy to see, but despite this, she seemed to have accepted the inevitability of the marriage.
“Thank you, Your Grace. I will do my very best to …”
She raised her hand, silencing Ruth at once.
“I am not finished. Now, I want to make one thing crystal clear.
Do not make the mistake of misunderstanding my efforts at being civil with you for anything other than what it is.”
Ruth nodded. She was under no illusions regarding this matter.
“I believe my son is making a grave mistake. I believe my husband is making an even greater mistake by allowing this marriage. I believe you are making the greatest mistake of them all. However, it has been made clear to me that it is what will happen and thus, I must do my part and attempt to keep this family from becoming publicly ridiculed. As such I will do what I can to ensure that this marriage does not become the downfall of this family.”
“Ken… Lord Rotham would not allow that to happen, Your Grace.”
She was ignored as the Duchess carried on, speaking more to her now than she had the entire summer.
“You understand of course, with Lord Cragshade arrested, you are our last chance at carrying on the line. It is because of this and no other reason that I am civil to you and I strongly urge you not to take my civility for anything other than what it is. Now, I will see you at tea tomorrow. I will not be taking dinner tonight. I feel rather unwell. Good day, Lady Ruth.”
She rose and strutted out of the room, her head held high, and her shoulders back, looking every bit the regal lady of the ton. A woman so far removed from the person Ruth strived to be she knew that from now on, it would be a battle of the wits between her and her mother-in-law. Ruth leaned back. Suddenly feeling a confidence she’d never had before.
She knew then that she would stand up to her. She would stand up for her happiness, for her place. She would prove that just because she did not look like other ladies, she was by no means less a lady.
Chapter 32
The following evening, Kenneth made his way down the grand staircase with a spring in his step. Knowing that his cousin had once and for all been evicted from the family and was thus no longer a threat to himself or Ruth, filled him with lightness.
