Henry flashed a grin at him. “It will be fun,” he said. “What do you say, Duncan? Lady Valeria? Will you come?”
“We’ll have to speak to Mother,” Duncan said. “But if she approves, I see no reason why not.”
The door opened and the butler leaned inside. “Begging your pardon, My Lords—Lady Valeria,” he said, inclining his head. “The other guests are beginning to arrive, and Lady Earlington has asked that you join her in the foyer.”
Henry stood. “We’d better not keep your mother waiting,” he said to Duncan.
Duncan nodded, and they all filed out.
Chapter 6
Valeria made sure to walk ahead of the others as they left the foyer, after welcoming the guests, and headed for the dining room. She didn’t know quite what to make of the conversation they’d had, but she knew she was uncomfortable.
Duncan doesn’t understand. He could never understand.
She knew that her cousin only sought her happiness. He wanted to help her find someone who would marry her and treat her well. And given the state of her prospects at the moment, in the wake of what Richard had done, thatwassomething she needed assistance with.
But how could she put her fate in the hands of another gentleman, after the way Richard had treated her?
It was bad enough that he had squandered all their family’s money, leaving her with nothing. It was bad enough that he had gotten himself involved in criminal activity, disgracing them both.
But also… he had been cruel to her. Hurtful.
It was the kind of thing she hadn’t liked to admit to herself while it was happening. She had told herself again and again that his outbursts were meaningless, that she shouldn’t take them to heart. He loved her, really. He had to. He was her brother, and the only family she had left.
But then, if he had really loved her, would he have yelled at her as often as he did? Would he have slapped her in the face when he didn’t like the things she did and said?
She forced those thoughts away. This was a party, after all. She shouldn’t be dwelling on the parts of the past that had made her miserable.
And yet… she was being asked to consider placing herself in the hands of another gentleman. What if the next gentleman she tried to entrust herself to was the same as her brother had been? What if she found herself tied to someone who struck her and treated her as if she didn’t matter?
She swallowed hard, doing her best not to let those worries show on her face. Aunt Alberta wasn’t going to marry her offtonight, after all. This dinner party was just about meeting people. She could manage to do that.
I’ll just have to make sure none of the gentlemen think I’ve taken an interest in them. In fact, it’s probably for the best if they think I actively dislike them. Aunt Alberta will be disappointed—but at least I’ll be safe.
She took a seat adjacent to the head of the table, knowing that by doing so she would be assured of sitting beside her aunt. She looked up at Duncan, hoping he would take the seat on her other side—
But Lord Harlston was already sliding into it.
“You don’t mind, do you?” he asked, smiling at her.
She could hardly quarrel in front of her aunt’s guests. Besides, she knew she was being foolish. Nothing bad would happen just because he had sat down beside her.
“No,” she said, and forced herself to smile. “No, I don’t mind.”
“Lovely,” he said. “Ah, pheasant!”
The dishes were being carried in from the kitchen. The other guests were taking their seats around the table. Duncan sat directly across from Valeria. Lord Woodsford was on his other side, and beside him sat a gentleman and his wife whom Valeria did not know. She saw that they were closer to her aunt’s age than her own. The table was rounded out by two ladies and two gentlemen who sat side by side on either side of the table, and Valeria guessed that they were not married, but that they were simply friends of the family and of each other.
“May I help you to some of the pheasant?” Lord Harlston asked.
“Thank you,” Valeria said quietly. “That would be very nice.”
As he served her, Valeria noticed that both Duncan and Lord Woodsford were watching them. She felt herself blushing, and wondered what they made of the situation. Was it possible they believed something was happening here? Something of a romantic nature?
If they can mistake my intentions, it’s possible Lord Harlston could make the same mistake.
She felt anxious and upset. What if Lord Harlston thought she was interested in a courtship with him? What if he went to Aunt Alberta this very evening to ask her permission? She knew her aunt would give consent. Aunt Alberta had made no secret of the fact that she feared Valeria might never marry, given the things that had happened in her life.
