“What do you mean?” Duncan asked.
“You heard what Lady Valeria said,” Thomas said. “A handsome Marquess is just what every lady wants, in her opinion. Of course she’ll choose him.”
“We have no way of knowing yet what my cousin wants,” Duncan said. “But she is not a prize for the two of you to compete over. Honestly, I’m beginning to regret ever suggesting courtship!”
“Oh, please don’t mistake me,” Thomas said hurriedly. “I have no interest in pursuing anything Lady Valeria doesn’t want! I would never desire such a thing.”
Duncan sighed. “I know that,” he admitted. “You’re always very respectful. I would trust you around Valeria, perhaps more than anyone else I know. It’s just been difficult to see her going through all the pain this night has brought her.”
“Yes, I was very surprised that Lord—”
Thomas cut himself off abruptly. Lord and Lady Milton had just entered the Manor, walking arm in arm and looking rather haughty.
“And where is Lady Earlington?” Lord Milton asked Duncan, not bothering to acknowledge him first. “We are about to take our leave and would like to bid her good evening.”
“I’ll pass along the message,” Duncan said coolly.
“You won’t fetch her for us?”
“I don’t know where she’s gone,” Duncan said. “I think she might be seeing to my cousin. Lady Valeria is quite distraught this evening, you know.”
“Yes,” Lady Milton said with a little sniff. “Well, I can’t say I’m surprised that it was she who ruined the evening for everyone.”
This was so unfair that Duncan started to object, but Thomas stepped forward and took Lady Milton’s arm. “Lady Milton,” he said. “May I walk you out to your carriage?”
He steered her away. Lord Milton gave Duncan a shrewd look, then turned and followed his wife, leaving Duncan alone in the foyer once again.
His mother came in, surrounded by the rest of the guests. They were laughing, and Duncan could see that she had no idea that anything was wrong at all. He stepped to the side and waited for her to bid them all farewell. She watched as everyone left, then turned to him.
“I would say, by and large, that that was a very successful dinner party,” she said. She glanced at the cloak draped over his arm. “Is that mine?”
“I thought you might be cold,” he said, moving to hang it back up.
“Well, that was very thoughtful of you, if not altogether necessary. The night is quite warm.”
“Mother—how can you say that was a successful party?”
She frowned. “You don’t think it was?”
“Didn’t you see what Lord Milton did to Valeria?”
“Yes, of course I saw it,” she said. “And I’m very appalled at him, and at Lady Milton as well. But really, Duncan, we did know that there would besometalk when she came to live here. Perhaps it’s best that these unpleasant things have been said. Perhaps it’s best to get these conversations out of the way before rumors can gather momentum and they can do more damage.”
“Well, I don’t think it was for the best at all,” Duncan said firmly. “She’s miserable, Mother. She’s gone up to her room. She was deeply upset by tonight’s events. I would say that we’ll be hard pressed to convince her to attend Henry’s dinner party next week. And she really should, because if she doesn’t, people are going to assume she’s ashamed after what happened tonight.”
His mother sighed. “Oh, dear,” she said. “I had hoped she wouldn’t allow Lord Milton’s cruel words to upset her—but I suppose I can’t really fault her for it. I’ll go and see to her.”
Duncan nodded. “Very well,” he said. “I’ll make sure the servants clear everything away. Then I’m going to bed. I’ve had enough excitement for one night.”
His mother smiled at him. “I don’t know what I would do without you, Duncan,” she said. “And Valeria is lucky to have you, too, during this difficult time. I’m sure she knows that.”
Duncan hoped his cousin felt the same way. He couldn’t help feeling a deep sense of guilt over what had happened tonight.
I shouldn’t have tried to find her a match.
He wouldn’t make that mistake again. When it came to courtships, he would leave Valeria alone until she indicated she was ready.
He wondered, though, how he would persuade his mother to do the same. She could be so controlling, and when she was sure she was right about something or someone, she was often impossible to budge.
