“Oh, yes, dear,” Aunt Alberta said. “I’m giving a dinner party on Friday night. It will be a wonderful way for you to get to know some people. Doesn’t that sound nice?”
Valeria couldn’t think of anything worse, actually. “Won’t everyone know?” she asked quietly. “About Richard, I mean?”
“About his arrest?” Aunt Alberta’s face pinched. “I don’t think anyone would be so ill-mannered as to bring it up, Valeria.”
“But they’ll know,” Valeria said. “I don’t know if I can stand to be around people who know. They’ll be saying awful things about me behind my back.”
“No, they won’t,” Duncan said. “Nobody will do that, Valeria. Nobody thinks thatyouhad anything to do with Richard’s crimes.Youweren’t trading in stolen goods.”
Valeria looked down at her plate, frowning. Even if people didn’t think her guilty, they would surely be wondering if she had known about what Richard was doing. They would wonder if she had encouraged him. If she had helped him in some way. If she had supported his choices.
They’ll think I’m a bad person because they know he is.
“I’d really rather not socialize with anyone just yet,” she said. “Would it be all right for me to miss the dinner party? I could just stay in my room.”
“Certainly not,” her aunt said, raising an eyebrow. “What do you think people would say tothat? Knowing that you’re here, but that you’ve chosen to avoid socializing with anyone?”
Valeria closed her eyes. She knew her aunt was right—that behavior wouldreallymake people talk—but at least if she was alone in her room, she would be able to pretend it wasn’t happening. She wouldn’t have to see their faces. She wouldn’t have to make conversation with them and pretend that everything was fine, when in fact that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Come to the party,” Duncan urged. “I’m bringing some friends, so there will be plenty of people our age there.”
“What do you mean, you’re bringing friends?” Aunt Alberta asked. “The guest list has been finalized, Duncan.”
“Oh, Mother,” Duncan said with a light laugh. “We can find room for a few more, surely?”
“And who are these few, may I ask?”
“Only Thomas and Henry.”
“Gentlemen?”
Duncan groaned. “Mother, you know Thomas and Henry,” he said. “They’re my friends from school.”
“But you ought to give their titles, so that your cousin knows who they are.”
“The Baron of Woodsford and the Marquess of Harlston, then,” Duncan said.
“I know Lord Woodsford,” Valeria said. “We’ve met on a few occasions.”
Duncan nodded. “Yes, I thought you did,” he said. “He remembers you, too. He’s eager to see you again.”
“Is he?” Valeria felt strangely anxious, though she wasn’t sure why. As far as she was aware, there had been no particular connection between herself and Lord Woodsford. She remembered him because he had gone out of his way to speak to her on a couple of occasions. But she was actually surprised thatherememberedherat all.
“He liked you when he met you,” Duncan said. “He told me as much.”
“There,” Aunt Alberta said. “You see, Valeria? There’s a guest who’s looking forward to spending time with you. You can’t disappoint him.” She seemed to have forgotten all about her unhappiness with Duncan for having invited his friends to the dinner party.
“What about the other gentleman?” Valeria asked. “Lord Harlston? I don’t believe I know him.”
“No, I don’t think you do,” Duncan agreed. “But he’s always good fun. The three of us were very close in school, and we’ve remained on good terms.”
“And he’s a Marquess,” Aunt Alberta said. “It would be good for you to meet a Marquess, Valeria.”
“Why would that be good for me?” Valeria asked.
“Well,” Aunt Alberta said rather awkwardly, “given… the situation… what’s happened with your brother, you know…”
“She’s interested in arranging a courtship for you,” Duncan said. “That’s what this is about.”
