Lady Louisa was rather reluctant to join the small dinner party this evening. Though there would be no proper excuse for her not to at least make an appearance when it was, after all, held in her own aunt's residence.
Along with the Lady and Lord Hartford, there was also their daughter Lady Julianna who was the same age and very good friends with Miss Elisabeth. Lady Louisa had made the acquaintance of Lady Julianna on a few occasions amid her many seasons with the ton.
She had had no opinion about the lady, good or bad, but, in her presence, she ultimately discovered she was similar to Miss Elisabeth. It was quite disconcerting to have two Miss Elisabeths in the same room.
Lady Louisa was happy to hear that Mr. Henderson, the solicitor her brother employed, had also accepted an invitation to the dinner. It seemed that Lady Hendrickson’s husband had also used his services.
Lady Louisa’s biggest fear, and her aunt’s greatest satisfaction, was that the Duke had also accepted the invitation to dine. He was, of course, the target of this event.
Lady Louisa was still filled with uncertainty over the encounter with the Duke at the ball. She was conflicted by the fact that her excitement that night had not yet left her as she had hoped it would.
In fact, contrary to her wish not to be, she was undoubtedly nervous about seeing the Duke again, not only because he might recognize her for the lady in green - she had an even greater fear that he would and recoil at the truth in front of everyone.
But before she knew it, the night in question was upon her and guests were beginning to arrive. Lady Louisa hoped that if she did her part to avoid the Duke, he was sure to do the same. In that way, she would preserve her secret.
She chose to spend the time before the meal in the drawing room, in the company of Mr. Henderson. He happily told her tale after tale of his own time in Virginia and what her brother must be experiencing right at that moment.
Soon, his fantastical tales were so wondrous, they caught the attention of the majority of the group, including the Duke's small trio.
“You say this all happened in the Colonies?” Rowland asked, entranced by the tales of adventure and dangerous savages.
“Yes, Your Grace. I was lucky enough to travel there several times on behalf of the Earl of Gilchrist,” Mr. Henderson informed him. “He owns property in Virginia. I was just giving Lady Louisa a rendition of some of the adventures since her brother is currently there with his wife.”
“Yes, Lady Louisa did mention something about that to me once,” Rowland said, looking over to Lady Louisa. “It did seem such a wonderful adventure.”
“I would say it is, Your Grace. Are you one for adventuring then?” Mr. Henderson responded.
“I have been in the past. I spent most of my youthful years in the West Indies and Asia.”
“Well, you must share some of your own tales then, Your Grace. Lady Louisa and I were just talking on her own longing for an adventure,” Mr. Henderson said, tipping a glass in Lady Louisa’s direction.
“Is that true?” the Duke asked Lady Louisa skeptically. It was his understanding that up until recently she had never even left the city.
“Well,” Lady Louisa said shyly. “I don’t know if I will manage traveling the world as you have, Your Grace. I am sure you can imagine things are not quite as easy for the female sex when it comes to these things. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the world if that is possible. Perhaps I will visit my brother in the Americas if they continue their stay in the land. Though Mr. Henderson has frightened me some with talk of savages,” Lady Louisa added with a joking smile.
“You surprise me, Lady Louisa,” the Duke said. “I would have never considered you able to do something as unconventional as crossing the Atlantic on your own.”
“Well, have no fear, I don’t think my mother would ever allow me to do so. It is just wishful thinking, I suppose. I believe my time away from home, if nothing else, has encouraged more independence and bravery in me. Something I don’t think I ever would have found in myself otherwise.”
“Funny, I would never consider independence an admirable quality in a lady,” Miss Elisabeth chimed into the conversation.
Up until that point, she had been rather irritated to have been forced to listen to Mr. Henderson’s incessant chatter, but now that the Duke found interest in it, she did too. Of course, she would never miss an opportunity to demean Lady Louisa.
“On the contrary,” Colonel responded, taking up Lady Louisa’s cause. “I rather wish we let women have more independence. To see the improvements that Lady Louisa has made in the lives of so many here as she has made her regular marches alone into town, only testifies to that fact. If we were to consider it more acceptable, I believe a great many ladies would have more means to help and support so many more in need.”
Lady Louisa blushed and looked away at the Colonel’s compliment.
“I couldn’t agree more,” the Duke concurred. “I am sure the world would be a better place if we gave women a little more freedom to make it so.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Lady Louisa said surprised at his honest remarks in her defense.
He shrugged it off. “It is only my personal opinion on the matter. I was once advised to express those, even if they didn’t agree with those of the majority. I believe the words were, that it is better to be yourself than to be a falsehood to please others,” he countered with a playful grin.
Lady Louisa immediately recognized it as the same playful, flirtatious smile from the night of the masquerade. She did her best to hide this knowledge, though she felt it was written on her face.
“It is a shame, that she will be leaving us soon,” Miss Elisabeth announced.
“Who is?” Colonel Jasper said confused.
“Why, Lady Louisa of course,” Miss Elisabeth said in an innocent tone that was genuinely unbecoming of her.
Lady Louisa felt all eyes of the group fall on her and she had nothing to say. Had her aunt not just insisted that she stay? On top of this, she had also just promised to do so to Miss Mary. Now here was Miss Elisabeth announcing the opposite to her decision.
“I was meant to stay the whole of the season,” Lady Louisa started, “but I feared my mother may have started to grow lonely in London with both my brother and me gone.”
“But you will not leave so soon? I feel as if you have only just arrived,” Colonel Jasper said.
This conversation was not going at all the way Miss Elisabeth had wanted. Instead of everyone accepting her departure and forgetting Louisa altogether, they all seemed to clamor around Lady Louisa and insisted that she stayed.
Miss Elisabeth reminded herself that this was the exact reason why she always tried to play out every move on the chessboard of life before playing it. This thoughtless action had only hurt her own cause.
“My mother has assured me she is quite fine in my absence,” Lady Louisa said with a shy smile. "I had rather hoped to stay the whole season though, to acquire a better understanding on how to tend the medicinal garden from Mrs. Vance. Mary and I have already learned so much from her, but there seems to be so much we still don’t know.”
“Yes, Miss Mary constantly speaks of your time with
Mrs. Vance and in the medicinal garden,” Colonel Jasper said. “It sounds like the education is a great enjoyment to the both of you.”
He looked over at Miss Mary who was listening intently to something that Lord Hartford was saying. Colonel Jasper had the soft glow in his eyes of someone greatly in love. It was the first time that Miss Elisabeth had realized it. Her mouth visibly dropped at the sight.
For the rest of the conversation until dinner was announced, Miss Elisabeth kept a steady glare at Colonel Jasper. Though the Colonel was either unaware or chose not to make notice of it, Lady Louisa was all too aware of the unhappy looks.
During the dinner, Lady Louisa found herself seated between Lady Hartford and Lady Julianna. It wasn’t a terrible situation to be in, as they both kept up steady pleasantries of conversation.
In fact, Lady Louisa was rather surprised at how successfully the night had gone thus far. Even her aunt seemed to be enjoying herself at the head of the table. She always found some bit of information to tell the Duke on behalf of her daughters who were seated down at the far end, as propriety necessitated.
Lady Louisa had to admit that she did feel a little sorry for the Duke. She was sure she had judged him too harshly at first. Though it was clear he had little interest in Miss Elisabeth’s abilities in painting fans, he did politely listen and even asked questions when it was appropriate.
He was ever the proper Duke, and for once Lady Louisa didn’t view this as a disadvantage. After all, he had not chosen this role in life anymore than a blacksmith’s son might. He had taken on his responsibility, however, and was doing it with the respect and dignity that the title deserved.
Lady Louisa had to admit that she did owe him an apology for her cross words during their first few meetings. Though she could admit to herself that their quarreling probably was just as much his fault as hers, she knew she was the one who would owe him compensation for her words.
For this reason, once the meal was finished, Lady Louisa hoped to seek the Duke out for a private conversation. A very private conversation would not be possible, but she looked for a moment when she could perhaps speak with him with no one else nearby.
Until such moment arrived, she waited patiently by her youngest cousin’s side. The Colonel had in fact been aware of Miss Elisabeth’s acknowledgment of his feelings for her younger sister. He had shared the concerns with Miss Mary, who in turn had told them to Lady Louisa upon entering the drawing room after dinner.
Miss Mary did fear her sister so. She was sure that Miss Elisabeth would tell their mother right away and moreover ensure her mother was turned against the man.
“Don’t worry, Mary. We will find a way to sort it all out in the end,” Lady Louisa assured her cousin.
“I do hope so. You see, Colonel Jasper has already asked me to marry him, and I have accepted,” Miss Mary whispered.
Lady Louisa’s mouth opened in shock.
“It happened at the ball. We both agreed to keep our engagement a secret for now. That is, until he can sell his commission and procure work nearby. Only then do I feel my mother will be willing to accept him.”
“Oh, Mary,” Lady Louisa did her best to smother her excited squeal. “I am so happy for the both of you! I am at a loss for words!”
“You will keep it a secret, won't you? Only you and the Duke know of this secret.”
“Of course, it goes without saying,” Lady Louisa assured her.
“But what of my sister? If she tells Mother she suspects something, we will be discovered, and all plans could be ruined.”
“I am sure we will find a way to ensure that doesn’t happen,” Lady Louisa said with as much of a convincing tone as she could muster.