Page 399 of From Rakes to Riches

“He felt sorry for you. Father dead, money gone. Shelby was my banker—I know what state he left you in. Contemptuous. Yet you accepted the proposal. Can you live with the fact that now he’ll never be able to marry a woman of his own class?”

Her throat was tight, but she found she didn’t want to cry. “My lord, I have no choice but to live with that. I will do my best as his wife.”

“Even if it means putting up with me.”

“I don’t see you as someone to put up with, my lord. You are my husband’s father and deserve my respect.”

“Are you asking to befriend me?” he scoffed.

“I cannot aspire to that. But I would like your acceptance.”

“You fulfill your function and bear my grandchild. That’s all I want from you.”

She stiffened at his crudity, but she couldn’t be surprised by what he expected from her. “Perhaps your son needs something more from the both of us.”

He put his hands flat on the table. “Are you, a mere slip of a girl, trying to tell me how to be a father?”

“I wouldn’t dream of that, my lord. I’m trying to figure out how to be a wife.”

“Then go figure it out somewhere else.”

“Of course. Shall I leave the tea?”

He raised his voice and pointed at the door. “Take it and get out!”

Only when Victoria was in the corridor did she remember to breathe. Strangely, she didn’t feel like crying. She felt a resolve to the depths of her soul. These two men needed her help. But how?

Victoria spentan hour with her music late in the afternoon, using it to soothe herself before facing her husband at dinner. She was surprised when Smith interrupted her.

“My lady, your dinner guest has arrived.”

Victoria froze at the piano. “Dinner guest? Is Lord Thurlow at home?”

“No, my lady, but I’m certain he’ll be home momentarily. Lord Wade is down in the drawing room.”

Once again, her husband had made plans without informing her. She sighed.

“Oh goodness.” She looked down at her gown. “Am I dressed well enough for a dinner?”

Smith cleared his throat. “My lady, I’m not the one to judge such a thing.”

“Of course. Is Lord Banstead going to be joining us?”

“No, my lady.”

She nodded, ashamed to feel relieved. “Do tell Lord Wade that I shall be down momentarily.”

Victoria walked up to her room at an unladylike pace and examined her hair. There was no time to change into a more formal gown for dinner. She felt frazzled at the thought of entertaining Lord Wade alone, even though she’d already spent an afternoon in his company. Thank goodness Lord Wade was the talkative sort. Didn’t she have a list of conversation topics with men in one of her journals? It had been so long since she’d had to use that particular list, and she didn’t have time to go searching for it now. She hastened to her mother’s room, thinking she’d have to force her mother to join them.

But her mother only studied her briefly before saying, “Of course I’ll have dinner with you and Lord Wade, Victoria. Just help me change.”

Victoria’s relief only lasted until she looked at the mantel clock. “Oh dear, the gentleman has already been waiting for half an hour. Do hurry!”

Soon they were walking arm in arm into the drawing room, her mother in her customary black, and Victoria in pale green. Lord Wade was standing near the piano, looking through sheet music. He glanced up when they entered, giving them a wide grin.

“Lady Thurlow, you look lovely this evening.” Lord Wade came forward, bowing low so that a tumble of blond hair fell across his forehead. “Mrs. Shelby, your beauty continues to shine through your daughters.”

Her mother gave a little curtsy and a half smile, but said nothing. Victoria hoped it was not going to be another of her mother’s silent spells.

---