Page 43 of His Darling Duchess
"Is that so unexpected?" Aurelia asked, trying to remain calm and matter-of-fact. "We did, after all, marry in a hurry after being caught in a compromising situation witnessed by several stalwarts of the Ton." She shrugged, trying to appear unconcerned. "The fact that the marriage took place, sanctioned by you and Father, should silence all but the most Puritan."
"Aurelia." Lady Lymsey sighed, taking a seat opposite her daughter. Both fell silent as the maids served the tea, waiting until the servants had withdrawn at Aurelia's discreet gesture before picking up the topic again. "That is not precisely what the rumours are about. People are saying that you acted the fortune-hunter - trading up from Grantleigh to his cousin when the opportunity presented itself to make yourself into a duchess. That you deliberately entrapped Stowe."
Aurelia felt an upwelling of fury. There could only be one source for such a rumour - Grantleigh himself, disgruntled and seeing to blacken her name. "Mother," Aurelia said, somewhat impatient with her mother, "I must assure you that these rumours are nothing but vile falsehoods. You are well aware that Lord Grantleigh sought to compromise me, and it was Stowe who came to my rescue in my time of need." She shuddered to think of what Rhys might say or do if the whispers reached his ears.
"Of course I know that," Lady Lymsey said indignantly. "I know my own daughter could never do anything so shameful! It is the other rumour that concerned me. Especially considering the way Stowe looked at you when you were introduced that night."
Entirely in the dark as to what her mother might mean, Aurelia just stared. Lady Lymsey sighed, took a sip of her tea, and then set the cup down.
"It is whispered that Stowe compromised you deliberately to steal you from his cousin. And some awful people are saying that both rumours are true - that you saw Stowe's attraction to you and encouraged him to compromise you so that you would not have to jilt Grantleigh."
"How could I jilt Grantleigh anyway? We weren't engaged!" Aurelia shook her head with disgust. "This is ridiculous, and I think you can guess the source of the rumours as well as I."
Lady Lymsey nodded. "Yes, unfortunately I fear you are correct. Grantleigh has always been one for spreading scandalous stories, I recall well the tall tales he used to tell your brother."
Aurelia clenched her jaw, anger flaring within her. "What can we do to stop these rumours? I won't have my name dragged through the mud because of that conniving, manipulative man."
"Well, my dear," Lady Lymsey said with a small smile, "I do have a plan. It involves a bit of theatre, but I believe it will put an end to these rumours once and for all."
Aurelia raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. "What do you have in mind?"
Lady Lymsey leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in her eye. "We shall host a grand ball, of course. You and Stowe shall be the stars of the evening. And we shall invite every member of the Ton, and you will show them all how perfectly happy and wellmatched you and Stowe are." She hesitated briefly. "You and Stowe are happy, are you not?"
"Yes," Aurelia said firmly, determined not to show anyone, even her mother, the slightest hint that her marriage was not yet a true union. "Deliriously happy."
"Well." Lady Lymsey smiled in relief, smoothing her skirts. "That is good. I admit I was concerned when he left you alone at Christmastime, but I do understand why... and you seemed very understanding about it yourself, for a new bride! I'm very proud of the maturity you are showing, Aurelia. Behaviour quite worthy of a duchess, which you will show the entire Ton soon enough.”
Aurelia chewed on her lip a little nervously, and her mother, who knew her so well, leaned forward and placed her hand on Aurelia's.
"My darling girl. You were born for this."
"You'll help me, Mama?" Aurelia did not like how small her voice came out.
"Of course, but you will not need me. You'll see."
Her mother's calm faith in her buoyed Aurelia's own confidence, and she pushed down her doubts and entered into planning the ball with gusto. She would show the gossiping tabbies of the Ton exactly who she was - the Duchess of Stowe, married to a man of integrity. Grantleigh's spite could only hurt her if she allowed it to.
"You'll need a fabulous new gown," her mother was saying, "I shall call on on Madam Delacour on my way home and send her over to you directly. Has your husband given you the Stowe sapphires yet?"
"Sapphires?" Aurelia blinked. "No..."
"They are truly spectacular!" Her mother sighed dreamily. "I saw the former duchess wear them once, the most magnificent parure - tiara, necklace, earbobs, bracelets and even a brooch.The sapphires are from Ceylon, I believe; a paler blue than most you see. They will be glorious with your eyes."
"Stowe has never mentioned them," Aurelia murmured, but then she did not think her husband the kind of man who paid much attention to jewels. They were probably locked in a bank vault somewhere and hadn't been touched since his mother died.
"You must ask him for them," her mother said breezily, before carrying on with her planning and scheming.
Aurelia spent the next few days preparing for the ball, making sure that every detail was perfect. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous, especially about the sapphires. She had never been much of a jewelry person, but she knew that they were important to her mother and the rest of the Ton. If she was going to make a statement, she would have to wear them.
On the night of the ball, the Stowe townhouse was transformed into a glittering fairyland. Flowers and candles adorned every surface. Aurelia stood at the top of the grand staircase, watching the servants flutter about putting the last touches on things before the first guests arrived, her heart beating fast in her chest. She wore the gown that her mother had commissioned from Madam Delacour – a confection of lace and silk that made her feel like a fairy princess.
She had mustered up the courage to ask Stowe about the jewels, and he had merely nodded absently and said he'd fetch them from the bank for her. His valet, Harris, had delivered them to her room earlier that evening, and her maids Sarah and Kate had painstakingly worked on her hair for hours, curling and braiding and pinning her golden locks to best show off thetiara. It was just as gorgeous as her mother had remarked, a wide bandeau style with one huge cornflower-blue sapphire at the front surrounded by glittering diamonds, and flowerlike shapes of sapphires and diamonds down the sides. The necklace was a wide choker that hugged her slender neck and the matching bracelets shimmered on her wrists over her silver satin evening gloves.
They were heavy and her neck was already beginning to ache, but Aurelia held her head high and began to descend the stairs.
At the bottom, Stowe was waiting for her, resplendent in his own finery. His eyes widened as he saw her, and she could feel a blush creeping up her cheeks.
"You look absolutely stunning," he murmured, taking her hand in his and kissing it gently.
