Page 65 of Lady for a Season
“I need to find Cousin Edward,” said Maggie. “He is – he was not feeling well, earlier.”
Lady Honora frowned at Maggie but nodded. “Alright,” she agreed. “I’ll stand by the door where I can keep an eye out for you. Nip out and have a quick look for Buckingham. If you can’t see him, or you have any trouble, just call.”
They made their way through the crowded ballroom and past the dining room, down the stairs and into the main foyer, where tall columns decorated at their tops as palm trees loomed over them.
“Be quick,” said Lady Honora. “Can’t be seen to be hanging around here.”
Maggie hovered in the doorway. Edward might simply have stepped outside for a few moments to collect himself, to have a rest from the endless social interactions in which he was obliged to take part. Outside were dozens of carriages awaiting their owners and, off to one side, a group of men smoking, but she could not see Edward among them. As he did not smoke it would have been unlikely anyway, but she had hoped he might have followed an acquaintance. She peered out into the darkness. There! Disappearing down a dark street, unmistakeably Edward’s figure, striding away. She opened her mouth to call to him, then realised she could not as it would bring immediate and unwanted attention. Nor could she run out of the building and follow him. She could only stand and watch as he disappeared, then turned and ran back inside.
“Did you find him?” asked Lady Honora.
Maggie wanted to confide in her but she could not risk any details spilling out by mistake so she only said, “He has gone home, I think, he must not be feeling himself.”
Lady Honora shrugged. “Rum lot, men,” she said. “Neverunderstood them myself. Leave him to it. Better get back to the ballroom. We’ll have left a bunch of partners wondering where we got to.”
Maggie managed two more dances before she found the Duchess and whispered that Edward had left. The Duchess, a fixed smile on her face, swiftly bundled both of them into the waiting carriage and ordered the driver to take them home at once.
“You saw him leave?” she said.
“Yes. He went down a street close by.”
“Which one?”
Maggie pointed.
The Duchess’ lips thinned. “Gentlemen sometimes have… needs,” she managed at last. “We will say no more about this. I will let Lady Jersey know that you felt ill, and we had to retire for the evening, and that Edward accompanied us out of consideration.”
Maggie did not reply. Neither she nor the Duchess spoke again and when she reached her bedroom and had been prepared for the night by Jane, she turned her face into the pillow and wept.
Edward made his way blindly down the nearest street that would take him away from the group of men smoking and the various carriages and drivers hanging around the outside of Almack’s. His heart felt too fast in his chest, his breathing matching it, he could feel himself grow dizzy, for a moment he was afraid he would faint here, in the dark, where no-one would find him. The dark and the cool air were a relief from the noise, heat and lights of the ballroom, but he could not seem to slow his breathing. One hand to his chest, he leant against the wall, willing himself to stay upright.
“Good evening, my lord.”
A woman appeared opposite him from an open doorway,through which spilled a low light. She was dressed elegantly, except that her gown was so low-cut as to be entirely indecent.
“Good evening,” muttered Edward.
“Were you looking for someone?”
“No, thank you.”
The woman smiled and stepped away from the doorway, making her way over to Edward. Her lips were stained red and, although her hair was fair, her eyelashes were sooty-black. “Are you sure, my lord? Because most gentlemen on this street are looking for a… companion. Someone to spend time with, in a friendly manner.”
He knew what she was; some of the young men at his club Boodles had talked of visiting such a woman. A few had invited him along to one of their favourite haunts, but he had always said no. If he had not been locked up in Ivy Cottage there would, no doubt, have been an occasion or two when he would have been taken to a woman like this to complete his education as a young nobleman. Visiting these establishments would have been part of his life, but he had shied away from his acquaintances’ suggestions, uncomfortable with their winking invitations.
“I was just looking for some quiet.”
The woman moved closer. “Oh, I understand, my lord, I do. It can be very demanding, Almack’s, for a young gentleman. All those mamas, all their pushy daughters simpering, maybe your parents nagging at you to hurry up and be wed. But there is plenty of time for all of that. Sometimes all a gentleman wants is a little peace and quiet, a place to lay his head and leave his cares behind him.”
Edward nodded. She described it so accurately.
She rested a hand on his arm. “I have a quiet room inside,” she murmured. “You will be undisturbed. Perhaps a rest and a nightcap are all you need to gather your thoughts, my lord?”
He hesitated and her smile broadened. Her hand slipped down his arm and clasped his hand. “Come,” she said.
He stared at her, then breathed, “Maggie.”
Her eyebrows raised for only a moment before she smiled more widely. “I can be your Maggie,” she agreed. “Will you tell me your name?”
