Page 12 of Enslaved to the Seduction of a Lady
“Say, does your sister know?”
“Teresa? No, I haven’t told her. I… I’m not sure how she would react. It’s a serious matter, Isabella.”
Alison smiled and nodded to Lady Ellis as she moved through the gathering crowd, almost gliding on her dainty feet.
“It is, indeed, a serious matter,” Isabella said, nodding. “But of all the people in the world who would understand, the Duchess would, especially after all she has been through. Besides, she loves you, and I know she wants to see you happy. Why don’t you tell her about your predicament? She may be able to offer you better advice than I.”
“I suppose,” Alison said. “She has been in a similar situation, in a way.”
“Exactly. Before she remembered who she really is, she and the Duke had already planned to marry, or so I hear. That was as unlikely a match as you and… you know,” she whispered again, hiding her lips behind her fan as she spoke.
“Yes, they had, but—”
“But nothing. She is the perfect person to talk to about this.”
Alison had, of course, considered telling Teresa already but she had stopped herself. They had grown close over the last year, but there was still so much catching up to do between the two of them, and Teresa had been through so much already that it didn’t seem quite fair to talk of her own problems.
But Isabella was quite right. Teresa was in a unique position to offer advice, even if their situations weren’t quite the same. Alison had even daydreamed, sometimes, that Luke would suddenly discover he was the son of a Duke, as Teresa had discovered she was daughter of one. But even she knew how ridiculous that idea was.
“All right,” Isabella said, noticing Alison’s sullen mood change. “Let’s talk of something else, but don’t leave it too long, my dear, or I am sure you will end up regretting it.”
Alison rolled her eyes. “You do harangue me so,” she said.
“Only because you need it, and because you are my dear friend,” she said. “Anyhow, I see your mother, the Duchess, was in charge of the guest list this evening. Half of London is here.”
Alison snorted. “That’s just what we said. And all the usual culprits.”
“Yes, she does have her favorites, doesn’t she? Still, it’s an excellent gathering and there is no doubt that it is the perfect reason to celebrate. Teresa has integrated back into your family with remarkable ease.”
“Yes, it’s almost as though she has never been away,” Alison said, smiling at all the new memories she had developed over the previous year.
The music died down then, coming to a stop, and Alison looked up. The garden was now full of people, and it took Alison a little by surprise. She had been so caught up in her own conversation that she had quite failed to see how many of the guests had actually arrived.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the Duke said, his drawl now booming out across the garden, his chest puffed out in pride. “If I may have your attention, please.”
Alison looked toward the center, seeing him through the gaps between the guests. With a rustle of taffeta and silk, everyone turned to look at him, and Alison held her breath. She had no reason to be nervous—her father was an excellent orator—but she couldn’t help but feel a pinch of it inside her.
“I wish to, first of all, thank you all for attending on this very special evening. As you are already aware, we are gathered here this evening to celebrate the one-year anniversary of my beautiful youngest daughter, Teresa, the now-Duchess of Lentingdale, returning to us after too many years away. Teresa,” he said, holding an arm out to her, “please join me.”
Everyone turned to look at Teresa and she blushed deeply. David pushed her in the direction of the stage and though Alison couldn’t hear his words, she could see him encouraging her, smiling at her. She was happy her sister had found such a loving marriage as theirs.
“All right,” she said, and joined her father, looking around her a little wide-eyed. Alison smiled.
She knew her sister’s heart would be pounding, but she looked so beautiful up there with their father, and this party was in her honor, after all. The Duke put his arm around her, and he couldn’t look prouder if he tried.
“As you all know,” he began, “My darling daughter, Victoria, left us under mysterious circumstances thirteen years ago, only to be returned to us on this very day last year, but as Teresa.” He paused, looking lovingly at Teresa, before he turned back to the crowd and began again.
“I wish to tell you the tale of her return, because every time I say it, it reminds me of how very lucky we all are—and how proud I am of my family. When Teresa returned, it was revealed to us that she had a rather difficult time, and she has been through some unimaginable things. She spent years in the workhouse, and to think of my precious young girl like that is heartbreaking,” he looked around, eyes wide, enjoying the story telling.
Alison felt a stab of empathy. She could not ever imagine being in such a position—she had never even seen the inside of a workhouse—and for Teresa to have survived all that, Alison was both proud and impressed.
“It’s there she was given the name Teresa. I cannot deny it has taken me quite a while to get used to calling her by a different name—” he paused to give his audience the chance to chuckle. “But it was a small price to pay to have her back in our lives. As many of you know, she was rescued by a kind-hearted benefactor, who provided her with an education anyone could be proud of. In that respect, we have all been extremely lucky. She has already missed so much, but at least she received the schooling she deserved.”
Teresa nodded along, smiling, and Alison could feel tears welling up in her eyes.
“Luckily for us,” the Duke said, although even his voice cracked with emotion, “The school was in rather dire need of funds.” The audience tittered again. “As administrator, she hunted us down, hearing of how warm and charitable my wife is. It was during this visit that she met my other beautiful daughter, Alison.”
Everyone turned to look at her and she felt her cheeks warm with a flush. She smiled, waved her hand, but they quickly looked away when the Duke continued.
“Between them, my two girls who are as intelligent as they are beautiful solved the mystery of Victoria’s disappearance and Teresa’s lost past. And my lovely wife, the Duchess, and I finally got our daughter back.”
The guests erupted in applause and Alison could see her father laughing to hide his overwhelming emotions. When the noise died down, he raised a glass in the air.
“And now I also have the most adorable young grandson you can imagine, so tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to join me in drinking to the Duchess of Lentingdale’s return. Let this be the first of many anniversaries to come!”
