Page 23 of Not Quite a Lady
‘What? There is something already?’
‘The notice of the engagement between Adrian, Lord Randall and Miss Franceetc etcwas inserted in error and no such engagement exists.’Lady Billington quoted from memory.
‘But…but that makes it sound as though I put in an announcement to entrap him and now Adrian is denying it! And there never has been a notice.’ In the darkness of the carriage Lily could feel her face flame. ‘Thebeast.’
‘I am not at all sure that appearing tonight is a good thing,’ Lady Billington said. ‘We are almost there but we can turn back. Possibly we should leave it until things die down a little.’
‘Oh no we do not,’ Lily said grimly. ‘I am not letting Adrian get away with this.’
At the head of the stairs Lady Troughton was greeting her guests with beaming affability – until her gaze lighted on Lily when it became positively frosted.
‘Miss France. I had not expected to see you after…after what has just occurred.’
‘You refer to that horrid hoax someone played on me? But to renege upon the engagement after I had accepted your kind invitation would never do.’
Lily knew her smile was brittle, but somehow she maintained it. ‘Can you imagine anyone being so spiteful that they would go to so much trouble as that hoax involved? Jealousy is a terrible thing,’ she added piously.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lady Angela approach. ‘One can only assume that the person concerned has a sad life and nothing better to fill it.’
She tilted her head to include Adrian’s cousin in her smile, then followed her chaperone into the great reception hall.
‘She heard me,’ she observed with satisfaction.
The room was already full. A string quartet was playing light incidental music and on the dais a pianoforte had been set up inanticipation of the evening’s promised treat, a performance by Signora Angelina Tendesci, direct from Italy.
Lily felt her tense shoulders relax as she saw friends, the Cunningham girls and their mama. One generation removed from trade, the Cunninghams had proved far less snobbish than many in Society and Lily had come to enjoy the sprightly chatter of the two sisters.
She made her way towards them. Mrs Cunningham turned, Lily saw her eyes widen, then she simply cut her, turning away without a flicker of recognition and ushering her daughters in front of her.
Hurt, Lily stepped back, found herself face to face with old Lady Wilton and was subjected to a long stare through the dowager’s lorgnette before she resumed her conversation with her neighbour.
To Lily’s shocked gaze the entire room seemed to be full of people drawing their skirts away or turning their backs on her.
It had never happened before. When she first came out one or two people had turned up their noses at the merchant’s daughter, and she had heard whispers and jibes enough about her money and her taste, but her wealth had ensured that virtually every door was open to her.
I am refining too much on the reaction of one or two snobsshe tried to convince herself.I am imagining that the others are whispering about me.I just need to compose myself a little and when I come back it will all be quite all right.
There was a loggia off the reception room. Lily made her way over to it, slipped through the door and found herself alone in the long, stone-flagged passage with windows overlooking the garden. Lamps burned in alcoves and chairs and little tables stood about for later on when people needed a refuge from the overheated room. Now it was mercifully empty.
As she took a steadying breath the doors behind her openedand she found Lord Dovercourt at her side. He had always proved an amiable dance partner but, involved with Adrian, she had never paid him much attention.
‘Good evening, my lord.’
‘Miss France. You are not quite well? I saw you slip away and was concerned.’
‘Merely a slight headache. I thought to nip it in the bud with a little quiet and cool.’
He seemed to be standing very close. Lily began to stroll away down the loggia.
‘Allow me to offer my arm.’ There was no way of refusing without appearing rude, so Lily let him tuck her hand into the crook of his elbow and walked with him further away from the door.
‘I am so sorry to hear that your engagement to Lord Randall has been broken. What poor judgement on his part.’
‘It was mutual, my lord,’ Lily responded stiffly. ‘We discovered we were in error in thinking we might suit.’
They were at the end. Now they could turn and walk back. It must be her imagination, but Lord Dovercourt appeared to be pressing her hand very tightly against his side.
‘He’s a fool then, to give up on a handsome girl like you. And your handsome fortune too, eh?’ His chuckle was coarse and Lily stiffened.
