Page 74 of Scandalous Heiress
“You cannot get much past Killian Hanniford.”Lily squeezed her hand.“I’m sure Lord Victor has an explanation.He does not seem like one who’d elicit the affections of a lady and run.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“I’d tell you that the best romances are ones that are slow and sweet.But then, I’d not be telling you what I know to be true.”
Lily and her husband Julian had met and married within weeks.And even though the wedding was forced to forestall a scandal, they’d loved each other from the start.Their marriage was sound and their lives together serene.Many had not expected their marriage to last let alone prosper.When Lily had arrived in London five years ago with their father and their cousin, Marianne Roland, she’d entered English society as that rare and much maligned creature, an American heiress.She’d formed a few friendships with young English ladies.One of them who had accepted her immediately was Lady Jessica Baldwin, the only daughter of the earl and countess of Ware.Lily had confided earlier this morning that she feared her friend’s choice of husband was creating problems in the Ware family.Today’s tea was to prove the pudding.Could the earl and his wife accept Lord Billings, a lowly baron, as their son-in-law?
“Be patient, Ada.He’s newly arrived home and I’m sure, has matters to settle.His daughters, his house here in town.Especially his business.”
“And more.”Ada bit her lip.
“Oh?”Lily’s crystal blue gaze ran over her.
Ada demurred.“I shouldn’t discuss his private matters.”
“You are the judge,” Lily said with acceptance in her voice.“Shall we enjoy this afternoon?”
The Seton town coach idled before the Wares’.
“Yes.Has it been a long time since you’ve seen Jessica?”
“More than two weeks.”Lily patted her black hair and smoothed her gloves.“We had Marianne and Remy in London and Jessica’s mother has been ill.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.She’s recovered now, I imagine?Else, why hold this party?”
“She told Jessica she was better.But if you ask me, her mother was only playing cat and mouse with her.”Lily sighed.“She told her to decide on a beau.”
“But you said she had.That she would accept none other than this Lord Billings.”Ada had not met the man, but if Lily liked him, he must be a good choice for her friend.
“Her mother used her so-called illness as a delaying tactic to usher in the man she really wished Jessica would consider.”
“But that’s terrible to do to your own daughter.”
“It is.But the Countess of Ware has fine ideas for her chick.”
“Oh, dear.”Ada disliked these meddling mothers.“Who?”
“She’d like a duke for her girl.Been pushing her to marry up for all the years I’ve known her.”
“Dear me.Not Ridgemont?”Ada had told Lily about his behavior in the country.Lily had dismissed him as a cur.
“Oh, yes.Him.Among others.”
The footman opened the door and handed them out.
Jessica was Lily’s age.Twenty-four.Old, some said, for a society girl to still be husband hunting.Many even thought Ada was approaching the pre-conceived age of retirement from the marriage mart.“How many dukes are there left in the realm?”
“Two?Three?One is sixty.Another…I’ve no idea!Certainly not enough for every young thing who’d like one.”
Ada wanted to laugh.But then she thought of Ridgemont who should have asked for Ezzie.And anger flowed through her all over again.
Lily had met and married the heir to the duke of Seton four years ago.As that oddity, an American heiress, Lily was educated, eloquent, irreverent and lovely.Uninterested in marrying just any English aristocrat, Lily had made it plain to their father that she’d only take a husband whom she loved.That she found one within months of arrival was a pleasant surprise to all of them.Lily and her husband Julian were very happy, with two small sons, and another child coming in five months.
“Shall we survey the battlefield?”Ada challenged as they climbed the steps.
“We’ll rally round our friend and look for your man of the hour.”They approached the Wares’ butler and Lily was being discreet not to mention proper names.
Inside the main salon, Lily and she found the countess and Jessica near the doors.
