Chapter 15
On the way to the ball, Mary’s stomach did flips. She was hopeful that Lord Hanbrooke would be in attendance, but she wasn’t sure what her stepmother was going to say on the matter. In fact, were it not for Mary’s father having a say, Mary would not have even been allowed to attend the ball to begin with.
She had briefly overheard her father scolding Lady Rachel, remarking that hisdaughter deserves a chance at happiness just as Charlotte does.
Mary wasn’t sure she had ever heard him defend her before and it moved her deeply.
Lady Rachel had been rude to Mary the entire day, however. When Mary saw her stepmother with her father, she realised that they had clearly been in an argument that extended beyond what she had overheard.
Mary’s father was still quite insistent that they find her a match and quickly, just as he wanted them to find a match for Charlotte. He did not seem to realise how difficult it was for the two young women to compete with one another for the attention of various gentlemen. But until Lord Hanbrooke, Mary had not really cared much about any of the men she met.
It was only now that she had found someone who meant anything to her that she would be terribly grieved if Charlotte managed to sweep him away with her charms.
“Now, Mary, you know that you mustn’t do anything to shame our family,” Lady Rachel said as they neared the estate.
“I shall do my very best to please you,” Mary replied.
“Well, I highly doubt that, but it is a very nice sentiment,” Lady Rachel said, breaking Mary down as she so often did.
Mary didn’t respond; there was nothing more to be said. She was doing her very best to prepare herself for the evening, knowing that it was going to include another difficult situation in which she would be forced to remain apart from Lord Hanbrooke.
But what was she to do if he came near to her? She could not send him away. It would be awful to do, as well as being terribly rude.
And yet, if he approached her away from Lady Rachel, Mary knew that she would be forced to take the blame for any communication and that was as difficult as anything else. She simply wanted to feel free enough to think she might not get in trouble for every little thing.
But, at last, they arrived and made their way into the elaborately decorated room with classy white walls and burgundy damask curtains. The room had the fragrance of flowers that hit Mary as she entered.
In one moment, she would smell lavender, but roses the next, and then came the lilac and the hyacinth. It was lovely and nearly made her dizzy.
Mary stood with Sarah, as well as Lady Rachel and Charlotte. They greeted other guests politely and made quite the impression as they all entered together. Mary hoped that they would be able to separate soon enough so that she could comfortably enjoy herself, but she had an awful feeling that her stepmother would not allow it after the scolding from Mary’s father.
Sarah, mercifully, stayed nearby. She knew how miserable Mary was in that moment and how difficult it had been to remain with her stepmother and with Charlotte.
But before Mary could think further about escaping, Lord Hanbrooke drew near with a striking woman at his side. She had dark hair and was tall and elegant, slender with exquisite posture.
Charlotte gently elbowed Mary and flashed her a smirk, as if to show her that Mary had no chance with Lord Hanbrooke when there was a woman like that beside him. Mary had no desire to remind Charlotte that she, too, was trying to get his attention.
For a moment, Mary really was devastated, knowing that she could never compete with a woman so feminine and delicate. This lady was absolutely what a man might seek in a future bride, and it was clear that she and Lord Hanbrooke were quite familiar. Was it possible that he had already found a woman whom he cared for more than Mary or Charlotte?
“Good evening, Lady Rachel, Lady Charlotte, Miss Lambton, and Lady Mary,” he said, his eyes held on Mary a moment longer than the other three.
“Good evening, Lord Hanbrooke,” they said, greeting him in unison as they curtseyed.
“May I introduce you to my sister, Lady Beatrice Dunaway?” he said, gesturing to the woman at his side.
A wave of relief swept through Mary. Of course! This was his sister! Looking at her now, Mary noted the same dark features in each of their faces. She was glad to see that he was so close to his family.
Lady Beatrice had a strange way of looking at people, as if she could see through to their very souls. At once, Mary felt as though she was in the presence of someone who took her time to consider others and what sort of people they were. Mary felt as if she would have to be her very truest self, for this was a woman who would see through any falsehoods.
For Mary, that was simple, but she hoped that she would not get so nervous that she might make a fool of herself regardless. The worst thing would have been if she was so busy trying to impress Lady Beatrice that she failed to show her exactly who she really was.
And when Mary glanced at Charlotte, all her worries suddenly faded. After all, Charlotte was the sort of woman who might try to pretend to be what she was not in order to impress someone. That was never a pitfall for Mary, but Charlotte had been raised to do just that to make it in society and give herself a decent image.
“Good evening, ladies. My brother has spoken of you all and I am delighted to make your acquaintance,” Lady Beatrice said, far more comfortable around others than her brother.
“I do hope that you will all be friendly to my sister. She often finds herself traveling, but when she is in London, I always insist that she accompany me to social gatherings. I fear that you have all experienced how poorly-equipped I am for conversation,” Lord Hanbrooke said with a nervous laugh.
“Oh, good heavens! Not in the least! You’re an excellent conversationalist, Lord Hanbrooke. Really, you must not make yourself seem so much less than you are,” Charlotte insisted with a girlish laugh.