Louise had already learned her secret. Her mother was close.
And if Alexander found out…
She hid a shudder.
If her brother discovered what she and Stone had been up to? No one would be happy.
“Mama,” she said, determined to put the thought of such an alliance out of her head, “the Duke of Stone’s heart is as hard as his title. He is not the man for me.”
Her mother nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly with confusion. Squeezing her hand, she replied gently, “Whatever you say, my dear. I shall trust you. You have always proven to be correct in the past. And I shall not attempt to correct you or argue with you on this point.”
She eyed her mother carefully.
It was an interesting tactic for her mother to take, for her mother was also usually correct in things, and also an excellent judge of people.
Still, in this case, her mother had to be mistaken. There was no way that Stone was looking at her as if he might propose.
“Mama, are we to attend Lady Scofield’s ball tonight?”
“Oh, indeed, my dear. Indeed, we are. I know that you don’t truly enjoy these events, but I have arranged with Lady Scofield for you to play for us. That should put you in a good humor, should it not?”
She stilled. “Mama, please do not say a reel.” For though she loved a jolly tune and sprightly dance, she occasionally did end up at the piano providing entertainment, playing songs she could manage in her sleep. Her father and she had made merry games of playing rounds, of outdoing each other with jaunty country dances and rapid finger work. But her heart, as her father had known, too, was in the rich work of the great masters of their time.
Her mother laughed and returned to her flowers. “You don’t need to play a reel. I have told her that you would grace us with something from your favorite composer.”
“Have you?” she asked, surprised.
“Whyever not?” her mother asked, trimming another stem before placing it into the crystal vase. “It’s perfectly acceptable for ladies, and I’m fairly certain that you will shine and be a credit to us all.”
“Indeed, I shall, Mama. Thank you,” she replied, clinging to the possibility of the night after the debacle of the last few days.
“Oh, my darling.” Her mother’s beautiful hands stilled in their work. “I’m so sorry. I long for your happiness. All of my children’s happiness. But now you are put into a set of circumstances which might not secure that.”
Her mother shook her head and looked away, unable to hide her emotion.
Jack’s heart ached for her mother. How she longed to ease her suffering and worry. For her mother had been there for every nightmare, every fall, every fear. It had been her steadying hand which had allowed her to pursue her interests rather than the strict role of a young lady of theton.
“Mama?” she began, crossing from the piano and placing her arms about her mother’s shoulders. “This life is full of toil and trouble, and if one allows themselves to be brought down by it, one might as well give in, but I shall not. I shall choose hope every day. Hope that things shall improve. Hope for myself. Hope for you.”
“Hope for the Duke of Stone?” her mother asked gently.
“Of course, Mama. But not for marriage.”
“I did not wish to say anything more,” her mother ventured, “but you two were engaged in more than a civil chat in the foyer.”
“Mama, were you listening in?” she asked, feeling a wave of apprehension.
“Never, my dear,” her mother insisted. “I should never do such a thing, but I could hear the impassioned note in both of your voices, and you shall never convince me that you two are mere acquaintances now. And since you say he will not marry…I must beg you to be careful. Sometimes these things can get out of hand.”
“Yes, Mama. I will be careful,” she said, horrified to have put her mother into such a position.
If her mother knew the truth…
With every moment, it became clearer to her how irrationally she had been acting. Naivety and optimism had convinced her that she could get away with it.
But the truth was life could be very cruel.
She should have known that better than most. And she wouldn’t be responsible for more of her mother’s heartache.